[Skullmeat]

Who here has a PS2? Want to expand it's functionality? You can install custom firmware on your ps2 with no hardware mods using FreeMcboot, and a few tools.

What you will need:
A "FAT" PS2. SCPH-300xx, SCPH-500xx.
(The method I'll be using here DOES NOT WORK on PS2 Slimline models. SCPH-700xx, SCPH-900xx)

A Gameshark 2 (Any Gameshark 2 will work)
An 8mb PS2 Memory Card
A PlayStation game
A USB Memory Stick (FAT16)
FreeMcBoot V1.8b Noobie Package: http://sksapps.com/exploit/freevast/Noobie_Package.rar
PS2 Exploit Utility: http://sksapps.com/exploit/PS2_Exploit_Utility_5.0.zip
PS2 Save Builder: http://bootleg.sksapps.com/tutorials/fmc...der08x.zip

Optional:
A PS2 HDD and Broadband Adapter (SCPH-10350)
An IDE Hard drive (Western Digital drives do not Fit the PS2 HDD Adapter)

First up we need to create the exploit. Open up PS2 Exploit Utility. (Run as administrator)
Once open, you will see this screen:


Next, click on the Title.DB tab. Now take a look at your PS1 game. On the front there should be a number like SLUS-XXXXX. The code will be slightly different depending on your region.

SLES, SCES - PAL
SLUS, SCUS - NTSC US
SLPM, SCPM, SLPS, SCPS - NTSC JP

I'm using a US Copy of Vigilante 8, so my code is SLUS-00510.
We need to add it to our title.db, so in the box labeled "Current ID" type "SLUS_005.10"
DO NOT WRITE IT AS IT APPEARS ON THE CASE!


Now, click "Add to Title.DB"


We are finished in this tab. Next click the Region tab. Make sure your region is selected. Mine is NTSC.


Now we need to finish creating the exploit. Click the "Create Exploit" tab, and select the "Memory Card Format (XPS)" option.

Click "Create Exploit" Ignore the warning that we dont have any ELF's installed, as we are just installing FreeMcBoot at this time. When finished close the PS2 Exploit Utility.

Next, open ps2 save builder. (Run as administrator)


Click File>Open
Then navigate to where you saved your exploit. (In this case C:\IsCentral
Open IsCentral.xps

You will now see this:


Don't worry about any of the files here, simply go to File>Save As and save as "your systemconfiguration.md"
Close PS2 Save Builder.

Next, we need to rename the file extension of "your systemconfiguration.md" to "your systemconfiguration.ps2"

Once finished, copy "your systemconfiguration.ps2" to the root of your usb stick, along with the "Noobie_Package" folder.


Now. Over to the PS2. (I don't have any photos for this step right now)
Turn on your PS2, and put in your Gameshark 2 disc. (Dont plug in the USB stick just yet.)

Wait for the gameshark to reach the main menu. Plug in your usb stick.

Select "Memory Manager and Gamesaves" When asked if you wish to load gamesaves from CD-ROM, Select "No."

There are two boxes, one on the left, and one on the right. The box on the left should be your USB stick, it will show "your systemconfiguration.ps2" and Noobie_Package." On the right, is your memory card.

Press "L2" to move to the box on the left. Highlight "your systemconfiguration.ps2" and press "X," press "O" and then "copy to target."

Restart your PS2, and remove the gameshark. Now put in the PS1 game we used earlier to create the exploit. The game will begin to boot, but instead, we get: uLaunch.elf!
Click the "O" button to open the file browser.
Now, select MASS:/ with the "O" button, highlight "Noobie_Package" press "R1" then select "copy."

Now back out to the root with "Triangle" button and select "MC0:/" and then select "BADATA-SYSTEM/" and then press "R1" and then "Paste."

Now, open "Noobie_Package" and select "FREE_MCBOOT.ELF" It will run the FreeMcBoot Loader. Select "Normal Install with the "X" button and follow the on screen instructions. Once finished, select "Launch FMCB." The system will reboot, and FreeMcBoot will be installed.

[Svengali]

Sorry for asking but.. what definitly does it modificate?

[Skullmeat]

Sorry for asking but.. what definitly does it modificate?

What do you mean? How it works? The mod is saved to the memory card, so there's no chance it will brick your PS2. As for the hack itself, It causes a buffer overflow in the system memory, causing the system to crash. Upon reboot, unsigned code is loaded.