P1POPStarter DocsRecovered preservation manual
Setup Storage Reference Archive

Quick Start

Pick a storage backend and launcher, then follow a source-tagged file layout.

Choose the route first#

POPStarter setup fails most often when files from different launcher models are mixed together. Pick one row from this decision guide, then copy the file tree for that exact row. Do not combine an OPL DB/PS1-page layout with a per-game OPL Apps title.cfg layout unless the guide explicitly says that workflow uses both.

1. Storage#

USB is easiest, but slow and fragmentation-sensitive. Internal APA HDD is fast, but paths are strict. SMB is convenient once working, but needs memory-card network modules and a writable legacy share. USB exFAT needs BDM Assault driver substitution.

2. Launcher#

OPL Apps launches renamed POPStarter ELFs and needs a title.cfg. OPL DB/PS1 page uses fork-specific POPStarter discovery paths. wLE_kHn browses VCDs directly. POPSLoader is a separate Lua/Enceladus launcher and has its own folder requirements.

3. Basename#

The VCD basename is the anchor for per-game support folders. If the game image is SLUS_002.40.Soul Blade.VCD, the USB support folder is mass:/POPS/SLUS_002.40.Soul Blade/; the HDD support folder is usually hdd:/__common/POPS/SLUS_002.40.Soul Blade/.

The guide can document where required POPS files go, but this repository must not include Sony emulator binaries, BIOS files, decrypted libraries, or package mirrors that redistribute proprietary material.

Fast choice table#

If you want...Use this pageCopy this workflowMain trap
Simple USB launch from OPL AppsUSB SetupUSB - OPL Apps per-game renamed ELFtitle.cfg saved as title.cfg.txt, or boot= not matching the renamed ELF.
Cleaner USB game list without per-game app foldersUSB SetupwLE_kHn or POPSLoaderLeaving the launcher files outside their expected APPS folder.
Fast internal HDD setupInternal HDD SetupAPA HDD - OPL Apps or OPL DB/PS1 pageMisspelling __.POPS or putting fixes under the wrong common folder.
Network share setupSMB / NetworkSMB direct SB. launcher or OPL Apps over SMBConfusing the PC share folder with mc?:/POPSTARTER, or using the wrong smb:/smb0: prefix.
USB exFAT instead of FAT32BDM / exFATBDM Assault driver replacementThinking this adds internal HDD exFAT support to POPStarter core. It does not.

Universal setup checks#

  • Keep .VCD uppercase in examples unless your chosen launcher explicitly tolerates otherwise.
  • Save title.cfg, CHEATS.TXT, DISCS.TXT, and VMCDIR.TXT as plain text with the exact extension shown.
  • Per-game fix/VMC folders match the VCD basename without the .VCD extension.
  • OPL Apps boot= must match the renamed ELF filename in the same app folder.
  • For SMB, publish IPCONFIG.DAT, SMBCONFIG.DAT, and poweroff.irx; the .DAY/.irc spellings in the raw notes are kept as a conflict, not as the recommended setup.
WorkflowBackendLauncherFilesystemRequired filesExact paths / configWarningsSources
USB - OPL Apps per-game renamed ELF
medium verified-hardware-user		 USB mass storage OPL Apps page FAT32 32K/64K clusters, or exFAT through BDM Assault
  • Per-game VCD
  • Per-game renamed POPSTARTER.ELF
  • POPS_IOX.PAK
  • title.cfg
 
mass:/POPS/<Game>.VCD
mass:/POPS/<Game>/
mass:/POPS/POPS_IOX.PAK
mass:/APPS/<AppFolder>/<Prefix>.<Game>.ELF
mass:/APPS/<AppFolder>/title.cfg

Sample config

title=[PS1] Soul Blade
boot=XX.SLUS_002.40.Soul Blade.ELF
  • The renamed ELF and VCD basename must match the launch method's expectations.
  • Do not store proprietary POPS files in this repository.
 User uploaded operational notes ElOtroLado POPS emulator for PS2 thread (mention only)
USB - OPL DB/Tenth PS1 page
medium verified-hardware-user		 USB mass storage OPL DB / Tenth Anniversary PS1 page FAT32 or exFAT through BDM Assault
  • POPSTARTER.ELF
  • Per-game VCD
  • POPS_IOX.PAK
 
mass:/POPS/POPSTARTER.ELF
mass:/POPS/<Game>.VCD
mass:/POPS/<Game>/
mass:/POPS/POPS_IOX.PAK
  • Modern OPL fork behavior; do not present as original POPStarter core behavior.
 User uploaded operational notes
USB - wLE_kHn VCD launcher
medium verified-hardware-user		 USB mass storage wLE_kHn FAT32 or exFAT through BDM Assault
  • POPS_IOX.PAK
  • POPSTARTER.ELF
  • Per-game VCD
  • wLE_kHn ELF
 
mass:/POPS/POPS_IOX.PAK
mass:/POPS/POPSTARTER.ELF
mass:/POPS/<Game>.VCD
mass:/POPS/<Game>/
mass:/APPS/APP_wLE_kHn_20200810/wLE_kHn_20200810.ELF
mass:/APPS/APP_wLE_kHn_20200810/title.cfg

Sample config

title=wLE_kHn_20200810 VCD Launcher
boot=wLE_kHn_20200810.ELF
  • User notes recommend omitting game IDs from VCD filenames for cleaner wLE_kHn lists.
 User uploaded operational notes ElOtroLado POPS emulator for PS2 thread (mention only)
USB - POPS0 through POPS9 split folders
high recovered-cross-check		 USB mass storage Original POPStarter folder scan FAT12/FAT16/FAT32; defragmented media strongly preferred
  • VCDs in mass:/POPS or mass:/POPS0 through mass:/POPS9
  • POPS_IOX.PAK in main mass:/POPS
 
mass:/POPS/POPS_IOX.PAK
mass:/POPS/<Game>.VCD
mass:/POPS0/<Game>.VCD
mass:/POPS1/<Game>.VCD
mass:/POPS9/<Game>.VCD
mass:/POPS#/BIOS.BIN
mass:/POPS#/PATCH_#.BIN
mass:/POPS#/TROJAN_#.BIN
mass:/POPS#/<Game>/CHEATS.TXT
  • POPStarter scans POPS, then POPS0 through POPS9.
  • POPS_IOX.PAK and IGR TM2 textures stay in the main POPS folder.
  • BIOS.BIN, PATCH_#.BIN, TROJAN_#.BIN, and VMCDIR.TXT do not propagate into POPS# folders; copy them into each split folder that needs them.
 POPSLoader recovered POPStarter documentation site (mention only) ShaolinAssassin POPStarter documentation wiki
USB - POPSLoader app
high verified-cross-source		 USB mass storage POPSLoader FAT32 or exFAT through BDM Assault
  • POPSLoader ELF and POPSLDR folder
  • POPSTARTER.ELF
  • POPS_IOX.PAK
  • Per-game VCD
 
mass:/POPS/POPS_IOX.PAK
mass:/POPS/POPSTARTER.ELF
mass:/POPS/<Game>.VCD
mass:/POPS/<Game>/
mass:/APPS/PS1_POPSLDR/POPSLOADER.ELF
mass:/APPS/PS1_POPSLDR/POPSLDR/
mass:/APPS/PS1_POPSLDR/title.cfg

Sample config

title=[PS1] !POPSLOADER
boot=POPSLOADER.ELF
  • POPSLoader behavior is a modern side project, not original core POPStarter behavior.
  • POPSLDR must stay next to the POPSLoader ELF according to the resource page.
 User uploaded operational notes POPSLoader by El_isra
APA HDD - OPL Apps per-game renamed ELF
high verified-cross-source		 Internal APA HDD/SSD OPL Apps page PFS/APA
  • Per-game VCD
  • POPS.ELF
  • IOPRP252.IMG
  • Per-game renamed POPSTARTER.ELF
 
hdd:/__.POPS/<Game>.VCD
hdd:/__common/POPS/IOPRP252.IMG
hdd:/__common/POPS/POPS.ELF
hdd:/__common/POPS/POPSTARTER.ELF
hdd:/+OPL/APPS/<Game>/<Game>.ELF
hdd:/+OPL/APPS/<Game>/title.cfg

Sample config

title=[PS1] Soul Blade
boot=SLUS_002.40.Soul Blade.ELF
  • ElOtroLado warns OPL network start mode should not be Auto when launching HDD POPStarter via Apps, because black-screen hangs can occur.
  • __.POPS spelling matters.
 User uploaded operational notes ElOtroLado POPS emulator for PS2 thread (mention only) PSX-Place POPStarter page 15 - IGR and BOOT.ELF discussion
APA HDD - OPL DB / PS1 page
medium verified-hardware-user		 Internal APA HDD/SSD OPL DB / PS1 page PFS/APA
  • Per-game VCD
  • POPS.ELF
  • IOPRP252.IMG
  • POPSTARTER.ELF
  • POPS_IOX.PAK
 
hdd:/__.POPS/<Game>.VCD
hdd:/__common/POPS/IOPRP252.IMG
hdd:/__common/POPS/POPS.ELF
hdd:/__common/POPS/POPSTARTER.ELF
hdd:/__common/POPS/POPS_IOX.PAK
  • Modern OPL DB/Tenth behavior needs fork-specific verification.
  • A local screenshot reports hdd0:/__common/POPS/POPSTARTER.ELF worked as POPStarter path.
 User uploaded operational notes Discord POPStarter test screenshot
APA HDD - wLE_kHn VCD launcher
medium verified-hardware-user		 Internal APA HDD/SSD wLE_kHn PFS/APA
  • wLE_kHn ELF
  • Per-game VCD
  • POPS.ELF
  • IOPRP252.IMG
  • POPSTARTER.ELF
  • POPS_IOX.PAK
 
mc0:/BOOT/BOOT.ELF
hdd:/__.POPS/<Game>.VCD
hdd:/__common/POPS/IOPRP252.IMG
hdd:/__common/POPS/POPS.ELF
hdd:/__common/POPS/POPSTARTER.ELF
hdd:/__common/POPS/POPS_IOX.PAK
hdd:/__common/POPS/<Game>/
hdd:/+OPL/APPS/wLE_kHn_20200810/wLE_kHn_20200810.ELF
hdd:/+OPL/APPS/wLE_kHn_20200810/title.cfg

Sample config

title=wLE_kHn_20200810 VCD Launcher
boot=wLE_kHn_20200810.ELF
  • Use this as a launcher workflow, not as a different POPStarter storage backend.
  • __.POPS remains the VCD partition/path.
 User uploaded operational notes ElOtroLado POPS emulator for PS2 thread (mention only)
APA HDD - __.POPS through __.POPS9 split folders
high recovered-cross-check		 Internal APA HDD/SSD Modern WIP01/r13 HDD launch type PFS/APA
  • __.POPS or __.POPS0 through __.POPS9 partitions/paths
  • __common/POPS with POPS.ELF and IOPRP252.IMG
 
hdd0:/__.POPS/<Game>.VCD
hdd0:/__.POPS0/<Game>.VCD
hdd0:/__.POPS9/<Game>.VCD
hdd0:/__common/POPS/POPS.ELF
hdd0:/__common/POPS/IOPRP252.IMG
hdd0:/__common/POPS/<Game>/CHEATS.TXT
  • Do not create +__.POPS; the leading plus is wrong for the POPStarter partition name.
  • Per-game VMC/fix folders go under __common/POPS, not beside the VCDs in __.POPS.
 POPSLoader recovered POPStarter documentation site (mention only) ElOtroLado POPS emulator for PS2 thread (mention only)
APA HDD legacy - PP.<game> HDDOSD-visible partition
medium recovered-needs-hardware-check		 Internal APA HDD/SSD HDDOSD / Sony Browser 2.00 / legacy POPStarter KELF PFS/APA partition
  • PP.<Game> partition
  • IMAGE0.VCD
  • POPSTARTER.KELF or matching launch entry
 
hdd0:/PP.<Game>/IMAGE0.VCD
pfs0:/IMAGE0.VCD
PP.<Game>.ELF or POPSTARTER.KELF launch entry
SYSTEM.CNF BOOT2 = pfs:/IMAGE0.VCD

Sample config

BOOT2 = pfs:/IMAGE0.VCD
VER = 1.00
VMODE = NTSC
  • Every partition-installed game image is named IMAGE0.VCD; game identity comes from the partition name.
  • Use PP.<name> for HDDOSD-visible installs; hidden __.<name> is a different legacy mode.
 POPSLoader recovered POPStarter documentation site (mention only) ShaolinAssassin POPStarter documentation wiki
APA HDD legacy - __.<game> hidden partition
medium recovered-needs-hardware-check		 Internal APA HDD/SSD Legacy alternate POPStarter partition launch PFS/APA partition
  • __.<Game> hidden partition
  • IMAGE0.VCD
  • Matching launch ELF
 
hdd0:/__.<Game>/IMAGE0.VCD
pfs0:/IMAGE0.VCD
__.<Game>.ELF or matching legacy launch entry
  • Hidden __.<name> partition-installed games are not the same as the modern shared __.POPS VCD folder.
  • Do not rename the image away from IMAGE0.VCD inside a partition-installed game.
 POPSLoader recovered POPStarter documentation site (mention only) ShaolinAssassin POPStarter documentation wiki
APA-Jail hybrid - Apps on exFAT, POPS on APA
medium verified-hardware-user		 Internal APA HDD/SSD plus APA-Jail exFAT app side OPL Apps page exFAT app paths plus APA/PFS POPS paths
  • App-side launcher on exFAT
  • VCD and POPS files on APA/PFS
 
exfat:hdd:APPS/<Game>/<Game>.ELF
exfat:hdd:APPS/<Game>/title.cfg
apa:hdd:/__.POPS/<Game>.VCD
apa:hdd:/__common/POPS/IOPRP252.IMG
apa:hdd:/__common/POPS/POPS.ELF
apa:hdd:/__common/POPS/POPSTARTER.ELF

Sample config

title=Soul Blade
boot=SLUS_002.40.Soul Blade.ELF
  • POPStarter core does not support internal exFAT for VCD/POPS data; this is an app-side hybrid workflow.
 User uploaded operational notes
SMB - OPL Apps per-game renamed ELF
high verified-cross-source		 SMB network share OPL Apps page Host filesystem over SMB
  • Per-game VCD
  • POPS_IOX.PAK
  • SB-prefixed renamed POPSTARTER.ELF
  • OPL conf_apps.cfg
  • MC network modules
 
PS2SMB:/POPS/<Game>.VCD
PS2SMB:/POPS/POPS_IOX.PAK
PS2SMB:/POPS/<Game>/
PS2SMB:/APPS/SB.<Game>.ELF
PS2SMB:/ART/SB.<Game>.ELF_COV.jpg
mc0:/OPL/conf_apps.cfg
mc?:/POPSTARTER/IPCONFIG.DAT
mc?:/POPSTARTER/SMBCONFIG.DAT
mc?:/POPSTARTER/poweroff.irx
mc?:/POPSTARTER/ps2dev9.irx
mc?:/POPSTARTER/ps2ip.irx
mc?:/POPSTARTER/ps2smap.irx
mc?:/POPSTARTER/smbman.irx
mc?:/POPSTARTER/smsutils.irx

Sample config

Crash Bandicoot=smb:/APPS/SB.Crash Bandicoot.ELF
Crash Bandicoot=smb0:/APPS/SB.Crash Bandicoot.ELF

IPCONFIG.DAT:
192.168.0.13 255.255.255.0 192.168.0.1

SMBCONFIG.DAT:
192.168.0.254 PS2SMB
  • Some later OPL betas reportedly require smb0: instead of smb: in conf_apps.cfg.
  • Use .DAT, not .DAY, for IPCONFIG.DAT and SMBCONFIG.DAT.
  • Use poweroff.irx, not poweroff.irc.
  • The SMB share must allow writes for VMC creation/update.
  • SMB debug text is forced in SMB mode according to ElOtroLado.
 User uploaded operational notes ElOtroLado POPS emulator for PS2 thread (mention only)
SMB - direct SB-prefixed POPStarter launcher
high verified-single-source		 SMB network share plus PS2-side ELF launch Direct renamed POPStarter ELF Host filesystem over SMB
  • Shared POPSTARTER folder
  • Per-game VCD
  • POPS_IOX.PAK
  • SB-prefixed renamed POPSTARTER.ELF launched from PS2 side
  • MC network modules
 
POPSTARTER share:/POPS/POPS_IOX.PAK
POPSTARTER share:/POPS/<Game>.VCD
POPSTARTER share:/POPS/<Game>/
<PS2-side launcher path>/SB.<Game>.ELF
mc?:/POPSTARTER/IPCONFIG.DAT
mc?:/POPSTARTER/SMBCONFIG.DAT
mc?:/POPSTARTER/poweroff.irx
mc?:/POPSTARTER/ps2dev9.irx
mc?:/POPSTARTER/ps2ip.irx
mc?:/POPSTARTER/ps2smap.irx
mc?:/POPSTARTER/smbman.irx
mc?:/POPSTARTER/smsutils.irx

Sample config

IPCONFIG.DAT:
192.168.0.13 255.255.255.0 192.168.0.1

SMBCONFIG.DAT:
192.168.0.254 POPSTARTER
  • Do not confuse the PC/NAS POPSTARTER share with mc?:/POPSTARTER.
  • The SB. prefix selects SMB mode.
  • The share must be writable for VMC files.
 ElOtroLado POPS emulator for PS2 thread (mention only)
SMB - OPL DB / PS1 page
medium verified-hardware-user		 SMB network share OPL DB / PS1 page Host filesystem over SMB
  • POPSTARTER.ELF
  • Per-game VCD
  • POPS_IOX.PAK
  • MC network modules
 
smb:/POPS/POPSTARTER.ELF
smb:/POPS/<Game>.VCD
smb:/POPS/POPS_IOX.PAK
smb:/POPS/<Game>/
mc?:/POPSTARTER/IPCONFIG.DAT
mc?:/POPSTARTER/SMBCONFIG.DAT
  • Modern OPL DB/PS1-page behavior needs fork-specific verification.
  • Keep this separate from the SB-prefixed OPL Apps workflow.
 User uploaded operational notes
BDM Assault - USB exFAT driver substitution
high verified-primary		 Memory card IRX override for USB POPStarter core or compatible launcher exFAT USB through substituted USB drivers
  • bdm_assault.irx renamed to usbd.irx
  • usbd_bd_assault.irx renamed to usbhdfsd.irx
 
bdm_assault.irx -> mc?:/POPSTARTER/usbd.irx
usbd_bd_assault.irx -> mc?:/POPSTARTER/usbhdfsd.irx
bdm_assault.irx -> mc?:/SYS-CONF/USBD.IRX
usbd_bd_assault.irx -> mc?:/SYS-CONF/USBHDFSD.IRX
  • This is USB driver substitution, not native internal exFAT support in POPStarter core.
  • BDM Assault releases are external; do not vendor binaries here.
 BDM Assault GitHub repository User uploaded operational notes
POPSLoader fork - USB, MX4SIO, MMCE, APAHDD
high verified-primary		 USB / MX4SIO / MMCE / APA HDD Ripto POPSLoader fork Device-specific; PFS for HDD
  • POPSLoader app
  • POPSTARTER.ELF on a supported path
  • VCDs in device POPS folder or HDD __.POPS
 
mc0:/POPSTARTER/POPSTARTER.ELF
mass:/POPS/POPSTARTER.ELF
mx4sio:/POPS/POPSTARTER.ELF
mmce:/POPS/POPSTARTER.ELF
<device>:/POPS/<Title>.VCD
<device>:/POPS/<Title>.png
hdd:/__.POPS/<Title>.VCD
hdd:/__common/POPS/ART/<Title>.png
  • mc0 is required for settings and BDMA in the fork.
  • BDMA is required for all non-HDD devices and only one BDMA mode can be active at once.
 Ripto/NathanNeurotic POPSLoader fork