I've been looking into the Xplorer (AKA Xploder) cheat cartridge since I found my childhood V2 in my cupboard. More specifically, I'm interested in it's X-link remote debugging cheat/region free abilities and its different ROM editions. I could never figure out how to make it connect with my PC when I was a kid and have since discovered that DOS booting was part of the answer. This site: http://www.murraymoffatt.com/playstation-xplorer.html states that there were 3 versions of the original cart and 3 ROMS. According to the table the most recent ROM for a V2 cart that can be flashed onto it is a V3 ROM, but the only V3 ROM that is provided is a for the Xplorer FX, which the table says cannot be flashed onto a V2. I contacted the guy who made the site and he told me that it was such a long time ago and he took the information from somewhere else that he doesn't remember/isn't available. Since it is pretty hard to get reliable info on this now I was wondering whether you guys could answer: 1. What are the different version ROMS for the standard Xplorer cartridge? 2. Which is the most recent/best version that can be flashed onto a V2 cart? (I see there is an Xplorer 'lite' ROM from this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWi0EdIdF-0 where/when did this come about?) 3. If I want to go unofficial then what is the best ROM I can flash onto my Xplorer? (I have heard of Caetla, Zippy, Ahoy but don't know the relative merits of each and what I lose/gain over my Xplorer) 4. What are some cool or interesting things I can do with the Xplorer/other ROMS? (could someone explain how the region free works?) Any info greatly appreciated.
Bit of an old thread, but I'll answer specifically for the sake of completeness. 1/2) You can generally get by just fine with the standard V2 ROM using xLink/xLink95, but since Caetla 0.34, the XPlorer cart is supported. It's actually more stable on the V2 cart than the FX, and supports up to Caetla 0.38, unlike the FX which can be a bit 'twitchy' and only really supports 0.34. Hence you'll find a lot of people stick with 0.34. Xplorer/Xploder running Caetla no longer works with xLink software, but Catflap supports PAR/Xplorer running Caetla. Caetla Here: http://www.psxdev.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=69&t=366 Catflap for Win7 here: http://www.psxdev.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=60&t=226 You can get it onto the cart using x-killer (supports original xplorer rom upload) http://www.psxdev.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=60&t=392 Or xFlash: (can be burned to CD, and supports x-killer over LPT through any card even when it's 'dead') http://www.psxdev.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=54&t=135 3) Zippy, Ahoy, Smartcart and even some of the later PAR ROMs all have the "disc stop" feature to allow fast swaps, but TBH I don't trust them to not have messed up other functions. Caetla itsself is 'unofficial', and totally gets the job done. 4) Cool/Interesting things include uploading your .EXEs, making your own patches/ROMs, dumping various things, debugging, hobby projects, etc. As a side note, I've just made a Caetla hack which can instaboot into XFlash (supports XPlorer protocol), Caetla (Caetla's protocol), MyAR (PAR/Gameshark protocol) and PSXSerial (Serial port comms). The download is here and includes the PC side software for all 4, and a burnable ISO to get your started. http://www.psxdev.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=60&t=722 I know I'm reviving a bit of an old thread here, but I see semi-answered/unanswered versions of these questions so often that it I felt it worth leaving a concrete answer. Mods: Sorry for so many PSXDev links - I didn't fancy my chances uploading a bunch of stuff as a user with like ~3 posts.
Awesome, thanks for providing some more concrete answers to these questions that have been bugging me for a while. I still have my modded ps1 with parallel port, but unfortunately the disc motor died. I've been looking to get my hands on a laser from a psone and transplant it as I heard it has the best. Will here be any problems transplanting the laser unit regarding xplorer cartridge and parallel port functionality? Also, was it true that backup cds damage the laser and if so how much roughly does it reduce ps1 lifecycle? (have you had laser failure with your caetla and swapping for backups?)
Using CD-Rs doesn't "damage" your laser. Using your laser at all puts wear on it. It doesn't matter if it's a factory pressed CD or a CD-R. Both wear the parts in the CD-ROM assembly. In short, don't be afraid to use CD-Rs. In theory a disc that is harder to read due to dust, scratches, or something else might put additional wear on the hardware due to error correction/re-reading the disc. But so long as you don't use bargin bin discs you'll be ok. If possible use CD-Rs Made in Japan as they are generally of the best quality.
That's good to know. From what I read on the net there is disagreement on this. There are people claiming that due to the way pressed discs are made CDR discs cause more wear. I'm not an engineer so like most people don't know who to believe. If anyone can explain the science behind this then I would be interested.
I think the general idea people try to float is that they believe the surface of the pressed disc is "easier to read" than a CD-R. Newer optical drives I think can adjust power to the laser for reading so people then believe that using CD-Rs or DVD-Rs causes extra wear. But the Playstation isn't capable of anything like that. Either it reads it or it doesn't. Like I stated before it's possible a disc that is in poor shape could cause read errors that are then corrected by additional reading of the sector again which then is adding "wear" you could say. But this is no more wear than just playing any game, or leaving a game playing that is reading data from the CD running while you go get a snack or something. As I said before, use high quality CD-Rs that are clean and free of scratches and you're not going to be wearing out your system any faster than if you were playing factory pressed discs. You should also keep your factory discs clean and free of scratches too.
You can found complete Laser Lens Replacement at Amazon, do a search for: Waltzmart Replacement KSM-440BAM Waltzmart Replacement KSM-440ADM Waltzmart Replacement KSM-440AEM The KSM-440xxx depending of the model of your ps1.
