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Free McBoot is a method of running homebrew applications directly off a Memory Card
as a stand alone loader. No boot discs or modchips are required once installed. You will
however need to have a method to install FMCB to the MC. This guide assumes you have
a method to install already, if not read thru the How-to guides and return when ready to
install FMCB.
*NOTE* This guide is written for use with version 1.8 and should not be used for
previous versions, as some things wont apply to those versions!! Some example images
are from the previous releases and are only examples to illustrate an option.
*NEW for v1.8
The Installer now has a GUI with much more informative screens to help you with your
installation. Press left or right to select from the menu and press X to execute the
selection. Pressing triangle displays a credits screen
-=< You stuck and need HELP? >=-
Its up to YOU the user to add anything to the installer to use, so decide on what you
want to do with Free McBoot once its been installed and then add the apps you want to
use.
The most commonly used apps are recommended below and are linked to the
developement forums they originate, so you can read about them and get the latest
versions.
You can also find most any app for the PS2 at SKSApps.com
Emulators, ps2 app skins, Tools & Utilities, Online, Converters , cheat apps, and much
more can be found at SKSApps.com
Prepare files for installation:
The Free McBoot Package contains the FREE_MCBOOT.ELF and an INSTALL folder.
Only files/folders contained in the INSTALL folder will be used for the installation.
You can place the following files into the INSTALL folder's root:
These files will be copied to the MC's BOOT folder . Folders will not be copied to the
BOOT folder.
Example of how the folder structure should look when properly placing the files:
Exact filenames as shown above are case sensitive with the default FREEMCB.CNF.
Check that the file extension .ELF is in fact in CAPS, or it will not display.
If you use different filenames, then it wont work until you configure the
FREEMCB.CNF to use those filenames. More info ...
These files will be listed and linked to run from the Sony main menu . More info...
The installer will calculate the amount of space that is to be used for your install and
show the free space as well.
NOTE: It is important to watch the overall file size when adding apps to your
installation folders.
Also consider skins, roms,CNF files, images, etc... will add to the size if your using them
from the MC.
Each of the folders included in the install package serve a purpose and should NOT be
deleted unless you understand what they are for and can judge if they are necessary or
not.
APPS - Details This folder is for any additional files you wish to add to your MC .
INJECT - Details Put your "DVDELF.BIN" or "EMBED.ELF" file here, they will be
used for the DVDELF injection. More info...
MODULES - Details This folder comes with USBD.IRX and USBHDFSD.IRX files.
These are required by Free McBoot to use a USB device.
FMCB_CFG - Details The FMCB_CFG.ELF is Free McBoot's Configurator (made by
Suloku from psx-scene).
Free McBoot MUST be installed to a Memory Card and can not be copied off another. A
copy will only work on the MC it was installed on.
Cross Region installations will not work! This means installing with a console from
one region will not work on another console from a different region.
Installer Options:
Normal install will install the required system files for your console version its installed
on.
Multi-Version install will install additional files for other console versions of the same
region to work from the same MC.
Launch fmcb will load the newly installed Free McBoot .
fmcb configurator Launches the Configurator Application
format mc If you dont have anything worth saving on the MC, then format the card for a
better chance of a successful install.
uninstall multi-version reverts a multi-install to normal install
The Installer will detect if you have a BOOT.ELF to install, if no BOOT.ELF is found,
you are given a chance to abort the install so you can put a BOOT.ELF in the proper
location, as described above and in the correct file extension of all CAPS.
Or you can continue the installation without it, but you were warned, so dont say you
werent!!
If you dont have a BOOT.ELF already present on your MC from an earlier install, you
should add it to the INSTALL folder.
A successful install should look similar to the below images:
There are 2 ways you can configure Free McBoot, using the Configurator in the PS2
after the installation or manually create a CNF file on your PC and include it in the
installation's FMCB_CFG folder.
Default example:
The FREEMCB.CNF is loaded from mc0: by default , unless a FREEMCB.CNF is
present on the root of an attached USB device.
Default example:
Here you can assign apps from a path to load with a button press, Configure E1 launch
keys... is the first location the launcher will look in for an app to load, if not found, it will
go to the next set of paths for that button in Configure E2 launch keys... as the second
location set, then on to Configure E3 launch keys.... as the third location set. If still no
files are found in any of those locations for that button press, it will by default load the
OSD, unless you have changed it from default.
mc?:/BOOT/BOOT.ELF
mc?:/BADATA-SYSTEM/BOOT.ELF
This will make fmcb search both folders in both MC slots, giving you 4 paths to be
searched from just 2 entries.
Recommended apps are pre-configured as default settings as shown in the example image
above.
This is very useful if MC space is important to save, you can assign all your apps in the
Configure E1 launch keys... to mass:/ {USB stick} and then assign Configure E2
launch keys... to look on the same MC or on a second MC by using mc?:/
FOLDER/FILE.ELF.
This makes it very flexible when using a number of MCs and/or USB sticks.
Most people will only need to configure Configure E1 launch keys..., but for the
advanced user this is a very useful method when using multiple sets of devices.
ON - Default setting Displays list of apps in Sony main menu to be selected for booting
OFF - Disables the OSD Hack
--Configure Item :
Press left or right to select an item from 1 to 100
Here you can assign apps and give them a name that will display on the Sony main menu
screen.
You can select up to 100 apps and they will be linked to the Sony menu.
Pressing L2 will allow you to copy the selected Item and you can paste {press R2} it
into another Item number by pressing < | >, if you wish to re-arange them for your OSD
menu. This way you dont need to input everything all over. A small pop-up window
appears when you press R2 to Paste showing the info your about to change and asks for a
confirmation. Press Cancel or OK button.
The 3 sets of paths will be the search order the launcher will follow when booting the
selected app from the list. The recommended apps are already pre-assigned and named.
Default example:
---Configure Scrolling options
---Scroll Menu : ON Default setting turns on the scrolling effects
OFF disables scrolling effects
---Displayed Items : 7 Default setting 4 to 10 items can be selected
---Menu y : 110 Default setting - centered in the screen
The range is 0 to 220
You can adjust the entire list up { lower number } or down { higher number }.
But use caution or the top might be cut off if your Displayed Items is set to a high
number, as shown in the up & down example images.
Example settings:
You can save and go to the PS2Browser ( FMCB restart) and see the results, then return
to the configurator if you need to make more changes.
---Cursor Max Velocity : 1000 Changes the distance the cursor indicator moves across
the screen
---Cursor Acceleration : 100 Changes the speed the cursor indicator moves
- -Go to Browser:
ON - Free McBoot loads to MC browser menu
OFF - Default setting Free McBoot loads to Sony main menu
--Selected Color - changes the color of the selected item in Sony's main menu
--Unselected color - changes the color of the unselected item in Sony's main menu
The above are the setting limits before going off the screen. So use caution when
making your changes, experiment for best results.
You can save and go to the PS2Browser ( FMCB restart) and see the results, then return
to the configurator if you need to make more changes.
Examples:
Enter is set to - X: 520 Y: 000 and Version is set to - X: 520 Y: 210
Return to Loader
Boots the BOOT.ELF { Searches for mc?:/BOOT/BOOT.ELF, then B?DATA-
SYSTEM/BOOT.ELF (first pal, then usa, finally jap)
PS2Browser (FMCB restart}
Boots to PS2Browser and restarts Free McBoot {unless MC has been removed}
Places to find help:
What yo
u Need:
retail AR Max EVO disc
Free McBoot release Package
SwapMagic 3.8 coder ELF {optional method}
FCEUltra.elf {optional method} - Download
USB stick {Formatted FAT32}
PS2 Memory Card {duh}
PS2 console {duh}
Copy the FREE_MCBOOT.ELF and the INSTALL folder to the USB root.
Insert the USB stick and the AR Max disc, then run the disc. Note: The USB device
MUST be inserted before running the disc!
In the main screen of AR Max, select the Media Player
After a few splash screens,
the Media Player intro will start, you can just press X to skip it. AR Max will now read
the USB stick and display file(s).
NOTE:
Many USB devices are simply not fully compatible with AR Max, even though they
recognise the device, it may not show all files or boot them properly. Don not take out
the USB device and re-insert it while AR Max is running, "Hot-Swapping" is not a good
idea with AR Max.
Here are 2 known methods you can try to get around the incompatibility if either one
will show in the Media Players menu.
If none will display, then try another USB device.
SwapMagic
On the USB stick create a folder, named SWAPMAGIC
Rename a copy of uLaunchELF's BOOT.ELF to SWAPMAGIC.ELF and put it in the
folder.
* * * DO NOT put the FREE_MCBOOT.ELF or the INSTALL folder in this folder!!* *
*
Next put the SW3.8C.ELF {or whatever its named} on the USB stick root [[not in the
folder]]
In this tutorial, i named the SM3.8C.ELF to SWAPMAGIC.ELF for simplicity.
Follow the steps for the Media Player and select the SWAPMAGIC.ELF
If that didnt automatically boot to uLaunchelf, then continue thru the menu's.
On the main screen, select SMBOOT
next screen, select SMBOOT0
If it still didnt boot or you black screened, try renaming uLaunchELF's BOOT.ELF to
SMBOOT0.ELF and try again.
Or go to the next alternative method below:
FCEUltra
Copy the FCEUltra.elf to the USB stick and follow the steps above to run the Media
Player.
Select the FCEUltra.elf from the Media Player and PLAY it.
Main Menu of FCEUltra:
Press SELECT button for the configuration menu:
Select " Configure ELF Path " and press the O button
Select mass: and then FREE_MCBOOT.ELF from the list on your USB stick.
You will be returned to the Options screen and see the changed path . Now just
select Exit to ELF
The installer should now boot!!
A successful boot of the Free McBoot Installer will look like this:
Format if you wish, then install
Be sure to read the Usage.txt for any updates and new features.
All these methods are proven to work, so if you cannot get this to work using any of
those optional methods, then you might want to seek help from the Volunteer Installers
and send your MC to someone near you.