You might heard it, we finally got our PAL disc and few tests done, but first lets describe what PS2 HD Loader is and how it works.

a) What is a PS2 HD Loader?
In simple words is a software that can "backup" original PS2 discs to an installed HDD at a un-modified PS2 console.

As the HD Loader website describes "...HDLoader allows you to install and run your Playstation 2™ games directly from a hard disk drive connected to your console (Sony PS2 Network adapter™ and compatible hard disk drive required)..."

I would suggest reading first the FAQ page at the HD Loader website for getting familiar with the HD Loader functionality. I will give some additional and interesting information as well...

b) The package
The HD Loader comes at a DVD boxed case with a printed manual for 5 languages (no Greek unfortunaly) and a pressed disc (CD).




As you have already read, the HD Loader needs an installed Hard Disk Drive, which connected to a PS2 Network Adapter. A HDD should be an easy task to find (or buy), the PS2 Network Adapter if not already bought should be done before getting the HD Loader disc.

c) The Installation
First you need the put the HDD into PS2. This done very easily ONLY if you have the proper HDD installed.

The problem here is that Western Digital HDD won't fit at the PS2 Network Card, making them useless for our purposes. For sure Maxtor and Seagate IDE (NOT SATA) HDD will work ok. To be sure check this list!

Of course SONY's original HDD will also work! The original SONY HDD is needed in case you want to play Final Fantasy FFXI (or online gaming)...Last minute information says that this could be overpassed quite easliy with an upcoming software.

Here we must note that the HD Loader software will recognize only 40~120GB HDD drives, meaning if you install a 200GB HDD, only 120GB will be recognized. Note this before trying to find where the extra 80GB went

After booting for the first time, PS2 wont' recognize the installed HDD. In order to see it, you need the special disc that comes with the original SONY HDD drive, but this isn't something that should worry you anyway.

Open the tray, insert the HD Loader disc and...lets start playing with it.

After the HDD detected, the software will prompt to format the HDD, if not already formatted. This finishes at around 6-10secs (fast) and then you proceed to the next step. You enter the main menu!




Press the eject button, insert the original game and press INSTALL. You will prompted to insert a name for the image and after 20~25mins (for DVD games) the image would be created. Eject the disc and you are ready to play it from the HDD.






The loading times are much faster (depends on the game), from our tests around 2~4 times faster than loading from the disc.

The file system at the formatted disc is NOT FAT32/NTFS, so the HDD disc won't be recognized under Windows. This easily can be overpassed with the HDL Dumb utility, as described over here!

d) The Compatibility
The big issue here is how well HD Loader works, meaning how many games can it backup to the HDD without any problem.

There are several websites that list compatible games like:

* HDLoader website
* PS2nfo.com

Its already known that DVD-9 games won't install and several others may install but not play.

Update: DVD9 can be installed with HDL Dumb!

e) Limitations

HD Loader doesn't support

* Backups of PS1 games
* Backups of DVD+/-R PS2 games (copies)
* Saves to HDD for games (only to memcard)
* NA or Network Settings (DNAS), for online games (this may fixed at the near future with unofficial patches)

Update: Backup discs of DVD5/9 games can be installed with the HDL Dump

f) Tips

* To change the compatibility of any installed game, press the select button after highlight a title and you will see three modes:

Mode1: disabled
Mode2: disabled
Mode3: disabled

You can either enable one of them alone or two of the or all three (8 combinations)

* The HD Loader disc doesn't spin down by default so it may annoy you, since produces noise. If you press Install and after Cancel (before running a game), this will stop the drive

QA

1) What SONY feels about HD Loader?
According to the Playstation.com forums,"...The HD Loader is a circumvention device. The distribution and receiving of circumvention devices is illegal...", the answer is clear, SONY says that HD Loader is illegal

HD Loader Disc

The HD Loader Disc is a CD disc with PS2 content.





The disc has 2 visible rings on the back, for copy protection, which include many bad blocks causing the reader a long time to read. Below you can see at which time points bad blocks exist.




Click at the attachement to see the Alcohol 120% reading log. Of course since our PS2 isn't modchiped we cannot test if the backup works or not, but from gathered information probably won't...

(in reply to emperor)