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**hacked2123** · 12-09-2010

Here is my WIP project on PS2 HDD support and discless ELF launching from the PS3 XMB. First off I'd like to thank w1zard0f07 for being able to at least try helping me out with this one.

Over the last month or so I have been working on a little trick for the Phat Model PS3s. In summary FFXI is PS2 title that requires PS2 HDD support which is added via this pkg ([NPIA00001] PS2 System Files).

From there a "PS2 partition is made", which translates to an IMAGE.DAT file being made to exactly 12GB (according to GameOS/FTP this file is 0kb large)

The contents of this HDD is listed in the attached "Blank PS2 HDD.txt" (The partition list is corrupted according to w1zard0f07, quote "APA partition table on your dump file is broken")

The XMB icon is not launchable by this point, and requires the PlayOnline Viewer to be installed. This undergoes a certificate process, and then continues to install PlayOnline viewer to the "PS2 HDD." It is after this point the XMB icon is launchable, and goes straight into the PS2 mode reading from PP.SCUS-97269.1000.POLVIEWER and launching "dnasload.elf" (Unfortunately access is denied to that partition due to some sort of key being used... I haven't done any research on it)

Code:

BOOT2 = pfs:/dnasload.elf
DNASBOOT2 = pfs:/SCUS-97269
VER = 1.03
VMODE = NTSC
HDDUNITPOWER = NICHDD

Currently I am doing my best to replace atok100.erx (an elf file it appears) with ULaunchELF, but something is also going wrong...

Anyways, if any one wants to help, or offer help, please do! (It all compresses to 95MB if anyone is interested in the IMAGE.DAT (PM me)... but only for those genuinely interested in doing the research)

IMAGE.DAT Content (Blank)

Code:

> device hdd2:
ps2hdd: PS2 APA Driver v1.1 (c) 2003 Vector
ps2hdd: max open = 1, 3 buffers
ps2hdd: 01:58:49 12/08/2010
hio: hdd2:: opened.
hio: 234436544 sectors.
ps2hdd: disk0: 0x0df937c0 sectors, max 0x00400000
ps2hdd: checking log...
ps2hdd: drive status 0, format version 00000002
ps2hdd: driver start.
ps2fs: Playstation Filesystem Driver v1.0
ps2fs: (c) 2003 Sjeep, Vector and Florin Sasu
ps2fs: Max mount: 2, Max open: 8, Number of buffers: 64
ps2fs: Driver start.
# ls
0x0001   128MB __mbr
0x0100   128MB __net
0x0100   128MB __system
0x0100   128MB __sysconf
0x0100   128MB __common
0x0000   128MB __empty
0x0000   256MB __empty
0x0000  1024MB __empty
0x0000  1024MB __empty
0x0000  1024MB __empty
0x0000  1024MB __empty
0x0000  1024MB __empty
0x0000  1024MB __empty
0x0000  1024MB __empty
0x0000  1024MB __empty
0x0000  1024MB __empty
0x0000  1024MB __empty
0x0000  1024MB __empty
ps2hdd: Error: disk err -5 on device 0, sector 25165824, type 0
0x0000  1024MB __empty
ps2hdd: Error: disk err -5 on device 0, sector 25165824, type 0
...

# mount __mbr
(!) hdd0:__mbr: Permission denied.
(!) Exit code is -13.
# mount __net
(!) hdd0:__net: Permission denied.
(!) Exit code is -13.
# mount __system
(!) hdd0:__system: Permission denied.
(!) Exit code is -13.
# mount __sysconf
__sysconf:/# ls
drwxrwxrwx        512 2006-11-10 19:20 .
drwxrwxrwx        512 2006-11-10 19:20 ..
dr-xr-xr-x        512 2006-11-10 19:20 atok
drwxrwxrwx        512 2006-11-10 19:20 etc
dr-xr-xr-x        512 2006-11-10 19:20 font
__sysconf:/# cd atok
ps2fs: Error: Unused cache returned
__sysconf:/atok# ls
dr-xr-xr-x        512 2006-11-10 19:20 .
drwxrwxrwx        512 2006-11-10 19:20 ..
-r--r--r--    3255040 2006-11-10 19:20 atokp.dic
-rw-rw-rw-      15616 2006-11-10 19:20 atokpyou.dic
-r-xr-xr-x     522840 2006-11-10 19:20 atok100.erx
__sysconf:/atok# cd ..
__sysconf:/# cd etc
ps2fs: Error: Unused cache returned
__sysconf:/etc# ls
drwxrwxrwx        512 2006-11-10 19:20 .
drwxrwxrwx        512 2006-11-10 19:20 ..
drwxrwxrwx        512 2010-11-11 22:13 bnnetwork
__sysconf:/etc# cd bnnetwork
ps2fs: Error: Unused cache returned
__sysconf:/etc/bnnetwork# ls
drwxrwxrwx        512 2010-11-11 22:13 .
drwxrwxrwx        512 2006-11-10 19:20 ..
-rwxrwxrwx        162 2010-11-11 22:13 netcnf000.dat
__sysconf:/etc/bnnetwork# cd ..
__sysconf:/etc# cd ..
__sysconf:/# cd font
ps2fs: Error: Unused cache returned
__sysconf:/font# ls
dr-xr-xr-x        512 2006-11-10 19:20 .
drwxrwxrwx        512 2006-11-10 19:20 ..
-r--r--r--    2138312 2006-11-10 19:20 sce20i22.gf
-r--r--r--    2986568 2006-11-10 19:20 sce24i26.gf
-r--r--r--      30976 2006-11-10 19:20 s22i646.gf
-r--r--r--      61952 2006-11-10 19:20 s22j201.gf
-r--r--r--    2138312 2006-11-10 19:20 s22j213.gf
-r--r--r--      61952 2006-11-10 19:20 s22ulst.gf
-r--r--r--      43264 2006-11-10 19:20 s26i646.gf
-r--r--r--      86528 2006-11-10 19:20 s26j201.gf
-r--r--r--    2986568 2006-11-10 19:20 s26j213.gf
-r--r--r--      86528 2006-11-10 19:20 s26ulst.gf..
__sysconf:/#

# mount __common
__common:/# ls
drwxrwxrwx        512 2010-11-11 14:54 .
drwxrwxrwx        512 2010-11-11 14:54 ..
drwxrwxrwx        512 2010-11-11 14:54 Your Saves
__common:/# cd "Your Saves"
ps2fs: Error: Unused cache returned
__common:/Your Saves# ls
drwxrwxrwx        512 2010-11-11 14:54 .
drwxrwxrwx        512 2010-11-11 14:54 ..
drwxrwxrwx        512 2010-11-11 14:55 BASCUS-97269POL
__common:/Your Saves# cd BASCUS-97269POL
ps2fs: Error: Unused cache returned
__common:/Your Saves/BASCUS-97269POL# ls
drwxrwxrwx        512 2010-11-11 14:55 .
drwxrwxrwx        512 2010-11-11 14:54 ..
-rw-rw-rw-         15 2010-11-11 14:54 BASCUS-97269POL
-rw-rw-rw-        964 2010-11-11 14:54 icon.sys
-rw-rw-rw-      33696 2010-11-11 14:54 playonline.ico
-rw-rw-rw-       1500 2010-11-11 14:56 inet_p.bin
-rw-rw-rw-         20 2010-11-11 14:58 startlog.bin

IMAGE.DAT Content (With PlayOnline/FFXI)

Code:

# ls
0x0001   128MB __mbr
0x0100   128MB __net
0x0100   128MB __system
0x0100   128MB __sysconf
0x0100   128MB __common
0x0100   128MB PP.SCUS-97269.0002.TETRAMASTER
0x0000   256MB __empty
0x0100  1024MB PP.SCUS-97269.1000.POLVIEWER
0x0000  1024MB __empty
0x0000  1024MB __empty
0x0000  1024MB __empty
0x0000  1024MB __empty
0x0000  1024MB __empty
0x0000  1024MB __empty
0x0000  1024MB __empty
0x0000  1024MB __empty
ps2hdd: Error: disk err -5 on device 0, sector 25165824, type 0
0x0000  1024MB __empty
ps2hdd: Error: disk err -5 on device 0, sector 25165824, type 0
...

NOTE: Although initially FFXI was required to do the research, I do not believe it is necessary to continue, because the param.sfo and image.dat created should be "pkg compatible", also the "CATEGORY" is "2G" btw.

Also, that if a proper PKG were created with that param.sfo and IMAGE.DAT for "SLUS20071", it would add native HDD support to "Swap Magic Coder 3.8", which is able to launch any elf it desires, including just released OPL 0.8.

PS2 HDD Support & Discless ELF Launching from PS3 XMB WIP

More PlayStation 3 News...

**NTAuthority** · 12-09-2010

One thing I'm wondering even more is how the XMB icon launches the PS2 'emulator' directly. Is it installed in the usual GAME folder? What files are in there? And is the 'PlayOnline Viewer' a program installed from the FFXI PS2 disc? I'm also wondering if (if NPDRM SELFs are already able to be decrypted) an existing SELF (if it doesn't use magic from the VSH) would contain strings to launch the specific PS2 emulator.

On-topic however, does the 'encrypted' image file start with any seemingly-useful header?

**PS3 News** · 12-09-2010

I have now moved your WIP project to the main page and +Rep hacked2123. Long live the SuperSwapMethod too!

**hacked2123** · 12-09-2010

Originally Posted by NTAuthority

One thing I'm wondering even more is how the XMB icon launches the PS2 'emulator' directly. Is it installed in the usual GAME folder? What files are in there? And is the 'PlayOnline Viewer' a program installed from the FFXI PS2 disc? I'm also wondering if (if NPDRM SELFs are already able to be decrypted) an existing SELF (if it doesn't use magic from the VSH) would contain strings to launch the specific PS2 emulator.

On-topic however, does the 'encrypted' image file start with any seemingly-useful header?

Well it works with the param.sfo categorizing it as 2G, which is "Playstation 2" in the XMB, and it gains its own blue icon. From there launching it is probably built into the XMB and it launches PS2emu.self, which loads IMAGE.DAT, and looks for "Your Saves" and finds BASCUS-97269POL, which tells the system it wants PP.SCUS-97269.1000.POL*/system.conf, which tells it to launch dnaloads.elf. All of this being speculation unfortunately...

PlayOnline Viewer is "Disk 2", in a matter of speaking, for Final Fantasy XI. There is only "/SLUS97269/PARAM.SFO", "/NPIA00001/PARAM.SFO", "/NPIA00001/USRDIR/IMAGE.DAT", and "/SLUS97269/USRDIR/IMAGE.DAT", so there is no NPDRM. I don't think anything is really encrypted per say either... not as extensively as the PS3 stuff is at any rate.

First 130 bytes of IMAGE.DAT

Code:

D0 F3 86 8D 41 50 41 00 00 00 04 00 00 00 A0 04 5F 5F 6D 62 72 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  Ðó†APA....... .__mbr...........
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 8B BD 61 61 7B 39 FF A5 8B BD 61 61 7B 39 FF A5  ................‹½aa{9ÿ¥‹½aa{9ÿ¥
00 00 00 00 00 00 04 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 14 35 0E 0B 0B DA 07 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  ..................5...Ú.........
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  ................................
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  ................................
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  ................................
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  ................................
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  ................................
53 6F 6E 79 20 43 6F 6D 70 75 74 65 72 20 45 6E 74 65 72 74 61 69 6E 6D 65 6E 74 20 49 6E 63 2E  Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
02 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 14 35 0E 0B 0B DA 07 00 20 00 00 C1 03 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  ..........5...Ú.. ..Á...........

I'll link a youtube vid either tomorrow or Friday.

**Haksam** · 12-09-2010

more great news thanks!!

is this the same method as luckluka's?

**NTAuthority** · 12-09-2010

Originally Posted by hacked2123

First 130 bytes of IMAGE.DAT

Code:

D0 F3 86 8D 41 50 41 00 00 00 04 00 00 00 A0 04 5F 5F 6D 62 72 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  Ðó†APA....... .__mbr...........
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 8B BD 61 61 7B 39 FF A5 8B BD 61 61 7B 39 FF A5  ................‹½aa{9ÿ¥‹½aa{9ÿ¥
00 00 00 00 00 00 04 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 14 35 0E 0B 0B DA 07 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  ..................5...Ú.........
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  ................................
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  ................................
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  ................................
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  ................................
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  ................................
53 6F 6E 79 20 43 6F 6D 70 75 74 65 72 20 45 6E 74 65 72 74 61 69 6E 6D 65 6E 74 20 49 6E 63 2E  Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
02 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 14 35 0E 0B 0B DA 07 00 20 00 00 C1 03 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  ..........5...Ú.. ..Á...........

That looks like a raw image... if there's any PC apps capable of reading a PS2 HDD's filesystem you might be able to do more with it than when trying to access it from PS2 applications (at least, I think the 'ps2hdd: PS2 APA Driver v1.1 (c) 2003 Vector' is a PS2 application, and that might be why certain partitions give a 'permission denied' error).

However, if it's actually a PC application, 'permission denied' might be some directory index not being read properly, but you'd need to check the source code of the application to find out what it actually is... I'd like to have the image so I could mess around with the partition index in it.

**enohand** · 12-09-2010

wow its about time somone started looking into this...

i had said about a year ago, why doesnt somone try to load FF & or Resident evil for ps2 that utilize the HDD in the ps3. therfore there would be a ps2 partition, then you could extened that partition, & store backups of your ps2 games there...

**IndyColtsFan84** · 12-09-2010

is it safe to assume this is for B/C fat ps3's?

**sorg** · 12-09-2010

Originally Posted by IndyColtsFan84

is it safe to assume this is for B/C fat ps3's?

definitely. non-BC PS3 will require pure software emulator which is completely different story (some port of PS2 emulator from PC if there is such).

Here is talk about native HW/semi-HW PS2 emulator existing in PS3 firmware.

**cfwprophet** · 12-09-2010

Nice and thx for sharing you researches. If you have some time come online on messenger. Maybe i can share some files with you that could help. We will see. Don't know if you haved time to follow the scene. But team is getting bigger more progress is done. New projects running they are not puplic at this stage. Would like to talk to you and use your skills.

Latest PS3 News Forum Updates

PS2 HDD Support & Discless ELF Launching from PS3 XMB WIP