Install or Update OPL

OPL is typically already installed on a pre-made FMCB memory card as OPL, OpenPS2Loader, or similar names. However, if it is not yet installed, this guide will walk you through the process.

Updating OPL

These steps can also be used to update OPL. If your OPL elf files have the same name, you can simply overwrite the existing OPL elf. However, if your new OPL elf has a different file name (because of versioning), you can choose to install it in addition to the previous one or delete the other OPL elf after installing the new one.

Tip: Installing apps

These instructions can also be used to install other homebrew apps as well. You can find other apps to install on PSX Place or Internet Archive.

Credits

• This guide transcribes How To Install OPL v0.9.4 Onto Any PS2! (Open PS2 Loader) 2018!

Requirements

• FMCB memory card
• USB storage device

Instructions

Load OPL elf file onto USB

1. Go to the OPL Github page and select the version you want to use.

   1. The most recent stable release will be given a version name such as v1.1.0 and will be labeled Latest. This will provide the best stability, but may not have improvements made in beta releases.

   2. The beta release will be named "latest" (with the Pre-release tag) and will have any ongoing improvements but may have less stability.

2. On the version page you want to use, scroll down to the Assets heading and download OPNPS2LD.7z.

   

3. Unzip the file. Insert your USB drive into your PC and copy OPNPS2LD.ELF or OPNPS2LD-[version number].ELF (depending on which version you are using) to it.

   

4. Eject the USB storage device from your PC.

Copy the OPL elf onto FMCB card

1. Insert both your the USB storage device with the OPL elf and FMCB memory card into the PS2 and boot it up.

2. From the home screen launch uLaunchELF.

   

3. Press circle to enter the file browser.

   

4. Scroll down and select mass:/.

   

5. Find the OPL elf file on your USB storage device and highlight it. Press R1 to open the menu.

   

6. Press circle to select Copy.

   

7. It will confirm by showing red status text in the upper left corner reading Copied to the Clipboard.

   

8. Press triangle to return through directories until you are at the top level again. From here, select mc0:/ if your FMCB card is inserted in the first slot, or mc1:/ if it is in the second.

   

9. Scroll down and select the BOOT/ folder.

   

10. In this folder, press R1 to pull up the menu.

    

11. Press circle to select Paste.

    1. If you are updating OPL, you may be prompted to override an existing OPL elf. In the dialog window, confirm that you would like to overwrite the previous OPL elf.

    

12. A dialog will pop up showing the file copying progress.

    

13. When complete, your OPL elf will display in the list.

    

Add OPL to the home menu

1. Restart your PS2.

2. Select Free McBoot Configurator from the home screen.

   

3. Select your preferred button layout.

   

4. In the next menu, scroll down to select Configure OSDYS options...

   

5. Tap one down to highlight Configure Item 1:. This will highlight the first home menu item.

   

6. Pressing left and right on the d-pad will scroll through the home menu options. Continue pressing right until the item field is empty and select it. This is where we will install OPL.

   

7. On the edit entry screen, select Name:.

   

8. Enter a descriptive name such as OPL, OpenPS2Loader, or OPL [version]. Hit OK.

   

9. Tab down one entry and select Path1:.

   

10. From here, we will find the newly pasted OPL elf on our FMCB memory card. Select the memory card you are using, mc0:/ if first slot or mc1:/ if second.

    

11. Scroll down to BOOT/ and select it.

    

12. Scroll down to the OPL elf and select it.

    

13. The elf path will now populate the Path1 field. Scroll down and select Return.

    

14. The home menu entry will now populate the OPL name you entered. Scroll down and select Return.

    

15. Finally, we will save the FMCB config file with our new menu changes. Select Save CNF to MC0 for a FMCB card in the first slot and MC1 for the second.

    

16. It will display Saved [config file path] when finished. Back out to the home menu by scrolling down and selecting Exit (then backing out of the memory card view by pressing circle) or restarting your PS2.

    

17. OPL will now be installed on your FMCB card and accessible from your home menu.

    

Once OPL is installed, you can continue to loading game backups onto your formatted hard drive.

If your drive is formatted:

Next: Install game backups to hard drive

If your drive has yet to be formatted:

Next: Format and partition hard drive