PS2 MechaPwn by MechaResearch 2.00

[Keiyuu]

Hi,
I'm not sure if I'm doing something wrong but I need some help.
I have a PAL SCPH-50004 and my goal is to use MechaPwn to run PS1 backups from all regions but mostly NTSC. I've tried converting it to different DTL units and no matter what I choose, burned PS1 discs (only tried NTSC so far) result in a black screen. The disc does show up as a PS1 game in the browser though."Force unlock" is always disabled since I don't intend to run PS2 discs, I use OPL for that.
In this thread here someone mentioned that when converting to a DTL-H77001 it should run NTSC backups without issue and without the need to change video modes. But I've already tried that and PS1 backups always boot into a black screen.
Am I missing something?

 

[Peppe90]

Hi,
I'm not sure if I'm doing something wrong but I need some help.
I have a PAL SCPH-50004 and my goal is to use MechaPwn to run PS1 backups from all regions but mostly NTSC. I've tried converting it to different DTL units and no matter what I choose, burned PS1 discs (only tried NTSC so far) result in a black screen. The disc does show up as a PS1 game in the browser though."Force unlock" is always disabled since I don't intend to run PS2 discs, I use OPL for that.
In this thread here someone mentioned that when converting to a DTL-H77001 it should run NTSC backups without issue and without the need to change video modes. But I've already tried that and PS1 backups always boot into a black screen.
Am I missing something?

You should convert to DTL-H50001 (never change the model prefix, it can lead to problems as mentioned in the readme).

 

[IQ-STIC]

I realy don't know
specs from my ps2 fat scph-50011 from ps2ident

Hello, I have that PS2 Fat Model, a Mexican Model. SCPH-50011.
For some reason, when introducing a dvd-r or some game on cd
(Already with the MechaPwn exploit installed) It makes a strange noise and it
does not recognize it and when I manage to make it read it, it sends me to the
red screen.




Original games reproduces them without problems. I have not tried an original ps1
game but I think it works too. Could someone explain to me that this model is rare.
For some reason few have it and whoever has it suffers from the same.

 

[Keiyuu]

You should convert to DTL-H50001 (never change the model prefix, it can lead to problems as mentioned in the readme).

That was the first one I tried. But it wouldn't let me play PS1 games, which is why I started to try other DTL models.

So I've been able to try burned PAL PS1 games by now and they do work without issue. It's just NTSC PS1 games that boot into a black screen despite being recognized as PS1 games in the browser.
Does anyone know what the problem might be here?

 

[TnA]

Logo-check region mismatch probably.

 

[psydefx]

That was the first one I tried. But it wouldn't let me play PS1 games, which is why I started to try other DTL models.

So I've been able to try burned PAL PS1 games by now and they do work without issue. It's just NTSC PS1 games that boot into a black screen despite being recognized as PS1 games in the browser.
Does anyone know what the problem might be here?

only pal psx disc originals and backups will boot from osdsys. i think you can patch isos before burning them though ive not tried as my consoles are ntsc-u. that or use import player light

 

[Peppe90]

That was the first one I tried. But it wouldn't let me play PS1 games, which is why I started to try other DTL models.

So I've been able to try burned PAL PS1 games by now and they do work without issue. It's just NTSC PS1 games that boot into a black screen despite being recognized as PS1 games in the browser.
Does anyone know what the problem might be here?

Sorry it comes to my mind just now that the problem is probably related to not-deckard models. I installed MechaPwn on a 75004 and changing it to USA dev-kit, all Ps1 games from every region just start from osdsys.

You should change the Ps2 to DTL-H50004 and patch Ps1 isos to europe with disk patcher 3.0 before burning.
For NTSC games to be displayed in correct 480i/240p @60hz you can use PS1VModeNeg.

 

[Nuhai]

So I currently have a PAL SCPH-90004, and I would like to preferably change it permanently to a 90001. I have no interest in PAL games and I mainly collect NTSC games PS1 and PS2, however I also use FreeDVDBoot for a lot of backup PS2 Games, would the CEX option break anything, like FDVDBoot or anything else? Or would that be the correct option for me?

 

[Peppe90]

So I currently have a PAL SCPH-90004, and I would like to preferably change it permanently to a 90001. I have no interest in PAL games and I mainly collect NTSC games PS1 and PS2, however I also use FreeDVDBoot for a lot of backup PS2 Games, would the CEX option break anything, like FDVDBoot or anything else? Or would that be the correct option for me?

For Ps1 backups you need a devkit patch (DTL-H90001). Force unlock is the option that breaks DVD video and FDVDB (also Ps1 games), it doesn't matter if using cex or dex.

However MechaPwn is still buggy and many people had DVD video reproduction broken anyway. Keep safe your nvm.bin backup. But also it seems that some people couldn't restore the DVD video player even after restoring the backup**, so do it at your own risk.

** I think some people didn't stored their original nvm.bin. If you move/delete it, mechapwn will create another nvm.bin, but it will be made from the current mechapwn patch, it won't restore your original nvm.bin. This could be the reason of this issue some people are experiencing, but there could also be someone doing it right, thus being a mechapwn bug. As I said if you do it, consider the risk.

 

[Nuhai]

For Ps1 backups you need a devkit patch (DTL-H90001). Force unlock is the option that breaks DVD video and FDVDB (also Ps1 games), it doesn't matter if using cex or dex.

However MechaPwn is still buggy and many people had DVD video reproduction broken anyway. Keep safe your nvm.bin backup. But also it seems that some people couldn't restore the DVD video player even after restoring the backup**, so do it at your own risk.

** I think some people didn't stored their original nvm.bin. If you move/delete it, mechapwn will create another nvm.bin, but it will be made from the current mechapwn patch, it won't restore your original nvm.bin. This could be the reason of this issue some people are experiencing, but there could also be someone doing it right, thus being a mechapwn bug. As I said if you do it, consider the risk.

Yeah I have no real interest in ps1 backups, just for the most part original games. And I also do not want to do force unlock. My main thing is I want to play original PS1 games, original PS2 games and freeDVDBoot ps2 games NTSC on a PAL console and wondering if changing my system from SCPH-90004 to SCPH-90001(CEX) would be the correct choice

 

[Peppe90]

Yeah I have no real interest in ps1 backups, just for the most part original games. And I also do not want to do force unlock. My main thing is I want to play original PS1 games, original PS2 games and freeDVDBoot ps2 games NTSC on a PAL console and wondering if changing my system from SCPH-90004 to SCPH-90001(CEX) would be the correct choice

Then you don't need MechaPWN at all. Unless you want the OSDSYS to be in NTSC.

 

[Nuhai]

Then you don't need MechaPWN at all. Unless you want the OSDSYS to be in NTSC.

I do because there is no other way for me to play PS1 original NTSC games on a PAL 90k without a modchip which I do not want. I have 0 interest in PAL, not the games, no movies, nothing. My question simply is, will changing my SCPH-90004 to a SCPH-90001 with the CEX option in mechapwn break anything or will it fully act like a 90001 and I can easily play my ps1 NTSC originals and ps2 NTSC originals

 

[Peppe90]

I do because there is no other way for me to play PS1 original NTSC games on a PAL 90k without a modchip which I do not want. I have 0 interest in PAL, not the games, no movies, nothing. My question simply is, will changing my SCPH-90004 to a SCPH-90001 with the CEX option in mechapwn break anything or will it fully act like a 90001 and I can easily play my ps1 NTSC originals and ps2 NTSC originals

Sorry you're right I wasn't thinking about Ps1 region block.

Then things are like i said on my first answer. More precisely:

After patching with MechaPwn, most likely, you'll lose the DVD video player (you'll get the error "uninstalled DVD video player" when inserting a DVD video). If you'll ever want to play a DVD video you'll have to restore your original nvm.bin (and hope it'll work).

The short answer to your question should be yes (it is not actually 100% clear from the readme and I never used the CEX patch, always DEX).
If Ps1 games won't start, just patch again using the DEX version.

 

[TnA]

I simply patched mine from SCPH-90004 to DTL-90001 and can still use everything from my region as well as out of region stuff + the DVD-Player still works for me and hence all FDVDB stuff as well.

To answer your question: Yes, a "normal conversion" (no DTL) should make your PS2 a SCPH-90001!

 

[Hugostoso]

I may be stating the obvious, but it wasn't obvious for me and I didn't see it mentioned anywhere so hey-ho.
Even though you can't bypass region lock on older PAL systems by the means of mechapwn, today I tried something that had occurred to me, and got NTSC-U game working on my PAL 50004 console.
First, I converted the mechacon to a devkit model console. As described in the readme, this by itself didn't defeat the region lockout as it requires 7xxxx or newer PS2. However, what did the trick was ESR. After getting black screen on mechapwn console and getting kicked back to browser, I launched ESR, got blinking screen, and presto, the game started right up. I've tested this approach with God of War, FF X and Dragon Quest VIII and everything seems to be working as it should.

Bottom line is, tag team of exploits beats what neither of them could accomplish by themselves on my vanilla console.

What is the point in convert your PS2 into a Devkit model if in practice it still a retail model ? It's not like a xbox where you can flash the bios and really convert into a debug unit

 

[Agrippa]

The thing is the EUR and JPN consoles have got a logo check to prohibit booting of games from outside the native region. The game is still authenticated correctly. Bypassing the PS2LOGO solves this problem on the early DRAGON models (it's the FASTBOOT option in the FMCB, or something like that).

The universal BOOT ROM is present only in the 75000+ models.

 

[Peppe90]

I simply patched mine from SCPH-90004 to DTL-90001 and can still use everything from my region as well as out of region stuff + the DVD-Player still works for me and hence all FDVDB stuff as well.

To answer your question: Yes, a "normal conversion" (no DTL) should make your PS2 a SCPH-90001!

Really? On DTL-H90001 You can play a original PAL DVD film?

On my 75004 (changed to DTL-H75001), I got the "DVD video player is not installed" error (as other people I heard so far). Then I installed krHACKen's DVD player (PS2 - PS2 DVD Player modifications | PSX-Place) and didn't get the DVD player error.

However I get the DVD region block error message for both PAL and JAP DVD video (Maybe USA DVDs would work but I haven't any for testing).

Also patching the Ps2 as DTL-H75004 (so PAL region) I get an error (don't remember which, I think it just persists the "uninstalled DVD player" one, even with the modified DVD player).

 

[TnA]

What is the point in convert your PS2 into a Devkit model if in practice it still a retail model ?

1. Why don't you look at the info in the first post or on GitHub?
2. You are spreading false informations. It is a 50/50 CEX/DEX "DTL-H"!

It's not like a xbox where you can flash the bios and really convert into a debug unit

You do realize that we can flash the NVRAM, which holds patches for the BOOT-ROM?!

Really? On DTL-H90001 You can play a original PAL DVD film?

I haven't tried a PAL Video-DVD and I suppose it would show me the typical error, US-Models show with PAL Video-DVDs (even when they are region-free)!

However... Yes, the DVD-Player works with FDVDB and I think I tried ONE NTSC Video-DVD!

On my 75004 (changed to DTL-H75001), I got the "DVD video player is not installed" error (as other people I heard so far).

I did/do NOT get this error!

Then I installed krHACKen's DVD player (PS2 - PS2 DVD Player modifications | PSX-Place) and didn't get the DVD player error.

There was no need for me to do that!

However I get the DVD region block error message for both PAL and JAP DVD video (Maybe USA DVDs would work but I haven't any for testing).

Doesn't sound like you've used a region free DVD-Player-Version!

Also patching the Ps2 as DTL-H75004 (so PAL region) I get an error (don't remember which, I think it just persists the "uninstalled DVD player" one, even with the modified DVD player).

I don't get that error.
I patched my 90k with the 2.xx version and none before.

I can upload a short video, if that's useful!

 

[Peppe90]

Even without using the modified DVD player (so just patching to dev-kit) I don't have problems with ESR or FDVDB. However original DVD video (both PAL and NTSC-J) don't work. It is a known bug (it shouldn't happen, especially on deckard, but also on not-deckard, if you don't change the Ps2 region, the player should keep working).

Doesn't sound like you've used a region free DVD-Player-Version!

I installed this: PS2 - PS2 DVD Player modifications | PSX-Place either in USA and Europe version.

Anyway it's clear it is a mechapwn bug, since the Ps2 DVD player doesn't have any region block (without MechaPwn you can play DVD video from any region).

 

[Nuhai]

I simply patched mine from SCPH-90004 to DTL-90001 and can still use everything from my region as well as out of region stuff + the DVD-Player still works for me and hence all FDVDB stuff as well.

To answer your question: Yes, a "normal conversion" (no DTL) should make your PS2 a SCPH-90001!

Alright so I have tried both CEX and DTL and both will not work on a PAL SCPH-90004 for ORIGINAL ps1 games, backups work sometimes but not always on DTL option. I have tried DTL-90000, DTL-900001, DTL-90004 and none of them read original NTSC/UC Final Fantasy IX unfortunately, so I think PAL Deckard consoles just don't have the option to run original PS1 games and backups are iffy as well.