Journey of a Noob in the PS3 World

I dont remember how much time it takes to full format a hdd in PS3, i made it lot of time ago, but i dont remember to be that much, maybe sony "nerfed" it in newer firmware versions (to improve stability), it would not surprise me, lol

When writing my previous message it came to mind the idea of the "flow diagram", there are some tools to make this kind of diagrams, but our requirements are very simple, and i remember to see some online webs that can be used to generate flow diagrams, it could be nice if we find one that allows to work collaborativelly (and no need to register in the web) so several people can edit it until we are happy with it, i need to search around to try to find something like this, i can make a part of that diagram flow but not completly, there are other parts of it that needs to be made by other people... and well, this is the kind of thing if going picky it can have 40 revisions until everybody is happy with the result and is explicit enought, but i like the idea of doing this flow diagram (and eventually i could "steal" it for the wiki) XD
 
Thank you for providing this guide. As a total newbie to PS3 modding, I was able to resurrect my slim model and install the Rebug CFW and the rebug tools. I'm so excited about this. I realize that all these options have only recently become available because some members in the community worked very hard. Thank you! I'm going to mod the ps3's of two of my friends. We all have the same needs. And here is my question:

You are saying that the external hard drive must be FAT32. I'm not going to debate that, but FAT32 means I can't put super large ISO files on it because of the 4GB file size limit. At the same time, you recommend for all games including older PS models to be in ISO format.

Before I proceed, buy hard drives, copy them, test it all, how do I solve this? An ISO splitter tool? I don't know which one to use.

In addition, what we all want is to play vintage consoles - all of them. We want MAME, all old Nintendo stuff, even C64 and Amiga if possible. I understand MultiMan is the way to go. Should I look into other things?
 
In addition, what we all want is to play vintage consoles - all of them. We want MAME, all old Nintendo stuff, even C64 and Amiga if possible. I understand MultiMan is the way to go. Should I look into other things?
Welcome to the Place!

Must have missed this post, as well as everyone else LOL... The only question I can answer for you is what I quoted... You want all retro-stuff??? Then you want RetroArch and Mednafen ( Multi-Platform Emulator/Frontends :) )... Im pretty sure those two will cover everything you listed... I just updated my 1st post ( the Main-TAB ) with more info you may be interested in.

Enjoy!

-Uni
 
Yep i missed that post too
The FAT32 for external is not a must... is just FAT32 is nativelly suported by the official firmware, so it works without need to use any hack
In CFW you can use NTFS for external... the support is made by either cobra or mamba
The difference in between cobra and mamba... is cobra is loaded at a low step of the bootchain... and mamba was intended to be loaded when you enter in a program (a backup manager like iris or managunz)
There are CFW labeld "cobra", in this ones you have the NTFS support enabled permanently

The point is... if you decide to use FAT32 then the "filesystem access stuff" is easyer and more robust and stable because the custom code is going to relly in the FAT32 functions from the firmware (because the FAT32 support is sony code 100%), the only problem you are going to have is splitting ISO in chunks of 4gb
Otherway, if you decide to use NTFS you need to take a look at the different backup managers that exists, and the different ways to "mount" backups and choose the one that addapts better to what you want
 
Yep i missed that post too
The FAT32 for external is not a must... is just FAT32 is nativelly suported by the official firmware, so it works without need to use any hack
In CFW you can use NTFS for external... the support is made by either cobra or mamba
The difference in between cobra and mamba... is cobra is loaded at a low step of the bootchain... and mamba was intended to be loaded when you enter in a program (a backup manager like iris or managunz)
There are CFW labeld "cobra", in this ones you have the NTFS support enabled permanently

The point is... if you decide to use FAT32 then the "filesystem access stuff" is easyer and more robust and stable because the custom code is going to relly in the FAT32 functions from the firmware (because the FAT32 support is sony code 100%), the only problem you are going to have is splitting ISO in chunks of 4gb
Otherway, if you decide to use NTFS you need to take a look at the different backup managers that exists, and the different ways to "mount" backups and choose the one that addapts better to what you want
WOW... Thanks sandy! I did not know ANY of that... Thought it was a $0NY-absolute-must just like with PS2... Im really happy I commented here today now and that you responded with the real answers to the parts I wasnt totally sure about... NICE! :)

Just because Im curious now myself (not that I personally have any need for it, but for future-knowledge...)... What exactly would the member do IF they WERE running a FAT32 external or USB-stick setup, with files larger than 4GB?
 
I dont have much experience in splitting ISO because i did choose the NTFS route, lol
By now i havent regret, but well... i see the advantages of FAT32 (mostly because is sony code)

When doing a game backup from optical disc (iris, multiman) it makes the iso but im not sure if it allows to split it automatically
Managunz can split them using the filemanager as far i remember... last features implemented in managunz was related with splitted ISO... not sure how many things can do but a few, heheh

In PC the same tools that makes the ISO can split them, personally i like this one from rudi rastelli http://www.psx-place.com/threads/ps3-iso-tools-by-rudi-rastelli.403/ (is the only thread i found about it, but i think there was published a newer version)
It allows to create the PS3 ISO with the 2 most common formats (both are ISO but has small differences)
-makeps3iso (same iso specifications than making it with iris)
-geniso (same iso specifications than making it with multiman)
 
I dont have much experience in splitting ISO because i did choose the NTFS route, lol
By now i havent regret, but well... i see the advantages of FAT32 (mostly because is sony code)

When doing a game backup from optical disc (iris, multiman) it makes the iso but im not sure if it allows to split it automatically
Managunz can split them using the filemanager as far i remember... last features implemented in managunz was related with splitted ISO... not sure how many things can do but a few, heheh

In PC the same tools that makes the ISO can split them, personally i like this one from rudi rastelli http://www.psx-place.com/threads/ps3-iso-tools-by-rudi-rastelli.403/ (is the only thread i found about it, but i think there was published a newer version)
It allows to create the PS3 ISO with the 2 most common formats (both are ISO but has small differences)
-makeps3iso (same iso specifications than making it with iris)
-geniso (same iso specifications than making it with multiman)
Awesome!

Ill never actually use any of that info myself, but its nice to have listed here in case someone needs to know...
Do you think I should add it to the OP?
Or is it not a common thing with PS3-users?

Thanks again!
 
Awesome!

Ill never actually use any of that info myself, but its nice to have listed here in case someone needs to know...
Do you think I should add it to the OP?
Or is it not a common thing with PS3-users?

Thanks again!
The PS3 ISO format is what gives highest compatibility so is important, but i been taking a read an the OP and it seems you had "PS3 ISO Tools v2.2" listed already so is fine

The other advise you have to use FAT32 (and devices connected to the USB port most closer to the bluray drive) is oki... but only applyes when doing low level tasks, like software repairs (such entering service mode) or things like that containing code where is hardcoded the USB port identifyer (the code searchs devices in that USB port only)

But for loading backups doesnt matter... actually is better to connect them in any other USB port (to preserve the USB port most at right because is more important)
Sometimes the USB ports stops working because the external hdd USB device squeezed too much power from it
 
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