P1POPStarter DocsRecovered preservation manual
Setup Storage Reference Archive

docs/SOURCE INVENTORY.md

Rendered local archive file: docs/SOURCE_INVENTORY.md

Source file#

docs/SOURCE_INVENTORY.md

POPStarter Source Inventory Seed#

Generated: 2026-06-21 14:01 UTC

This is a seed inventory for Codex or another research agent. It is not complete; it captures the sources and findings gathered so far.

Primary / high-value sources#

krHACKen PSX-Place POPStarter release thread

  • Title observed: PS2 - POPStarter 2019/06/05
  • Current URL: https://www.psx-place.com/threads/popstarter.19139/
  • Importance:
  • Official release thread.
  • Defines POPStarter as a launcher for Sony's PS2 POPS emulator.
  • Warns not to redistribute Sony POPS binaries.
  • Links compatibility lists, IGR info, side projects, tools, translated threads.
  • As of the observed page, first post links: wLE_kHn, POPStarter Game Installer for OPL, POPSY-X, PSXVCD, BDMAssault, MMCEMAN for POPStarter, POPSLoader.
  • Observed attachments include:
  • POPSTARTER_MC-Network.zip
  • POPStarter_20190605.7z
  • POPSTARTER_MC-Network_BDM.7z
  • wLE_kHn_20200810.7z
  • MX4SIO for POPStarter.7z
  • MMCEMAN for POPStarter.7z
  • Notes:
  • The first post appeared last edited Jan 12, 2026 during research.
  • The thread is at least 19 pages; Codex should scrape/capture all pages if allowed.

ShaolinAssassin Bitbucket POPStarter documentation

  • Original main URL:
  • https://bitbucket.org/ShaolinAssassin/popstarter-documentation-stuff/wiki/Home
  • Important specific wiki pages from the old table of contents:
  • hdd-mode
  • usb-mode
  • smb-mode
  • compatibility
  • automated-fixes
  • vmc
  • hotkeys
  • cheat-engine
  • special-cheats
  • igr
  • swap-disc
  • ps1-cd-mode
  • irx-loader
  • bios-osd-handlers
  • debug-mode
  • ule-khn
  • advanced-settings
  • timeline
  • changelog
  • apps-last-version
  • multi-disc
  • Status:
  • Often 404/dead from Bitbucket.
  • Must use Web Archive and mirrors.

Archive.org backup of ShaolinAssassin wiki

  • URL observed via PSX-Place:
  • https://archive.org/details/backup-popstarter-documentation-stuff-wiki-from-2017-and-2020
  • Importance:
  • A PSX-Place user/developer reported uploading personal datahoard backups of the wiki.
  • Task:
  • Download metadata/files from archive.org.
  • Extract all pages and preserve them under research/raw/archive_org_shaolin_wiki/.

Retro-Jogos POPStarter guide mirror

  • Main index:
  • https://www.retro-jogos.com/PS2/pops/index.html
  • Home:
  • https://www.retro-jogos.com/PS2/pops/home.html
  • Importance:
  • Preserves a Portuguese "Official POPStarter Guide" table of contents.
  • States documentation was originally by krHACKen and updated by ShaolinAssassin.
  • States content was updated with Rev13 Beta 05/06/2019.
  • Exposes the old wiki structure even where Bitbucket pages are dead.
  • Task:
  • Crawl the /PS2/pops/ directory if indexable.
  • If individual pages are not discoverable, use the table of contents slugs and Web Archive.

ElOtroLado POPS/POPStarter thread by El_Patas

  • URL:
  • mention-only source; no public outbound link
  • Importance:
  • Long-running Spanish scene documentation.
  • Observed first post edited many times, last edit visible as 2026-06-07 during research.
  • Includes:
  • version list
  • final beta changelog
  • install tutorials
  • command list
  • CHEATS.TXT behavior
  • IGR command list
  • troubleshooting
  • Task:
  • Scrape/capture the first post fully.
  • Translate into English with source line preservation.
  • Do not lose Spanish original.

POPSLoader by El_isra

  • URL:
  • https://www.psx-place.com/resources/popsloader.1396/
  • Importance:
  • Modern standalone POPStarter launcher.
  • Based on Enceladus, scripted in Lua.
  • Initial release supports USB/internal HDD; SMB was planned at that time.
  • Contains PATCH_5.BIN for custom POPStarter IGR textures.
  • Project is marked officially abandoned by its author.
  • Task:
  • Capture resource page, updates tab, discussion thread if available.

POPSLoader fork by Ripto / NathanNeurotic

  • URL:
  • https://www.psx-place.com/resources/fork-popsloader-for-mmce-mx4sio-usb-and-apahdd.1665/
  • Importance:
  • Modern fork supporting MMCE, MX4SIO, USB, APAHDD.
  • Contains current setup notes:
  • mc0 required for settings and BDMA.
  • BDMA required for all devices except HDD.
  • Supported POPSTARTER.ELF paths include MC, USB, MX4SIO, MMCE, etc.
  • HDD VCDs use hdd:/__.POPS/<Title>.VCD; art under hdd:/__common/POPS/ART/<Title>.png.
  • Observed note that BETA-10 fixed HDD launch handoff and BOOT.ELF exit behavior.
  • Task:
  • Treat as modern extension/fork documentation, not original POPStarter core docs.

BDM Assault

  • URL:
  • https://github.com/israpps/BDMAssault
  • Importance:
  • Brings exFAT USB support to old closed-source homebrew that can load external USB drivers, including POPStarter.
  • POPStarter placement:
  • bdm_assault.irx -> mc?:/POPSTARTER/usbd.irx
  • usbd_bd_assault.irx -> mc?:/POPSTARTER/usbhdfsd.irx
  • Task:
  • Capture README and releases.
  • Clarify that this is USB driver substitution, not native internal exFAT POPS support.

Hugopocked POPStarter fixes

  • URL:
  • https://www.psx-place.com/threads/hugopocked-fixes-for-popstarter.39750/
  • Importance:
  • Game-specific fixes for POPStarter compatibility.
  • Thread states it is not for emulator installation support; it is for patch/fix installation.
  • Patch placement belongs in the per-game VMC/game folder matching the VCD basename.
  • Task:
  • Capture current patch list, outdated patch pack links, newer single-game fixes, passwords, installation notes.
  • Mark external download links as volatile.

Related sources to mine

  • PS2-Home POPStarter IGR tutorials
  • MetaGames French POPStarter thread:
  • https://www.metagames-eu.com/forums/playstation-2/popstarter-revision-13-a-134569.html
  • CDRInfo Polish thread:
  • https://forum.cdrinfo.pl/f106/ps2-popstarter-95894/
  • PS2Home Portuguese thread:
  • https://ps2home.forumeiro.com/t27-popstarter-emulador-de-ps1-para-ps2
  • A9VG Chinese thread via Web Archive:
  • https://web.archive.org/web/20250428034525/https://bbs.a9vg.com/thread-4240514-1-1.html
  • AssemblerGames backup:
  • search Web Archive for assemblergames.com/threads/ps2-pops-stuff-popstarter.45347/
  • PS2-home thread for IGR:
  • Search POPStarter In-Game-Reset Trojans and Patches
  • GitHub:
  • https://github.com/israpps/BDMAssault
  • https://github.com/ps2homebrew/Open-PS2-Loader
  • https://github.com/NathanNeurotic/POPSLoader if available/public