How to modify the Playstation 2 with FreeMCBoot

@PS_2

Published in

Playstation 2 tutorials

· 27 Oct 2022

DISCLAIMER: THIS GUIDE IS FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSE ONLY. TECH SCENE DOES NOT INCITE, AND NEVER WILL INCITATE, PIRACY

FreeMCboot is an exploit that is installed on a PS2 Memory Card and allows you to start backups of Ps1 / Ps2 and homebrew games. It works on all models (already with modifications or original), except in slim versions SCPH-90004 (Data Code 8C).

Necessary

Ps2 Fat or Slim compatible
Branded Ps2 Memory Card (Sony, Datel, Atomic, etc ...)
FreeMCBoot FMCB_1.8b_Complete.rar

Starting installation

There are several ways to start the FreeMCBoot installation:

1 - Memor32 (official website)

Note: Memento Firmware (MementoFW_12e.rar) must be installed in Memor32

Let's extract the FreeMCBoot package
We copy the INSTALL folder and the FREE_MCBOOT.ELF file (renamed to BOOT.ELF) in C: / Programs / Memor32 / Ps2saves / BOOT / (if there are no folders, create them)
Connect the Memor32 to the PC and, using the Memor32 save game manager, copy the BOOT folder (check and press the restore button )
When on the left window we have the BOOT folder, we could detach the Memor32 from the PC and connect it in slot1 of the PS2
We start the console and hold down the R1 key until the word MEMENTO and the next FreeMCboot installation screen appear.
We insert the memory to be modified in slot2
Let's continue in the Installation section

2 - Swap Magic

Note: if you have a version of Swap Magic lower than 3.6 / 3.8 or this method does not work, go to section 3 - Modchip

Automatic Swap Magic 3.6 / 3.8 method

Inside the root of a USB stick formatted in FAT32, we create a SWAPMAGIC folder
Let's extract the FreeMCBoot package
We copy the INSTALL folder and the FREE_MCBOOT.ELF file (renamed to SWAPMAGIC.ELF) in the SWAPMAGIC folder
We connect the USB key to the first USB port of the Ps2
Let's start the console and start one of the Swap Magic discs
The program will automatically search for the SWAPMAGIC.ELF file on the USB key and will automatically start the FreeMCboot installation screen.
Let's continue in the Installation section

Swap magic manual method 3.6 / 3.8

If the program does not start automatically, try this way:

a - Swap magic 3.6

Inside the root of a USB stick formatted in FAT32, we create a SWAPMAGIC folder
Let's extract the FreeMCBoot package
We copy the INSTALL folder and the FREE_MCBOOT.ELF file (renamed to SMBOOT0.ELF) in the SWAPMAGIC folder
We connect the USB key to the first USB port of the Ps2
Let's start the console and start one of the Swap Magic discs
Let's go to the screen where the Load Program and Video mode options are present
We press the key combination UP + L1 to start SMBOOT0.ELF
Let's continue in the Installation section

b - For Swap Magic 3.8

Inside the root of a USB stick formatted in FAT32, we create a SWAPMAGIC folder
Let's extract the FreeMCBoot package
We copy the INSTALL folder and the FREE_MCBOOT.ELF file (renamed to SMBOOT0.ELF) in the SWAPMAGIC folder
We connect the USB key to the first USB port of the Ps2
Let's start the console and start one of the Swap Magic discs
In the screen that appears, we select SMBOOT (it is the third option)
Next we select SMBOOT0 with X
Let's continue in the Installation section

How to modify the Playstation 2 with FreeMCBoot

3 - Modchip installed

Let's download the FMCB_1.8b_Completo_CD.rar installation CD
We burn the ISO image to a CD-R at the lowest possible speed
Note: if the cd doesn't work, you can use the dvd FMCB_1.8b_Completo_DVD.rar and burn it to a DVD-R at the lowest possible speed
We insert the memory to be modified and the cd (or dvd) in the ps2 and start the console
The installation of FreeMCBoot will start
Let's continue in the Installation section

4 - Action Replay Max EVO

Inside the root of a USB stick formatted in FAT32, we create a SWAPMAGIC folder
Let's extract the FreeMCBoot package
We copy the INSTALL folder and the FREE_MCBOOT.ELF file (renamed to SMBOOT0.ELF) in the SWAPMAGIC folder
Download Swap_Magic 3.8ELF.RAR and copy the SM_DVD3.8.ELF file to the root of the usb stick
We connect the USB key to the first USB port of the Ps2
Let's start the console and start the Action Replay MAX EVO
Let's start the Media player
Now we choose the SM_DVD3.8.ELF file by pressing X
The Swap Magic v3.8 screen will appear
We select SMBOOT (it is the third option)
Next we select SMBOOT0 with X
Let's continue in the Installation section

5 - Having a memory card with FreeMCBoot already installed

Inside the root of a USB stick formatted in FAT32, we create a BOOT folder
Let's extract the FreeMCBoot package
We copy the INSTALL folder and the FREE_MCBOOT.ELF file (renamed to BOOT1.ELF) in the BOOT folder
We connect the USB key to the first USB port of the Ps2
We turn on the ps2 and hold down the R1 key until the FreeMCBoot installation screen appears.
Let's continue in the Installation section

Installation

We find ourselves in the FreeMCBoot installation screen

There are 2 types of installation

a - Normal Install
Install all the files necessary to make FMCB work (on the memory card) on all Ps2s with the same BIOS as the current console (example: if you install it on a V4, it will not work on a V14)

b - Multi Version Install
Install all the files necessary to make FMCB work (on the memory card) on all Ps2s that also have a different BIOS (example: if you install it on a V4, it will also work on a V14)