PS1/2 Question about black cd-rw discs

[Lukein3D]

If you were to burn a 'backup' to a black cd-rw, would it work without a modchip because it's black on the bottom? Or would you still need to have something else to boot it?

 

[migles]

never seen black cd-rw may i know what brand is them and where i can find them?

 

[retrofan_k]

If you were to burn a 'backup' to a black cd-rw, would it work without a modchip because it's black on the bottom? Or would you still need to have something else to boot it?

Lol, a guy i knew did the same thing years ago. So the answer is nope.

You need a mod chip.

 

[Lukein3D]

never seen black cd-rw may i know what brand is them and where i can find them?

ebay, they're hard to find, but they are on there.
link

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Lol, a guy i knew did the same thing years ago. So the answer is nope.

You need a mod chip.

Oh okay, thank you.

 

[Tom Bombadildo]

That's not how it works. Essentially the only reason Sony made the bottoms of PS1 discs black is simply to show that it was a legitimate PS1 disc, that was it. The actual security method used for detecting legit games was region checking, there was a region code written on each disc that, if it wasn't detected or was for a different region, wouldn't be played by the PS1. Modchips basically output the correct region while loading burned games, tricking the PS1 into thinking it'd be a legitimate disc.

This can also be tricked by using the swap trick, as early BIOS for the PS1 only required the region code at the beginning of reading the disc (when the PS1 logo would show up). So you'd let the legitimate disc provide the region code, then quickly swap for the burned disc, and it'd play as if it were a legit disc.

Later PS1's had the system check for the region codes during specific points, so you'd have to swap a couple more times so the burned game would continue playing.

 

[migles]

ebay, they're hard to find, but they are on there.
link

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Oh okay, thank you.

that ain't RW

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That's not how it works. Essentially the only reason Sony made the bottoms of PS1 discs black is simply to show that it was a legitimate PS1 disc, that was it. The actual security method used for detecting legit games was region checking, there was a region code written on each disc that, if it wasn't detected or was for a different region, wouldn't be played by the PS1. Modchips basically output the correct region while loading burned games, tricking the PS1 into thinking it'd be a legitimate disc.

This can also be tricked by using the swap trick, as early BIOS for the PS1 only required the region code at the beginning of reading the disc (when the PS1 logo would show up). So you'd let the legitimate disc provide the region code, then quickly swap for the burned disc, and it'd play as if it were a legit disc.

Later PS1's had the system check for the region codes during specific points, so you'd have to swap a couple more times so the burned game would continue playing.

so what's the deal with that spyro game security and why did people used cracked EBOOTS on ps1?

 

[Zanoab]

that ain't RW

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so what's the deal with that spyro game security and why did people used cracked EBOOTS on ps1?

The eboot is like a loader/firmware for the game. It tells the PS how to run the game while checking everything until it is happy or hates it. Because games are pressed into discs, the data on disc is more or less perfect so it expects everything to be perfect. Burning discs back then wasn't perfect and was complicated. Burned discs could have data burnt in the wrong order or even slightly off which a non-cracked eboot (or disc checks inside the game) can detect before it even starts loading the game. This means pirates generally must replace the eboot with their own and they do so while adding extras like their name, cheats, etc.

Spyro 3 has a ton of checks which includes checking the eboot. If the pirates change the eboot, they would have to crack the checks in the game as well. If they crack the checks inside the game, more checks inside the game will detect something isn't right. You need to crack the eboot to play burnt discs but that means having to find the mountain of checks inside Spyro 3 and cracking every last one of them. In the end, the first working image just loads the original eboot before starting the game and starts where the original eboot runs the game. The eboot doesn't check the disc and neither does the game so pirates win (after taking forever). The author admits it could've been stopped if the game checked the disc as well but unfortunately he didn't know that weakness would defeat all the security in the end.

 

[Tom Bombadildo]

Yep, as Zanoab said, Spyro 3 had a lot more anti-piracy methods than standard PS1 games. I know there are a couple other games with the same protection, I know Legend of Dragoon has the same, as well as Dino Criss and IIRC a few later releases of Crash Bash.

 

[migles]

Spyro 3 has a ton of checks which includes checking the eboot. If the pirates change the eboot, they would have to crack the checks in the game as well. If they crack the checks inside the game, more checks inside the game will detect something isn't right. You need to crack the eboot to play burnt discs but that means having to find the mountain of checks inside Spyro 3 and cracking every last one of them. In the end, the first working image just loads the original eboot before starting the game and starts where the original eboot runs the game. The eboot doesn't check the disc and neither does the game so pirates win (after taking forever). The author admits it could've been stopped if the game checked the disc as well but unfortunately he didn't know that weakness would defeat all the security in the end.

i read the story, on a page, i forgot the link damn it... that's where i found out people modified Eboots and i was confused because if you have a modchip, you shouldn't had to modifiy anything

 

[Zanoab]

i read the story, on a page, i forgot the link damn it... that's where i found out people modified Eboots and i was confused because if you have a modchip, you shouldn't had to modifiy anything

Modchip only tells the PS that the disc looks right and to run it. The eboot can still take a much closer look at the disc and know if there is something wrong or if it isn't even the right game.

 

[vb_encryption_vb]

You can make your own modchip if you have a programmer... Takes 5 minutes.

 

[DaFixer]

Back in the day (when i'm swapping psx games with friends/family/school) there where black cdr's selling at big Computer fairs at my home town.
I never buy them becase back then I just know you a modchip/cheat cartridge to play burnt cdr games.