Hacking PS1/2 Tonyhax International: Backup Loader For All Japanese, USA, and PAL PS1 Consoles/Early PS2 Consoles + GameShark/Cheat Cart Flasher

[alexfree]

Crazy.

Meanwhile on PSXDev:

 

[alexfree]

Version 1.4.3 (10/21/2023)​

• tonyhax-international-v1.4.3

Changes:

• Added APv1 bypasses (allowing play of said game on non-stealth mod-chip consoles when booted with Tonyhax International) for Dancing Blade Katte ni Momotenshi II: Tears of Eden Japan, Global Force: Shin Sentou Kokka Japan Rev 0, Global Force: Shin Sentou Kokka Japan Rev 1, Global Force: Shin Sentou Kokka Japan Demo, I.Q Final Japan Demo 1, I.Q Final Japan Demo 2, Shiritsu Justice Gakuen: Nekketsu Seishun Nikki 2, Konami 80's Arcade Gallery, Lord Of Monsters Japan, Lord Of Monsters Japan Demo, Magical Tetris Challenge featuring Mickey Japan, Metal Gear Solid: Integral Japan, Panekit: Infinitive Crafting Toy Case Japan Rev 0, Pocket MuuMuu Japan, Planet Laika Japan, PoPoRoGue Japan Rev 0, PoPoRoGue Japan Rev 1, Silent Hill Japan Rev 0, Silent Hill Japan Rev 1, Spyro The Dragon Japan, Spyro The Dragon Shokai Genteiban, Tokimeki Memorial Drama Series Vol. 3: Tabidachi no Uta, and Um Jammer Lammy Japan.
• Beatmania featuring Dreams Come True now works on non-stealth mod-chip consoles as well as unmodified ones.
• Added an APv2 bypass (allows playing on non-stealth mod-chip consoles and unmodified ones) for Hyper Value 2800: Hyper Pachinko.
• Faster anti-piracy system activation and parsing for protected titles.
• PoPoRoGue Japan Rev 0 now always works on unmodified SCPH-1000 and early SCPH-3000 consoles. There is a bug in PoPoRoGue Japan Rev 0 that sometimes even occurs with a real game disc on unmodified hardware due to the supper buggy anti-piracy checks) thanks to the newly introduced anti-piracy bypass for this game.

 

[alexfree]

Version 1.4.4 (11/15/2023)​

• tonyhax-international-v1.4.4

Changes:

• Implemented PS1 Packer decompression technique (massive thanks to nicholas noble for helping to get this to work)! The Tonyhax International now starts much faster and take up significantly less space. The memory card HAX and FF9 loader files now only takes up 2 slots instead of 4!

 

[Ripto]

I love your project! I use it on PS1 and PS2.
Made a PS2 gamecase too for the PS2 exploit. I was lucky enough to have a copy of FF9.
I gotta order more CD-Rs so I can flash my Gameshark to the latest version.
I also posted on your behalf on PSX-Place.

 

[alexfree]

Version 1.4.5 (11/25/2023)​

• tonyhax-international-v1.4.5

Changes:

• Changed toolchain from mips-linux-gnu to mipsel-none-elf. Redone build system. Upgraded to GCC v12.2.0/Binutils v2.40. Better code size/speed optimizations.
• Made CD_REGS address more correct by using the correct memory region (thanks Nicholas Noble!).
• There is a bug found in the PS1 mode of the early PS2s models supported by Tonyhax International which causes a number of PS1 games burned to a 80 minute CD-R to not boot. The affected games only boot when burned to 74 minute or 71 minute CD-Rs. This limitation applies to mod-chipped consoles as well using the normal boot process fails to start the game. The PS1 doesn't have this issue and was never effected.

Tonyhax International now can work around this PS2 specific limitation and boot any game burned to 80 minute media just as well as the PS1. Some of the confirmed problematic games that now work as of this update are listed below as examples:

• Kurushi / I.Q: Intelligent Qube
• MediEvil
• Resident Evil Director’s Cut
• Resident Evil 2 / BioHazard 2
• MegaMan X4 / RockMan X4

Any games that previously would not boot on PS2s (but did on PS1s) because of this issue now also work. If you have a chipped PS2, you can use the Boot CD to then successfully launch a problematic PS1 game burned to an 80 minute CD-R.

 

[alexfree]

Version 1.4.6 (12/16/2023)​

• tonyhax-international-v1.4.6

Changes:

• Added APv1 bypasses for Panekit: Infinite Crafting Toolbox Japan Rev 1, Silent Hill Japan Rev 2, and Doko Demo Issho Demo 2 Japan.
• Fixed APv1 bypass for Doko Demo Issho Demo 1 Japan, Doko Demo Issho Japan, Metal Gear Solid Integral Japan Disc 1, and Metal Gear Solid Integral Japan Disc 2.

 

[Ripto]

@alexfree is there any chance you could incorporate GAMEID transmission when reading a disc?
This would allow the Memory Card Pro to switch cards on loading a disc by reading the Game ID. My PS1 would be complete with such an integration!

 

[alexfree]

Version 1.4.7 (4/8/2024)​

• tonyhax-international-v1.4.7

---

Changes:

• Implemented APv2 and no-swap bypasses for Beat Mania Append GottaMix. Now the anti-piracy detection is disabled, and you can directly boot it from Tonyhax International instead of from an intended Key Disc.
• Releases now decompress to a folder containing all files, instead of all files loosely without a parent folder.
• Updated my FreePSXBoot fork to be equivalent to the latest current commit 1976b3cadf1289d92eafd4a7eaf006b29c333c12. This removes any remnants of a BIOS v2.0 limitation with the FreePSXBoot builder.
• Updated MKPSXISO to the latest current commit 08fa69f61365a3314b98076bfe7b2f37ed9db5d3.
• Updated the TonyHax International GameShark GENerator (THIGSGEN) to prompt the user to "Press any key to continue..." before exiting on Windows (for a better Drag n' Drop UX without using trash coding practices like system("pause");.
• Significant clean up of code, and implementation of EzRe build system allowed .deb file creation for Linux i386 and x86_64 platforms. THIGSGEN can now be installed as a system package to Linux systems with proper package manager tracking!
• Updated loader/insert-tonyhax-crc.sh to use mipsel-none-elf-objcopy, finishing the full transition to the mipsel-none-elf platform tool-chain. Was just an oversight from the previous build system transition...

 

[alexfree]

Version 1.4.8 (5/1/2024)​

• tonyhax-international-v1.4.8

---

Changes:

• Added the ability to format memory cards to the Tonyhax International loader. You can press TRIANGLE on your controller when prompted, and then select slot 1 or slot 2. You can successfully format FreePSXBoot memory cards using this feature, and it removes the exploit so that you can use the card like normal!
• Improved controller input parsing.
• Fixed some warnings in compilation.

 

[onfy]

Being able to format a FreePSXBoot card will be very helpful for people who put it on their card and end up finding out their PS1 struggles with CD-Rs. Or just don't want to use up a disc. Very nice!

 

[alexfree]

Being able to format a FreePSXBoot card will be very helpful for people who put it on their card and end up finding out their PS1 struggles with CD-Rs. Or just don't want to use up a disc. Very nice!

Indeed, I was very excited when I got this feature working because not only can Tonyhax International FreePSXBoot 'uninstall' itself, but one can also use the tonyhax international boot cd to format any FreePSXBoot memory card, unirom, original tonyhax, etc. Not many tools can handle the FreePSXBoot memory cards correctly so it only made sense.

For struggling with CD-Rs though, there are solutions:
https://alex-free.github.io/psx-cdr/
https://alex-free.github.io/unofficial-ps1-cd-drive-service-manual/

 

[onfy]

Indeed, I was very excited when I got this feature working because not only can Tonyhax International FreePSXBoot 'uninstall' itself, but one can also use the tonyhax international boot cd to format any FreePSXBoot memory card, unirom, original tonyhax, etc. Not many tools can handle the FreePSXBoot memory cards correctly so it only made sense.

For struggling with CD-Rs though, there are solutions:
(urls)

Yeah, that's what I was getting at. It was a very unfortunate situation to install it to a memory card and then find out you have no way to uninstall it, because nothing on the PS2 can format the card after.

I've seen your guides, they've been quite helpful... (along with everything else you've done) though this subject can get really complicated and daunting at times. But it's important that you're documenting the PS1 in such detail, and an honour to get a reply from you. (And honestly, it was a shock to find out the SuperAzo Verbatims are apparently lousy for the PS1. At least they're working on my console... for now.)

 

[alexfree]

Yeah, that's what I was getting at. It was a very unfortunate situation to install it to a memory card and then find out you have no way to uninstall it, because nothing on the PS2 can format the card after.

I've seen your guides, they've been quite helpful... (along with everything else you've done) though this subject can get really complicated and daunting at times. But it's important that you're documenting the PS1 in such detail, and an honour to get a reply from you. (And honestly, it was a shock to find out the SuperAzo Verbatims are apparently lousy for the PS1. At least they're working on my console... for now.)

Their not exactly lousy, just 'mid tier'. Their are better CD-Rs out there. They work pretty good, but not amazing if that makes sense. Still better then a lot of other trash brands out there now...

The goal of the CD-R guide is to make it as simple and scientific as possible. It's a combination of years of self-research as well as community discussion and I'm really proud of it. Glad you find this stuff useful.

 

[SylverReZ]

Their not exactly lousy, just 'mid tier'. Their are better CD-Rs out there. They work pretty good, but not amazing if that makes sense. Still better then a lot of other trash brands out there now...

The goal of the CD-R guide is to make it as simple and scientific as possible. It's a combination of years of self-research as well as community discussion and I'm really proud of it. Glad you find this stuff useful.

I agree. There are a lot of great CD-R media from companies such as SKC, *CMC Magnetics (only CMC Pro line), *Verbatim (only AZO), Sony, amongst others. But be aware that nearly every single dollar store (including grocery stores) will have budget CD-R media that use a manufacturer that you've probably never heard of; definitely never buy ones from Maxell, I had bad experiences with those.

Yeah, that's what I was getting at. It was a very unfortunate situation to install it to a memory card and then find out you have no way to uninstall it, because nothing on the PS2 can format the card after.

I've seen your guides, they've been quite helpful... (along with everything else you've done) though this subject can get really complicated and daunting at times. But it's important that you're documenting the PS1 in such detail, and an honour to get a reply from you. (And honestly, it was a shock to find out the SuperAzo Verbatims are apparently lousy for the PS1. At least they're working on my console... for now.)

The 2000's Super AZO Dye CD-Rs have a very short lifespan and can produce disc rot years later.

 

[alexfree]

I agree. There are a lot of great CD-R media from companies such as SKC, CMC Magnetics (with their CMC Pro line), Verbatim, Sony, amongst others. But be aware that nearly every single dollar store (including grocery stores) will have budget CD-R media that use a manufacturer that you've probably never heard of; definitely never buy ones from Maxell.

The only thing I would touch by CMC Magnetics is the CMC Pro Powered By Taiyo Yuden Technologies line, simply because all of the Taiyo Yuden engineers went their after the last factory closed. They brought the best manufacturing process to them for that line only, it really is just Taiyo Yuden with a CMC Pro label slapped on.


AFAIK CMC owns every CD manufacturer at this point. They still makes garbage like the standard Verbatim CD-Rs with no DataLifePlus/UltraLifePlus branding (sold in stores). They also make the current decent Verbatim DataLifePlus and UltraLifePlus lines. Though even back in the day they had a horrible reputation on quality/compatibility with exisiting burner and reader hardware.

 

[SylverReZ]

The only thing I would touch by CMC Magnetics is the CMC Pro Powered By Taiyo Yuden Technologies line, simply because all of the Taiyo Yuden engineers went their after the last factory closed. They brought the best manufacturing process to them for that line only, it really is just Taiyo Yuden with a CMC Pro label slapped on.

That's what I mean, but the way I worded it sounds like I actually mean the entire range. CMC Magnetics use a lighter dye which is silver in color. The downsides to those discs, is that some drives have troubles with them, as the laser struggles to reflect on the dye resulting in read issues.

AFAIK CMC owns every CD manufacturer at this point. They still makes garbage like the standard Verbatim CD-Rs with no DataLifePlus/UltraLifePlus branding (sold in stores). They also make the current decent Verbatim DataLifePlus and UltraLifePlus lines. Though even back in the day they had a horrible reputation on quality/compatibility with exisiting burner and reader hardware.

At least the AZO dye discs are much better in quality, I imagine this is why they are more expensive than the standard CD-Rs.

 

[alexfree]

That's what I mean, but the way I worded it sounds like I actually mean the entire range. CMC Magnetics use a lighter dye which is silver in color. The downsides to those discs, is that some drives have troubles with them, as the laser struggles to reflect on the dye resulting in read issues.


At least the AZO dye discs are much better in quality, I imagine this is why they are more expensive than the standard CD-Rs.

Yes, Cyanide dye is best, then AZO, then SuperAZO, after those whatever else is left is really not great for compatibility. The guide isn't even really PSX specific to a point, even my VA 0 Japanese launch Dreamcast really likes the CMC Pros but hates i.e. Maxell.

 

[onfy]

I agree. There are a lot of great CD-R media from companies such as SKC, *CMC Magnetics (only CMC Pro line), *Verbatim (only AZO), Sony, amongst others. But be aware that nearly every single dollar store (including grocery stores) will have budget CD-R media that use a manufacturer that you've probably never heard of; definitely never buy ones from Maxell, I had bad experiences with those.


The 2000's Super AZO Dye CD-Rs have a very short lifespan and can produce disc rot years later.

I haven't heard about that, is there something particular I should look out for? The pack I have seems to have been mfg'd in Mexico.

I do have some Verbatim discs and they seem... barely acceptable? Even my PS1 somehow reads one I burned, though with a lot of skipping. On the other hand I tried buying a few unlabelled discs from the convenience store (on clearance) to see if I'd get lucky. I forget the ATIP (can't find the disc now) but it wasn't CMC. They only made coasters.

Maxell was the brand of my youth. I think they were made by Prodisc back then. We mostly burned music and PC games, but they worked. Aside from that I have Taiyo Yuden discs (but fewer) and they're all Maxell Pro.

 

[SylverReZ]

I haven't heard about that, is there something particular I should look out for? The pack I have seems to have been mfg'd in Mexico.

I do have some Verbatim discs and they seem... barely acceptable? Even my PS1 somehow reads one I burned, though with a lot of skipping. On the other hand I tried buying a few unlabelled discs from the convenience store (on clearance) to see if I'd get lucky. I forget the ATIP (can't find the disc now) but it wasn't CMC. They only made coasters.

Maxell was the brand of my youth. I think they were made by Prodisc back then. We mostly burned music and PC games, but they worked. Aside from that I have Taiyo Yuden discs (but fewer) and they're all Maxell Pro.

Alex-free made a guide here. https://alex-free.github.io/psx-cdr/

 

[onfy]

Alex-free made a guide here.

They linked that themself a few posts up, and doesn't answer my question? Sorry, I didn't mean to be annoying by infodumping there...

Honestly while it's a good guide its usefulness can be limited since none of these discs (except CMC Pro) are made anymore, so you have to get lucky finding new old stock. CMC Pro isn't even a common brand (I can't find it anywhere in Canada) and most stores don't even sell the crappy discs now, it's started to feel shocking when I see them in reality.

That said, my burner is almost one of the ones listed as bad (mine's a Sony AD-7260S) so I might need to try investigating the quality of the many other burners in my collection. And of course good old burners also can be hard to find...