You have the button working because you had wM combos disabled before and this setting is now ignored.
Can you check your content refresh settings?
I'm using a ntfs HDD with ISO games and none freeze.
Using the debug stage2.bin would help find out what is the problem, and it is one specific to your configuration.
This is where my ignorance gets the best of me, at least for now, and I apologize for that. How can I check the refresh settings? is it a specific option in the sMAN's setup page?
Regarding the sMAN's setup page: I've already refreshed a couple times and saved the settings + reboot. Pretty much the default settings, never changed anything.
And I will definitely test out the use of a debug stage2.bin as long as I know what it means/how it is done.
I somehow sense you've nailed it, it has most probably have to do with my own configuration.
The same has happened to me before using wMM just as the user Turranius describes in this thread (maybe it has something to do with it):
http://www.psx-place.com/threads/webman-mod-v1-45-00-new-features-web-commands-improvements-from-aldostools.11237/page-6
"Turranius: Back. Sorry for not replying earlier. I had to wait for the next PS3 =)
I've now tested the exact same way. Factory restored 4.80 OFW, downgraded to Rebug 4.80.1 blabla.
This time, I first turned off the PS3s built in "Disc Auto-Play" feature as I was testing to make sure the BD drive was OK.
I then did the same test with WebMAN MOD. Automatic closing of webbrowser and AutoPlay checked in WebMAN setup.
No problems this time. Strange I thought. It mounts it, closes the browser, waits a while until the game image shows up and starts fine. That is not how it behaved before. I did not get the game image before it launched into a black screen and I had to hold the power cycle it the hard way.
So then I thought about the built in "Disc Auto-Play" function that I've disabled. I enabled it again and got the same behavior with the black screen.
SO!
Confirm Browser Close = Disabled
Auto Play checked in WebMAN setup
System Settings / Disc Auto-Start = ON
And you just get the black screen.
Confirm Browser Close = Enabled
Auto Play checked in WebMAN setup
System Settings / Disc Auto-Start = ON
All OK. Starts fine."
UPDATE:
If I keep sMAN's setup page open while I launch the games' menu holding the start button, I'm able to load any game, wait 1 or 2 secs before closing sMAN's setup page, and then, when I run the mounted game from the XMB it always runs fine. I guess sMAN's loading is too fast for my ntfs.
Thanks for the help!