linux VS FreeMcBoot-Installer

You don't really need to cross compile anymore thanks to this: https://github.com/frno7/linux/wiki/Installing-and-booting-PlayStation-2-Linux

Best is to install on FAT PS2 HDD. Can be run from DVD on Slim PS2, and also installed to USB, and runs from SMB (network) with some initial setup effort. But really the best result is FAT PS2 and HDD. It will install alongside games, no need to reformat drives, just adding partitions to the existing game partitions.

The latest kernel that is working with a full system that I know about is a version of 2.6. Someone has been working on kernel 5.4, but I don't know much about it. (link) They mention that not many devices have been ported to work on the new kernel. They also mention the possibility of running Gentoo on the ps2. I doubt the possibility of running many modern programs due to the lack of resources the ps2 has. Because of the lack of resources, you are probably going to still have to run something that looks and acts like the older distros.

There is a work-in-progress port of the newer Linux 5.x kernel to the PS2: https://github.com/frno7/linux

Download the 1966 archive, extract it to a FAT32 formatted USB drive: https://github.com/israpps/FreeMcBoot-Installer/releases/tag/latest

I originally didn't have problems. I got Kaico's custom memory card, and it worked with no problems. The problem began when I wanted to update the FMCB on the card to the exfat version (download link) because allegedly this version is required for the MX4SIO adapter. I thought Kaico set the card so that they don't allow any FMCB upgrades, so I've installed the exfat version on my original memory card, but the same problematic thing happens. I don't know what's wrong.