Noobie Help
A short page providing descriptions fo some popular tools and files on this site and other scene related sites.
noobie guide
as a lot of people are asking what the files on this site are for, I am going to give some short and simple explanations for each one
cdloader
cdloader should be burned to cd-r, it is used to load some games that won't work with swap magic cd or dvd alone,cdloader must be used in between swapping your swap magic cd for your backup.
i.e., swap magic - cdloader - backup
some games will require a TOC refresh, this is where you insert an original ps2 game with a higher TOC than the backup you are loading, most people use GTA vice city, as it has a very high TOC and it's a game that most people own.
dvdloader
dvdloader is the same program as cdloader, but it should be burned to dvd-/+r, and should be used with swap magic dvd in the same way as cdloader.
sm3dvd (thanks olsfan)
this is basically swap magic cd converted to dvd, and again this is used for the same purpose as cd/dvdloader, but I find I never need to use a TOC refresh with it, so it cuts out a swap for games that need it.
cogswap loader (mem card exploit)
the cog swap loader is used instead of swap magic, or a mod chip, it is made by using the supplied files and creating a title.db file using titleman frontend or title.db makervo[1].3 and a disc id from a psx game (titledb maker can be easier to use if you are only using a few disc id's, because you can put your psx game in your pc and point it to the system.cnf, then it will extract the exact id number you really can't go wrong), you also need cdgenps2 to make the disc image, which should be burned to cd-r. the cogswap loader is a good way of playing backups if you don't have a mod or a set of swap discs, the only drawback is that you will need a method of loading it onto your mem card, this can be done using a gameshark or ar2 cheat disc, you can find an excellent guide for this on the afterdawn forums. thanks to Dark Killer from the ps2-scene forums for title.db maker
.max exploit save
the .max exploit save is used to put an exploit on to your mem card via the ar max or max drive software, using a usb storage device such as the max drive. you will need the save builder and xps- max converter, and there is a guide here
hdloader
in order to use the hdloader exploit you will need a network adapter and a hard drive fitted to your ps2, the hdloader exploit has to be loaded to your mem card in the same way as the cogswap loader, you will then be able to backup games to your hard drive, and play them without the need of a dvd burner and of course dvd-r's, however not all games are compatible with this, I have not tried the hdloader out yet, so that is all I can say about it, but you will be able to get a lot more info from the very helpful members of the afterdawn forums.
smcd memcard exploit
The smcd exploit is basically a way of putting the swap magic cd onto your memory card, it is mainly for those who's ps2's won't read the smcd disc, you will also need to make your own exploit disc or save using the appropriate guide on this site
I hope this helps those who are having trouble understanding what all these programs are used for, you can find guides for using these programs here.
