Preparing a PlayStation 2 (PS2) for use with HDAdvance(HDLoader prefrebly) is easy.Take a standard ATA/IDE hard drive (up to 120GB), attach it to a PlayStation 2 Network Adaptor, and slide the contraption into PS2's expansion bay. Insert the disc and load the software. That's it.
HDLoader's simple menu provides the expected options for imaging, running, renaming, and deleting your PS2 backups. The process of imaging a disc to the hard drive is often time-consuming due to the relatively slow speed of the PS2's optical drive. It usually takes the average game to load between 7 and 30 minutes to fully download depending on the full content of the game.
- Offical PS2 hardrice or 3rd Party harddrive under 127GB
- HDLoader Disc Link to get HDLoader and Other parts as a package
- Offical PS2 Network adaptor PS2 network adaptor purchase site
- 3/16 Flat head screw driver
- And of course you need a PS2
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Gathering meterials for install. |
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Next you need to postion the harddrive so you can slide it into the network adaptor IDE config. slot. |
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Make sure you get the hardrive tight into the network adaptor. |
 
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Make sure you install the harddrive and network adaptor while your your PS2 is lying flat on the bed(if you dont you could pull the IDE slots out of the network adaptor). Then tighten the screws not to tight but tight enough to stay in. |
Then the instalation is for the harddrive is complete. All you have to do know is boot up the PS2 and put in the HDLoader disc in and it will follow the instructions. Then you have a harddrive installed on your PS2.
Hres a list of known games that work, don't work and games that just have problems with the software Link to Compatibility site(this is not the complete list).
You CAN'T install:
- PSone Games (Black/Any)
- PS2 dual-layer Games (Gold)
- DVD Movies (Any)
- CD Audio (Any)
- PSone Backups (Any)
- PS2 Backups (Any)
- Import PS2 Games (Any)
- PS2 CD Games (Blue)
- PS2 DVD Games (Silver)
Coping Saved Games to the Hard Drive:
You can copy your saved game files to the hard drive if you have an offical PS2 hard drive only. It wont work with any 3rd party hard drives(such as Maxtor). If you're using a 3rd party hard drive, it will not show on the BROWSER Menu like the official drive does:
Can I still play online?
Running games off the hard drive, you cannot play DNAS-Enabled games online. DNAS stands for Dynamic Network Authentication System and is a security check to protect against modification. You can still play these games online by inserting the game disc. Older games may work fine as they do not have a DNAS check, but I get conflicting information on this, although the general trend seems to be that they will not work. The following online games do not have a DNAS check:(this list is not fully updated as you can tell but it gives you a vague estimate)
- Amplitude
- ATV Offroad Fury 2
- Auto Modellista
- Chessmaster
- ESPN Basketball
- ESPN College Hoops
- ESPN NFL Football
- ESPN NHL Hockey
- Frequency
- Madden NFL 2003
- Midnight Club II
- My Street
- NBA 2k2
- NBA Live 2003
- NCAA Basketball 2k3
- NFL 2k3
- NFL Gameday 2003
- NFL Blitz Pro
- Risk: The Game of Global Domination
- SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs
- Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
- Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4
- Tribes: Aerial Assault
- Twisted Metal Black: Online
If you install one of the games that can be played online off the hard drive, do not let anyone else use you disc because online play discs have specific IDs and if the same ID is online at the same time, all PS2s using it receive a permanent ban on all online PS2 services including games, content and central station. Technically you shouldn't lend games out anyway but I think you would be hard pressed to find anyone who's never lent some form of media.
HDLoader Compatibility Modes:
This is a function that allows you to get some games to work with HD Loader that otherwise would not. It’s a very important function yet was left out of the HD Loader manual for some reason. See the Compatibility mode help page for more details (this helps some games that normally wouldn't work on HDLoader work).
Known Problems:
I have had trouble with getting HDLoader to recognize Seagate hard drives and hard drives that exceed 120GB but it is possible. I believe Maxtor has 200GB hard drive that is compatible with the software(not sure if that breaches that 127GB limit). Why does my HD Loader disc say 'CRAZY_TAXI' when I put it in my PC? It's because it uses the Crazy Taxi 'boot file' in order to convince the PS2 to boot it. It's the same practice used by Datel for Action Replay, and other 'unlicensed' software (don't worry this is completely normal).
Warning:
Installing games that do not belong to you are illegal (exp: If you rent a game from blockbuster and put it on the hardrive of your PS2; that is illegal). There is no way for anyone to find out you copied the game to the harddrive inless they physcally look at your PS2. Although copying games onto the PS2 harddrive that are not purchased or owned by the user is illegal, I find HDLoader to be a very cool hack that is worth sharing.