△◯✕□ POPStarter DOCS

Downloads

Every POPStarter file in the tracked generator-hosted download collection, together with a separate inventory of historical references. Legacy Pages-only assets are retained separately pending individual review. 24 files (POPStarter builds, Quickstarter packs, tools, patches & cheat references) — all verified to contain no Sony emulator binaries.

Current POPSLoader release packages (GitHub)
Official: POPSLoader 1.4.1 keeps the existing installer layout, with no Ember. Development: the Rolling Release now publishes PS1_POPSLOADER-<version>.zip and PS1_POPSLOADER.psu as standalone release assets, following the merged PR #600. The ZIP includes APPS/, POPS/ and EMBER/; the PSU has only eight direct app files, no nested folder. The separate Experimental Release follows its own branch and is not automatically updated by merging dev. Installation guide · Packaging specification.
Which historical POPStarter file do I need?
Most people need exactly one file from this page. If you are setting POPStarter up for the first time, the only decision you have to make is where your PS1 games will live: on a USB stick, on the PS2's internal hard drive, or in a shared folder on your PC. Take the matching pack at the top and you get the launcher, the disc converter and a step-by-step readme in one download. Everything after that is a PC tool, a fix for one badly behaved game, an optional add-on, or an older build kept purely for the record. Nothing here is hidden or retired. Where two files look like the same thing in two archive formats, the note says whether they really are, because some are and some turn out to be different versions. The Sony POPS emulator files are not hosted here and never will be; check your own copies against the checksums listed above.
Download generated documentation (offline)

Grab the generated documentation set as one self-contained .zip — all 63 wiki pages, every reference page (glossary, FAQ, command index, the full thread study), the generator-hosted downloads, the menu images, and the raw source markdown. Older Pages-only legacy files are retained separately pending provenance review. Open index.html inside it to browse the whole site offline. Contains no Sony binaries.

Download the full archive (17 MB)
Historical NOPAL patch name conflict
The original NOPAL_PATCH.7z was listed in 2017 as 226 bytes and is not recovered. The currently hosted 188-byte archive is labelled with an IGR ELF-loader unhook instead. It remains available as an archival copy, but not a verified $NOPAL PAL patch. The hosted network_modules.7z also differs from its 2017 original listing, though its six SMB drivers match the independently unpacked 2020 Quickstarter. See the provenance investigation.
About POPS
The POPS emulator (Sony copyright) is not distributed here. Verify your own legally-obtained files against the checksums ShaolinAssassin published:
POPS_IOX.PAK — MD5 a625d0b3036823cdbf04a3c0e1648901
POPS.ELF — MD5 355a892a8ce4e4a105469d4ef6f39a42
IOPRP252.IMG — MD5 1db9c6020a2cd445a7bb176a1a3dd418

Homebrew launcher checksums

The POPStarter launcher itself is redistributable homebrew. These are the MD5s of the files inside the builds hosted below, so you can identify a copy you already have as well as verify a download:

r13 Beta 2019-06-05 — POPSTARTER.ELF — MD5 4a39d44dfb477ea747f5ca5e39ee011e
r13 Beta 2019-06-05 — POPSTARTER.KELF — MD5 60feebee5c3a3e466adb490e0852314b
r13 RIP 06 2017 — POPSTARTER.ELF — MD5 784a0ace5e4fc02574d3a9d5be74af7e
r13 RIP 06 2017 — POPSTARTER.KELF — MD5 3a2bc50b43f2834d83e2b1d5798182e1
r13 WIP 06 OBT 2017 — POPSTARTER.ELF — MD5 62efc58f5a4013f1a4aabafc57d7feef
r13 WIP 06 OBT 2017 — POPSTARTER.KELF — MD5 3315b21654d38ec322d12099875f1ef9 (.KELF = the encrypted form for HDDOSD PP.<game> installs)

Start here: where will your games live?

Pick the one that matches where you want your PS1 games stored. All three carry the same final launcher (Rev 13 Beta, 5 June 2019, byte-identical to the standalone release further down this page) and a step-by-step readme, so for most people this is the only file here they will ever need. You still supply the Sony POPS emulator yourself.

Turning a PS1 disc into a game file (PC)

These run on your Windows PC, not on the PS2. CUE2POPS already ships inside all three packs above, so take these only if you want it on its own or your disc dump needs tidying up first.

Filling a PS2 internal hard drive (PC)

Skip this whole group unless you chose the internal hard drive. Two different ways to get your .VCD files into the __.POPS partition: with the drive plugged straight into your PC, or over your home network. Each comes as a look-alike pair, and the notes say which copy to take and why.

When one game misbehaves

Drop-in files for a single problem game that glitches, crashes, or comes out at the wrong speed. Put one in that game's VMC folder to affect only that game, or in the POPS folder to affect all of them, and try one at a time.

Optional add-ons

None of this is needed to play a game. Come back once your setup is running.

Just the launcher

The final POPStarter release on its own, for people who already have everything else, or who need the .KELF that no setup pack includes.

Earlier builds, kept for the record

Superseded. Nothing here does anything the 2019 release does not. They are kept because this is an archive, and because each one carries a document or a tool that the final release dropped.

Unverified historical patch — archival copy only

The hosted 188-byte NOPAL-named archive contains an IGR ELF-loader-labelled PATCH_9.BIN, NOT a verified copy of the missing 2017 226-byte PAL patch. Keep for research, not game fixes.

Original Bitbucket wiki — complete Git history

Original ShaolinAssassin wiki Git history supplied by AstroSnail, including 2,140 commits and deleted pages (2016–2024). This is archival source documentation, not a POPStarter release.

Historical download catalogue — verified and unverified

All 82 distinct historical file-name/reference forms documented in the original Git wiki, older recovery index, and surviving Bitbucket uploads listing. The listing is partial; multiple names may refer to alternate versions or the same tool. Nothing is omitted for being unverified. A historical upload record proves a filename was listed, not that its original file bytes survived. 17 available under the named file, 7 possible alternate packages, 50 not recovered / unverified, 4 withheld, 4 invalid references. Same-name files can still differ: NOPAL_PATCH.7z and network_modules.7z have documented original-size discrepancies. For authenticated archival equivalence, compare original payload hashes.

Historical nameVerification statusSource and availability
$FORCEPAL_PATCH.7zInvalid historical referenceMalformed, truncated or unrelated original reference; no file is asserted.
Source: Malformed literal dollar-prefixed archive URL
$NOPAL_PATCH.7zInvalid historical referenceMalformed, truncated or unrelated original reference; no file is asserted.
Source: Malformed literal dollar-prefixed archive URL
BATCHER_0.3.1.EXEHistorical upload; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Original listing: 23.5 KB · Uploaded 2016-11-28 · by Shaolin Assassin (listed uploader, not necessarily author) · Source: 0c1b34edee
BATCHER_0.3.EXEHistorical reference; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Source: 68ec1c5fde
CHEATS.TXTAvailable copy; original identity unverifiedDownload available copy
Original listing: 1.1 KB · Uploaded 2017-10-27 · by Shaolin Assassin (listed uploader, not necessarily author) · Source: original Git wiki
Compatibility Modes.zipAlternative available; unverifiedDownload candidate: Compatibility_Modes.zip — not confirmed equivalent to the original file.
Source: Compatibility_Modes.zip
Compatibility_Modes_07252016.7zHistorical reference; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Source: d080270444
Compatibility_Modes.7zAlternative available; unverifiedDownload candidate: Compatibility_Modes.zip — not confirmed equivalent to the original file.
Original listing: 882 bytes · Uploaded 2016-09-27 · by Shaolin Assassin (listed uploader, not necessarily author) · Source: Compatibility_Modes.zip
Compatibility_Modes.zipAvailable copy; original identity unverifiedDownload available copy
Source: original Git wiki
CUE2POPS_2.2.7zHistorical reference; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Source: 30af41a3c1
CUE2POPS_2.3.7zAlternative available; unverifiedDownload candidate: CUE2POPS_2.3.zip — not confirmed equivalent to the original file.
Original listing: 30.0 KB · Uploaded 2016-11-03 · by Shaolin Assassin (listed uploader, not necessarily author) · Source: CUE2POPS_2.3.zip
cue2pops_src_linux.7zHistorical reference; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Source: 51abeb7d6e
cue2pops_src_linux.zipHistorical reference; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Source: 8f569ea5a5
DEBUG_AND_HALT.PPFAlternative available; unverifiedDownload candidate: POPStarter_r13_WIP_06_OBT_20170128.zip — not confirmed equivalent to the original file.
Original listing: 73 bytes · Uploaded 2016-09-24 · by Shaolin Assassin (listed uploader, not necessarily author) · Source: POPStarter_r13_WIP_06_OBT_20170128.zip
Disc_Combining_Kits.7zWithheldListed for completeness; not offered under the archive publishing policy.
Original listing: 8.4 MB · Uploaded 2017-10-26 · by Shaolin Assassin (listed uploader, not necessarily author) · Source: AV-flagged archive excluded by previous policy
DISCS_POOPER.BAT.7zWithheldListed for completeness; not offered under the archive publishing policy.
Source: Excluded by established site policy
DISCS_POOPER.EXEWithheldListed for completeness; not offered under the archive publishing policy.
Original listing: 165.4 KB · Uploaded 2016-10-06 · by ShaolinAssassin (listed uploader, not necessarily author) · Source: Excluded by established site policy
DS3_modules_BT_20171017.7zAvailable copy; original identity unverifiedDownload available copy
Original listing: 17.7 KB · Uploaded 2017-10-17 · by Shaolin Assassin (listed uploader, not necessarily author) · Source: original Git wiki
DS3_modules_USB_20171017.7zAvailable copy; original identity unverifiedDownload available copy
Original listing: 13.8 KB · Uploaded 2017-10-17 · by Shaolin Assassin (listed uploader, not necessarily author) · Source: original Git wiki
FORCEPAL_PATCH.7zAvailable copy; original identity unverifiedDownload available copy
Original listing: 234 bytes · Uploaded 2017-10-26 · by Shaolin Assassin (listed uploader, not necessarily author) · Source: original Git wiki
Game Fixes.zipHistorical reference; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Source: 938eaf9e52
Game_Fixes.7zHistorical reference; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Source: a36a503715
hddosd_sample_files.7zHistorical upload; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Original listing: 18.5 KB · Uploaded 2016-10-09 · by Shaolin Assassin (listed uploader, not necessarily author) · Source: 1dc243759b
IGR Behaviour Modifiers.zipHistorical reference; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Source: 949b7f4166
IGR Textures - Chinese pack.7zAlternative available; unverifiedDownload candidate: IGR_textures_-_Chinese_pack.7z — not confirmed equivalent to the original file.
Source: IGR_textures_-_Chinese_pack.7z
IGR Textures - English pack.7zHistorical reference; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Source: 65029585a5
IGR Textures - French pack.7zHistorical reference; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Source: faf8b381af
IGR Textures - Polish pack.7zHistorical reference; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Source: IGR_textures_-_Polish_pack.7z
IGR Textures - Portuguese pack.7zHistorical reference; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Source: b477e79c7d
IGR Textures - Spanish pack.7zHistorical reference; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Source: faf8b381af
IGR_Behaviour_Modifiers.7zHistorical upload; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Original listing: 1.0 KB · Uploaded 2016-09-27 · by Shaolin Assassin (listed uploader, not necessarily author) · Source: 7351fa6ddd
IGR_Behaviour_Modifiers.zipHistorical reference; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Source: bb2a09c57e
IGR_sample_kit_04272016.7zHistorical reference; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Source: 1428464956
IGR_sample_kit.7zHistorical upload; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Original listing: 62.9 KB · Uploaded 2016-09-27 · by Shaolin Assassin (listed uploader, not necessarily author) · Source: cd69a042ad
IGR_textures_-_Invalid historical referenceMalformed, truncated or unrelated original reference; no file is asserted.
Source: Truncated/partial URL, not an artifact name
IGR_textures_-_Chinese_pack.7zAvailable copy; original identity unverifiedDownload available copy
Original listing: 63.4 KB · Uploaded 2016-09-27 · by Shaolin Assassin (listed uploader, not necessarily author) · Source: original Git wiki
IGR_textures_-_English_pack.7zHistorical upload; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Original listing: 843.8 KB · Uploaded 2016-09-27 · by Shaolin Assassin (listed uploader, not necessarily author) · Source: ee7ecc9399
IGR_textures_-_English_pack.zipHistorical reference; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Source: IGR_textures_-_English_pack.7z
IGR_textures_-_French_pack.7zHistorical upload; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Original listing: 623.3 KB · Uploaded 2016-09-27 · by Shaolin Assassin (listed uploader, not necessarily author) · Source: ee7ecc9399
IGR_textures_-_German_Pack.7zHistorical upload; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Original listing: 117.0 KB · Uploaded 2016-09-27 · by Shaolin Assassin (listed uploader, not necessarily author) · Source: ee7ecc9399
IGR_textures_-_German_pack.zipHistorical reference; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Source: IGR_textures_-_German_Pack.7z
IGR_textures_-_Polish_pack.7zHistorical upload; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Original listing: 459.9 KB · Uploaded 2016-09-27 · by Shaolin Assassin (listed uploader, not necessarily author) · Source: ee7ecc9399
IGR_textures_-_Portuguese_pack.7zHistorical upload; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Original listing: 216.9 KB · Uploaded 2016-09-27 · by Shaolin Assassin (listed uploader, not necessarily author) · Source: ee7ecc9399
IGR_textures_-_Spanish_pack.7zHistorical upload; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Original listing: 172.0 KB · Uploaded 2016-09-27 · by Shaolin Assassin (listed uploader, not necessarily author) · Source: ee7ecc9399
lang_French.lngInvalid historical referenceMalformed, truncated or unrelated original reference; no file is asserted.
Source: From unrelated historical sample.md
network_modules.7zAvailable copy; provenance unverifiedDownload available copy Historical size discrepancy: Bitbucket listed 59.0 KB; hosted copy is 93934 bytes.
Original listing: 59.0 KB · Uploaded 2017-10-27 · by Shaolin Assassin (listed uploader, not necessarily author) · Source: original Git wiki
network_modules.zipAlternative available; unverifiedDownload candidate: POPStarter_SMB_Quickstarter_Pack_20200209.zip — not confirmed equivalent to the original file.
Source: POPStarter_SMB_Quickstarter_Pack_20200209.zip
NOPAL_PATCH.7zAvailable copy; provenance unverifiedDownload current archival copy (not original $NOPAL) Historical size discrepancy: Bitbucket listed 226 bytes; hosted copy is 188 bytes. Not verified for PAL disabling. This hosted 188-byte file describes an IGR ELF-loader unhook; the 2017 original was 226 bytes.
Original listing: 226 bytes · Uploaded 2017-10-26 · by Shaolin Assassin (listed uploader, not necessarily author) · Source: original Git wiki
pfs-scripts.7zHistorical reference; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Source: 536660e141
pfsshell-0.2a.7zAvailable copy; original identity unverifiedDownload available copy
Original listing: 62.6 KB · Uploaded 2016-11-03 · by Shaolin Assassin (listed uploader, not necessarily author) · Source: original Git wiki
POPStarter r13 WIP 05.zipHistorical reference; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Source: eb4d4d70fd
POPStarter_BATCHER_06192016.7zHistorical reference; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Source: 0d1cdd640e
POPStarter_ELFs BATCHER_05062016.7zWithheldListed for completeness; not offered under the archive publishing policy.
Source: AV-flagged archive excluded by previous policy
POPStarter_HDD_Quickstarter_Pack_20171027.7zAvailable copy; original identity unverifiedDownload available copy
Original listing: 845.4 KB · Uploaded 2017-10-27 · by ShaolinAssassin (listed uploader, not necessarily author) · Source: original Git wiki
POPStarter_HDD_Quickstarter_Pack_20200209.zipAvailable copy; original identity unverifiedDownload available copy
Original listing: 1.1 MB · Uploaded 2020-02-09 · by El_Patas (listed uploader, not necessarily author) · Source: original Git wiki
POPStarter_Quickstarter_Pack_HDD_20161002.7zHistorical reference; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Source: 4dec8dfa45
POPStarter_Quickstarter_Pack_HDD_20161103.7zHistorical reference; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Source: 562d2481e4
POPStarter_Quickstarter_Pack_HDD_2017_01_10.7zHistorical reference; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Source: a96be9c1c2
POPStarter_Quickstarter_Pack_SMB__2017_01_10.7zHistorical reference; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Source: 8251123a5e
POPStarter_Quickstarter_Pack_USB__2017_01_10.7zHistorical reference; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Source: 6ab47ba67
POPStarter_Quickstarter_Pack_USB_20161002.7zHistorical reference; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Source: 77fb27ce3
POPStarter_Quickstarter_Pack_USB_20161103.7zHistorical reference; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Source: dcc7269d4
POPStarter_r13_Beta_20190605.zipAvailable copy; original identity unverifiedDownload available copy
Original listing: 338.9 KB · Uploaded 2020-02-09 · by El_Patas (listed uploader, not necessarily author) · Source: original Git wiki
POPStarter_r13_RIP_06.zipAvailable copy; original identity unverifiedDownload available copy
Original listing: 342.3 KB · Uploaded 2017-10-25 · by ShaolinAssassin (listed uploader, not necessarily author) · Source: original Git wiki
POPStarter_r13_WIP_05.7zHistorical reference; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Source: 43f1930c2c
POPStarter_r13_WIP_06_OBT_13_20151207.zipHistorical reference; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Source: eb4d4d70fd
POPStarter_r13_WIP_06_OBT_20160723_OBT15.7zHistorical reference; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Source: 43f1930c2c
POPStarter_r13_WIP_06_OBT_20161120.zipHistorical reference; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Source: previous retrieval ledger
POPStarter_SMB_Quickstarter_Pack_20171027.7zHistorical upload; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Original listing: 250.3 KB · Uploaded 2017-10-27 · by ShaolinAssassin (listed uploader, not necessarily author) · Source: f50684bfb8
POPStarter_SMB_Quickstarter_Pack_20200209.zipAvailable copy; original identity unverifiedDownload available copy
Original listing: 273.6 KB · Uploaded 2020-02-09 · by El_Patas (listed uploader, not necessarily author) · Source: original Git wiki
POPStarter_USB_Quickstarter_Pack_20171027.7zHistorical upload; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Original listing: 512.7 KB · Uploaded 2017-10-27 · by ShaolinAssassin (listed uploader, not necessarily author) · Source: bfef022077
POPStarter_USB_Quickstarter_Pack_20200209.zipAvailable copy; original identity unverifiedDownload available copy
Original listing: 642.8 KB · Uploaded 2020-02-09 · by El_Patas (listed uploader, not necessarily author) · Source: original Git wiki
PPF Bunch pack v1.7zHistorical reference; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Source: a711cae2cb
PPF_Bunch_pack.7zHistorical reference; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Source: 316423c2f0
RadHostClient 1.8a.7zHistorical reference; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Source: previous retrieval ledger
RadHostClient_1.8a.7zAvailable copy; original identity unverifiedDownload available copy
Original listing: 333.0 KB · Uploaded 2016-11-03 · by Shaolin Assassin (listed uploader, not necessarily author) · Source: original Git wiki
SAMPLE_CHEATS.TXTAvailable copy; original identity unverifiedDownload available copy
Source: original Git wiki
ToolBox.7zHistorical reference; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Source: 740cda4faa
ToolBox.zipHistorical reference; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Source: 9fb9314cf4
uLE_kHn_20150727.zipHistorical reference; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Source: efdac2fc9d
uLE_kHn_20160723.7zHistorical upload; file unverified / unavailableOriginal file bytes not recovered or verified. No download link.
Original listing: 648.0 KB · Uploaded 2016-07-27 · by ShaolinAssassin (listed uploader, not necessarily author) · Source: 3c35465478
uLE_kHn_20191110.zipAlternative available; unverifiedDownload candidate: POPStarter_USB_Quickstarter_Pack_20200209.zip — not confirmed equivalent to the original file.
Original listing: 2.0 MB · Uploaded 2020-02-09 · by El_Patas (listed uploader, not necessarily author) · Source: POPStarter_USB_Quickstarter_Pack_20200209.zip

Unrecovered historical image references

Comparison/screenshot images referenced by the wiki whose original image bytes are absent from tracked assets. Recorded for completeness (19).

1094748012-TOMB_RAIDER_II_WIDE.jpg 1450475876-SYPHON_FILTER_WIDE.jpg 1720317623-APE_ESCAPE_COMP.JPG 1731981611-2.png 2425094621-TEAM_BUDDIES_WIDE.jpg 2636724756-57067464.JPG 270560112-16h0lcg.jpg 3117688129-bez%C3%82%C2%A0tytu%C5%82u.png 3801833563-2md7xs.jpg 3811602128-EXHUMED_WIDE.jpg 3844714277-POPS2CUE.JPG 4095826607-GRAN_TURISMO_WIDE.jpg 4249513129-MEDIEVIL_WIDE.jpg 4286767539-2n0oweq.jpg 446039127-SOUL_REAVER_WIDE.jpg 471851278-DIE_HARD_TRILOGY_2_WIDE.jpg 65599370-METAL_GEAR_SOLID_WIDE.jpg 727086931-GHOST_IN_THE_SHELL_WIDE.jpg 997655191-WIPEOUT_3_WIDE.jpg