P3F Community Enhancement Pack
  • Introduction
  • Credits
  • Final Release FAQ
  • Install
    • Getting Started
    • Download and Prepare
    • Dump PS2 BIOS
    • Dump P3F ISO
    • Prepare Game Files
    • PCSX2: Test Run
    • Aemulus
    • PCSX2: Advanced Setup
    • Final Steps
  • Appendix
    • Get More Mods
    • Troubleshooting
    • FAQ
  • Upgrade
    • Upgrade from v3.x or Older
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On this page
  • Introduction
  • Prepare Homebrew Starter
  • Download biosdrain to USB Drive
  • Dump BIOS with biosdrain
  • Load uLaunchELF
  • Launch biosdrain
  • Get BIOS Dump
  1. Install

Dump PS2 BIOS

Dump the BIOS files from your PS2 console for emulation.

Last updated 5 months ago

Introduction

The PCSX2 emulator needs the PS2's system BIOS files to run games on your PC. We will dump these from your PS2 console using a homebrew program called biosdrain.

If you have already dumped your PS2 BIOS, move it to your P3F Mods\Setup folder and skip to the next page.

Your BIOS files should look like one of these two images (the name may be different):

Packaged BIOS (4 MB .bin file)

Loose BIOS Files

The PS2 is over 20 years old and every person's hardware is different.

We will help you to the best of our ability, but we cannot guarantee success with homebrewing your specific PS2 hardware.

Running modified software on consoles is DRM circumvention and is illegal in some countries, including Germany and Japan.

You are responsible for following your country's laws regarding homebrew.

Prepare Homebrew Starter

There are two ways to start homebrew on your PS2 console:

The easiest way to load PS2 homebrew is a memory card with Free McBoot installed.

  • This method works for all fat PS2 models and all but the most recent slim PS2 models.

  • This method will NOT work for SCPH-9XXXX slim PS2 models with an "R-type" chassis. You will need to use the FreeDVDBoot Disc method instead.

    • See this page for a full compatibility list.

    • You can check your model number on the back of your PS2 console:

Purchase a Free McBoot Card

  • You can buy a memory card pre-loaded with Free McBoot for about $15 on Amazon.

    • These are cheap Chinese knock-offs and should NOT be used for saving game data, but they will work for loading homebrew.

    • We recommend purchasing a card shipped from Amazon so you will get their generous 30-day replacement / return policy if something goes wrong.

We have not personally tested this homebrew starter method yet.

If you have a PS2 model that does not support Free McBoot memory cards, or if you do not wish to purchase a Free McBoot memory card, you can use FreeDVDBoot instead.

  • This method works for all slim PS2 models, but only specific DVD firmware versions will work on fat PS2 models. See this page for more information.

  • You will need a DVD burner and a blank DVD-R disc to create a FreeDVDBoot disc.

Set Up FreeDVDBoot

  • Follow the instructions on the FreeDVDBoot GitHub page to set up FreeDVDBoot.

Download biosdrain to USB Drive

  • Insert your USB drive into your PC.

  • Open the releases page for biosdrain:

biosdrain on GitHub

  • Under the Assets section for the most recent release, select biosdrain.elf and save the file to the root of your USB drive.

  • Once you have transferred biosdrain.elf, eject your USB drive from your PC.

Dump BIOS with biosdrain

Load uLaunchELF

uLaunchELF is a file manager and executable launcher for your PS2 console. It is already included on your Free McBoot memory card or FreeDVDBoot disc.

Set Up PS2 Console

  • If there is any disc in your PS2 console, remove it.

  • Power off your PS2.

  • Insert your Free McBoot memory card into your PS2 - try Slot 2 first.

  • Insert your USB drive into your PS2.

Launch uLaunchELF

  • Power on your PS2. You should see the Free McBoot logo appear.

  • Free McBoot will launch its own version of the system menu with many different homebrew applications. Find and open uLaunchELF.

The program may be called wLaunchELF or just LaunchELF instead.

These are all different releases of the same program.

Set Up PS2 Console

  • If there is any disc in your PS2 console, remove it.

  • Boot your PS2 to the system menu.

  • Select System Configuration and make sure Language is set to English.

Launch uLaunchELF

  • Insert your FreeDVDBoot disc and wait a few seconds.

  • Your PS2 should launch into uLaunchELF automatically.

Launch biosdrain

uLaunchELF uses the Japanese button layout for menus.

Use Circle to select something and Cross to go back.

  • At the uLaunchELF startup screen, press Circle to enter the file browser.

  • You'll see a list of drives to open. Navigate down to mass:/ and press Circle to open your USB drive in the file browser.

  • Navigate to biosdrain.elf and press Circle to launch biosdrain.

Get BIOS Dump

biosdrain on PS2

  • biosdrain will automatically dump your BIOS to your USB drive. Just wait a few minutes.

  • Once the message "Finished everything" appears, power off your PS2.

That's all you need your PS2 for; feel free to put it away now.

Copy to PC

  • Insert your USB drive into your PC. Your USB drive will now have your PS2 BIOS files (SCPH-XXXXX).

  • Copy these BIOS files to your P3F Mods\Setup folder.

https://github.com/F0bes/biosdrain/releases/latest
Thanks to TheKleesh for providing this screenshot.
Thanks to TheKleesh for providing this screenshot.