Mods for the PSX DVR?

How would one image the hard disk?
would standard tools work? Such as a HDD clone boot disk?

 

Any disk tool which copies sectors without caring about what is on them. In linux for example you could use DD...

On Windows a good example is Winhex.

While you can't use a HDD image in a different PSX unit+HDD combination, while you don't change the motherboard/HDD pair the imaged data is valid.

 

So would a replacement drive in the same unit work? Or does the system run authenticity checks on the drive firmware or something?

 

A SONY drive certainly works. The only problem is that you need a update disk compatible with the unit to be able to get the XMB installed.

 

Would a backup work?

 

Most likely no...

Maybe if you do a "SWAP" ... Who knows ...

 

Confirmed FMCB 1.94 is working with both of my new purchases DESR-5700 and DESR-7000.

Thanks to all the developers.

If there are any data collection tasks I can help with let me know.

 

I'm specifically wanting region free for retail discs on my desr-5x00, is this ever likely to happen?
A hard mod is fine by me as long as it's not going to start burning out my optical pickup.

 

I have only ever gotten wonky PAL backups to work on the PSX.. The ones that are modified for FMCB...

 

Yeah FMCG allows for patched import backups but not retail discs
I'd really like to run retail pal/us titles

 

it's a hardware level problem which has no fix atm iirc

 

Yeah I think you're right.

 

Honestly you will be better off with an older PS2, there is very little you can do with a PSX over a PS2 and currently it is a ticking time bomb.
It will die!
Sorry to be downer

 

Yeah I know, it just looks cool under my tv.

 

He's referring to the HDD unit, if you don't know that. Until now, there is no way to replace it with a generic ATA disk.
Once that disk dies (which could be anytime now, depending on how used your PSX is), the XMB is lost forever. At least, until you use some hackery to get a new installation onto another PSX's HDD or on a 40GB PS2 disk (but you'll lose the DVR functions due to the lack of space).

Also, there are two optical blocks in the PSX. While the PS2 optical block (typically a KHS-400C) is easy to replace, the other one (the writer laser) is a lot rarer to source for. It's first used to determine the type of disc inserted, so the XMB will not be able to read discs if that optical block stops working.
At that point, you could use FMCB to boot games (as it always sets the CD/DVD drive into PS2 mode, regardless of what it finds), but then you just lost some of the PSX's functionality.

BTW, has anyone tried ESR on this? I think that it should work.

 

Yeah I know those failure points. I didn't know the hack methods though. I have two psx units with stuffed burning lasers which I assumed were unusable, I might just run fmcb on those then. Better than nothing.

 

I think I used ESR on my PSX DESR-7700 unit once I moved my disc drive from a DESR-5700. It was easier then opening the drive to get the laser lens out.
But I have not use it much in a long time, mostly as I was using my Japanese SPCH-18000 & 320gb HDD. HDLGameInstaller is only good for the 1st 137gb right? I'll need to play it safe once I have like 180gb free.

 

No. Like with any modern-day homebrew software, it supports 48-bit LBA. But because you are using a PSX, it will limit itself to using 28-bit LBA to avoid compatibility problems with the DVRP.

 

Maybe I'm thinking of v0.808 as I need to download the newer one. Right now we can only unlock 40gb for PSX or does anyone know how to get a little more out of it? 80gb-120gb?

Also on your download page for HDLGameInstaller, its say this:
"Not compatible with the APAEXT partitioning scheme. Do not use this software with a disk formatted with that scheme or anything above the 137GB mark will get destroyed."

If I'm using a 320gb on a PS2 that using the 48-bit LBA I got from you sometime in like 2013/2014, will it have problems over 137gb if using HDLGameInstaller to add games?

 

The size of the game partition is hardcoded on the DVRP firmware. So using it's feature to create it will always result on 40GB game partition.

But I believe the value is stored on the harddrive at a area which can be modified with PS2 based software so if we were to repartition it manually maybe it would work.