ILLEGAL DISK - Known Solutions (Sticky if possible)

[thetest]

There are a lot of people posting about the Illegal Disk problem without properly searching so please read this and possibly "Sticky" it.

100% Working Method
----------------------
Follow the instructions here to create a special DVD-Video formatted disc containing all your media files. This will read in any PS2 without the need for a modchip, because the PS2 natively reads DVD-Video discs.

http://sms.ps2-scene.org/SMSMANUAL/H...sage-dvdr.html

Swap Magic Method
--------------------
If you have Swap Magic then you can use it to make your data disc's read.

1) Boot SMS using whatever method you currently use.

2) Eject the drive and insert Swap Magic. (If you are using Swap Magic to boot SMS from a disc, then you must eject the SMS boot disc and reinsert the Swap Magic disc again)

3) Swap it with your data disc and the files should be visible in SMS.

Note: If you have the DVD version of Swap Magic then you can only use it to read DVD-R discs. If you want to read CD-R discs then you must use the CD version of Swap Magic.

SMS Boot + Data Disc
----------------------
Another method is to make every disc an SMS boot disc. Download one of the SMS boot disc images from the SMS site. Then use UltraISO to edit the ISO and insert your media files. Burn the ISO to disc and when you boot the PS2 with it, it will boot into SMS and already contain your media files.


***UPDATE***
Matrix Infinity / Modbo Workaround
--------------------------
To get around the Auto-Sleep feature of these chips you can first insert your data disc into the PS2. Then POWER OFF the PS2. Then turn it on again with the disc already in the drive and boot SMS using Dev1 (Dev2 can't be used as it disabled the DVD Drive) and the disc will read.

Matrix Infinity / Modbo Permanent Fix
--------------------------
The Matrix Infinity chips (and hence the Modbo clones) have an Auto-Sleep feature which turns off the modchip after the first disc has been "recognized" by the PS2 (in the case of games, once it has booted into the game)

Hence any disc that is inserted into the PS2 after this will not be recognized as it is not an original PS2 disc.

There is a wire labelled "RST" which connects the chip to the Reset/Eject section of the PS2 mainboard. If you disconnect this wire, then the modchip will be permanently active. Hence you can insert a disc at anytime and it will read.

However by doing this you lose the ability to disable the modchip by holding Start at boot time. If you hold the start button, it will still display the "Disabled" message, but when you press reset to restart the PS2, the modchip will still remain active and will boot backups. Hence if you play online, your modchip can be detected. There is also a possibility of "Anti-Mod" games detecting the chip and hence not being playable, but in all these years i have never encountered such a game.

I found this out experimenting with my modchip..If anyone else has any info about it then please post it here.

Note:
This doesnt seem to work on a Modbo 1.1 due to its different connections. (Thanks orangpelupa)
I have tested this on a Modbo 3.0 and it works.
BTW I have only tested this on a v4, v7 and v9. I don't know whether it will work with the slimlines.

[thetest]

Splinter Cell Chaos Theory is an Anti-Mod and Anti-SM game. It will show the Red Screen Of Death after loading a saved game. It could detect the older modchips and hence was unplayable.

So it will detect our chip now that we've cut the RST wire and disabled the Auto-Sleep feature.

But there is a simple solution to it. Since the PS2 will now read discs anytime you insert them, you just have to eject and close the tray and the disc will read again. The R.S.O.D will return to the game

[JuddMan]

the FAQ has been updated on the SMS website. http://sms.ps2-scene.org

[vsub]

I have one strange problem.I dont know if it's a problem but I can boot backup CDVD's only ones but SMS works if I start it from dev mode and I CAN change disk's.When I inseart a second backup CDVD the PS2 spin the disk and stop and the game/program wont start,on SMS does the same thing but show the files on the second CDVD and I can play them?

I have Nemesis Pro the is kind of clone between MI and ModBo and have the Auto-Sleep feature

[thetest]

Originally Posted by vsub

I have one strange problem.I dont know if it's a problem but I can boot backup CDVD's only ones but SMS works if I start it from dev mode and I CAN change disk's.When I inseart a second backup CDVD the PS2 spin the disk and stop and the game/program wont start,on SMS does the same thing but show the files on the second CDVD and I can play them?

I have Nemesis Pro the is kind of clone between MI and ModBo and have the Auto-Sleep feature

Well the only logical explanation is that your modchip is intelligently detecting when the PS2 is actually "booting" from the disc (indicating that your playing a game) and disabling the modchip after the first boot. Whereas if the insertion of a disc is not followed by a boot sequence it presumes your using the disc for other pusposes and makes it read.

[orangpelupa]

if you using ModBo 1.1
dont desolder that cable.

i tried it, and i cant load any games, and cant load SMS (using R1 button),
i assume, if u desolder that cable, the modbo will not be turned on when you turn on the console

to fix it, just solder it again

my ps2 is 70006

[vsub]

Originally Posted by orangpelupa

if you using ModBo 1.1
dont desolder that cable.

i tried it, and i cant load any games, and cant load SMS (using R1 button),
i assume, if u desolder that cable, the modbo will not be turned on when you turn on the console

to fix it, just solder it again

my ps2 is 70006

Yes I know I try it too,then my PS2 stop booting any games then I solder it again and now everything is ok

Nemesis Pro(mix of Martix Infinity and ModBo 2.1) SCPH-50004a

[thetest]

Originally Posted by orangpelupa

if you using ModBo 1.1
dont desolder that cable.

i tried it, and i cant load any games, and cant load SMS (using R1 button),
i assume, if u desolder that cable, the modbo will not be turned on when you turn on the console

to fix it, just solder it again

my ps2 is 70006

Thats because the Modbo 1.1 is not a perfect copy of the Matrix Infinity. Its connections are different. I have tested this on a Modbo 3.0 and it works. [Not surprisingly because the installation diagrams for the Modbo 3.0 are copied straight off the Matrix website. They havent even changed the words "Matrix" to "Modbo" ]

[Pacifica_Snake]

You are actually telling me that if I want to be able to play Xvid's on my PS2 I gotta open it up and cut a cable ?!?
No way, this is method is way to dangerous, and just the thought of it gives me a fright.

I have a "Messiah 3" modchip, are you certain that this is the cause for the "illegal disk" problem ?
burning each movie in some special way is also out of the question,
since most of the videos i would like to watch are already burned onto DVD's, and I don't think i'm willing to re-burn everything just so I could watch it on the PS2.

Please, some help =(
Why don't all those stuff ever work on my PS2 ? =\

[thetest]

Originally Posted by Pacifica_Snake

I have a "Messiah 3" modchip, are you certain that this is the cause for the "illegal disk" problem ?

Yes it is...But unfortunately its very improbably that cutting the wire will work for a Messiah 3.

You can follow the UPDATED method I've posted in the first thread.

[Meelo]

I have a problem with "illegal disk" if I have been playing off the HDD for a while then I go to watch something in SMS, so I just leave it for a bit and it works perfectly.

[thetest]

Originally Posted by Meelo

I have a problem with "illegal disk" if I have been playing off the HDD for a while then I go to watch something in SMS, so I just leave it for a bit and it works perfectly.

Something wrong with SMS Eugg ??

[dlanor]

Originally Posted by thetest

Something wrong with SMS Eugg ??

Definitely not, judging from Meelo's description.

If leaving the console unused for some moments can cause 'illegal disc' problems to disappear, then those problems are most likely due to excess heat generated by use of the HDD for in-game streaming etc. This heat may cause the laser unit to fail reading CDVD discs properly.

Improved ventilation can help a lot, both by preventing the build-up of heat and allowing it to dissipate quicker.

Best regards: dlanor

[thetest]

I dint think DVD roms would be affected by heat. Considering how hot a disc gets after u make an image of it.

[thetest]

But then u cant even hold a HDD in your hand if its been runnin for a while

[dlanor]

Originally Posted by thetest

I dint think DVD roms would be affected by heat. Considering how hot a disc gets after u make an image of it.

I wasn't talking about the temperature of the disc itself, but of the laser unit and its associated electronic circuitry. All semiconductor components change characteristics with temperature and will only work properly within a specified temperature range.

Best regards: dlanor

[thetest]

Originally Posted by dlanor

I wasn't talking about the temperature of the disc itself, but of the laser unit and its associated electronic circuitry. All semiconductor components change characteristics with temperature and will only work properly within a specified temperature range.

Best regards: dlanor

thats what i mean.

[l_oliveira]

Originally Posted by thetest

Matrix Infinity / Modbo Permanent Fix
--------------------------
The Matrix Infinity chips (and hence the Modbo clones) have an Auto-Sleep feature which turns off the modchip after the first disc has been "recognized" by the PS2 (in the case of games, once it has booted into the game)

Matrix Infinity will either run on recovery mode or be disabled (will think the user is holding the reset button as the voltage on the RST line will drop to 0v. It need the 3.3v reference which comes from the PS2 RST line.)

If you want it to work that way you should add a 10k resistor to the 3.3v and RST point in the mod.

I don't know how the clones behave because I don't use them... I install clones when requested but I never mess much with them as they're quite fragile.

Other thing about the real M.I.: It does auto sleep but it will authenticate a disc every time you open the tray. A clone doesn't.

That authentication issue with M.I. clones make it difficult to use the PS2 with homebrewn software which make use of data discs, like emulators and media players.