How to properly install FreeHdBoot

This written tutorial was made to aid you on the procedure to properly format the ps2 HDD and install FreeHdBoot

First of all:

important notes:

Note

This tutorial will guide you on the format and install procedure assuming that you don’t have access to any application launching utility.If you posses a method to launch wLaunchELF on your own, start from this step and Don’t download the software requirements marked in red

Requirements

Hardware

Software

Installation

Setup the entry point

Note

This HDD image won’t work on PCMCIA models (SCPH-1x000) or pre-deckard slims (SCPH-70XXX) because those units can’t load HDD software autonomously

If you still want to use FreeHdBoot or HDD-OSD on the models mentioned before, take a look at this

Use FreeMcBoot as an alternative

Warning

There is a small chance that this HDD image won’t work the first time on expansion bay models.

For those models, the HDD software execution is controlled by a configuration on the console EEPROM.

If the image doesn’t Boot or HDD starts to power on and off in an endless loop, it means the HDD software execution is disabled, find a alternative method (FreeMcBoot or Freedvdboot)

Don’t worry, FreeMcBoot installer will enable the HDD software execution when FreeHdBoot installation finishes

We are assuming that you don't have access to uLaunchELF.

So we will load a small image of uLaunchELF KHN into the HDD, that should grant access to the wLaunchELF mod that will be used to begin the setup

Using HDD raw copy tool, write the __mbr.raw file into the desired HDD.

Proceed to the PS2

Disconnect the console form the power source (or use the switch on the back)

Plug the HDD to the console and the USB device into one of the USB ports

Connect the console back to he power source (or use the switch from the back again)

Turn on the console, the HDD should be powered on.

In less than 1 minute, you should see wLaunchELF KHN menu (it looks like this)

Format the HDD

Now that you are in uLaunchELF, enter the filebrowser option.

Then navigate to the mass:/ device (this is the USB device you plugged before)

Now try to locate the uLaunchELF ELF file that you downloaded before and open it (it should load a new uLaunchELF menú with a different color scheme like seen in this video)

When it opens up, open filebrowser again.

This time navigate to MISC/ and open the HDDManager subprogram.

After a few seconds, a new menú should appear, showing information about the HDD unit.

Press R1 and choose the option Format

After formatting (that takes aproximately 1 minute) the partition list should reload, showing the default partition structure:

__mbr
__net
__sysconf
__system
__common

Now press R1 again, this time choose the Create option

A keyboard should appear, write +OPL (ALL UPPERCASE), And hit ok.

After that a new dialog will appear, asking you to input partition size.

Choose 768 if your HDD size is smaller than 750gb

If it's larger than 750gb, choose 1024 or 1536

Now press ok, the partition table should reload, showing the new +OPL partition at the end of the list

Now press triangle, you should go back to the first menú.

Installing FreeHdBoot

Open filebrowser again.

Navigate to mass:/ and locate the FreeMcBoot installer folder.

Enter inside it and open the FMCBinstaller.ELF file

Wait untill the menú loads, then press R1 and choose Install FHDB

If it finished without errors then good job!

The HDD is ready to receive games.

And the FreeHdBoot installer automatically loaded wLaunchELF and OPL into the HDD.

The only thing left to do is configure OPL and install games from the PC