Max Drive (PS2)

[arogan]

http://us.codejunkies.com/shop/product.asp?c=US&cr=USD&cs=$&r=0&l=1&ProdID=282

picked it up from my local gamestop for $30:
http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product%5Fid=801812

It's a 16mb usb mass storage key drive. The usb key drive is nothing special. It's just standard FAT formatted and can be read by any modern pc with no drivers needed. What you are really buying is the ps2 disc inside that lets you copy from your ps2 memory cards to the usb key drive and back. This basically gives you endless storage for your ps2.

Just pop in the usb key drive into the usb ports on the ps2, boot the ps2 cd that is included, you get a nice interface to easily copy single files or backup your entire memory card. This process takes a few minutes (it's a bit on the slow side) but still not too bad. Then just take the usb key drive, connect it to any pc, and just use file explorer to copy the files on to your hard drive. You don't even need to install their pc software. The pc software just makes it easy to download saves/eye toy videos from their site. You can also do this directly on the ps2 if you have a broadband adapter.

Files end up on the root directory of the usb key drive.
Example filenames:
20056_13222__SPY_HUNTE.max
20062_2786_GTA3.max
97113_10809_ICO.max

I tried putting saves in a sub directory but the software doesn't find it.

This .max format is actually already compressed (they call it crushed). A nearly full 8mb card only took about 3.25mb on the usb drive. Just for kicks I tried to rar a max file and obtained no additional compression.

Now here is the best part...I started trying my other usb key drives.
So far my old Lexar usb 1.1 128mb and my Soyo cigar pro 128mb work just fine! Just make sure they are formatted in FAT and NOT FAT32. My 32mb buslink did NOT work. Still, that's pretty good compatibility. Now I have a use for these old 128mb usb drives. I'm dedicating one just for ps2. Think about it...I basically have the space equivalent of 16 ps2 memory cards (about $320 worth - at least double that if you count compression) on hand that I can restore from anytime without the need of a pc even.

What can I say, this product is designed perfectly. The interface is great on the ps2, no weird formatting, great compatiblity, good compression.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

[firstadopter]

It's posted on the front page. Great work again. Members please discuss this product on this thread.

[TheAngryIntern]

Wow!! that is a cool idea!! Finally a use for those USB ports on the PS2. I might have to look into one of these. It would be nice if they included MemoryStick slots on the PS3. Thanks for the info, arogan!

[CAG]

Great review, arogan!

[arogan]

btw, I just tested formating my 128mb usb drive with FAT32 and it worked fine on the ps2.
This way you can have unlimited number of files in the root directory. Otherwise, with FAT you are limited to around 512 files in the root regardless of how much free space you have left.

[papagiorgio01]

I lost the CD for the ps2 that came with the max drive. Is there any where I can get another one, or download the software and burn it?

[stupot42]

I can't see them letting you do that, or they wouldn't be able to sell any of their products. People would just download the software and use a standard and cheaper USB memory stick.

Are you sure you've lost the disc? ;)

[geniusmaker]

I'm trying to get a 256mb verbatim usb key to work like this. Can anyone help me? Here's what I'm doing:

1. Copy max files from computer to usb key.
2. Fire up max drive software.
3. then it recognizes the usb key, but I go into it and it doesn't show the files.

I have the usb key formatted with FAT.

Any suggestions?

[DarkChuky]

Hi, i think if you put the files in the root it will work but i don´t know if a 256Mb key can work, but the 128 MB can.

And i need some help, i need a NTSC version of the software, because i buy two in UK and now i can´t use it on my TV, afortunatelly i can use it on my PC, on the PCTV card but i need one that work on a ntsc tv.... can some body helpme
(a copy whit cloneCD )

[belinho15]

can anyone tell me what i need for connection hard drive and ps2. and how i must do this

[keith__uk]

i am thinking of buying one of these, mainly for transfering stuff for pro evo 5... e/g option files. I was wondering whether this can be used as a normal memory card aswell and if so does it work the same as the standard 8mb memory cards that plug in the front of the ps2 above controller. thanks.

[DarkChuky]

keith__uk:
i am thinking of buying one of these, mainly for transfering stuff for pro evo 5... e/g option files. I was wondering whether this can be used as a normal memory card aswell and if so does it work the same as the standard 8mb memory cards that plug in the front of the ps2 above controller. thanks.

DarkChuky:
Not, it is not a memory card, it has a software for the PS2 that let you transfer files from you Memory to a USB KEY (one of 16 MB is include), so you will need a Memory Card... but you can transfer the saved games to the USB KEy and then to you PC...and you can dowload games from internet, put it on the USB KEY and then transfer to the Memory Card....a 128mb USB KEY can be used...the real buy is the PS2 Cd whit the software.... i need one for NTSC....

[keith__uk]

ohrite ok thanks....looks like i need a new memory card aswell then lol

[arogan]

for you xbox users I recommend:
http://www.megaxkey.com/

It works really well.

[bungiefan]

Words of warning about the MAX Drive. There's been a bug with the Memory Manager since the MAX Drive first came out. If you use the Delete or Move commands on any save, it corrupts the memory device that command was used on, which can destroy all saves on your PS2 memory card. The way to make the card usable again is to highlight it when picking a device to use in the Memory Manager, and pressing Square to reformat the card.

There's a similar product on the market that costs less and doesn't have the bug, but expects you to provide your own USB drive, and is compatible with more USB drives. Code Breaker (version 7+) is the product, and it runs for $20 US.

I've used both AR MAX and Code Breaker 8.x, and I've had no problems with the Code Breaker, but have run into and helped dozens of people with the corruption problem of AR MAX, especially after Datel shut down the forums on their web site in August of 2004, which were flooded with complaints about the problem at the time. Datel's customer support for the device has also seemed to have greatly declined since then.

Code Breaker doesn't have a crush or uncrush option when dealing with a USB drive. It automatically crushes when you give it the comand to copy to a USB drive, and uncrushes when copying from the USB drive, eliminating the confusion AR MAX has when someone copies a crushed save from their USB drive to the memory card, wonders why they can't use it, and then gives a Delete command to try the process again, ending up corrupting their memory card, usually before having backed up all of the saves on it. I deal with this scenario weekly with AR MAX on various forums for the PS2.

AR MAX is labout $30 with a 16 MB USB drive, $40 with a 32 MB drive, and $50-60 for a 64 MB drive. I can get a 256-512 MB drive and a Code Breaker for that type of money, if I don't already have one for usual computer use.

With AR MAX, you have to download the entire code list library at once, even if there are games in it you don't want, or type in the codes you want manually. Code Breaker has a Day 1 file for every game in their library, which you can download to the USB drive and just add that one game to the code list.

[dbw1967]

Do you know where I can find software for my Max Drive?

[cwrtlm21]

I just bought the Max Drive to copy the NCAA 07 rosters off the internet and I had the above problem happen to my files. It fried both of my memory cards and now I have lost some of my saves due to this POS!!!!!!!! Anyone give me any advice to how to remedy the problem? I am going to call Datel on Monday and demand my money back for the product and also they give me my money for two new memory cards. Is there an item that like this that actually works?????