CodeBreaker HDD Partition

[root670]

Is there a way to extract the cheat list from CodeBreaker's partition? This would allow for easy manipulation on a PC. It also stores saves, settings, and upgrade files (as you may already know). Unfortunately, the partition can't be accessed with uLaunchElf and I don't think there is any other tool that can browse PFS partitions. Judging by some strings left in CB, it uses the standard DEV9 and PFS libraries created by mrbrown way back in 2003. Because of this, the partition should comply to the structure of a normal, valid PFS partition.

[bfoos]

As luck would have it, after trying various methods to access the PP.SLUS-20202.1108.PCB partition over the years that I won't get into, I actually discovered a method to grab the cheats file about 2 weeks ago. I posted it in the uLaunchElf release thread and will quote the relevant information.

As most of you CB users that also use a net adapter and HDD know, the CB automatically overrides the use of the PCB directory in mc0 and creates a partition on HDD called PP.SLUS-20202.1108.PCB where it stores its cheats file. I don't know about anyone else, but I've found myself on countless occasions wishing that I could access that partition and copy the cheats file to preserve it for use after say formatting my PS2 HDD or just to simply back up a hand crafted code list that may have taken months to years to fine tune to the point that it isn't full of games you'll never play and encrypted codes. This, sadly, has never been possible as far as anyone knew. CB of course offers no way to back the file up or transfer it back over to mc0. uLE for reasons unbeknownst to all but dlanor and possibly E.P., treat that partition as persona non grata.

So, as we all know. The PP.SLUS-20202.1108.PCB is not browsable in uLE. You can see it in the HddManager, where you can remove it, expand it or format it. Well well well, as it turns out, pfsshell can indeed mount that partition. However, upon trying to list the contents, it will hang. But not before exposing the fact that qstart and cheats is present. So I figured I'd try and just mount the partition and get the cheats file. Low and behold, it works!!!

Attached is pfsshell v0.2a and hdld_svr.elf v0.8.5.

To grab your cheats file from HDD:

Start hdld_svr-0.8.5 and wait for it to enter ready status. Note the IP address on screen.
Launch pfsshell.exe by double clicking it. No need to use the command prompt.
>device 192.168.0.10 <---Or whatever hdld_svr reports as your PS2's IP address
>mount PP.SLUS-20202.1108.PCB
>get cheats
>umount
>exit
Profit!

If you want to use pfsshell to put the cheats file back in the PP.SLUS-20202.1108.PCB partition, you can use the following command...

>put cheats

So a complete rundown using pfsshell to get cheats and put cheats would be as follows...

>device 192.168.0.10 <---Or whatever hdld_svr reports as your PS2's IP address
>mount PP.SLUS-20202.1108.PCB
>get cheats
>put cheats <---After you've modified it to your liking
>umount
>exit


Don't try to list the contents of the CB partition. I don't know what it is about the contents of it, but something in there messes up any attempts to ls. Mounting the partition is no problem. Getting the file is no problem. And un-mounting is no problem.

Since listing the partition is problematic, I believe there is a simple solution to make getting that damn cheats file easy. A MISC/ command called, say CBGetcheats that loads HDD modules, mounts PP.SLUS-20202.1108.PCB and copies "cheats" to mc0:/PCB.

And here is a link to the source of pfsshell-0.2a >source<

[bfoos]

Man, you could've at least left me a bit of feedback on this. I'm unsure if LMZ actually got my method to work, and due to some rather unfortunate circumstances, I can no longer ask him. So please, is my method satisfactory?

[root670]

I remember doing this a few months ago and I believe it worked. Sorry I didn't respond . I'll try the method again sometime soon just to make sure it works.

[bfoos]

Cool, thanks. I'm fairly certain this method should work for everyone interested. I've done it several times myself. You can also use pfsshell to transfer CHEATS back to the HDD.

[TwistedAx]

Yo, this method worked supremely well for extracting the cheats file from my official Sony 40Gb PS2 HDD. (FAT PS2 hardware v7) Thanks.

Now about using pfsshell to transfer the cheats file BACK to the HDD, could you elaborate please? Or have you already posted this information?

Much appreciated, mate.

[TwistedAx]

Nevermind, found the command to put the cheats file back on the HDD. The "help" command... is really quite useful... >.>; Lol.

[bfoos]

Yeah, sorry. I should've elaborated on the put command.

***Post with instructions edited to include the put command.***