Install Messiah2 on Playstation 2 v3 (part 2)
CLK (Clock)
The CLK signal was not present on Messiah 1. Without it nothing on the Messiah 2 will work.
Connect the CLK wire now.
SCEx
Likewise connect the SCEx wire as per the illustration to the left.
With the “easy” points now connected on this side of the PS2 motherboard, you will need to solder the wires to the BIOS chip (points MNOP QTUV).
The BIOS pins, like the CD/DVD Controller are very close together; so the same razor blade technique should be applied.
Note that there is very little available solder on each pin and you should be skilled in soldering techniques to ensure a good bond.
GAP BIOS (On Motherboard Underside)
The GAP BIOS is evidenced by a gap between the legs as illustrated to the right. This only takes wires MNOP QTUV to the underside of the motherboard.
(Point W is on the top side and should be put in place first).
Now take the 8 lengths of wire to take them from the BIOS chip, round the motherboard edge and to the Messiah 2 on the top side (see picture below).
Points MNOP should be soldered first followed by QTUV which should traverse the BIOS chip and be secured to the top of the chip with Epoxy glue.
When the soldering is complete, take the wires through to the top side of the PS2 motherboard. You may care to place a sticky identification label onto each wire to ensure that it is correctly connected to the Messiah/Clone. Alternatively, connect each wire in turn to the Messiah/Clone; this will ensure you don't cross-connect any wires.
NON-GAP BIOS (On Motherboard Topside)
If you have the Non-GAP BIOS, there will be 44 pins WITHOUT a gap in the middle of the chip. The Non-GAP BIOS is illustrated below.
Note that there are 9 wires associated with the Non-GAP BIOS, with W co-located with the other wires.
Points MNOP should be soldered first followed by QTUVW which should traverse the BIOS chip and be secured to the top of the chip with Epoxy glue as illustrated (from a v5 example) in the lower picture. connected).
You may care to place a sticky identification label onto each wire to ensure that it is subsequently correctly connected to the Messiah 2. Alternatively, connect each wire in turn to the Messiah 2; this will ensure you don't cross-connect any wires.
When this is done, wiring to the motherboard is complete and the connexions can be made to the Messiah 2 with reference to the Messiah 2 Schematic.
NTSC COLOUR FIX
NTSC motherboards would require the Colour Fix point to be taken to 3.3v (photo left).
PAL motherboards would require the Colour Fix point to be taken to GND. (see the photo to the left).
Here’s the explanation.
1. NTSC on a normal US TV works at 525 lines, colour sub-carrier of 3.58 MHz.
2. PAL on normal Euro TV works at 625 lines, colour sub-carrier of 4.43 MHz.
3. Pseudo-NTSC on AV equipment works at 525 lines and a colour sub-carrier 4.43 MHz.
4. Pseudo-NTSC on AV equipment works at 625 lines and a colour sub-carrier of 3.58 MHz
5. Pseudo-PAL on AV equipment works at 525 lines and a colour sub-carrier of 4.43 MHz
The purpose of the pseudo modes is to allow AV equipment to provide a translation of other formats for display in the ‘native’ format. The Playstation 2 is an AV device for this purpose.
Games played on the PS2 will output in a video mode depending on the origin of the disk (NTSC U/C, NTSC-J, PAL). An NTSC game in a PAL PS2 will put out pseudo-NTSC; a PAL game in an NTSC PS2 will put out psuedo-PAL; native games will put out proper NTSC or PAL.
Without this NTSC fix, NTSC Games output video at 60Hz in NTSC 3.58 colour frequency
With this NTSC fix, NTSC games output at 60Hz in NTSC 4.43 colour frequency (aka PAL60)
As you can see NTSC games will output at 60Hz regardless, so the speed/frame rate is unaffected. The only thing that IS affected is the colour frequency and hence the colour display characteristics.
Now, a large number of PAL TVs support 60Hz, but not NTSC 3.58, hence a stable picture but in black and white. However, every PAL TV that supports 60Hz will obviously support PAL60 (which is the NTSC 4.43 colour frequency). Hence; a stable picture that is in colour :)
A PAL TV that doesn't support 60Hz will produce an unstable picture AND be in black and white (NTSC 3.58 wouldn't be supported if the TV can't even sync to 60Hz). The only solution in this case is to use a PAL convertor box that converts both the colour frequency (from NTSC3.58 to PAL) AND the refresh rate (from 60Hz to 50Hz).
There are other PAL convertor boxes that ONLY change the colour frequency from NTSC to PAL, this has the same effect as the PS2 NTSC fix we are talking about.
The reason why a fully wired RGB SCART cable works regardless is because it doesn't use the colour frequency; it takes the separate red, green and blue signals direct from the video chip at a refresh rate according to source game (50Hz for PAL games, 60Hz for NTSC games). Thus in this case the TV just needs to support a 60Hz refresh rate and have an RGB-enabled SCART.
REASSEMBLY
Reassembly is essentially the reverse of disassembly. These steps are:
1. Carefully place the PS2 motherboard onto the bottom casing ensuring that everything sits square. Take care that no damage occurs to the memory card/controller cable (which should have been taped down).
2. Reattach the memory card/controller flat cable to the PS2 motherboard and refasten its securing clip.
3. Seat the memory card/controller back into position and re-insert the two brass screws to fasten the PS2 to its lower casing. The locator pins for the memory card/controller go into the middle locating holes.
4. Reattach the disk drive cables to the PS2 motherboard.
5. Insert the RESET/EJECT switch back into the upper casing. This might be tricky on first attempt. Put the switch flat in correct orientation against the underside of the upper casing. Push it toward the holes through which the buttons emerge keeping the switch parallel with the short side of the casing. When a resistance is felt to the push, slide the buttons into the holes at whatever angle is necessary. Once the buttons are located in the holes, the switch should have moved forward slightly and be properly seated in its housing. Take great care to ensure that the flat ribbon cable is not snagged or damaged.
6. Now put the top back onto the PS2 (again taking care not to snag or damage the flat ribbon cable).
7. Turn the PS2 upside down and re-insert to casing screws.
USING THE MESSIAH 2
BOOTING PS2 ORIGINALS (CD or DVD ALL REGIONS)
• Switch on the PS2 to STANDBY (red light) and press EJECT to open the disk tray
• Insert the game into the disk tray and press RESET to close the tray & boot the game
BOOTING PS2 BACKUPS (CD-R or DVD-R ALL REGIONS)
• Switch on the PS2 to STANDBY (red light) and press EJECT to open the disk tray
• Insert the game into the disk tray and press RESET to close the tray & boot the game
BOOTING PS1 GAMES (CD or CD-R ALL REGIONS)
• Assuming the PS1 disk to be in the disk tray, put the PS2 into STANDBY mode (red light)
• Hold RESET (until the blue EJECT light comes on) then release RESET. The game will boot.
PLAYING LOCAL REGION DVD MOVIES
• Insert the DVD movie into the disk tray and put the PS2 to STANDBY (red light)
• Insert the game into the disk tray and press RESET to close the tray & boot the game
• If the Browser appears, select the gold disk and press X to complete the movie load.
PLAYING OUT-OF-REGION DVD MOVIES (Needs AR2/v2 or GS 2/v2 or DVD Region X)
• Insert AR2/v2, GS2/v2 or DVDRX into the disk tray and close the tray
• Hold RESET (until the blue EJECT light comes on) and then release to boot AR2/GS2/DVDRX
• At the menu, select DVD MOVIE PLAYER and press X on the controller
• The disk tray will eject; remove AR2/GS2/DVRX and put the out-of-region movie into the tray
• Press EJECT to close the tray and wait for a few seconds
• When the Browser appears, select the gold disk and press X to complete the boot
DISABLING THE MESSIAH 2
• Insert the relevant game into the disk tray and put the PS2 to STANDBY (red light)
• Hold RESET for 5 seconds beyond the moment when the blue EJECT lamp comes on
• The game will then boot according to standard PS2 rules for the region concerned
• The Messiah 2 is disabled until it has been put back to STANDBY and booted normally
TROUBLESHOOTING (no guarantees)
Tools needed
To diagnose a mis-install, you will need an 8x magnifying glass to identify bridged pins or small solder splays. A multi-meter helps also to check continuity between pin and pad on the Messiah 2. Sometimes the lacquer hasn't been adequately removed (esp. SCEx) so a continuity check helps.
PS1 backups won't boot
Suspect SCEx in the first instance. Remember that the PS2 components are lacquered and a good electrical connexion is necessary. It is also important to note that if too much heat is applied during soldering to the point where SCEx is located might have damaged that component. Otherwise suspect that you haven’t put the Messiah 2 into PS1 mode.
PS2 backups/imports won’t boot or Red Screen Displays
The disk is seen (groove is found and focus established) but the PS2 has been unable to identify it as a valid disk type (Audio/DVD/PS1/PS2).
First check all soldering for bridges. Solder can lie underneath or behind the BIOS legs. Difficult to spot.
If it’s all backups that won’t boot, then try cleaning the laser lens with a cleaning CD. If it’s just DVD-Rs that won’t boot, suspect wire E, wire W or the DVD laser diode (which may need recalibration).
Then suspect solder bridges. If you can’t see bridges, then it’s the hard way. If the BIOS wires are attached, detach them from the BIOS and clean up. Then boot a backup using AR2/GS2. If it works, then A-I are OK and the BIOS was the problem. (You can try this with the BIOS wires still attached but if it doesn’t work, you’ll have to take the BIOS wires off).
When you can boot backups (including DVD-R) with AR2/GS2, then carefully re-attach the BIOS wires, MNOP QRTUVW. Then try direct booting of backups and/or imports.
‘Disc Reading’ on Browser Screen or clicking sounds
The disk is seen (groove is found and focus established) and the PS2 has been able to identify it as a valid disk type (Audio/DVD/PS1/PS2) but cannot do anything more with the disk or takes ages to load.
This is most likely a laser related issue (clean the lens and/or the disk). Or recalibrate the laser. If the drive seems to load sluggishly (like it seems not to have enough power which is not the
case), particularly in PS1 mode, check wire SCEx.
Screen remains black
Assuming that the electrons were whirling initially, then this is usually a mis-install on the BIOS, often MNOP.
If the electrons never happened, then some wires likely snagged when you put the PS2 back together and possibly a fuse has blown (one of those little square chips with a number on them).
If you have a memory card inserted, try removing it. Some people have had black screen issues when their memory card was inserted (see below).
DVD Movies are choppy
Suspect the media or laser condition. No Messiah 2 condition is likely to arise in this regard.
DVD Movies don't boot
Ditto as for PS1 games. If booting an import movie with GS2/AR2, remember to boot GS2/AR2 with the PS1 method above so as to bypass what the Messiah 2 would otherwise do for PS2 games.
CD/CD-R games boot but not DVD/DVD-R
It is likely that one of the following causes applies:
• The W wire or the R may be incorrectly connected.
• The laser lens is dirty and should be cleaned with a cleaning disk or a cotton swab. A lens can easily collect dirt if the PS2 is played horizontally. The DVD is read at a higher frequency than a CD and results are more sensitive to a dirty lens.
• The laser needs re-calibrating because of wear and tear. This is a complex process and should be carried out by a competent engineer. Pot resistance should not be lowered by more than 10% otherwise there is risk of the DVD laser diode overheating and giving out.
• The laser needs replacement because of severe wear and tear. This is more likely on older PS2s especially if they have been used extensively to play DVDs or have been regularly used with a NEO2.2 mod chip and the DVD-R boot method.
The PS2 disk tray won’t open when EJECT is pressed at power on
If the lights are on but you can’t open the tray, then the Messiah 2 installation is likely to be incorrect and most likely the connexions to the BIOS chip.
Messiah 2 won't boot if Memory Card is in
... but you can re-insert the memory card after booting. This might be accompanied by a loss of controller vibration. Please examine fuse at PS7 marked with the legend S7.
If all then fails...
Back out of your installation, get the PS2 under control into "normal condition"
DISCLAIMER
The author of this document can accept no responsibility nor liability for the outcome of any work performed in conjunction with the contents of this document. Any such work carried out on a Playstation2 is at the risk of the person using this material. The skills of the installer are a key factor in enabling a successful outcome in the same way as the quality of media and burners used to make backups affects game loading/playing characteristics.
You are reminded that it is illegal to make pirate copies of software and it is not the intention of the author that you should make pirate copies of PS2 games.
END.
