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PSX

If you want to play Playstation-games on your PC, look at the PSEmuPro page. PSEmuPro is the best Playstation emulator around. Not all games are working, but lots are. Be sure you have a fast PC like an AMD K6-2 300 or an Intel PII 300 and a good videocard like a 3DFX card.

Starting Info (Special Thanks to Taran)

Before you try and copy a Playstation CD, you should be aware that you cannot just copy-and-play. It is important that you understand the copy protection used inside the PSX, and what you must do to play copied CDs. Authentic CDs for the PSX have black bottoms, as compared to normal CDs with silver or gold bottoms. This is to distinguish authorized CDs from those made with a standard CD recorder. Despite the coloring, PSX CDs can be read from any CD-ROM.

The black CDs are made with special recorders made by Sony, which are able to write special CDs (through the use of bad blocks). Bad blocks are segments of data on the CD which have been marked as invalid. Normally, you do not want these on a CD as any data which is located in a bad block is lost. Because of this, all consumer CD recorders are designed to correct bad blocks when they read them before writing them to new CDs. Only Sony's special development recorders will re-write these bad blocks on new CDs, and these cannot be purchased. Understanding bad blocks is the key to understanding the Playstation's copy protection scheme.

When the PSX boots up, it performs two checks on the CD inside the PSX. One of these checks looks for the country code, which tells the PSX what country the CD was created in. If the code matches the code that is located in the PSX BIOS (Basic Input/Output System), the boot procedure will continue. For example, a Japanese CD is not playable on a US Playstation because of the country code check. The second check looks for bad blocks at certain locations on the CD. Since only Sony's CD recorders can produce these, the presence of bad blocks tell the PSX that the CD is authentic. If they are not there, the PSX halts the boot process.

There have been several methods to get around this check. The first is the famous swaptrick method. Sony caught on and modified the BIOS further so that swapping would not work. The easiest way (and only way for newer Playstations) is to purchase a MOD chip for the PSX. The MOD chip causes the PSX to return the correct information when the PSX checks for the country code and bad blocks. It automatically tells the PSX that the country code passed and that the CD is authentic.


MAC PSX Copying

MAC PSX Copying site URL: http://24.4.95.219/blackmagic/macpsx/

The Software

You can download it all for free at the our CD-R Software Section.

You can get all these programs for only $25 on one easy to use CD-Rom
http://come.to/cdrsoftware

Common Problems

CD Wizard Pro / Gold      http://www.vob.de/us/default.htm

CD Burner Compatibility Listing - http://www.vob.de/de/Support/general/compatibility.htm

It is not luck that this program copies Playstation CD's. VOB's CD-Wizard page even brags that they created CD-Wizard to copy Playstation CD's along with many other types of protected CD's. I have not had any problems copying protected PSX CD's with this program. CD Wizard copies 4 second tracks as well. CD Wizards also is a great program to create a CD from scratch, copy multiple CD's at one time, and packet write to CD-RW's.

Stay with the defaults using this program. There is really no need to change anything unless you want to make an image first or read and burn at 1x.

 

Prassi CD Right Plus      http://www.prassi.com/

CD Burner Compatibility Listing - http://www.prassi.com/support.htm

This program seems to be great for coping PSX games. In fact when you put a PSX CD in the drive it even reports it as a Playstation CD unlike most that say unknown CD. Prassi CD Right Plus does copy 4 second tracks as well. Prassi also is a great program to create a CD from scratch.

Stay with the defaults using this program. There is really no need to change anything unless you want to make an image first or read and burn at 1x.

 

Padus DiscJuggler      http://www.padus.com/discjugg.htm

CD Burner Compatibility Listing - http://www.padus.com/hardware.htm

Currently I am running Padus DiscJuggler version 1.01.199-FU. This program has no problems with 4 second tracks or any other protection scheme out on PSX CD-Roms.

Just put in the CD Rom and burn it. You can currently download their demo which is totally operational except it only burns CDR's at 1X. DiskJuggler works great but is a little temperamental with some CD's.

 

DAO      http://www.goldenhawk.com

CD Burner Compatibility Listing - http://www.goldenhawk.com/support/supported.htm


  • To read a PSX cd and build an image of it use snapshot in a format like this:
    snapshot psx-game.cue psx-game.raw /subcode=auto

    To Write a snapshot image file use dao in a format like this:
    dao psx-game.cue

    I can always count on this program to copy any PSX game when the others fail. I would say this program is the best if it supported 4 second tracks. Besides the 4 second issue if you have any trouble copy a psx game with this program try changing your read and write speed to 1x (ie: /speed=1) and disable jitter control (ie: /nojc).

    Using CDTOOLS along with CDCLIP it is possable to copy 4 second tracks with DAO. Being programs like CDWizard, Prassi, DiskJuggler, PSX Backup and others will copy 4 second tracks with out any complicated work around it is not worth your time using these utilities that come with DAO.

PSX-Backup is a front end:     http://alphaflight.com/psx

PSX-Backup is an easy to use front end that will copy 4-second tracks without having to manually use CDCLIP. PSX-Backup will cut the data in the cue file and mad a pegrap sector for any 4 second tracks it finds. This program does a great job of controlling DAO for you.


DSWIN is a front end:     http://www.privat.kkf.net/~frank.rosendahl/dswin.html

DSWIN is an easy to use FREEWARE front end for DAO. DSWIN will not edit the cue file for 4 second tracks. However this program does a great job of controlling DAO for you.

 

Ahead Nero      http://www.ahead.de

CD Burner Compatibility Listing - http://www.ahead.de/Recorder.htm

Nero is a good copy program that supports almost every CDR burner. Nero v4.0.0.6 seems to copy most titles on the store shelf. Nero will copy protection schemes such as 4 second blocks. The latest version of Nero v4.0.0.6 and has a very nice interface and does a better job copying than earlier versions. Nero can do much more then just copy PSX games. Nero can create CD's from scratch, copy MAC CD's, and many other great options.

Nero only has two problems that I consider worth mentioning. One is the fact that it is very slow doing a speed measurement and the second being buffer underruns.

Stay with the defaults using this program. There is really no need to change anything unless you want to make an image first or read and burn at 1x.

 

CDRWIN      http://www.goldenhawk.com

CD Burner Compatibility Listing - http://www.goldenhawk.com/support/supported.htm

 
CDRWIN - Just stay with the defaults and CDRWin should copy everything except 4 second tracks.

To copy 4 second tracks life get a little more tricky.

1. Set Subcode Options: Analyze Mode to "AUTO" and start Copy Image to disk going
2. CDRWin will raise an Exception on the 4-second tracks (click cancel on track 1 to save time)
3. BUT!!!!!...here's the important bit, a valid cue sheet has been created for the PSX CD so rename it to something else.
4. Set Subcode Options: Analyze Mode to "NONE" and start Copy Image to disk going again.
5. This will succeed creating a valid RAW file but its cue sheet is invalid because there are no 2 second pre gaps.
6. Copy your renamed (valid) cue sheet over the top of your invalid cue sheet and load it.
7. Insert blank CDR into CD Recorder.
8. Now backup your image (still using Analyze Mode = "NONE") with valid RAW and CUE sheet for perfect backup.

 

Gear Replicator v1.2      http://www.elektroson.com

CD Burner Compatibility Listing

Not many options to set in this program. However it seems to be a good copy program for PSX. Gear Replicator can copy 4 second tracks and other protection scemes. One large problem with this program is that it requires you to let the program simulate and verify the first copy (very time consuming). During this first copy you are not allowed to set any controls at all.

Note: that there is a big differnce between Gear 4.2 and Gear Replicator v1.2

 

Adaptec CD Copier Deluxe (v3.5)      http://www.adaptec.com/products/overview/ecdc.html
Yes you can copy playstations with this limited program. There are very few options to change. If you have trouble copying a CD using the default settings you might want to make an image file first and or burn at 1x. Easy CD-Creator Deluxe 3.5a can not duplicate 4 second tracks. Adaptec's CD Copier comes in both Adaptec Easy CD Creator and Adaptec Easy CD Audio they both work fine.

 

NTI CD-Maker Pro      http://www.ntius.com

CD Burner Compatibility Listing

Coping a PSX CD with NTI is not too tuff. v3.1.6 now supports Disk-At-Once making better copies of PSX games. However NTI does not support coping 4 second tracks. Most games can be copied by NTI's CD-Maker Pro.

Step 1.
Create an image file of the PSX game. This is done by putting in your PSX game, selecting the source drive, go to the target section and click on "browse" and select where to store your image. Next click on the "options" tab at the top and check "Ignore source CD medium error". Finally go back to your main page and hit "copy" the image will now be created.

Step 2.
It is a good idea to close and restart NTI to clear out the memory

Step 3.
Select the image you just made for the source window. Next select your burner as the target CD Writer then hit copy. Now under the options screen and check "ignore source CD Medium error". Finally Click copy and then "copy now" on the next screen that pops up.

 

Adaptec Easy-CD Pro for Windows '95 (v2)      http://www.adaptec.com/products/overview/ecdc.html

Please Note: Some PSX cd's when copied are larger than 650mb. This is due to the Mode 2 CD-Xa sector size used on the cd. It allows you to put more information on the cd. Version 2.1 of Easy CD Pro will not allow you to write anything larger than 650mb. The older version would.


Step 1.
After inserting the PSX Game from the menu bar select CD-Recorder, Disk Info and Tools.

Step 2.
Click On the first track (data) displayed this will enable three of the four buttons just below the track menu. Click on the Read Track button and enter the file name e.g. D:\track01.iso and select the Read button.

Step 3.
The program will begin reading and copying the data track file to the selected drive see diagram "D"7.Towards the end of the data track read and copy session (99%) youll receive an error message dont worry this is normal. Click the X to close the Read Error window.

      Follow the same procedure for each of the audio tracks in turn, labelling them e.g.
      D:\track02.wav
      D:\track03.wav etc.

Step 4.
Once you have finished all the tracks click the "OK" button to close the window. Remove original game CD and insert blank CD-R.

Step 5.
From the main title bar select File, then "New" this will open the CD-Type window. Go to Advanced CD-Types and select Mixed-mode CD and check the "Write Data track from a real ISO image on hard disk" box. Starting on the Audio Tracks Tab right click on the START button to open an EXPLORER window. Scroll to locate the drive where you designated the audio tracks to placed. By holding down either the shift or control key select the first audio track then the second,etc and drag all wav files to where it says Drag and Drop Audio Tracks Here making sure they are in the correct order.

Step 6.
Next select the Image File Tab , click on the BROWSE button and locate the "ISO" image file you created. Once selected this will automatically fill in the image file info.

Step 7.
Next select the General Tab the default CD Format should be Session type: CD-ROM XA (Mode2) and click on the Close disk box to select it. Run the test and then record. You should have a backup within 30mins depending on your recording speed.

 

Gear v4.2      http://www.elektroson.com

CD Burner Compatibility Listing

Step 1.
After inserting your PSX game into CD-R recorder select disc info & highlight track 1 + copy track.

Step 2.
In CD type + setting select CUE SHEET.

Step 3.
Click on cue sheet editor & find copied track 1 file & drag it to my cue sheet.

Step 4.
Double click on track 1 in the my cue sheet and change from 2352 to 2336.

Step 5.
Click view CDR-Drive & copy all other audio tracks by highlighting & dragging them to the my cue sheet.

Step 6.
Click close & save the cue sheet.

Step 7.
Write and/or test your disc.

 

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