FreePSXBoot VS memcarduino

No need to install a modchip, you can use freepsxboot: https://github.com/brad-lin/FreePSXBoot/

If you your PlayStation doesn't have a modchip you can also use the Memory Card manager in Unirom. Just get the FreePSXBoot version into a different memory card, boot to Unirom and the manager will show all saves, even the deleted ones, if they are still on the card. Then you can put the cursor over them and choose "undelete".

you could use FreePSXBoot to softmod it, here’s the github.

If you don't want to chip your console just get a Memory Card exploit like Unirom+FreePSXBoot or TonyHax+FreePSXBoot, it's basically the modern day replacement for the swap trick. Easier, more reliable and removes some other types of piracy protection from various games.

Most of the SDK has been tested and confirmed to be fully functional on real hardware, but there is some copy protection you will have to get around in order to run arbitrary software on a PS1. The traditional solution is to perform disc swapping or install a modchip, but nowadays we also have softmods [1] that make the process as easy as inserting a specially formatted memory card (which can be prepared using a PS2, or even a PS1 by swapping discs).

You are not required to use CDs either. With the help of some code and linker script magic, you can build an image that can be booted directly from a cheat cartridge (or simply a parallel EEPROM) connected to the console's expansion bus, bypassing the copy protection checks entirely. There are also debugging tools that, once loaded, let you download an executable into RAM for quick testing and manage memory cards using a modified serial cable [2].

[1] https://github.com/brad-lin/FreePSXBoot

[2] https://schnappy.xyz/?building_a_serial_psx_cable

The easiest way is freepsxboot. Amazing thing. https://github.com/brad-lin/FreePSXBoot

FreePSXBoot: https://github.com/brad-lin/FreePSXBoot Unirom: https://github.com/JonathanDotCel/unirom8_bootdisc_and_firmware_for_ps1 TonyHax: https://github.com/socram8888/tonyhax

For PS1 there is https://github.com/ShendoXT/memcarduino Fos PS2 unfortunately there is no way without a PS2 or these overpriced mem to usb adapter.

No, it doesn't, but you need some way to get it installed on a memory card, such as the PS3 memory card adapter, Memcarduino, or a PS2 that can run homebrew software. They also sell cheap memory cards with it pre-installed in case you don't have access to any of those.

Not sure if there's any card manager that can actually handle the hidden portion of the data out of the box. You would have to dump the whole card (raw) with something like Memcarduino python script, and then use a hex editor to fix the block order before it can be edited in something else.

Zero soldering involved if you want to do it the cheap and dirty way. Just upload MemCARDuino to the Arduino, remove the memory card top shell and connect using the pins plastic part (remove the pins) and inserting the jumper cables into the pins. Then just hold the row of pins over the memory card with your hand (or pressing them down with an eraser makes it much easier). I personally prefer MemcardRex for dumping software, as it interfaces with MemCARDuino nicely.

- Memcardrex on PC can see and "undelete" save files. To use it you need a way to connect a memory card to PC (like memcarduino or a commercial memory card backup device)

Memcarduino is a good option nowadays: https://github.com/ShendoXT/memcarduino

I found out an useful quirk from bootleg memory cards: You can dump the saves to PC easily if you have an Arduino board. In contrast, the OEM memory cards (and some more complex bootlegs like multi-megabyte cards) need an external power supply and a voltage divider to properly dump them with MemCARDuino, but the common bootlegs do not, and can be feed directly from the Arduino 3.3v pin, so the whole process is really simple and cheap.

What do you mean by hanging? Progress bar does not fill? Have you tried to update the arduino's firmware? From here https://github.com/ShendoXT/memcarduino