If you use your firmware disc and insert it into the PS2, it should load up and come to the screen giving you some options to install Boot Manager to your Memory Card.
Do so, remove the CD and restart the PS2. From here, Boot Manager should load up (I believe the latest is v1.38 or something like that).
If you go into PS2 Software, the options are there to force video region, colour region/settings and 60Hz refresh etc...
Hope that helps...

LUFCfan