PS2Netbox is a kind of storage device which supports the connection with PS2 console through network cable and USB cable to facilitate the collection and management of game-related resources. The device is suitable for the use with the full range of PS2 console for game image storage, self-defined game list theme, game cover display, etc. It offers convenience for users to select games for entertainment rapidly and easily. In addition, it supports advanced game auxiliary functions such as virtual memory card, God Hand Cheats and forced high-definition video output. Users just need to connect the device to a PC with networking function via USB to download games directly to the device from the Internet, and then connect to PS2 console to play offline games after downloading.
FUNCTIONS
1. Game data is provided through the network cable
The loading and reading of data during the game are fast. The actual measurement is as the same as user experience of native hard disk drive interface.
2. Extreme convenient installing for games
It can be connected to the PC as a removable device. It can directly copy ISO game image, and also support direct installing of various tool software that install PS2 format hard disk drive.
3. Virtual USB flash disk
The virtual USB flash disk stores customized OPL software and no other storage device is required to save such matching software.
4. Support PS1 games
It is integrated with PS1 game loader POPStarter R13, and together with PS1 simulator (“POPS”or“SLBB-00001”) used on PS2, it can run PS1 games as conveniently as PS2 games.
5. Friendly game selection interface
After configuration, when booting PS2 console, the display of game list stored in current hard disk drive can be realized and user can enter the game after selecting it by the gamepad. A variety of language interfaces are provided, including Chinese, English, German, French, Spanish and so on.
6. The theme of game list interface can be customized
After the theme resource is copied to the directory of OPL\THM, the designated theme selected in OPL software can be used to present game selection interface.
7. Game cover can be customized
After the game cover image file is copied to the directory of OPL\ART, the game cover can be displayed on the game selection interface.
8. Simple and easy God Hand Cheats function
After copying the God Hand Cheats file to the directory OPL\CHT, switch on the God Hand Cheats enabled function in the game settings to automatically search for the God Hand Cheats file of the same name as the game image filename without extension, or of the same game serial number as the selected game.
9. Fully support virtual memory card
Virtual memory card is realized for the games.
FEATURES
WORKING PLAN
The device can be adapted to PS2 consoles of 1W, 3W, 5W, 7W and 9W. The device is connected to the PS2 console through the network cable, so 1W, 3W and 5W PS2 consoles need normal network function. For the 9W model without modded, if the BIOS version is 230, please ensure that it can be booted from the disks, however, normal optical disk driver function is not required for other models. The common usage patterns are as follows:
1. Equipped with original non-disassembly PS2 console
It needs to be used with FMCB memory card or bootable tool disks. After booting, use the file management software (such as uLaunchELF) on the boot media to browse the virtual USB flash disk on the device and run the customized OPL software on the USB flash disk to display the game list stored on the hard disk drive in the device, then users can select the games for entertainment.
2. Equipped with PS2 console with added modbo or other modchip
The device can be used in the same way as “the device with original non-disassembly PS2 console”.
If the added functions of the PS2 console include support for MASS boot (for example, use modbo5), it can be set to boot from MASS, and after startup, the game list is directly displayed for entertainment selection. There is no need for memory card and disks, so it is the most convenient way for use.
3. Equipped with 9W PS2 console with BIOS version 230
It needs to be used with bootable tool disks. After booting, use the file management software (such as uLaunchELF) on the boot media to browse the virtual USB flash disk on the device and run the customized OPL software on the USB flash disk to display the game list, then users can select the games for entertainment. The use of equipped boot disks of the device can display the game list directly after startup. Only this model of PS2 consoles requires normal optical disk driver function. The requirement of optical disk driver performance in this way is not strict, it only reads a small amount of data when starting up for each booting and then there will be no working for laser head, because big data are transmitted through the network. Some optical disk drivers that cause non-smooth games can work normally with the device.
4. The device is powered externally and separately
When the device is powered externally and separately, there is only one network cable connecting the device and PS2 console. The device consumes less power, but the hard disk drive that stores games generally consumes a lot of power. It needs to be equipped with the power adapter of 5V and the current not less than 2A. At the same time, the USB interface of the device cannot be plugged in the PS2 console. The customized OPL on the device’s virtual USB flash disk needs to be pre-copied to the other storage devices (physical USB flash disk or memory card) accessible to PS2 consoles for using file manager to load and run after the PS2 console starts up.
WORKING INSTRUCTIONS
1. Hard disk drive preparation
The device supports the use of 2.5-inch hard disk drive (laptop hard disk drive), including IDE interface and SATA interface hard disk drives. The hard disk drive needs to be fixed on the device’s bracket and covered with casing. Then the device is connected to PC through USB cable and PC will recognize it as the mobile hard disk drive. The hard disk drive can be formatted as PS2 special format or exFAT general format.
PS2 format hard disk drive management requires various special PS2 hard disk drive management tool software, so the operation is cumbersome and intuitive.
exFAT is recommended, because this format hard disk drive supports direct connection between the device and PC for game copy and various management operations and when connected to windows operating system, various operations can be realized through drag and drop. For the convenience of management, the files related to the device functions are stored under the OPL directory of root directory, and the full path not mentioned below refers to the contents under this directory. The device is compatible with the functions of hard disk drive cartridge, so it can be used for multi-purpose with no limit that the hard disk drive can only store games.
2. Game preparation
The device supports games from a variety of sources without destroying or skipping the PS2 console copyright verification mechanism. That is to say, when the device is not used, the runnable games can also be used with the device. The device is connected to the PC through USB cable. PS2 special format hard disk drive needs to record games through WH or other dedicated recording software.
After the exFAT format hard disk drive is connected to PC, it will be recognized as the high-capacity storage device by operating system and assigned the letter. Users just need to copy the game image file (.ISO file) to corresponding directories of PSI, disks or DVD. The game image name can be any name and the named strings will be directly displayed in the game list.
3. Settings for interface beautifying and game auxiliary functions
For PS2 special format hard disk drive, the device needs to be connected to PC first and then various management tool software running on PC are used for corresponding operations.
For exFAT general format hard disk drive, after connection between the device and PC, the device will be recognized as the high-capacity storage device by operating system and assigned the letter. Users just need to unzip various resource package directly to the corresponding directory of the hard disk drive which is just connected to PC. Specific operations: unzip the game selection interface theme package to THM directory; unzip game cover to ART directory; unzip God Hand Cheats file to CHT directory; copy virtual memory card file to VMC directory.
The matching method of various resource files related to games (such as game cover, God Hand Cheats) with game image is that the name of game image is as the same as the filename without extension name of resource file or that the resource file is named as game serial number. Such as: God of War image is “God of War.iso” and the game serial number is SCUS.974.81, its theme image file name can be “God of War_ART.jpg” or “SCUS.974.81_ART.jpg”.
4. Selection of booting methods
1) USB flash disk booting
The PS2 console has been modded and supports USB flash disk booting, so it can set to USB flash disk booting method. The USB cable data port of the device needs to be plugged in the PS2 console. The game list is displayed immediately after startup.
2) FMCB memory card booting
The USB cable data port of the device needs to be plugged in the PS2 console. Users need to boot the file manager in FMCB to run “OPL.elf” file in MASS device to show game list. The “OPL.elf” file in the virtual USB flash disk can be pre-copied in other storage devices (such as physical USB flash disk or memory card) for next running. The new version of “OPL.elf” file matching with the device can also be downloaded from the Internet. When using “OPL.elf” file on the devices other than virtual USB flash disk of the device, the USB cable data port of the device does not need to be connected with PS2 console.
3) FMCB memory card automatic booting which has been set
The process is similar to “FMCB memory card booting”, the difference is to set the automatic running of OPL.elf after booting. In this way, the game list will be displayed directly after startup. After running “OPL.elf” in the way of “FMCB memory card booting”, selecting “boot the software after startup” in the tool settings to realize it.
4) Tool disks booting
It is similar to the method of “FMCB memory card booting”, except that the booting media is the disks. This booting method requires disk-reading function of PS2 console.
5) Customized tool disks booting
After putting the customized booting disks in the disks drive and the USB cable data port of the device is connected with PS2 console, the game list will be displayed immediately after startup. This booting method requires normal and available PS2 console disks function.
5. Connect the PS2 console and start up
Connecting the network cable of the device to the PS2 console, connecting or not connecting USB cable according to booting mode, and powering on the PS2 console. If the automatic running of the device’s customized OPL software is set, the game list interface will be displayed, or the customized OPL software needs to run manually to display the game list. Just selecting the game for entertainment.
INSTALLATION
1. FMCB memory card booting, with PS2 special format hard disk drive
2. MASS booting, developing exFAT general format hard disk drive
PACKAGE
FAQ
1. Can the game image file be named with Chinese characters？
It can be named with any character, and the string will be displayed in the game list directly.
2. Why the booting for the first time is slow？
If the hard disk drive does not create OPL directory structure properly, the software will conduct analysis and establishment works. In addition, it will scan, create game list cache for the first use, so it is relatively slow.
3. How to deal with the prompt of hard disk drive format error？
The hard disk drive is the format that cannot recognized by this device. The device can only support PS2 special format and exFAT general format. The only method is to reformat the hard disk drive.
4. How to deal with the prompt of directory structure error？
There are some erroneous files or directories stored on hard disk drive and the software cannot re-create the required directory structure. Users can copy the materials that need to be preserved in OPL directory to other directories and delete OPL, then connect the device to the PS2 console and boot, after the creation of OPL and corresponding directory structure, copy the previous backup data.
5. How to deal with the game lag？
The most common reason is the use of hard disk drive with function failure, and the hard disk drive response is slow. Another rare cause is that many games are copied at the same time, or repeated deletion and copying of games for a long time cause the key data are stored in many discontinuous storage blocks and the game list interface will display that the game has fragment. For the hard disk drive failure, users need to change the hard disk drive; for the game fragment, they need to conduct defragment.
6. How to conduct defragment？
First, copy the files in the device hard disk drive to other storage devices for backup, and format the hard disk drive or delete all the directories and files on the hard disk drive, then copy the backup files to the device’s hard disk drive, and the fragments will be removed. The defragment can also be conducted by running tool software on the computer.
7. Does it support IGR shortcut key operation？
The device supports the press R1+R2+L1+L2+Select+Start to return to the game list interface during the game. Press R1+R2+L1+L2+R3+L3 during the game to shut down, power off the PS2 console and the power indicator turns to red.
8. What is the copy speed when connecting to the computer？
As a mobile hard disk drive cartridge connected to the computer, the operating speed can reach up to 9MB/s, including the copy of game image, theme, God Hand Cheats and backup of game save files.
9. PS2 console is equipped with USB1.1 interface, is the speed very slow？
The device uses network channel to transmit game data, the USB interface is only used to transmit the matching customized software when booting. PS2 console is equipped with 100M network interface, so the theoretical speed is 12.5MB/s. For the consideration of hard disk drive response speed and transmission delay, the data transmission speed in the games can reach 6MB/s. there is still a margin which can be used to update the firmware to increase speed in the future.
10. Whether the device can be used on the non-modded PS2 console？
Instead of the support of modchip, the device only needs to boot file manger and run the customized OPL software of the device for working, such as the running ways of FMCB, Swap Magic. For the non-modded PS2 console, the FMCB booting method is recommended.
11. Is a memory card necessary？
The device only requires that the PS2 console can browse, run the matching customized OPL software after booting, so for some booting methods, the memory card is not required. The device supports virtual memory card, except for a small number of games, most game progresses are supported to save on the hard disk drive of the device, so there is no need for physical memory card to save the game progress.
12. How to deal with the WH error that cannot operate the hard disk drive？
When the hard disk drive is made to PS2 format, such error may occur. It is necessary to use the administrator rights to run the computer software, such as WH. If users delete all the hard disk drive partitions to remove them and connect it to the computer, the follow-up operations usually will not have the errors.
13. Does it have the function of booting from Mass in all modded PS2 consoles？
Not all the modded PS2 consoles support this function. For example, Modbo5.0 PS2 consoles have such function, partial versions of Modbo4.0 have such function, while other Modbo ones do not have such function. It is recommended to use the memory card to automatically boot the software, which is adapted to most PS2 consoles, and the booting speed is much faster.
14. What are the advantages compared to the hard disk drive PHAT PS2 console？
For updating games or other resources (such as game cover, God Hand Cheats, etc.) in thick hard disk drive PS2 console, it is necessary to disassemble it to get the hard disk drive and put it into mobile hard disk drive cartridge for connecting with the computer or recording through the network. The former one requires a certain practical skills, however, frequent disassembly may cause interface loose and aging, poor contact so as to result in unstable games. The installing speed through the network is about 2~3MB/s. For the slow speed, it cannot be used for recording big games or multiple games.
15. What are the advantages compared to USB flash disk for playing games？
The USB flash disk interface speed of PS2 console is only 1MB/s, and the actual game speed is less than 600K. The slow speed is reflected in the game CG lag, so users need to wait for a long time to load the game and long-time blank screen occurs during game transmission. The USB flash disk method takes users 10 seconds to wait for the scene, while the device only takes 1-second waiting time.
16. What are the advantages compared to Samba method？
Samba requires expensive embedded device or computer with high power consumption and is also inconvenient to use. The speed is only 2MB/s, which is much slower than the device.
17. What are the advantages compared to 7W modded hard disk drive PS2 console？
7w modded hard disk drive PS2 console needs to be sent to professional technical personnel for operation. The fees for moding and follow-up maintenance are extremely high. It may destroy the PS2 console appearance, affect the original functions and be easy to cause occasional crashes due to too many and too messy fly wire.
18. What are the advantages compared to optical disk driver mode？
The laser head for disk reading is easy to wear and needs to be replaced regularly after aging, which may cause non-smooth reading or reading error. Each game needs one disks to save, which is inconvenient to save and select game. The device is equipped with one 2T hard disk drive which can store 600-700 games and provides convenience for users to preview games and select the interesting programs for entertainment.
19. Does it support any type of PS2 consoles in 7W, 9W？
All the PS2 consoles with network function and matching customized OPL software that can boot file manager can be used.
20. What kind of hard disk drive does it support？
At present, the device supports the 2.5-inch laptop hard disk drive, and one IDE or SATA interface hard disk drive can be installed at one time. It does not support M.2 and other interfaces temporarily, and it can support 3.5-inch desktop hard disk drive through adapter cable.
21. Why the performance of xx game is poor？
The device’s gaming experience is related to hard disk drive performance, so the failure-free hard disk drive generally has a good gaming experience. Some old hard disk drives or the second-hand hard disk drives that close to the limit of design lifetime may have the problems of slow response for disk reading, in severe cases, they may affect the gaming experience. The computer disk scanning software (such as HDDScan) can be used for inspection. If there are too many sectors with scanned response time of over 10ms, the gaming experience will be affected generally.
22. What is the difference with Samba mode？
Samba protocol performance is low, however, the device uses self-defined protocol with the speed faster than SMB. SMB method requires complicated settings, while the device uses a dedicated protocol with automatic matching and no need to set.
23. Is it possible to use God Hand Cheats？
Yes. It is compatible with the official version OPL function and easier to use.
24. Is it compatible with xxx game？
Users can refer to the official version OPL’s game compatibility list, and the device’s customized OPL has the added intelligent mode recognition, which is better than the official version OPL in compatibility. For incompatible games, users can try to boot mode 1, 3, 5 and 2, 4, 6 to enter the games.
PS1 game compatibility and problems can be found in the official forum of POPStarter software. Because the software is not the open-source version, the games running on the device has the same compatibility as the official version.
25. Game peripherals (light gun, steering wheel) of USB interface cannot work
Just connect the USB auxiliary power port of the device to PS2 console, or power on the device with external power. Make sure that the PS2 console USB peripherals do not work is not because of virtual USB flash disk function of the device. Users can also disable the device’s USB function in the tool settings of device’s customized OPL software.
26. Does it support plugging and unplugging of the device during the boot-up state？
The device’s data processing consumes little power, but the power consumption of the hard disk drive connected to the device is relatively large. If plugging or unplugging the device during the boot-up state, it may cause PS2 console reset due to excessive current drawn from the PS2 console to hard disk drive at the connecting moment. So if users want to use the device, please power off the PS2 console (in standby state), and power on after connecting the network cable and USB cable. The use of dual USB cable with auxiliary power supply can supply more stable power.
27. How to back up the device’s customized OPL software？
When the device is plugged in the USB port of PS2 console, it will be mimicked as a USB flash disk containing the customized OPL software. Users can use the file manager (such as uLaunchELF) running on PS2 to browse virtual U flash drive, and copy the customized OPL software to other storage devices which can be recognized by the PS2 console. Since then the device can be used normally when running the customized OPL software on any storage device.