How to backup PS2 games

How to burn PS2 Games

Okay, these are some methods to backup PS2 titles, in order to play a backup you need a method of booting it by modchip of some sort or by official boot discs such as Swap Magic. I have also included a tutorial on multiple boot methods. Follow any one of these instructions to fit your needs and understand that programs change and methods differ as time goes on so a little tooling around as well as some trial and error may be neccessary.

You can tell what format the PS2 title is by looking at the written side of the disc, DVD's are Silver and CD's are Purple. The DVD backup methods here consist of reading the image to the hard drive then burning it to the media for an easier backup, this depends on your PC hardware and its setup. I say that because the proper setup would be to have capable components like enough Ram and a decent CD/DVD Burner; but mainly have the Reader and Writer on separate IDE cables; this allows no cross information when doing Disc to Disc/On the fly copying. But, since most people would not know how to check or fix this, I suggest reading the image to your Hard Drive and then burning from there.

*A little useful trick*, if the DVD backup "image" is small enough in size you can fit it onto a CD-R (80 minute or larger if need be) instead of using a more expensive DVD-R. Some titles have DVD checks so it will not work all the time, but it doesn’t hurt to try it on a CD-R and there are patches on the web to fix the ones that might not work. In addition a DVD Movie backup will play on a PS2/Xbox WITHOUT a modchip, this is also the best way to find out if your system likes that particular media. Plus remember this is just a guideline in which to help you get started, so fiddle with settings and options so as you can learn. As I get more info, I will try to keep this tutorial updated. Oner


PS1/PS2 CD backup tutorials


Using CloneCD (v4.x.xx) for PS1/PS2

1. Start CloneCD
2. Select "Copy CD"
3. Select your Reader, press Next
4. Select "Game CD", press Next
5. Select/Deselect your options here (on the fly, cue or delete) then press Next
6. Select your Writer, press Next
7. Select your burn speed and "Game CD"
8. Press "OK" to begin


Using Alcohol 120% for PS1/PS2

1. Start Alcohol 120%
2. Select “Copy Wizard”
3. Select your Reader & Read Speed
4. Select or Deselect “Copy current disc on the fly”
5. For Data type select which console PS1 or PS2, press Next
6. Select your Image location and Name for it, press Next
7. Select you Writer, Write Speed and anything else you feel you might need
8. Make sure the Data type selected is the same you chose above
9. Press Start to begin


PS2 DVD backup tutorials


Using Prassi (RecordNow Max is very similar, so this should be sufficient)

1. Start Prassi Primo
2. Select "go to full application"
3. Right Click the drive that has your original in it
4. Select "build global image" and choose a path for the image (preferably on an NTFS operating system)
5. After the image is extracted go to next step
6. Choose the 3rd disc icon from the left *or* click file, new job, Global/Other Image
7. Then just burn the .gi (global image) of the game


This next way has one less step which saves some time because once you press record it does everything by itself (if you have a DVD reader and DVD Writer)

1. Start Primo
2. Use the "PrimoDVD Starter" (it's easier, and less confusing)
3. Choose "disc copy"
4. Select your Reader and Also your Writer
5. Select "make a temp image on HD..."
6. Select your burn speed and then record to begin


Using Nero

1. Start Nero, Use the Wizard (for easy use)
2. Select "DVD" then select Next
3. Select "Copy a DVD" then select Next
4. Select your source drive
5. Select or Deselect "copy on the fly" then click next
6. Select your write speed
7. Select either "Test", "Test and Burn" or "Burn"
8. Press "Burn" to begin

This next way is without the Wizard

1. Start Nero, and select "File" then "New..."
2. On upper left side of the window from the drop down menu select "DVD"
3. Select "DVD Copy" Icon
4. Select "Copy options" tab
5. Select or Deselect "copy on the fly"
6. Select source drive and read speed
7. If needed Select "Image" tab to choose image directory and select/deselect "delete image..."
8. Select "Burn" tab and choose your settings
9. Press "Copy" to begin


Using Alcohol 120%

1. Start Alcohol 120%
2. Select “Copy Wizard”
3. Select your Reader
4. For “Separate Image file every:” choose “Never Separate”
5. Select or Deselect “Copy current disc on the fly”, press Next
6. Select your Image location and Name for it, press Next
7. Select your Writer, Write Speed and anything else you feel you might need
8. Select or Deselect “Delete image file after recording”
9. Press Start to begin


Using DVD Decrypter

1. Start DVD Decrypter
2. Select Mode, go down to ISO Read
3. Select your Reader & Destination
4. “Decrypt” the ISO Image to the Hard Drive
5. Wait for the ISO Image to be made
6. Select Mode, go down to ISO Write
7. Select the ISO Image file you made, click “Open”
8. Select your Burner, Write speed & Burn the ISO


Using Toast Titanium 5.01 or 5.02 for Mac

1. Start Toast
2. Select Image Copy
3. Insert DVD title
4. Save as Image
5. Record Image (Use Burnproof if needed)

OR

1. Start Toast
2. Select Image Copy
3. Insert DVD title
4. Click on Record
5. It will ask for a blank DVD-R when it’s ready (Use Burnproof if needed)