How To Connect Two PS2 Consoles Together Using a iLink Cable/System Link

The older fat style PlayStation 2 console has a iLink IEEE1394 port, which allows you to use a iLink cable to connect two similar PS2 consoles together to work with each other. This will then allow you to play games such as Gran Tursimo 3, Time Crisis 3 or TimeSplitters 2 that support iLink and other compatible games, with your friends on separate consoles and televisions. Playing this way is a much better gaming experience, since there is no split screen on the TV, so both players get the full picture.

If you own a PS2 slimline console, then unfortunately you can't use iLink to connect two different computer systems together. This is because Sony removed the iLink port on the PS2 slimline models to make it cheaper to manufacturer the console, so they can sell it a cheaper price to the public and had a good reason because internal capacity was limited. Also the last versions of the fat style PlayStation 2 console, model numbers, SCPH-5000,  SCPH-50001,  SCPH-50002,  SCPH-50003 and SCPH-50004 had the iLink port removed and instead replace with a IR sensor, so you can use a DVD remote for movie playback, without having to plug in a sensor into a controller port.

1) You will need a double ended iLink cable, its really nothing special, its just a plain old firewire cable that is used to connect a digital camera to a computer. If you already don't have one lying around the house, then try Amazon or Ebay.

2) Ensure that you have two PlayStation 2 consoles setup to two different televisions separately. You will need to power both consoles off, so hold down the 'Reset' button until the LED indicator turns red.

3) Connect one end of the iLink cable into the iLink port found on console 1. Do the same procedure for the other end of the cable, but this time connect it into the iLink port found on console 2. Now that the connection is made, you PS2 consoles can use system link to communicate with each other.

4) Insert a game of your choice that supports system link and read the user manual. This is to find out how to setup a multiplayer game using iLink. Once you have an idea on how to setup it up accordingly, then start the games on both consoles and proceed further.

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How To Save PS1 Games On PS2, Using a PlayStation Memory Card

The PlayStation 2 fat and slim console both have backwards compatibility with PS1 games, so you can use it to play PS1 games, without actually owning a PS1 console. There are some great games that were released for the PSONE console, including Ridge Racer, Crash Bandicoot, Tekken 3, Metal Gear Solid Driver 2 and Spyro the Dragon. Chances are if you have some classic PS1 games in your retro games collection, you probably have already been playing them on your PS2 console every so often. You might be wondering that to save PS1 game saves on your PS2 console, you will need a PlayStation memory card to save progress in the games you have played.

1) Ensure that the PS2 console is powered off, this to prevent the data getting corrupted on the current memory card. If there is a PS2 memory card inserted into memory card 'Slot '1 remove it.

2) Get your PlayStation memory card, holding it with the small arrow pointing upwards and insert into memory card 'Slot 1'.

3) Power on the PS2, by pressing the 'Reset' button, and instantly press the 'Eject' button and remove the game from the disc tray.

4) Enter the 'Browser' screen. If the PlayStation memory card you inserted into your PS2 console is working, it will show up. You can enter the memory card by selecting it and pressing the 'X' button on the controller and browse or delete the existing game save data found on it.

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How To Backup PS3 Copy Protected Game Saves

When you play a game on your PS3 console, it creates game save data onto the hard drive to store your progress made. So next time when you play the same game, you can continue from you have left off, without starting the game again from the beginning. Some game developers have enabled copy protection on game saves linked to certain EA games, preventing you from copying it to an external USB flash drive. This is because game developers think that gamers will use the game save onto another user account, or on a different PlayStation console. But don't worry! You can still backup your copy protected game saves online and keep them safe.

1) If you not already a PlayStation Plus member, then you will need to become one. A yearly PS Plus subscription costs £39.99 in the UK and $49.99 in the US. Once you are a official PS Plus member, you have the ability to upload copy protected game saves onto PSN's online storage service, which will be linked to your account.

2) On the XMB menu, using your controller, navigate to a icon called 'Game'. 

3) Then use the D-pad to scroll down the different options to find 'Saved Data Utility(PS3)'.

4) Locate the copy protected game save, once selected, press 'Triangle' and also select 'Copy'.

5) It will give only one option, which is 'Online Storage'. Since you can't backup these kind of saves on a USB stick, unless the PS3 is running custom firmware. So all you need to do is press 'X' and the save will upload itself to PSN's online storage.

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How To Disable & Turn Off PS2 Slim/Fat ModChip

A PS2 with a soldered modchip installed will allow you to use the console to play backup copies of your original games you own. This is a great advantage because you can store away your original PlayStation 2 games and instead use your homemade burnt backup copies you have made. So if any of the backup copies of the games you own do get badly scratched or damaged, then you can simply burn another fresh copy, since you have the original game. But having the modchip switched on all the time, can cause your PS2 console to have problems with reading DVD movies, so you will need to turn off the modchip.

These instructions have worked on numerous PlayStation 2 chipped modified consoles both fat and slimline models. So why not give it a try?

1) If your PS2 console is powered on, power it off by holding down the 'Reset' button. The led indicator should turn from 'Green' to 'Red'.

2) Then hold down the 'Start' button found on the dualshock 2 controller. 

3) Press the 'Reset' button on your PS2 console. Your television screen will appear with a message saying 'Disabled'.

4) Press the 'Reset' button again and the console will reboot with the modchip turned off. 

5) If you want to turn on the modchip, then power off the console and power it back on.

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Why are Some PS2 Game Discs a Blue Colour?

So why do some PS2 game have a blue backs?

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How To Fix PS2 That Doesn't Read Blue Game Discs Using Tape

So why wont my ps2 read blue discs?

Many owners of the PS2 console do experience that when using blue disc games, they get 'disc rear error' message that appears on the browser screen. This also happens if you are trying to playing your old PS1 black disc games because they are also a 'Compact Disc'. But it doesn't happen to silver game discs, since they are DVD type of discs. The reason why this problem occurs is because blue and black games discs tend to slip inside the disc tray, due to a design flaw on the PlayStation 2 fat console. As for fixing this problem, you can place tape onto the top surfaces of the disc and it will make the disc to the clamp inside the disc drive mechanism much more secured. For most people, this tape trick has worked, so why not give it a try?

Instructions:

1) Using a pair of scissors, cut 4 pieces of tape of the roll, masking tape, parcel tape or insulation tape would be ideal to use.

2) Get either a black or blue game disc that you want to fix and place the shiny surface down, onto a clean and soft surface. The printed graphics on the disc should be facing up.

3) Now individually stick each piece of tape around the disc's center hole, like shown in the image below.

4) Go over the tape with your fingers because you want to ensure that the tape is firmly stuck onto the disc. You don't want any loose tape because when the disc is spinning inside the disc tray, the tape can come off and get trapped inside the disc mechanisms, causing more problems!

5) Once you have finished doing that, go ahead and reinsert the game disc you fixed into you PlayStation 2 console. Fingers-crossed it should work, if still doesn't read that game, then the laser is on its way out and needs replacing.

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How To Fix PS2 Slimline Loud & Noisy Cooling Fan-Make it Super Quiet!

So why does my PS2 slimline have a noisy fan?

The reason why you hear the cooling fan inside your PS2 slimline spinning like crazy is because the internal hardware inside it is suffering from overheating. Overheating can occur if your console is not getting proper air ventilation around it, since it blocks that airflow. Overheating overtime can cause the graphics and processor chips to get damaged. So the best thing to do right now is to start making some changes before it's too late.

Instructions:

1) Examine your ps2 slim console, locate the rear and front air ventilation vents and look carefully into them. If you see that they are really dusty, this results in the hot air inside the case to become trapped. This is not good, so you will need to give them a clean. Don't blow the dust out with your mouth, because you might be thinking that the dust is gone, but really you are blowing the dust back into the insides of the console. So I would suggest using a household vacuum cleaner to perform the cleaning, since it will be sucking the dust out and not forcing it back in.

2) Ensure that your PS2 slimline is getting proper air ventilation around the positioning of the console. The air ventilation vent, found at the back of the console is used for the cooling fan to extract the hot air out of the case. So make sure your console is not pushed right against a wall, shelf or cabinet because it will allow air to escape more freely out of the console.

3) If you find that the cooling fan becomes loud and noisy after long periods of continuous use of the PlayStation 2 slim console, then switch if off and don't use it for about 10 minutes. This will allow the internal hardware to cool its self back down to a cool operating temperature. The slim model is more prone to suffer from overheating because of its small internal design and small sized cooling fan, in comparison with the older fat style model.

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