78 searchable pages
40 command/code records
25 config-byte records
63 recovered wiki pages indexed
Start Here#
Pick the storage backend and launcher first. The folder names, support files, VMC location, and troubleshooting path all depend on that choice.
| Reader goal | Start with | First files to verify | Do not mix it with |
|---|---|---|---|
| First working setup on USB | USB Setup | mass:/POPS/POPS_IOX.PAK, one .VCD, matching support folder, renamed XX. ELF or launcher path. | HDD __common/POPS support folders. |
| Fast internal HDD library | Internal HDD Setup | hdd0:/__.POPS for VCDs and hdd0:/__common/POPS for POPS/support files. | Legacy per-game PP. partitions unless doing HDDOSD/KELF. |
| Network library over SMB | SMB / Network | SB. launcher, writable share, IPCONFIG.DAT, SMBCONFIG.DAT, and mc?:/POPSTARTER modules. | USB XX. prefixes or read-only shares. |
| Commands, fixes, video, IGR, VMC | Reference Tables | Exact CHEATS.TXT path, config-byte/build version, and per-game support folder. | Global preset packs copied to every game. |
| Verify old files and source claims | Archive & Provenance | Filename, hash/source label, build ID offsets, and package role. | Binary mirror links or unidentified repacks. |
Complete Manual Ledger#
This is the public reading order. It is intentionally table-first so new users can scan the whole manual before choosing a path.
| Order | Page | Section | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
0.1 |
Home | Start Here | Recovered, source-backed POPStarter setup and reference material for PS1-on-PS2 workflows: storage layouts, commands, patches, IGR, VMCs, SMB, and fork boundaries. |
0.2 |
Quick Start | Start Here | Pick a storage backend and launcher, then follow a source-tagged file layout. |
1.1 |
Setup Paths | Setup Paths | The manual chapter for boot flow, launcher selection, minimal files, memory-card folders, and first-boot verification. |
1.2 |
Launcher Matrix | Setup Paths | Understand which launcher model owns which file layout. |
1.3 |
Toolchain | Setup Paths | Recovered utility workflows for VCD conversion, CUE2POPS, POPStarter batchers, PFSSHELL, RadHostClient, and VMC/PMC save movement. |
2.1 |
Storage Overview | Storage Backends | The manual chapter for choosing USB, HDD, SMB, or BDM/exFAT and understanding backend-specific path rules. |
2.2 |
USB | Storage Backends | USB mass-storage POPStarter workflows for OPL Apps, OPL DB/PS1 page, wLE_kHn, POPSLoader, Hugopocked fixes, and BDM Assault exFAT. |
2.3 |
HDD | Storage Backends | Internal APA/PFS POPStarter setup for OPL Apps, OPL DB/PS1 page, wLE_kHn, multi-disc, Hugopocked fixes, and APA-Jail boundaries. |
2.4 |
SMB / Network | Storage Backends | Full SMB setup for POPStarter: direct SB-prefixed launchers, OPL Apps launch, config file formats, memory-card modules, VMC writes, debug text, and common failure modes. |
2.5 |
BDM / exFAT | Storage Backends | How BDM Assault adds exFAT USB support to POPStarter through driver substitution, and what it does not change. |
2.6 |
Advanced Modes | Storage Backends | PS1 CD mode, HDDOSD/KELF, legacy partition installs, uLE_kHn boundaries, and other non-default POPStarter launch routes. |
2.7 |
POPSLoader | Storage Backends | A boundary-focused guide to POPSLoader, the modern fork, device modes, BDMA, art paths, and what must not be attributed to stock POPStarter. |
2.8 |
Storage Matrix | Storage Backends | Filter storage and launcher layouts by backend, launcher, and evidence strength. |
3.1 |
Reference Tables | Reference Tables | The manual chapter that routes readers to commands, config bytes, compatibility aliases, patches, IGR, video, VMC, and troubleshooting references. |
3.2 |
Command Reference | Reference Tables | CHEATS.TXT directives with placement, effects, conflicts, confidence, and source links. |
3.3 |
Cheat Engine | Reference Tables | How CHEATS.TXT, special commands, raw PS1 codes, SAFEMODE, LibCrypt workarounds, and command timing fit together. |
3.4 |
Config Table | Reference Tables | Recovered r13 POPSTARTER.ELF/.KELF config bytes from $410 through $42F with defaults, aliases, and risk notes. |
3.5 |
Compatibility Map | Reference Tables | Cross-reference POPStarter CHEATS.TXT commands, PATCH files, TROJAN files, and config-byte equivalents. |
3.6 |
Compatibility Deep Dive | Reference Tables | Compatibility rates, mode stacking, per-game examples, Hugopocked fixes, TROJAN_7, LibCrypt coverage, and fix provenance. |
3.7 |
Patches and Fixes | Reference Tables | PATCH_X.BIN, TROJAN_X.BIN, POPSLoader textures, and Hugopocked game fixes. |
3.8 |
IGR and Exit Behavior | Reference Tables | Separate IGR commands, $NOIGR, and the loader-disable PATCH_9.BIN workaround. |
3.9 |
Multi-disc and VMC | Reference Tables | DISCS.TXT and VMCDIR.TXT examples for shared disc sets and memory cards. |
3.10 |
VMC / Handlers | Reference Tables | Virtual memory cards, shared VMC routing, BIOS/OSD handlers, IGR textures, handler precedence, and support-file placement. |
3.11 |
Device / IRX | Reference Tables | Recovered IRX loader behavior, MODULE_0.IRX through MODULE_9.IRX placement, DS3 modules, and special-device experiments. |
3.12 |
Display / Codes | Reference Tables | Recovered widescreen, scanline, smoothing, D2LS, and large PS1 RAW / PS2 RAW code archive handling notes. |
3.13 |
Video / Display | Reference Tables | Output modes, screen positioning, 480p, HDTVFIX, smoothing, scanlines, and widescreen caveats. |
3.14 |
Debugging | Reference Tables | Debug builds, SMB debug text, support reports, and source-preserving reproduction notes. |
3.15 |
Troubleshooting | Reference Tables | Known symptoms, likely causes, and source-tagged mitigations. |
3.16 |
FAQ | Reference Tables | Fast answers for common POPStarter setup questions, known limitations, legal boundaries, and source-backed failure modes. |
4.1 |
Archive Overview | Archive & Provenance | The manual chapter for package identity, hashes, recovered wiki scope, source confidence, and preservation boundaries. |
4.2 |
Thread Study | Archive & Provenance | High-value PSX-Place thread findings, maintainer-confirmed corrections, driver myths, dropped noise, and next research priorities. |
4.3 |
POC2 History | Archive & Provenance | Historical context for the leaked POPS-00001 era, early HDD partition workflows, and why modern documentation should avoid reviving risky old packages. |
4.4 |
Version / Integrity | Archive & Provenance | Build identification offsets, final-build boundary, old RIP/WIP caveats, hash discipline, and tampered-bundle warnings. |
4.5 |
Inventory | Archive & Provenance | Recovered package names, roles, statuses, and hashes without public binary or proprietary download links. |
4.6 |
History | Archive & Provenance | Build-history landmarks that explain final r13 behavior, config-byte changes, IGR behavior, SMB support, and recovered wiki scope. |
4.7 |
Wiki Coverage | Archive & Provenance | Index of the 63 recovered ShaolinAssassin wiki page slugs now tracked as source coverage. |
4.8 |
Source Archive | Archive & Provenance | Source inventory with status and reliability tags. |
4.9 |
Research Log | Archive & Provenance | Resolved items, conflicts, and missing recovery work. |
4.10 |
Credits | Archive & Provenance | People, projects, mirrors, and recovery sources that make the preserved POPStarter documentation usable. |
Appendices.1 |
Glossary | Appendices | POPStarter terms with source links. |
Appendices.2 |
Search | Appendices | Search every guide page, structured data entry, source note, research file, and archived seed document. |
Appendices.3 |
Archive | Appendices | All local seed docs, research notes, raw source captures, prompts, and project README rendered as searchable pages. |
Appendices.4 |
Data | Appendices | Structured JSON powering the command reference, storage matrix, fixes, issues, sources, glossary, and research gaps. |
POPStarter, POPS, and POPSLoader are not the same thing#
Most bad setup instructions blur three separate layers. This site keeps them split so a reader knows whether a rule belongs to original POPStarter, Sony's POPS emulator payload, or a modern launcher/fork workflow.
| Layer | What it owns | Documentation rule |
|---|---|---|
| POPStarter | Launcher and patch layer: mount target .VCD, read support folders, apply commands/fixes, handle IGR files, then hand execution to POPS. | Document storage prefixes, CHEATS.TXT, VMC, patches, TROJAN files, and handler placement here. |
| POPS | Sony's PS1-on-PS2 emulator payload. | Identify by filename, role, build data, and hash/source reference only. Do not host or link proprietary binaries. |
| POPSLoader | Separate Lua/Enceladus launcher lineage and modern fork workflows. | Keep BDMA, MX4SIO, MMCE, art paths, and fork exit-menu behavior labeled as launcher/fork behavior. |
Reference anchors#
| Anchor | Current site stance | Where to inspect |
|---|---|---|
| Final public beta | r13 Beta 2019/06/05 is the normal documentation baseline. | Version and Integrity |
PATCH_9.BIN conflict | Maintainer post says loader-disable workaround; seed notes also preserve $NOPAL association. The conflict is retained instead of flattened. | Patches and Fixes |
| SMB typo correction | Use IPCONFIG.DAT, SMBCONFIG.DAT, and poweroff.irx; old .DAY/.irc strings are raw-note conflicts. | SMB / Network |
| Modern workflow boundary | POPSLoader, BDM Assault, MX4SIO/MMCE, BDMA, and fork art/exit behavior are not stock POPStarter core. | POPSLoader Guide |
| Preservation boundary | No Sony POPS emulator binaries, BIOS files, decrypted libraries, proprietary package mirrors, or direct binary download links are included. | Safe Archive Inventory |