PS1 Help with PS1 setup & restoration (and console mods).

[elfqueenvik]

I hope this is the right place to post this. If its not Im cool if it has to be removed.

So I have dug out and got my Hubby's OLLLDD Ps1 working! Its been a fun project to work on and I'm learning a lot! But I've hit a wall, he has a Game Hunter/Action Replay thingy that he used to to play imports. This is something we would like to do again. But I cant quite get it working, right now I'm testing cheats and it gets stuck on the start menu. I have not tried doing the disk swap to play an import game yet, but I plan to work toward that. There is a crack on the corner of the Game Hunter so I'm not sure if that's the issue or I am missing something. (Let me know if y'all need pics of that for reference.)

I've entered the wild world of old school game mods and any tips would be helpful. The end goal is to get this old gal restored and playing imports. So any basic restoration tip would also be appreciated. Halp!

P.s. The game I have chosen to play through on this gal is Wild Arms and I have a few hours of play time on it. So she does run and play games with no issues!

Post automatically merged: Wednesday at 6:11 PM

Adding pictures of the console, Game Hunter and my furry supervisor.

 

[OPT1MUS]

@elfqueenvik - Hmm... Does it freeze at the main menu regardless of what you do? Or does it freeze when you try to use cheats?
Also... What exactly is the accessory you're using (I can't quite tell from the image)? And which PS1 model is it (since it goes on the parallel I/O port, it must be one of the very first PS)?
At first glance, of course, one might assume the accessory is broken, but it could be anything else...

Oh, and... I already love your cat!

 

[elfqueenvik]

The accessory is the Game Hunter Cd Version V 6.0 Our PS1 is Model number SCPH-7501

What is happening is when there is no CD in the console Im able to add chats and use the Game Hunter. But when a CD is in if I select cheats then select start game with cheats it will be stuck on a black screen with a grey bar that says start. It says the same thing when I try game mod play. So it thinks its a boot issue or Im missing a step.

I have yet to test it with an import game.

P.s. Thank you the kitty in a sweet...and spicy lady.

 

[KenaiPhoenix]

I have not really too much experience with the cheats.

But as a good tip, and since I see on one of the pictures you are playing on a LCD, I recommend getting some OSSC (assuming you cant get a CRT for some reason). It is a life changer when playing retro games. They are not that cheap, but it makes the games look SO good.

And dont settle for those cheap 7-10 bucks ones. I used one of them and my PS1 games where just painful to watch. So look it at a really worth investment.

 

[elfqueenvik]

I have not really too much experience with the cheats.

But as a good tip, and since I see on one of the pictures you are playing on a LCD, I recommend getting some OSSC (assuming you cant get a CRT for some reason). It is a life changer when playing retro games. They are not that cheap, but it makes the games look SO good.

And dont settle for those cheap 7-10 bucks ones. I used one of them and my PS1 games where just painful to watch. So look it at a really worth investment.

Thanks for the tips! I don't plan to use the cheats, I just want to test run everything I can with the Game Hunter to make sure it runs fully. Honestly I'm having fun doing the research and getting the PS1 running. So I'm going beyond what I need to.

A CRT is def not gonna be something that will suit our needs but I will look into OSSC!

Thanks!!!!!

 

[OPT1MUS]

@elfqueenvik - Hmm, this makes me think the problem isn't a hardware failure, but rather a matter of "method" and the PS1 SCPH-7501's protection mechanisms.
The grey bar labeled "Start" freezing on a black screen indicates that the cartridge has loaded the cheats into memory and "handed off" control to the console to run the disc, but the PS1 has stalled. The reasons could be:

1 - Regional lockout and anti-mod protection.
The PS1 SCPH-7501 is a hardware revision featuring a newer motherboard (PU-22) that introduced stricter anti-piracy and anti-mod checks compared to the earliest models.
If you are trying to launch a PAL game or a burned backup copy, the console detects an anomaly when the Game Hunter attempts to force the boot, resulting in a black screen freeze. If, however, the game is an original NTSC-U copy, the issue might lie in how the boot process is handled.

2 - The cheats themselves.
Sometimes, freezing at the "Start" prompt happens because too many cheats have been activated at once, or because the cheats conflict with each other (e.g., incorrect "Master Codes" for that specific game version).
Have you tried launching the game by pressing "Start" without activating any cheats (simply selecting the game launch option from the Game Hunter menu)? If the original game boots up, then the cartridge is working fine, and the problem stems from the selected codes crashing the console's memory.

Also... Have you considered "UniROM"?
It is a modern, free, and open-source firmware that can be installed ("flashed") directly onto the Game Hunter cartridge using a burned boot CD. UniROM completely bypasses region locking and allows you to launch any game (original, import, or backup) without disc swapping or a modchip, offering 100% compatibility and no black-screen freezes.

 

[elfqueenvik]

@elfqueenvik - Hmm, this makes me think the problem isn't a hardware failure, but rather a matter of "method" and the PS1 SCPH-7501's protection mechanisms.
The grey bar labeled "Start" freezing on a black screen indicates that the cartridge has loaded the cheats into memory and "handed off" control to the console to run the disc, but the PS1 has stalled. The reasons could be:

1 - Regional lockout and anti-mod protection.
The PS1 SCPH-7501 is a hardware revision featuring a newer motherboard (PU-22) that introduced stricter anti-piracy and anti-mod checks compared to the earliest models.
If you are trying to launch a PAL game or a burned backup copy, the console detects an anomaly when the Game Hunter attempts to force the boot, resulting in a black screen freeze. If, however, the game is an original NTSC-U copy, the issue might lie in how the boot process is handled.

2 - The cheats themselves.
Sometimes, freezing at the "Start" prompt happens because too many cheats have been activated at once, or because the cheats conflict with each other (e.g., incorrect "Master Codes" for that specific game version).
Have you tried launching the game by pressing "Start" without activating any cheats (simply selecting the game launch option from the Game Hunter menu)? If the original game boots up, then the cartridge is working fine, and the problem stems from the selected codes crashing the console's memory.

Also... Have you considered "UniROM"?
It is a modern, free, and open-source firmware that can be installed ("flashed") directly onto the Game Hunter cartridge using a burned boot CD. UniROM completely bypasses region locking and allows you to launch any game (original, import, or backup) without disc swapping or a modchip, offering 100% compatibility and no black-screen freezes.

OMG thank you! I only tried a few cheats just to test it, but I plan to double check the codes. I don't plan to use cheats, I just like testing all functions if hardware. We have not tried to run an import game yet. We don't have the tools to install it but I will look into UniROM.



I did to know about the specifics related to the PS1 SCPH-7501 model but that is helpful.

Thanks!

 

[OPT1MUS]

@elfqueenvik - Well, there are other variables at play that could have an impact, but the ones I mentioned are usually the main ones... Anyway, let me know how things go!

 

[elfqueenvik]

@elfqueenvik - Well, there are other variables at play that could have an impact, but the ones I mentioned are usually the main ones... Anyway, let me know how things go!

We got a cheap import to test and no dice. There is a crack in the corner of the Game Hunter so Im wondering if that's what the issue is.

The method could be an issue also, I think Ive watched just about every tutorial I can and I haven't had much luck. I plan to re-investigate at a later time and maybe try some other things that you and others have mentioned.

I think the main thing that could be a factor is the PS1 and the game hunter are things we have had for a long time. Its been in our garage or a while until I got it set up a long with a bunch of our other consoles in our finished basement as an extra area of entertainment and "retro" corner. Honestly Im just happy it works!

Thank you so much for your input!

 

[OPT1MUS]

@elfqueenvik - Don't mention it!

Well, yep, the crack... The key is determining whether it’s just superficial damage to the plastic casing or something worse. But to figure that out, you’d need to open it up and check the condition of the circuitry.
In any case, since you said they’ve been sitting in the garage for a long time, the first step should be to give the contacts—both on the Game Hunter and the PlayStation’s I/O parallel port—a good cleaning: they might be quite oxidized...

 

[elfqueenvik]

@elfqueenvik - Don't mention it!

Well, yep, the crack... The key is determining whether it’s just superficial damage to the plastic casing or something worse. But to figure that out, you’d need to open it up and check the condition of the circuitry.
In any case, since you said they’ve been sitting in the garage for a long time, the first step should be to give the contacts—both on the Game Hunter and the PlayStation’s I/O parallel port—a good cleaning: they might be quite oxidized...

Cleaning was...well is the next step. Im going to see what I can do myself and I may take it to a shop to get it cleaned or fixed up. We have had an Indy shop fix our Wii U gamepad, so we already have someone we like.

Any cleaning tips you have will be helpful!

Part of the reason I decided to set up the PS! is I have another entertainment area set up in our finished basement with a bunch of our older consoles. I kinda just didn't like that this was sitting around collecting dust.

Post automatically merged: Today at 12:37 AM

@elfqueenvik - Don't mention it!

Well, yep, the crack... The key is determining whether it’s just superficial damage to the plastic casing or something worse. But to figure that out, you’d need to open it up and check the condition of the circuitry.
In any case, since you said they’ve been sitting in the garage for a long time, the first step should be to give the contacts—both on the Game Hunter and the PlayStation’s I/O parallel port—a good cleaning: they might be quite oxidized...

I answered my own question on how to clean the console. I have some special Q-tips that are for tech cleaning, but I also use them on my sewing machines.