Guide: Multi-Boot & uLaunchELF

[mogster]

As you might already know, there's "homebrew" applications that you can get for your PS2. As there's quite a lot of these, I'm gonna briefly explain how to put a few on a DVD.

You WILL need a modchip or swap magic to play homebrew applications. You can find out information on swapmagic for both phat and slimline PS2s here.

First off, we need to make a file that tells the PS2 what to boot when it reads the disc. Open notepad, and copy this into it:

BOOT2 = cdrom0:\BOOT.ELF;1
VER = 1.00
VMODE = PAL/NTSC

"BOOT.ELF" denotes what will boot. You MUST save this file as "SYSTEM.CNF"

uLaunch Elf
If you need to create a disc with multiple programs on, you will need to use uLaunch Elf. uLaunch ELF will scan the DVD for other ELFs and allow you to boot them. Version 4.12 is attached, "BOOT.ELF" is the only file in the archive that you really need. Download: uLaunchELF v4.12.zip
Make sure you edit the SYSTEM.CNF file to boot this. For example, if uLaunchELF is called "uLE.ELF", then change "BOOT2 = cdrom0:\BOOT.ELF;1" to "BOOT2 = cdrom0:\uLE.ELF;1" in SYSTEM.CNF.
uLaunchELF Official Forums (sign-up required) - Langauge packs and fonts - uLaunchELF release thread

Okay, so now you should have "SYSTEM.CNF" and "BOOT.ELF" (or whatever you've called it, aslong as SYSTEM.CNF points to it). So lets get some homebrew software!

SMS Media Player
From the title you can guess what this does, plays videos, music and probably other things. It's interface is very nice and simple. Unlike Reality Media Player Pro, this flawlessly played my 1500KB/S XviD rips of angel without skips. You can either drop the media files you want to play onto the same disc as SMS or drop them onto a seperate CD/DVD and swap the discs round. It'll scan the disc and show you a list of files, then choose what you want it to play. From there it's all fast forward, rewind, pause and stuff.

Snes Station
Snes station lets you almost flawlessly play SNES games on your PS2. The games I tried ran at full speed with nice sound. It also saves to your memory card. You can drop your *.SCM snes files into different directories if you wish.

PGEN
Emulates SEGA Genesis and Master System hardware at full speed with sound. Has a nice interface too.

You can also find many more homebrew applications for PS2 around the internet. I suggest you try PS2-Scene.org and PS2Dev.org.

Lets do it
Okay, so now you should have a bunch of *.ELF files, ROMs, MP3s or whatever you're planning to burn. Be aware that many applications let you switch discs. So what now? Time to burn it all.

First you need to compile an ISO, but you can't just burn em with Nero. You need a program called "CD DVD-ROM Generator 2.0", you can download a copy here.

Using CD DVD-ROM Generator 2.0

Select "Create New Project" and click "OK".

Now click "DVD-ROM Master disc" and "OK".

Now click on the volume tab and fill in some information. It doesn't really matter what you type in here. Here's an example of what you could type:



Now click on the directory tab. It's important that you drag, in order, "SYSTEM.CNF" first, then "BOOT.ELF" (or whatever is the primary boot elf). Then followed by all your other ELF files, ROMs, media and whatnot. It's important that you fill up the DVD with ATLEAST 2GB, or you'll get a nice error screen. If you haven't got 2GB of stuff to put on, or just don't want to, you can make a dummy file using Dummy File Creator. Rename it's output to a *.bin file and drop it on.


Done? Now go to File>Export iml file. Save this anywhere you like.
Now open up IML2ISO, locate the IML file and click "start".

This'll take a while and look like it's crashed, but leave it.
Eventually it'll respond again, and you'll see an image file on your desktop. All that's left now is to burn 'n' play.

Have fun with all your ELF applications
Pre-loaded CD-Images:
SMS Media Player: CD Standalone or CD with SMS and uLaunchELF or Standalone DVD version

[Yeloazndevil]

its much more convenient to load elfs from hdd or pen drive there is also an unofficial version of snes station that supports usb and hdd

[mogster]

Originally Posted by Yeloazndevil

its much more convenient to load elfs from hdd or pen drive there is also an unofficial version of snes station that supports usb and hdd

Yeah, but I bet you have a modchip or something, right?
Swap magic always seemed to die when I used special boot.

As for CD DVD Generator, is that legal? Because I have a direct mirror for it.

[Yeloazndevil]

nah flip top and swap magic 3.6 plus. I used swap magic to load ulaunchelf from pen drive added it to the memory card for use with the independence exploit. CD DVD Generator is just a piece of software so its fine.

[mogster]

Originally Posted by Yeloazndevil

CD DVD Generator is just a piece of software so its fine.

Okay, I've included a link in the first post.

Hope everyone appreciates what I've posted ^^
I'll try to answer any questions below.

[KanedA]

if that's not the leak from sony than it's ok,

BTW. you can even run apps from memcard

mogster you forgot about the old PS1 exploit in older PS2s

btw. you don't need that cd dvd generator, you can just burn a cd/dvd with stuff, important thing is that it will contain proper system.cnf file and dummy file so that laser will have a bit easier access to data

[Pulsar_t]

Cheers for the tutorial. But does that app actually place the CNF files at the proper CD sector, so that the laser doesn't have a hard time finding them?

Also, and I asked this on another forum with negative replies, is it possible at all to just use a HDD to boot stuff up without using the PS1 exploit or a modchip? PCSX2 is a long way to replace my PS2 and I'm not sure my unit will live that long.. Installing a HDD in there does have its advantages!

[Yeloazndevil]

you can't acess or use the hdd any way yout want without a modchip or exploit.

[Pulsar_t]

But I do have a modchip.. Must I always boot using optical media that's what I meant

[Yeloazndevil]

you can store those elf files on your hdd or a usb flash drive using ulaunchelf.
pgen works fine from the hdd and flash drive, snes-station you need to get the unofficial 0.24 to play roms off of the hdd and flash drive. you can do a lot of things having a hdd in your ps2. also SMS can read your audio/video files off of a hdd so you don't really need optical discs

[blind227]

I have problem with pcsx2 when i lunch 'lunchelf' show me main screen and i cant select
any option i need ulelf for testing my multigame disc
i tray all pad plugins and not working with ulelf but wit games all plugins are ok
i have newest version of pcsx2 and ulelf 4.12
i ave vista maybe this is te problem

please elp me

[Riffy]

When I try to use IML2ISO, I keep getting this as the error.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
### IML 2 ISO FOR WINDOWS BY TEAM NOMOD ERRORS LOG FILE ###
### Program coded by MASTER ADGE aka [Nomod](MASTERADGE@MSN.COM) for Team Nomod ###
### Visit our website at Welcome to [Nomod]'s Homepage ! ! ###
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Error log file for : 2.0.iml
Current program version : 1.2
Working folder : D:\Downloads\uLaunchBreaker\uLaunchELF\uLaunchELF - 4.12\Test\
File D:\Downloads\uLaunchBreaker\uLaunchELF\uLaunchELF - 4.12\Test\SYSTEM.CNF was found !
File D:\Downloads\uLaunchBreaker\uLaunchELF\uLaunchELF - 4.12\Test\BOOT.ELF was found !
File D:\Downloads\uLaunchBreaker\uLaunchELF\uLaunchELF - 4.12\Test\CODEBREAKER.ELF was found !
File D:\Downloads\uLaunchBreaker\uLaunchELF\uLaunchELF - 4.12\Test\LAUNCHELF.CNF was found !
File D:\Downloads\uLaunchBreaker\uLaunchELF\uLaunchELF - 4.12\Test\DUMMY.BIN was found !
Can't find 2.0.ims" 55500 file !
There are missing files, the ISO can't be built successfully !

2.0 is what I named it but what is the 55500 file part? I know if I edit the IMS and get rid of the 55500 then it "seems" to work fine?

This is my IML file

[SYS]
VERSION=1.00
MEDIA=DVD
TARGET=PS2
DISCVERSION=1.00
DATE=2008/02/10-15:23:05
[/SYS]

[CUE]
DISCNAME="SLUS-20666 "
PRODUCER="NEVERMIND "
COPYRIGHT="MENOTYOU "
CREATIONDATE=20080210
PSTYPE=2
DISCCODE=02
[/CUE]

[LOC]
# the number of entries: 7
#Start End Mode Fno Source
0 270 0.0 0 "2.0.ims"
271 271 0.0 0 "D:\Downloads\uLaunchBreaker\uLaunchELF\uLaunc hELF - 4.12\Test\SYSTEM.CNF"
272 451 0.0 0 "D:\Downloads\uLaunchBreaker\uLaunchELF\uLaunc hELF - 4.12\Test\BOOT.ELF"
452 2089 0.0 0 "D:\Downloads\uLaunchBreaker\uLaunchELF\uLaunc hELF - 4.12\Test\CODEBREAKER.ELF"
2090 2100 0.0 0 "D:\Downloads\uLaunchBreaker\uLaunchELF\uLaunc hELF - 4.12\Test\LAUNCHELF.CNF"
2101 1202740 0.0 0 "D:\Downloads\uLaunchBreaker\uLaunchELF\uLaunc hELF - 4.12\Test\DUMMY.BIN"
1212991 1212991 0.0 0 "2.0.ims" 555008
[/LOC]