Getting Started Guide →
Step-by-step instructions to set up launcHER.elf and launcHER.CNF, configure your first game, and launch.
launcHER Documentation
EMBER HANDOFF
PFS MOUNT PERSISTENCE
EXFAT / ATA BDM
USB / MX4SIO / MMCE
DEV9 POWER PRESERVATION
OPL DB & ULE KHN READY
STANDALONE FORWARDER
What is launcHER?
launcHER is a standalone PlayStation 2 forwarder engineered specifically to launch
Ember from supported storage devices while preserving the hardware environment and driver state Ember needs after handoff.
It is not an OSD replacement, HDD Browser, game manager, KELF installer, or menu system. It does one focused job:
Find Ember wherever you keep it, prepare that storage device correctly, pass Ember the game it should launch, and get out of the way without destroying what Ember needs.
HDD Users: Read This First
launcHER does NOT require a dedicated HDD partition. The __.EMBER APA partition shown in some examples is purely an organizational suggestion — not a technical requirement. You do not need to create __.EMBER to use launcHER.
Furthermore, "HDD" means completely different storage technologies on the PS2. Match the path to where Ember actually lives:
| Where Ember is stored | Storage Type | launcHER Path in CNF |
|---|---|---|
| USB flash drive / USB HDD / USB SSD | USB Mass Storage (FAT32/exFAT) | path=mass?:/EMBER/ember.elf |
| Internal HDD using exFAT | Internal ATA BDM | path=ata:/EMBER/ember.elf |
| APA-Jail / Mixed APA+exFAT (Ember on exFAT side) | Internal ATA BDM | path=ata:/EMBER/ember.elf |
| Internal APA/PFS HDD (Ember inside a PFS partition) | APA / PFS Partition Mount | path=hdd0:<PARTITION>:pfs:/EMBER/ember.elf |
| APA-Jail (Ember inside an APA partition, e.g. __common) | APA / PFS Partition Mount | path=hdd0:__common:pfs:/EMBER/ember.elf |
Why Ember Needs a Specialized Forwarder
Ember is not an ordinary standalone ELF that can simply be loaded into memory without preparation. It relies on its caller to provide:
- Bare Game Folder Argument — Ember expects the clean subfolder name under
EMBER/games/(e.g.Soul Blade), not a full path, nor a.cuefilename. - DEV9 Hardware Power Preservation — For ATA, APA/PFS, and network devices, turning off DEV9 on exit destroys the storage interface. launcHER keeps DEV9 powered through
-dev9=NICHDDor-dev9=NIC. - Active PFS Mount Preservation — In APA/PFS mode, Ember expects to continue accessing files through
pfs0:/. launcHER mounts the partition and hands control over withargv[0] = pfs0:/EMBER/ember.elfwhile skipping the raw loader-facinghdd0:token. - Clean IOP Storage Drivers — launcHER initializes clean, conflict-free drivers for ATA, USB, MMCE, MX4SIO, i.Link, UDPBD, and UDPFS.
Explore the Documentation
"Which HDD Do I Have?" →
Demystify internal exFAT, APA/PFS, APA-Jail, and USB HDDs so you pick the right path configuration every time.
Storage Profiles →
Complete configuration templates for USB, exFAT HDD, APA partitions, MMCE, Memory Cards, MX4SIO, and UDPBD.
OPL APPS Integration →
How to rename copies of launcHER to individual game titles (e.g. Soul Blade.ELF) with cover art in Open PS2 Loader.
launcHER.CNF Reference →
Deep reference on configuration syntax, global arg= lines, DEV9 flags, and command-line execution.
Troubleshooting & Errors →
Diagnose Quickboot failed: -19, missing partitions, black screens, and path syntax errors.
Key Architectural Features
- Zero Configuration In-Place Corruption — Fully non-destructive APA path parser supporting classic
:pfs:, numbered:pfs0:–:pfs9:(OPL DB), wLaunchELF+OPLpfs0:, and unadorned partition paths. - Filename-Independent Quickboot — You can rename
launcHER.elftoSoul Blade.ELF; it automatically resolves its parent directory and loadslauncHER.CNF. - Case-Insensitive Config Discovery — Automatically searches for
launcHER.CNF,launcHER.cnf,launcHER.CFG, andlauncHER.cfg. - Pure Standalone Footprint — Stripped of legacy OSDMenu, MBR installers, and CD/DVD fluff for lightning-fast initialization.