How To: SoftMod Your PS2 Using HD Advance

As the name implies, softmod means software modification. In the case of the PS2, this is a software approach to modifying the way the hardware behaves. The guide tells you what you need in order to backup PS2 games to a hard drive installed into the PS2 and also boot them. The advantages? Save the life of your discs (as we all know they do wear out over time), save the life of your laser lens, and cut-down game loading times (the biggest advantage in my opinion!). Loading times almost disappear when booting games this way since the system can access information from the hard drive MUCH faster than it can when reading from a disc.

3 items are needed to re-model the PS2: A standard IDE hard drive (check HERE for a list of compatible hard drives), the HD Advance Software, and the PS2 network adapter. Chances are you already have the network adapter, but if you don't head over the Ebay to pick one up (Looks like it'll run about $20-$30). For the hard drive, Ebay is the probably the best choice as well, but sometimes you can find a good sale at your local retail store or even at an online retailer (tiger direct). Make sure you check the hard drive compatibly list before deciding on which one to buy. As far as the size to buy, that's really your personal preference. If you want to backup a large number of games without needing to delete any, go bigger. I personally use 160 gig. Each game runs about 4 or 5 gigs, so 160 will fit plenty of games. Lastly is the HD advance software. There's quite a few places to get it, but here's a page that lists some places to buy it online. I chose Console Source. The're based out of Canada and offer many console trinkets you are sure to find interesting (mod chips and the like), but the choice is yours.

So, you're asking yourself "What do I do with all this?". The little known fact is that the PS2 network adapter has an IDE connection for a hard drive on it. I believe the only game intended to use the hard drive was Final Fantasy XI, but I'm sure glad it's there. So, sadly this will not work on the "Slim" models of the PS2, but there's a solution for you as well. Once you receive the HD Advance software, all the instructions you need are contained in the package to install the Hard Drive and get started using it right away. Piece of cake. And all without the need for opening up the system and installing any hardware modifications (hence the name "softmod").

The solution I mentioned for the owners of the "Slim" PS2 is a program called USB Extreme. It can be purchased by itself or bundled with HD Advance from most of the retailers at the link mentioned earlier. This method works almost the same, except it uses a USB Hard Drive instead of an internal Hard Drive.

And that's all there is to it. Check out the HD Advance forums for any information you need regarding game compatibility. Almost all games are compatible, but some require extra modes to be enabled to run (all explained in the HD Advance documentation). I usually do a Google search for the game title and HD Advance, and you'll usually be able to find out rather quickly what needs to be done to play the game from the hard drive.

Get the most out of your old Playstation 2 and have fun doing it! Break out those old games and play them without load times. If you have any questions, let me know, or check out the HD Advance forums.