HDLoader Review

[abksever]

Loaded about 7 games with my HD loader and they all play fine. RE OB will not.
It pops up a "now loading" screen and thats all the further it gets. FYI Using Maxtor 80GB HD.
FYI 2. linker4U was selling HD Loader pretty cheap. Got mine with no problems.

[abksever]

Just to clarify, the HD is in the master postion.
Help!!!! and Thanx

[TylerDurden]

Resident Evil Outbreak plays fine in Mode 3.




Tyler!

[abksever]

Sorry, dont know what MODE 3 means, help.
Thanx and buy soap.

[abksever]

Sorry, my HD Loader manual didn't have "Mode" instructions. Figured it out though. If anyone else encountered this, here's the deal. When looking at your loaded games screen, highlight a game and press the select button on your ps2 controller. a screen will pop up displaying "Modes" and you can select which mode to set the selected game to. None the less, "Buy Soap!"

[abksever]

Wouldn't it be nice if I just said everything all at once. Unfortunatly I cannot process thought that fast. anyway, SPEED KINGS, CD game loads onto the HD but will not play in any Mode. Suggestions or just not compatible?
Eat Soap!

[lufcfan]

Tried all the different combos? PS2NFO.com has all the different modes you need for each game...

[thewessman]

I can't believe that none of you have tried this crappy HD Loader with the most important HD game of all; SOCOM 2. The game does NOT recognize that the hard drive is in place, therefore, you will STILL need to have a Sony hard drive if you want to download updates for SOCOM2. Although I have not tried this myself, I have heard that Final Fantasy XI also does NOT work with a non-Sony Hard drive. Why did I spend $35 on the HD Loader and a non-Sony hard drive when this set up will not work for the games that require a hard drive to operate?

Another thing. I installed SOCOM2 on my hdd using the HD Loader method, then I installed Madden 2005 on it. I named both files accordingly, except that Madden 2005 would not accept the name "Madden 2005"; instead, it defaulted to SOCOM2. I tried changing it many times and it would not switch from SOCOM2 to Madden 2005. THEN, I rebooted my ps2 thinking that it was only a glitch, and BAM... both games were deleted!

Both of my games are originals. If someone can shed some light on why SOCOM2 will not recognize the hard drive (gives "Could not detect Hard Drive... probably not installed correctly") then maybe this is worth it. I don't think that slightly faster load times are reason enough to shell out more money than it would cost to buy a Sony Hard drive with the proper format/install CD

[spedmetal]

Originally Posted by thewessman

Why did I spend $35 on the HD Loader and a non-Sony hard drive when this set up will not work for the games that require a hard drive to operate?

Its not like this is new information pal, this has been knows since the start of HDloader. Guess you should have done some research on this if this is such a concern for you. As with most of us its not, because we also own an official Sony HDD (like I do for FFXI) for playing those games, and there are so few games that were originally intended to use the Sony HDD in the first place that no one really cares. The third party HDD is the only way to go because you can put a much larger HDD in then the official Sony HDD which is only 40GB.

[snake2]

Originally Posted by spedmetal

Its not like this is new information pal, this has been knows since the start of HDloader. Guess you should have done some research on this if this is such a concern for you. As with most of us its not, because we also own an official Sony HDD (like I do for FFXI) for playing those games, and there are so few games that were originally intended to use the Sony HDD in the first place that no one really cares. The third party HDD is the only way to go because you can put a much larger HDD in then the official Sony HDD which is only 40GB.

and use any mod you want

btw hdloader kicks ass there is no load time in silent hill 4 execpt for one part at that took about 3 seconds

[thewessman]

Yes, that is correct, the information IS old. However, everyone here is praising the HD Loader as if it were a golden calf, when it is in fact, nothing more than a pirating tool. I have no problems with "backing" up games that you own, especially if it is to make the game load faster, but none of you mentioned in your praises that the HD Loader still maintained the same limitations. Based on everyone's comments, a consumer will get the wrong information about this product. One may buy the loader thinking that it is the cure-all. However it is not, and I needed to add my comments to give people the right idea about this product.

[spedmetal]

"cure-all"

Are you crazy! We have gone over, and over, and over all the limitations that the HDloader has which by the way there are many. So if people are getting the wrong idea here its because they arent reading correctly or everything that is being said here.

However what the HDloader does work on it works unbelievably well. Yes the HDloader has it's bugs and no one, thats no one! is claiming it to be a cure all.

So with that said rock on HDloader!!! Until something better comes along I will use the hell out of it. It's the best thing to happen to the PS2 scene since the Infinity!

blah blah blah

[crazygamelover]

Originally Posted by spedmetal

"cure-all"

Are you crazy! We have gone over, and over, and over all the limitations that the HDloader has which by the way there are many. So if people are getting the wrong idea here its because they arent reading correctly or everything that is being said here.

However what the HDloader does work on it works unbelievably well. Yes the HDloader has it's bugs and no one, thats on one! is claiming it to be a cure all.

So with that said rock on HDloader!!! Until something better comes along I will use the hell out of it. It's the best thing to happen to the PS2 scene since the Infinity!

blah blah blah

well said sped.
I might add that if someone uses it for piracy purposes (which is illegal) and post those results here, he/she will be dealt with accordingly (banned for as long as the Mod chooses) as we do not support it here, nor do we encourage it. That is the mods responsibilty and the loyal members who serve to protect this site. We dont push it off as anything other than what it is. Hdd loader is simply a 9th Wonder in the PS2 scene and not to be mistaken for something it is not. ( a cure all as you say) It has limitation which are clearly posted throughout this entire thread. There are some fixes posted and there are some limitations which must simply be endured. Pound for pound you wont find a better gaming solution for its intended purpose and those who use it for such purposes as pirating, do so at their own risks. It is illegal but that dont stop shoplifters, thieves, or muggers. Common sence would apply here. In any case the hdd loader is and always will be a blessing for ps2 gamers who enjoy its capabilities. It may not be as you say in regard to the games you mentioned but the majority of the games do work fine. With all of that said, you should agree that it serves a purpose for the good of all games(with the exception of the ones that do not work). It is a good product if you chose to use it properly. It is the right of every gamer to backup a copy of a game they own.

[thewessman]

Here's what makes it even worse: After my debacle with the HD Loader deleting both games I had installed in it (read previous post), I tried to re-install those games again on my Maxtor 80GB hard drive. With the game list emtpy, I cannot install ANYTHING anymore because HD Loader tells me that there is no more space on the hard drive. I know, I know... "it's one of the limitations listed throughout this thread". Great. Not only can I not install any games, but I also do not have the option to reformat my hard drive so I can try to troubleshoot. The www.hdloader.com website is down due to the bills not being paid, and I am now coming to the realization that this cd will not even make a good coaster. I should have listened to my friends and purchased the HDAdvance instead. I really have a hard time believing at how much praise there is for this thing. "... a blessing", and "..the greatest software", among others. Come on, nothing this flawed deserves such high praise. It sounds like everyone is giving this thing an 11 out of a possible 10, when in fact, it deserves more like a 5, or a 6.

[crazygamelover]

Originally Posted by thewessman

Great. Not only can I not install any games, but I also do not have the option to reformat my hard drive so I can try to troubleshoot.

Have you tried removing the hdd and reformatting in a pc? I know this sounds a bit out of the way since your mind is already set on it being a pure dud (due to your experiences so far). If you reformat it that way, you should be able to start over, however those games which you have said dont work, will probably not work the second time either. All I know is mine is working flawlessly so it is hard for me to find fault in its abilities. I do understand your frustrations. Maybe you can reformat it in a pc and post your results again once you have this done.