HDloader v HDadvance (FAO lufcfan)

[akahomeruk]

I read a post (http://www.fileforums.com/showthread.php?t=65239) where lufcfan said stay away from HDadvance and use HDloader. Is there any reason for this comment?

I currently use HDadvance, is HDloader better?

Cheers

[TylerDurden]

HDAdvance is a stolen version of HDLoader. It also is on 2 discs where hdloader is on one. Its not as compatible with as many games as HDloader is.

So HDloader is better.




Tyler!

[lufcfan]

Yep, Tyler's hit it on the head there - that's why I said it... :)

[ajmi982]

not neccessarily supporting HDAdvance 2.0 here (still using my hdloader) but it does have some nice advantages.

More Advantages
When you look at the table below, you will see HDAdvance is better than other similar product:

HDAdvance 2.0 Other
What's inside the box 2 discs 1 disc
Largest TOC YES NO
Convert All Games Directly **YES Need to swap
with a larger TOC disc
Harddisk Support 40 - 200GB Max. 120GB


**Refreshing to a largest TOC size before reading the imports game disc is not needed since HDAdvance has already embedded with the largest TOC in the discs. So, it makes the process of converting imports game disc more easily.

[TylerDurden]

With HDLoader you dont need a high TOC for anything. Plus swap for what? Other than taking the HDLoader out and installing your game what other swap would you need?


HDAdvance is lame.





Tyler!

[spedmetal]

not neccessarily supporting HDAdvance 2.0 here (still using my hdloader) but it does have some nice advantages.

More Advantages
When you look at the table below, you will see HDAdvance is better than other similar product:

[/I]

Dont take this wrong.......but you odviously dont have a clue! The HDAdvance 2.0 is nothing more then HDloader ripped and patched. In fact the new features they are boasting about in the 2.0 version as patches that Zero-X and the others have created for HDloader already which are free patches for everyones takeing!!!. The fools that are makeing the HDAdvance are marketing these features as there own, when in fact they didnt have shat to do with it! On top of that they are selling these features to you, which are free!!! All you have to do is simply get the patching app. and do it your self. Anyone foolish enough to purchase HDAdvance is simply misinformed!

[gtapex_trueno]

Exaclty what spedmetal said. Zero-X and crazyc, etc have all been making patches for the HDLoader that enables a bunch of new options (48 bit LBA/Larger Game List/Time Date Patch/etc). PS2Ownz is just using the patches and such and are coming out with HDAdvance 2.0 which is pretty much the equivalent of a patched HDLoader. The only reason I believe that PS2Ownz/HDAdvance has a higher TOC is b/c the duesh bags at PS2Ownz use swap magic or at least the swap method to play their games :eek: . (I'm pretty sure of this, if I'm wrong please correct me :) ) Don't support HDAdvance, you're just giving money to some selfish guys who don't deserve a damn thing! :mad:

[lufcfan]

Damn right! :)

[Warlock]

Ditto :)

[akahomeruk]

So apart from cost and the fact its (HDadvance) just a ripped version. Is HDloader technically better then advance?

I ask cause I just got my PS2 and it had HDadvance with it. Is it worthwhile trying to get hold of Loader or just stick with what I got?

[TylerDurden]

I would look for a HDLoader. Like weve been saying itll play more games that the HDAdvance simply cannot. Plus all youll have to worry about is one disc.






Tyler!

[akahomeruk]

people keep going on about the two disk thing, I have two disks (CD and DVD) but I have never used the CD disk. The DVD one runs and converts both types of games - am I just lucky?

And if HDadvance is a rip then why does it play less games then loader?

Can someone give me an example of a game that work with loader and not advance? And are we talking a significant number of games not working with advance?

( Sorry to go on!! :p )

[TylerDurden]

There is a huge list somewhere but I aint gonna look for it.



Tyler!

[crazygamelover]

Don't support HDAdvance, you're just giving money to some selfish guys who don't deserve a damn thing! :mad:

I couldnt have said that better myself! Straight and to the point.
Nice quote gtapex_trueno! :cool:

[CousinFizz]

I have to thank the mods for letting this post stay open for one because in the past I couldn't get any answers about the differences... and 2nd now I understand why the Advance is not well liked. I have a HDloader and like it very much. It's sooooo easy to use and and the load times are great. A few games don't work with it but so what. I do need a bigger harddrive though. Hats off to you all.... ;)

[DJFury]

Can you load games with HDLoader that were installed on the HD using HDAdvance, or do you need to reinstall those games again?

[TylerDurden]

Yes.




Tyler!

[SurfDrifter]

Just a simple question though....
You say that you have to patch the HDLoader.
Doesn't this mean that your obliged to have your PS2 modded, so as to boot the patched (therefore burned on a DVD/CD) HDloader?

Therefore, ppl who want to use their hard disk WITHOUT a mod-chip can only do so, by buying HDadvance 2.0?

I can understand the thing about stealing/ripping, etc. (even thought i cannot dogmatically agree with you, because I don't know the background story behind HDloader and HDAdvance), but shouldn't the team of HDLoader "update" their product to these features, for the ones that don't want to mod their PS2?

If I'm wrong, please explain me. Thank you.

[lufcfan]

Hmm... not really because a C&D order was placed upon HDLoader :(

[CEOrko]

Just want to mention some things unmentioned so far(and a rehash of one that has been^,^;):

1) HD Advance 2.0 comes with 2 discs, but each has the same software, so essentially if you have to persons with HDDs installed on their PS2s they can both use the software at the same time.

2) The only reason there are two is to allow you to backup burned and import PS2 CD and DVD games without having to install a modchip in the PS2 which which is copying the games. (??? tell me if I am wrong so I can hang myself ^,^;)

3)The HD Advance 2.0 discs already have versions of the updates that can be downloaded separately for HDLoader, eliminating the need to mod your PS2 to install the files as you would have to do with HDLoader.

4)HD Advance 2.0 supports certain (hey, I only know it's true, I'm only using the official Sony HDDs as is) third party HDDs of sizes up to 200GB.

So it might (my uncertainty is a cry for support for either side of the comparison T.T) make sense for the more average gamer to get HD Advance 2.0 for a whole five dollars more as opposed to HDLoader and a mod chip (or a modded PS2 if you have shaky hands :p ) as it would be easier to get started. I have not yet used HDLoader, but I suppose that since it could likely have a wider range of compatible games it has more bang for your buck. Depends on the person's situation. Me, I'm happy that in a week I can test both HDLoader and HD Advance 2.0 against one another, or rather, just use them both. And I expect neither will be a dissapointment. ^^

Oh, and on a more obscure note, but one that may help those looking into purchasing HDLoader or HD Advance, both are unable to copy both layers of dual-layered DVDs. You need to install those games (Champions of Norrath, etc.) by hooking your HDD up to your computer and using your DVD-ROM/RW to install both layers of the game. Directions for this procedure can be found in the HDLoader FAQ located on the compatibility page for HDLoader at:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/casey.miller/HD%20Loader%20Compatibility.htm

Have fun. ^^

Oh, and it seems you can install import and backup PS2 discs by using the same procedure used to install dual-layered DVDs. Just a guess from adding up information seeing as how your DVD-ROMs will ignore region coding checks.

[lufcfan]

It's still a stolen version - and should still be boycotted... :mad:

[Warlock]

It's still a stolen version - and should still be boycotted... :mad: Yeah, I dont see how he gets away with it. Sony came down hard on the original HD loader as well as some modchip and game sites yet Z is allowed to rip off and sell the HD product all over the net and nothings said or done about it.

[lufcfan]

I think there's a bit of, shall we say, back-handing going on... :mad:

[snake2]

Just want to mention some things unmentioned so far(and a rehash of one that has been^,^;):

1) HD Advance 2.0 comes with 2 discs, but each has the same software, so essentially if you have to persons with HDDs installed on their PS2s they can both use the software at the same time.

2) The only reason there are two is to allow you to backup burned and import PS2 CD and DVD games without having to install a modchip in the PS2 which which is copying the games. (??? tell me if I am wrong so I can hang myself ^,^;)

3)The HD Advance 2.0 discs already have versions of the updates that can be downloaded separately for HDLoader, eliminating the need to mod your PS2 to install the files as you would have to do with HDLoader.

4)HD Advance 2.0 supports certain (hey, I only know it's true, I'm only using the official Sony HDDs as is) third party HDDs of sizes up to 200GB.

So it might (my uncertainty is a cry for support for either side of the comparison T.T) make sense for the more average gamer to get HD Advance 2.0 for a whole five dollars more as opposed to HDLoader and a mod chip (or a modded PS2 if you have shaky hands :p ) as it would be easier to get started. I have not yet used HDLoader, but I suppose that since it could likely have a wider range of compatible games it has more bang for your buck. Depends on the person's situation. Me, I'm happy that in a week I can test both HDLoader and HD Advance 2.0 against one another, or rather, just use them both. And I expect neither will be a dissapointment. ^^

Oh, and on a more obscure note, but one that may help those looking into purchasing HDLoader or HD Advance, both are unable to copy both layers of dual-layered DVDs. You need to install those games (Champions of Norrath, etc.) by hooking your HDD up to your computer and using your DVD-ROM/RW to install both layers of the game. Directions for this procedure can be found in the HDLoader FAQ located on the compatibility page for HDLoader at:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/casey.miller/HD%20Loader%20Compatibility.htm

Have fun. ^^

Oh, and it seems you can install import and backup PS2 discs by using the same procedure used to install dual-layered DVDs. Just a guess from adding up information seeing as how your DVD-ROMs will ignore region coding checks.

1)you can take the disc out of the ps2 :eek: to load it on another ps2

2)hang yourself you still need to do the knife swap and that will f**k up your ps2 (and you can do the same thing on hd loader)

3)while you patch hd loader you can put in custom skins

4)hd loader can do the same i use a 250GB hd

i dont give money to bastard that steal code i would gladly spend the $5 on a mod chip

and you can install dvd9 game to hd loader the same way. i have metal gear solid 2 substance on my hd loader and it plays perfect same goes for imports

[lufcfan]

I guess someone needs to do a little more research before posting...

[CEOrko]

Who says posting is not part of the research? :D

And thanks for taking time to write that user's review on HDLoader. Unfortunately, I have been unsuccessful at finding more equally useful information on either product, minus several scattered compatability lists and FAQs.

[CEOrko]

1)you can take the disc out of the ps2 :eek: to load it on another ps2

2)hang yourself you still need to do the knife swap and that will f**k up your ps2 (and you can do the same thing on hd loader)

3)while you patch hd loader you can put in custom skins

4)hd loader can do the same i use a 250GB hd

i dont give money to bastard that steal code i would gladly spend the $5 on a mod chip

and you can install dvd9 game to hd loader the same way. i have metal gear solid 2 substance on my hd loader and it plays perfect same goes for imports

1) I was just figuring that you would need the HDLoader/Advance disc in the PS2 to start and run the software. Say, maybe two persons with two PS2s were to wish to run the program at the same time. Insignificant in all, I know...

2) :confused: Knife Swap? *shudders* That isn't what it sounds like, is it? Knifing a poor little PS2? That's just not cool. So, with either program you need a modded PS2 to read backup and import game discs, no exception? That would make sense, I wouldn't want to rely on console software to cancel the region check on discs. *starts constructing gallows*

3) But you can avoid having to patch for some recent updates for the HDLoader, can you not? This would be a bit more subtle, as some people would not have a mod-chip in this particular situation. Of course, you will not get as many useful patches that you could downloading them, but some people can just brush that matter aside. What's more is skins were never that vital an add-on for any software, and whether or not you have the original format or a custom one is irrelevant.

4) Could you list or link to a list how to do that? If I can get HDLoader to recognize more than 137GB for a HDD I won't have to use HD Advance 2.0 since it's advantage of larger HDD support would cease. Please?

[CEOrko]

Yeah, I dont see how he gets away with it. Sony came down hard on the original HD loader as well as some modchip and game sites yet Z is allowed to rip off and sell the HD product all over the net and nothings said or done about it.

Meh, I stopped trusting Sony when they started pushing back the release of their PS2 HDD software. Then some months later, poof, they drop HDD support altogether and announce their accursed new slim PS2s. That just burnt. And one can only hope that the PS3 will be somehow compatable with FFXI or else the game will only last a few years after PS3 launches. That is, unless Sony continues manufacturing PS2 models with HDD bays. Otherwise the older PS2 models will slowly start to break down, the well kept ones lasting maybe several years longer, and people will turn to abandoning SE's MMORPG as opposed to continually repairing their PS2s. Damn you Sony! Damn you all to hell!!

...I suppose the threat of having people be able to pirate games without installing mod-chips and voiding their PS2's warranty was a risk Sony didn't want to take, so they acquitted themselves to destroying the company who developed the HDLoader as quickly as possible. Once they had done so, another person just picked up the pieces and put it all back together. So Sony felt that such a thing would merely happen again and again and again and decided to drop future support of the HDD so as to possibly prevent such piracy. When you have a Sony HDD that's mostly empty, I suppose you do question the ability to put entire games on it. Oh well, it can not be helped.

Anyway, thanks for all the feedback on my post, everyone, and sorry about my semi-conspiracy theory rant on Sony and their HDD. I kind of just got carried away.

[CEOrko]

I suppose that Sony is just keeping quiet because they know there's nothing they can ultimately do about videogame piracy that isn't in some way illegal other than building a situation where piracy isn't exactly easy to do, there still is no PS2 HDD only package retailing in a store in the US, and there's a good chance alot of people don't know that the PS2 can support (with the use of existing software) third-party HDDs.

[snake2]

1) I was just figuring that you would need the HDLoader/Advance disc in the PS2 to start and run the software. Say, maybe two persons with two PS2s were to wish to run the program at the same time. Insignificant in all, I know...

2) :confused: Knife Swap? *shudders* That isn't what it sounds like, is it? Knifing a poor little PS2? That's just not cool. So, with either program you need a modded PS2 to read backup and import game discs, no exception? That would make sense, I wouldn't want to rely on console software to cancel the region check on discs. *starts constructing gallows*

3) But you can avoid having to patch for some recent updates for the HDLoader, can you not? This would be a bit more subtle, as some people would not have a mod-chip in this particular situation. Of course, you will not get as many useful patches that you could downloading them, but some people can just brush that matter aside. What's more is skins were never that vital an add-on for any software, and whether or not you have the original format or a custom one is irrelevant.

4) Could you list or link to a list how to do that? If I can get HDLoader to recognize more than 137GB for a HDD I won't have to use HD Advance 2.0 since it's advantage of larger HDD support would cease. Please?
1) once the game is loaded the cd is no longer used

2)yeah knife swap is bad news

3)im sure most people would want to spen the $30 on a mod and patch hd loader themselfs than spend it on an "upgraded" disc

4) Here (http://ps2-scene.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=5371) is where you get the 48bit patch (to use bigger hds) just apply it to the hdl elf file

[CEOrko]

Thanks snake.

Okay, it's been about five and a half days since HD Advance 2.0 came in (still waiting for HD Loader... damn UPS) and I've uploaded and tested several of my games on it. Most of them worked (GTA:SA;VC;3, Virtual On Marz, Prince of Persia:WW, Sims Bustin' Out, Monster Hunter, DBZ Budokai, Devil May Cry, etc.) and most worked rather well. Of these, Tenchu Wrath of Heaven was the only game that didn't run correctly. Rikimaru's game didn't even start up and in Ayame's the control was so lagging that you could tap triangle and have to wait a second or two for her to use an item. Impossible to work with if you intend of doing anything. Multiplayer still seemed to be intact though and ran rather well, but without any real advantage over using the CD.
I was a bit worried about San Andreas not working because I keep hearing reviewers say that it is a dual-layered DVD and the only other PS2 game I know of that is dual-layered is Champions of Norrath, which you need to load using your computer's DVD-ROM. However it worked and besides the shorter load times, the only glitch I have observed was when I was yelled at for blocking traffic the first time I did after loading the game, the voice of the driver sounded like he was sucking helium. I have, however, had no repeats of this glitch. Also, Prince of Persia:WW would not load if there was a disc in the disc tray when you started up the game, but once there's no disc, there's no problem.

After playing a few games I went into the browser for the HDD (I think only official Sony HDDs have this option) and to my disgust, the icons for all of the uploaded games used the HD Loader logo in their stead. Three words: Theiving, unoriginal bastards. It's not like I didn't know HD Advance and HD Loader, but it is like their just rubbing it in (whether or not it is at Sony or the HD Loader software is anyone's guess) that they just used HD Loaders original program code. I hope HDLoader gets here soon so I can just start using it, but I will still download to my HDD using both programs to see if there are any compatability issues between the two that could be useful for others wishing to get either product. *cough* HDLoader *cough*

And one more thing. Looking into the instruction manual for HD Advance 2.0, it has a section on copying backup and import games discs. While this sounds good, there have been plenty a time that someone has lied or rather bent the truth to sell something, and from what I know...
[Shutup, Orko, you're rambling. You don't know whether or not you need hardware of software to eliminate region code scanning.]
[Shh! This is my moment of triumph!]
[What triumph? You're just sounding like an idiot. Drop it while you can and back away or it'll come back and bite you in the ass.]
[You blind fool, you'd never understand! *knifes the Ego of Orko*]
...I'm not entirely sure a region code scan can averted without a mod chip. This could likely be a way of saying you can backup imported and burned discs without mentioning that you need a mod chip to do so. I'd test this, but I've not a DVD burner so I'm going to have to cooperate with several friends to find this out. No large obstacle, but I'm not the most social of persons and this will likely take much longer than it should.

Just some points of my current experience with HD Advance 2.0, and sorry for dragging it out so long.
WHERE ARE YOU HDLOADER!?

[spedmetal]

Well CEOrko it sounds to me like your doing this in a some what of an attempt to put HDL and HDA to a head to head comparison. You will find that they work in exactly the same way as we all know HDA is a direct copy of HDL with just some minor graphical alterations. The HDA 2.0 will have some advantages over the original HDL but these advantages where also stolen from the members of the dev scene that are free to download and apply to your HDL. HDA is nothing but a rip off from top to bottom. The only advantage that HDA has over HDL is that to use the patches I spoke of previously you need to then after patching HDL burn your own CD-R of HDL. This of course you would need a mod chip to boot. So the rip offs at HDA are making money off you because you are too cheap to get a mod chip and do it yourself. Also with the 4th generation chips you can load your patched HDL to your memory card and boot it with out any disc in your disc drive at all. This also allows you to add any new patches that might become available to HDL in the future as all you would need to do would be to patch HDL again and re-install it to your memory card again with out the need of sending your hard earned money to rip off artists. Also, this isn’t important to some, but you can patch HDL with your own custom graphic making it look just how you would like it. So hopefully now everyone will understand that HDA isn’t anything special but just a continuation of what HDL would have surely done on there own if Sony hadn't busted them.

The HDL HDA saga goes much deeper then this in fact. From what I know about this crap I will try and make a short summery.

HDL was originally developed by sjeep who was involved in many dev applications and has been doing so for some time. Supposedly sjeep saw the release of HDL as a money making endeavor when many believed he should have released it as a free dev app. On top of this it’s also rumored that sjeep used the works of other dev creators in the creation of HDL with out crediting them or sharing in the revenue. Well despite all of this HDL was released anyway and shortly after Sony put an end to it.

Shortly after HDL was stopped we started seeing HDA surface which is supposedly backed by the folks at ownz. Around this same time it’s rumored that sjeep was no longer welcome in the ps2 dev groups that he once was involved with. Sjeep at some point teamed up with the DMS crew. The DMS crew around this same time teamed up with the folks at ownz. See where I'm going with this.

DMS as you all know has there new DMS4 chip that is a dev only chip when you receive it from the supplier like most of the high end chips now are. There is a group called "Toxic" that has created a hacked bios for the DMS4 that will allow you to play back-ups and blah blah. Well guess who is rumored to be behind the Toxic group....... you guessed it sjeep. Sjeep and crew not long after releasing the Toxic bios released the Toxic OS which can be installed to the DMS4 Pro's on board flash which is nothing more then a reconfigured HDL that loads to the DMS4 Pro. Guess where they announced the news of this stuff when it was released..... You guessed it ownz.

All this is just more drama then I care to deal with or care about and all I have to say it that thank GOD HDL was created and released regardless of all this crap!!!

This has to be my longest post ever!

[lufcfan]

Ownz are responsible for the DMS4 then... (well, in a fashion)?

Yet another reason to stay away from that crap...