Bin2Boot questions (theory and functionality)

vsp · #1 27-05-2002, 11:11

I've had great success with the Echelon self-boot tutorial to date, but I haven't tried out bin2boot yet. Since the data-then-audio format seems to be more compatible with later DCs, this util could be vital if I end up replacing my older console.

A couple of questions:

* I'm assuming that if I have a non-selfboot bin-cue or iso image, that bin2boot is to be used on that with no further tinkering on my part. What about images that are already selfboot? Will the ip.bin or 1st_read bin need to be hacked before using bin2boot?

* Has anyone thought about rewriting the Echelon tutorial to take this newer layout into account? I'd be interested to know how to build a new-format selfboot from scratch, and whether the ip.bin/1st_read.bin files would need to be tinkered with in that case. I may do some experimentation on my own, but if anyone's figured this out already I don't want to reinvent the wheel.

Megalexxx · #2 27-05-2002, 12:09

1) yes they will. You'll need to set all your LBA values to 0 (binhack *.bin 0). Since you won't be able to see the ip.bin on your selboot CD, you'll have to find a new one...

2) to make an image with this "new selfboot format" this is what you need to do :
_ copy all your files from a non selfboot game to a directory
_ make an ISO 9660 using CDRWin
_ use Bin2Boot
_ burn the image

It's not more complicated.

I tried this with not selfboot AND selfboot games (after binhacking my files), but never with some CDDA...

Wayne · #3 27-05-2002, 19:30

Actually, I think BIN2BOOT will still correctly hack the LBA as needed, no matter whether it's 17000, 17002 or 0. It only costs one disc to find out for sure though...

Megalexxx · #4 28-05-2002, 09:42

I wasn't sure of that.
But if you've got more than 1 LBA value (for example in 2_dp.bin, ...), you'll have to binhack these files by yourself.

vsp · #5 02-06-2002, 21:25

I made the pleasant discovery tonight that Nero 5.5 (demo's over, so I broke down and upgraded to the full version) can handle files AND audio tracks from my burned CDs. (CDRWin could read them, but gave a "can't handle multisession" error when trying to extract.) As such, I can now take my burned discs apart and put 'em back together with bin2boot in the data -> audio format.

But, just because I'm weird and like knowing how to do things the hard way (manually), do I have this straight?

To convert a typical game to data -> audio, I would:

1) Use Nero to extract the data track to my HD, which is without an ip.bin
2) Use binhack, with a value of 0 and an ip.bin obtained from another image
3) Put the bootfile (1st_read.bin or 0winceos.bin) back in the data directory
4) Use mkisofs with -C 0,0 to build an ISO
5) Use ipins to put ip.bin at the beginning of the ISO
6) Burn the ISO with CDRWin, selecting "Open New Session"
7) Burn audio.raw OR the CDDA tracks (extracted separately as WAVs), selecting "Finalize Disc"

Let me know if I'm on crack here.