PS2 System Update Paths

System Directories

The system executable and data folders differ according to the region.

Asia shares the same directories as US, despite having a different MagicGate region. For this reason, FMCB v1.8b installed for a US set would fail to boot on an Asian console.

Update Files

The expected update file(s) differ, depending on the model. Before ROM 1.50, the PS2 would expect only the version-specific file: osdXXX.elf. XXX is the ROM version number, rounded up to the nearest 0.10 value. For example, ROM v1.01 would expect osd110.elf.

The only exception was the first ROM, 0100J.

Newer PS2s would expect osdmain.elf or the osdXXX.elf file. The PSX will only boot BIEXEC-SYSTEM/xosdmain.elf

System Updates

The early Japanese ROMs had problems with no passing boot arguments to the update, which affects the user's experience. Without it, doing things like ejecting a DVD video disc would cause the HDD Browser to perform a full boot instead of just displaying the browser.

A small patch is installed to recetify this defect, even for the DVD player update. These consoles did not have the DVD Player built-in.

The System Driver Update was meant to add support for the PC CARD network adaptor, to support the HDD browser. Although the SCPH-18000 has the new boot ROM, that was from the expansion-bay PS2 - which did not support its CXD9566R PC CARD controller.