Origachip experts, AR2 experts...help!!! sigh..
 

i am a real newbie here, so hope u guys can give me all the help u can give.

I have the origachip 1.12 added to my SCPH10000 PS2 set, all originals, including imports work fine. plus all the psx games too.

so I thought I would try PS2 backups, and www.origachip.com did said that AR2 is possible for backups too, i bought AR2 v1.9, and it did not work. AR2 v1.9 can't boot a backup, which i tried a Winning Eleven (NTSC/Jap) from my friend to test out, and it can't even load my original GT3 (NTSC/US), Ridge Racer V (NTSC/J), Tekken Tag. (NTSC/J) too without codes.

Questions:
1. Has anyone successfully used AR2 with the origachip? My box has is labeled the jap version of AR2, but does it matter since the origachip is in my PS2? Or must I get the Eur PAL version of AR2? I tested my PS2 set with a Gameshark 1.6, and it worked! So wat's wrong? version wrong? or region wrong?

2. I would like to use AR2 to enter codes for my original games, can a AR2 (jap) allow me to enter code for NTSC games? or only strictly for PAL games? To play NTSC(US) games, i need the Gameshark issit? How about NTSC(J) games??

3. Charlie might suggest me getting a DVD region X boot disc instead, but I really dun wish to see my AR2 money spent wasted, (sigh, dead broke in the holiday season), i tried the jap backup version u mentioned in a previous post, but how do i swap the disc with my Utility disc 1.01?

4. Can AR2 or gameshark enter codes for backups? does it matter if they are encoded in NTSC or PAL formats? if they can work in the first place that is...

5. for dvdrips, there is no need to patch them with the relevant region patch issit?

I noe I have long winded, and frankly I don't understand this ps2 mod and backup process at all.. pls help however u can, anyone.. thanx...

For now I just have time to answer the DVDRX point.

If the straight burned download doesn't boot behind the Utility Disk, you'll need to patch the download with Universal Patcher or ASA Patcher so that it will boot behind the Utility Disk. But for that you need Auto-Eject and unless there is an old mod-chip in there (like on mine) you have a problem

I am conscious that nobody expert in AR2/GS has replied so maybe a few more words from me might help just a little. IF YOU ARE UK BASED YOU COULD SEND ME YOUR AR2 ORIGINAL AND I'LL CHECK IT OUT ON MY SYSTEM.

I thought I would try PS2 backups, and www.origachip.com did said that AR2 is possible for backups too, i bought AR2 v1.9, and it did not work. AR2 v1.9 can't boot a backup, which i tried a Winning Eleven (NTSC/Jap) from my friend to test out, and it can't even load my original GT3 (NTSC/US), Ridge Racer V (NTSC/J), Tekken Tag. (NTSC/J) too without codes.

Questions:
1. Has anyone successfully used AR2 with the origachip? My box has is labeled the jap version of AR2, but does it matter since the origachip is in my PS2? Or must I get the Eur PAL version of AR2? I tested my PS2 set with a Gameshark 1.6, and it worked! So wat's wrong? version wrong? or region wrong?
ANSWER: Someone else will have to answer that as I use DVD Region X (PAL) to boot my backup games. The Jap AR2 must surely work in your PS2 (as should a PAL AR2). If you tried GS (US) then use it if it'll do the job. But it shouldn't be like that (Jap AR2 no boot) and I can offer no explanation unless it's media. Have you e-mailed Origa? They take their time replying but do reply.

2. I would like to use AR2 to enter codes for my original games, can a AR2 (jap) allow me to enter code for NTSC games? or only strictly for PAL games? To play NTSC(US) games, i need the Gameshark issit? How about NTSC(J) games??
ANSWER: So far as I know, the codes are specific to the region because different regions' games are not binary identical. Agaian there are GS/AR experTs around (as you requested) and I hope they come forward (they haven't so far).

3. Charlie might suggest me getting a DVD region X boot disc instead, but I really dun wish to see my AR2 money spent wasted, (sigh, dead broke in the holiday season), i tried the jap backup version u mentioned in a previous post, but how do i swap the disc with my Utility disc 1.01?
ANSWER: I tried to answer that in the previous post - but you could also try it with the GS 1.6 if indeed you need to.

4. Can AR2 or gameshark enter codes for backups? does it matter if they are encoded in NTSC or PAL formats? if they can work in the first place that is...

5. for dvdrips, there is no need to patch them with the relevant region patch issit?
ANSWER: The DVD rips I have are not region patched. Some are PAL some US NTSC.

I noe I have long winded, and frankly I don't understand this ps2 mod and backup process at all.. pls help however u can, anyone.. thanx
ANSWER: Don't worry. Your sort of questions are most welcome.

thanx for the quick reponse charlie.. :)

well, i am based in Singapore, so I guess I can't send u the AR2 to verify, haha. I tot maybe my backups have some error, but surely an AR2 (jap) can load a NTSC (J) without codes right? yet, it didn't.. thus I sort of think it's the AR2 fault. It booted fine, just that it hanged at the swap disc screen, no matter if I press X, R1+O, and all four (triangle, square, X, O) buttons together.

Right, now I am sourcing for people with GS1.6 to swap with my AR2, doesn't look very optimistic though... :P

But seeing that most games that I am going to have more NTSC(US) games like MGS2, FFX, I guess investing in a Gameshark will be more worth it, huh? :P

haha, I dun have the old modchip.com mod and thus the autoeject feature, so i guess the backup dvd region X (jap) method is out too... :P I patched it with the universal patcher already, but I chose the UT patch, so i doubt I can use GS1.6 to do it? Anyway, the CD i burnt made quite a lot of noise in my PS2, never happened before. :P

Charlie, I think u are having a lot of joy with your jap PS2 and origachip right? haha, i think I need some more time, more burnt CDRs, much more money before I can attain that.. :P Will Messiah be a possible future solution to us Jap PS2 users, u reckon??

cheers!! Thanx for the help!

Well I think DVDR-X is still your best bet.

And Messiah=J is probably about 6 weeks away. Messiah-PAL is out now.