ps2homebrew
[FR] Consolidate Enable HDD option
Checks
- [x] I have checked existing OPL feature requests for duplicates and found none
Describe the FR
Some users report having a hard time getting their OPL configured when formatting HDDs
Describe the solution you'd like
The HDD (APA) option and the HDD (MBR/GPT) option could be consolidated into a single option in either the BDM Devices menu or on the main Settings page.
Describe alternatives you've considered
No response
Additional context
No response
Do you know if OPL (latest stable and Beta versions) only supports 48-bit LBA internal HDDs or does it support 28-bit LBA ones as well? Also, don't OPL latest Beta versions support MBR/GPT with the FAT32 filesystem, so not only MBR/GPT with the exFAT one?
FAT32 has a 4GB file size limit, meaning Dual Layer DVD ISOs would have to be needlessly split into 2 files. Same thing happens when using FAT32 on Rufus or Windows Media Creator: the 6.3GB WIM file gets split and compressed into two files, drastically reducing performance and install time since Windows Setup had to copy the split file to the destination drive then has to turn around and decompress it.
APA, NTFS, and exFAT have file size limits that we won't be hitting anytime in the next 20 years ... 😋
From: Windows10User2 @.> Sent: Wednesday, October 29, 2025 12:05 AM To: ps2homebrew/Open-PS2-Loader @.> Cc: Subscribed @.***> Subject: Re: [ps2homebrew/Open-PS2-Loader] [FR] Consolidate Enable HDD option (Issue #1600)
[https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/57052438?s=20&v=4]Windows10User2 left a comment (ps2homebrew/Open-PS2-Loader#1600)https://github.com/ps2homebrew/Open-PS2-Loader/issues/1600#issuecomment-3459530939
Do you know if OPL (latest stable and Beta versions) only supports 48-bit LBA internal HDDs or does it support 28-bit LBA ones as well? Also, doesn't OPL support MBR/GPT with the FAT32 filesystem, so not only MBR/GPT with the exFAT one?
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FAT32 has a 4GB file size limit, meaning Dual Layer DVD ISOs would have to be needlessly split into 2 files. Same thing happens when using FAT32 on Rufus or Windows Media Creator: the 6.3GB WIM file gets split and compressed into two files, drastically reducing performance and install time since Windows Setup had to copy the split file to the destination drive then has to turn around and decompress it.
APA, NTFS, and exFAT have file size limits that we won't be hitting anytime in the next 20 years ... 😋 …
From: Windows10User2 @.> Sent: Wednesday, October 29, 2025 12:05 AM To: ps2homebrew/Open-PS2-Loader @.> Cc: Subscribed @.***> Subject: Re: [ps2homebrew/Open-PS2-Loader] [FR] Consolidate Enable HDD option (Issue #1600)
[https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/57052438?s=20&v=4]Windows10User2 left a comment (ps2homebrew/Open-PS2-Loader#1600)<#1600 (comment)>
Do you know if OPL (latest stable and Beta versions) only supports 48-bit LBA internal HDDs or does it support 28-bit LBA ones as well? Also, doesn't OPL support MBR/GPT with the FAT32 filesystem, so not only MBR/GPT with the exFAT one?
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Sorry, but what does that have to do with what I asked?
Sorry, but what does that have to do with what I asked?
@Windows10User2 Perhaps, What he meant was, why opt for a limited file system like FAT32 when we have exFAT as an option?
Sorry, but what does that have to do with what I asked?
@Windows10User2 Perhaps, What he meant was, why opt for a limited file system like FAT32 when we have exFAT as an option?
OK, but I just wanted to know if FAT32 was supported. I'd use exFAT but I think the README should mention FAT32 if it's supported. Also, I don't know if only LBA48 is supported or if LBA28 is supported as well and GPT partitioning isn't unlimited unlike what the README says.
I've read many users complaining about SMB not working in the latest Beta releases. Is it true?
Sorry, but what does that have to do with what I asked?
@Windows10User2 Perhaps, What he meant was, why opt for a limited file system like FAT32 when we have exFAT as an option?
OK, but I just wanted to know if FAT32 was supported. I'd use exFAT but I think the README should mention FAT32 if it's supported.
There would be no reason for FAT32 to stop working.
Also, I don't know if only LBA48 is supported or if LBA28 is supported as well and GPT partitioning isn't unlimited unlike what the README says.
I don't have the knowledge to say if LBA28 bits works I'm asking you to test it yourself.
I've read many users complaining about SMB not working in the latest Beta releases. Is it true?
There are some isolated complaints, but I can't say anything definitive.
I don't know if the world is ready for zettabytes so unlimited should be ok terminology, although you are correct. @Windows10User2
This FR is mostly because it seems some users are having a hard time navigating the OPL menu. I spoke to someone regarding a bug they found that this change will expose related to how drivers are loaded. I might be wrong but if this isn't able to be addressed another solution might be to put both of the options in the BDM devices menu
I don't know if the world is ready for zettabytes so unlimited should be ok terminology, although you are correct. @Windows10User2
This FR is mostly because it seems some users are having a hard time navigating the OPL menu. I spoke to someone regarding a bug they found that this change will expose related to how drivers are loaded. I might be wrong but if this isn't able to be addressed another solution might be to put both of the options in the BDM devices menu
I think README should mention it supports the "HDD (GPT/MBR)" device and separate it from the "HDD (APA)" one. Also, https://www.ps2homebrew.org/Open-PS2-Loader/ mentioned on README doesn't talk about MX4SIO support.
Do USB/MX4SIO/iLink support GPT or only MBR like README says? Also, I think the latter should say MBR/GPT HDDs with exFAT only work in the latest OPL Beta versions.
Having two options for the HDD is a bit confusing, but I'm not sure if putting them together is the best solution, since they're really treated as different devices.
They could be treated differently still with a single option though right?
For example:
- Set enable HDD option
- OPL determines the device
- Loads driver according to detected device
Edit: If the configuration files determine which module is loaded, this change might require a large refactoring. I would implement it if I had a good starting point but I'm too unfamiliar with how OPL works exactly.
If we went the route of having two separate options retaining the existing implementation perhaps it could be added to the BDM Devices menu
In either case there would need to be some refactoring work done because there is the HDD start mode as well as BDM start mode