Create a Free McBoot Memory Card

Install Free McBoot onto an existing PS2 memory card using another working FMCB card

After using a preloaded Free McBoot card to soft-mod my PlayStation 2, I wanted to create a second card using an original PS2 memory card I already owned.

This guide uses a working Free McBoot memory card in slot 1 to launch the installer, then installs a fresh copy of Free McBoot onto a second standard memory card in slot 2.

Free McBoot, commonly shortened to FMCB, installs as a signed PS2 system update on a compatible memory card. It allows a supported PlayStation 2 to launch homebrew applications automatically when the console starts. The modification is stored entirely on the memory card and does not require opening or permanently altering the console.

Important: You cannot create a working FMCB card by simply copying the folders from another card. The installer must prepare and sign the system-update files for the target memory card.

Project overview

Difficulty: Easy
Estimated time: 20–40 minutes
Soldering required: No
Console disassembly required: No
Internet connection required: Only for downloading the installer
Data-loss risk: The target card may be formatted and completely erased

This guide requires

• One working Free McBoot memory card

• One existing PS2 memory card to convert

• One compatible PlayStation 2

• One FAT32 USB flash drive

• A computer for preparing the USB drive

What this guide covers

• Checking PS2 and memory-card compatibility

• Backing up existing game saves

• Preparing the Free McBoot installer USB drive

• Launching the installer through wLaunchELF

• Formatting the target memory card

• Selecting the correct installation mode

• Avoiding the outdated Multi-Install option

• Testing the completed card

• Troubleshooting installation and MagicGate errors

How this process works

The working FMCB card provides access to wLaunchELF, the PS2 file manager. wLaunchELF launches the Free McBoot installer from a USB drive.

The installer then writes a new, properly signed Free McBoot installation to the second memory card.

For this guide:

Memory card slot 1: Existing working Free McBoot card

Memory card slot 2: Standard PS2 memory card being converted

USB port: Free McBoot installer files

Keeping the cards in separate slots makes it easier to identify the working source card and the target card. It also avoids removing memory cards while software is running.

IMAGE NEEDED: Both memory cards labeled and installed in their respective slots.

Caption: The working FMCB card goes in slot 1, while the card being converted goes in slot 2.

Alt text: Two PS2 memory cards installed with the working Free McBoot card in slot 1 and target card in slot 2.

Compatibility

Compatible PS2 consoles

Free McBoot works on:

• All standard fat PlayStation 2 consoles

• Most PS2 Slim consoles

• Most consoles with boot ROM versions earlier than 2.30

It does not boot normally on consoles with firmware versions 2.30 or 2.50, including most later SCPH-9000X Slim systems and the PS2 television. Those systems may require a different exploit, such as OpenTuna.

This Redux Gems guide is primarily intended for an original fat PlayStation 2.

Compatible memory cards

For the best reliability, use:

• An official Sony 8MB MagicGate memory card

• A known high-quality compatible card

• A supported memory-card emulator such as MemCardPro2

Free McBoot requires accurate MagicGate support because its system-update files are signed specifically for the memory card. Some third-party cards can store normal game saves but cannot complete the signing process required by FMCB.

Recommendation: Use an official Sony 8MB card whenever possible.

IMAGE NEEDED: Official Sony 8MB MagicGate card beside a generic third-party card.

Caption: Official Sony MagicGate cards generally provide the most reliable Free McBoot installation.

Alt text: Official Sony 8MB PlayStation 2 memory card next to a generic third-party memory card.

Parts and equipment required

Required

• Compatible PlayStation 2

• Working Free McBoot memory card

• Existing target PS2 memory card

• PS2 controller

• Computer

• USB flash drive

• Current Free McBoot installer package

Recommended

• Official Sony 8MB target card

• USB 2.0 flash drive between 2GB and 32GB

• Second USB drive or computer folder for save backups

• Labels for identifying the completed cards

A smaller USB 2.0 drive is often easier for older PS2 homebrew software to recognize than a large modern USB 3.x drive.

Before beginning

The target card may be erased

Formatting the target card deletes:

• All PS2 game saves

• PS1 saves stored on the PS2 card

• Existing applications

• Previous Free McBoot installations

• Memory-card configuration files

Back up anything important before formatting.

Do not modify the working FMCB card

During installation:

• Keep the working FMCB card in slot 1.

• Select the card in slot 2 as the installation target.

• Read every confirmation screen carefully.

• Do not format slot 1 accidentally.

Place a temporary label on each card before starting.

Slot 1: WORKING FMCB — DO NOT FORMAT

Slot 2: TARGET CARD

IMAGE NEEDED: Temporary labels placed on both memory cards.

Caption: Clearly label each card before opening the installer.

Part 1: Prepare the USB drive

Step 1: Back up the USB drive

Formatting the USB drive will erase its existing contents.

1. Connect the USB drive to the computer.

2. Copy any important files somewhere safe.

3. Open Windows Disk Management.

4. Identify the correct removable drive carefully.

Step 2: Format the USB drive as FAT32

For maximum compatibility:

1. Delete existing partitions when necessary.

2. Initialize the USB drive as MBR.

3. Create one primary partition.

4. Format it as FAT32.

5. Use the default allocation-unit size.

6. Give it a recognizable name such as:

PS2FMCB

The official installer instructions recommend extracting the package to a FAT32 USB device and launching it through uLaunchELF or wLaunchELF. ConsoleMods also recommends an MBR drive using FAT16 or FAT32 for standard homebrew access.

Do not use NTFS. Older PS2 file managers generally will not recognize it.

Step 3: Download the current Free McBoot installer

Download the installer from the maintained israpps project:

Free McBoot Installer downloads

For an ordinary PS2 without a modchip, use the current Free McBoot 1.966 package. The maintainer recommends 1.966 for consoles without a modchip; some modchips conflict with newer FMCB releases and may require a different bootloader or version.

Avoid downloading preconfigured installers from random file-sharing sites.

IMAGE NEEDED: Official Free McBoot installer download page.

Caption: Download the installer from the maintained israpps project.

Alt text: Official israpps Free McBoot Installer download page showing version 1.966.

Step 4: Extract the complete installer package

1. Open the downloaded archive using 7-Zip or a similar program.

2. Extract the complete package.

3. Copy the extracted folder to the USB drive.

4. Keep all included folders and files together.

The package normally includes items similar to:

FMCBInstaller.elf

FMCBInstaller_EXFAT.elf

INSTALL/

lang/

other included support files

For this FAT32 guide, launch:

FMCBInstaller.elf

Do not copy only the ELF file. The installer depends on files inside the accompanying folders. The official instructions specifically say to extract and transfer the complete package to the USB device.

IMAGE NEEDED: USB drive showing FMCBInstaller.elf and its accompanying folders.

Caption: Keep the installer ELF and all supporting folders together.

Alt text: Windows File Explorer showing FMCBInstaller.elf, INSTALL and language folders on a FAT32 USB drive.

Part 2: Back up the target memory card

Skip this section only when the target card is empty or contains nothing important.

Step 1: Start the existing Free McBoot card

1. Turn the PS2 off.

2. Insert the working FMCB card into slot 1.

3. Insert the target memory card into slot 2.

4. Insert the prepared USB drive.

5. Turn the PS2 on.

6. Wait for the Free McBoot menu.

7. Open wLaunchELF or uLaunchELF.

In wLaunchELF:

mc0:/ = Memory card slot 1

mc1:/ = Memory card slot 2

mass:/ = USB drive

Step 2: Create a backup folder

1. Open mass:/.

2. Create a folder named:

TARGET-CARD-BACKUP

3. Return to the main device list.

4. Open mc1:/.

Make sure you open mc1:/, not mc0:/.

Step 3: Back up the game saves

To back up individual saves:

1. Highlight a save folder.

2. Mark it using the button shown by wLaunchELF.

3. Repeat for every save you want to preserve.

4. Press R1 to open the file menu.

5. Select Copy.

6. Return to mass:/TARGET-CARD-BACKUP/.

7. Press R1.

8. Select psuPaste when available.

Using psuPaste creates .psu backup files that preserve the save’s PS2-specific metadata. ConsoleMods documents both ordinary save copying and full PSU-based backup procedures through LaunchELF.

If psuPaste is unavailable, ordinary Paste can still be used for many saves, but PSU format is preferable for archival backups.

IMAGE NEEDED: wLaunchELF showing files selected on mc1.

Caption: Back up saves from mc1 before formatting the target card.

Alt text: wLaunchELF file browser showing selected PS2 game-save folders on memory card slot 2.

Step 4: Verify the backup

Before formatting:

1. Open the USB backup folder.

2. Confirm that files were created.

3. Check that none of them have a size of zero bytes.

4. Safely keep the USB drive connected.

Do not continue until the backup appears complete.

Part 3: Launch the Free McBoot installer

Step 1: Open the installer from USB

From wLaunchELF:

1. Open the file browser.

2. Select:

mass:/

3. Open the extracted Free McBoot installer folder.

4. Highlight:

FMCBInstaller.elf

5. Launch it using the button shown at the bottom of the screen.

6. Wait for the installer menu to appear.

The regular installer is appropriate because the USB drive is FAT32. The package also offers an exFAT-launching variant, but FAT32 remains the most broadly compatible method.

IMAGE NEEDED: wLaunchELF highlighting FMCBInstaller.elf.

Caption: Launch the regular FMCB installer from the FAT32 USB drive.

Alt text: wLaunchELF showing FMCBInstaller.elf highlighted inside the USB drive.

Step 2: Confirm the correct target card

The installer should detect both memory cards.

Before selecting anything, verify:

Slot 1: Existing working FMCB card

Slot 2: Target card

The installer interface can switch between pages using L1 and R1. Follow the button legend shown along the bottom of your screen because confirm and cancel buttons may differ between controller layouts and software versions.

Part 4: Format the target card

Formatting is strongly recommended when:

• The card contains old or corrupted files

• The card previously used Multi-Install

• A prior FMCB installation failed

• The installer reports filesystem errors

• You want a completely clean installation

Step 1: Open Memory Card Management

1. Use L1 or R1 to locate the MC Management page.

2. Select Format MC.

3. Choose the card in slot 2.

4. Verify the target again.

5. Confirm the format.

6. Wait until the process finishes.

The installer’s memory-card management page supports formatting, dumping and restoring card images.

Final warning: Formatting the wrong slot could erase your working Free McBoot card.

IMAGE NEEDED: Installer showing the target card in slot 2 before formatting.

Caption: Verify the slot number before confirming the format.

Alt text: Free McBoot Installer memory-card management menu showing slot 2 as the format target.

Step 2: Return to the main installer page

After formatting:

1. Wait for the success message.

2. Return to the main menu using L1 or R1.

3. Confirm that the target card still appears in slot 2.

Do not turn off the console while the installer is writing to the card.

Part 5: Choose the correct installation mode

The current maintained installer offers normal installation choices based on how broadly the card needs to work.

The wording may be similar to:

• Install for this PS2

• Install for similar consoles

• Install for all supported PS2 consoles

Older installers called these:

• Normal

• Cross-model

• Cross-region

The current installer uses more user-friendly descriptions, but the purpose is the same.

Option 1: This PS2 only

Choose this when:

• The card will remain with one console

• You need to use the least possible card space

• You do not expect to move it between PS2 systems

Option 2: Similar consoles in this region

Choose this when:

• You have several PS2 consoles from the same region

• You want broader model support

• Cross-region use is unnecessary

Option 3: All supported PS2 consoles

Choose this when:

• The card may be moved between compatible consoles

• You repair or test several PS2 systems

• You want the most flexible normal installation

The broader installations use additional memory-card space because they include system-update files for more console paths.

Redux Gems recommendation

For a general-purpose Free McBoot card, choose:

Install for all supported PS2 consoles

This is the modern cross-region normal installation and is the best choice when you may use the card on more than one supported PS2.

Do not choose Multi-Install

Many older videos instruct viewers to select Multi-Install so the card works on multiple consoles.

That advice is now outdated.

The maintained israpps installer specifically:

• Forbids traditional Multi-Install

• States that it deliberately corrupts or crosslinks the memory-card filesystem

• Warns that it can cause random card corruption

• Provides safe cross-model and cross-region normal installations instead

The current project says Multi-Install does not provide a useful advantage over the newer normal installation choices.

Use “all supported consoles” or “cross-region” under the normal Install menu. Do not use an old Multi-Install option.

If an older installer still displays Multi-Install, return to the computer and download the maintained installer package.

Part 6: Install Free McBoot

Step 1: Start the installation

1. Select Install.

2. Select the target card in slot 2.

3. Choose the desired compatibility option.

4. For a flexible card, choose the all-supported-consoles option.

5. Read the final confirmation screen carefully.

6. Begin the installation.

The installer will:

• Prepare the system-update folder

• Generate the memory-card-specific signature

• Copy the Free McBoot boot files

• Install the menu configuration

• Copy the applications included in the selected package

Do not press buttons, remove cards or turn off the PS2 during this process.

IMAGE NEEDED: Installation-progress screen.

Caption: Do not interrupt the console while FMCB is being written to the target card.

Alt text: Free McBoot Installer progress screen writing files to PS2 memory card slot 2.

Step 2: Wait for completion

Installation may take several minutes.

A successful installation should end with a confirmation message indicating that Free McBoot was installed without errors.

Before exiting:

1. Confirm that no failure message is displayed.

2. Record any error code when one appears.

3. Select the installer’s exit option.

4. Shut the console down normally.

Part 7: Test the new Free McBoot card

Step 1: Power the PS2 off completely

1. Turn the console off.

2. Use the rear switch on a fat PS2.

3. Remove the USB drive.

4. Remove the original working FMCB card from slot 1.

5. Remove the newly created card from slot 2.

6. Insert the newly created card into slot 1.

For the first test, leave the original FMCB card disconnected.

Step 2: Start the console

1. Turn the PS2 on.

2. Watch for the Free McBoot logo.

3. Wait for the modified PS2 menu.

4. Confirm that the installed menu entries appear.

Common entries include:

• wLaunchELF

• Open PS2 Loader

• Free McBoot Configurator

• Launch Disc

• Restart System

• Shutdown System

The exact menu depends on which application package was included with the installer. The maintained israpps packages include updated versions of common applications such as wLaunchELF and multiple OPL options.

IMAGE NEEDED: New card successfully booting to the Free McBoot menu.

Caption: Test the new card by itself in slot 1.

Alt text: PlayStation 2 displaying the Free McBoot menu after starting from the newly created memory card.

Step 3: Test the included applications

Open each essential application:

1. Launch wLaunchELF.

2. Confirm that the file browser opens.

3. Restart the console.

4. Launch Open PS2 Loader.

5. Confirm that OPL reaches its main menu.

6. Open Free McBoot Configurator.

7. Exit without changing anything during the initial test.

Do not delete the original working card until the new card has been tested thoroughly.

Updating Open PS2 Loader

The OPL version bundled with a Free McBoot installer may not be the latest development build.

After confirming the new card works, follow the separate Redux Gems guide:

PS2 Soft Mod with a Preloaded Free McBoot Memory Card

That guide explains how to:

• Download the official OPL build

• Test it from USB

• Back up the existing ELF

• Replace the memory-card version

• Configure an internal exFAT hard drive

• Enable HDD GPT/MBR under OPL’s BDM device settings

Keeping the FMCB installation and OPL update as separate steps makes troubleshooting easier.

Restore your game saves

After the new card has been tested, selected saves can be restored.

Using wLaunchELF:

1. Insert the USB backup drive.

2. Open mass:/TARGET-CARD-BACKUP/.

3. Highlight the desired .psu save.

4. Press R1.

5. Select Copy.

6. Open the destination memory card.

7. Use psuPaste to restore it.

Avoid filling the FMCB card completely. Free McBoot and its applications need available space for configuration and updates.

For everyday game saves, a better arrangement is:

Slot 1: Free McBoot card

Slot 2: Separate game-save card

ConsoleMods recommends using both slots because a complete FMCB installation consumes a meaningful portion of a standard memory card.

Label and store the cards

Once everything works:

1. Label the new card clearly.

2. Include its FMCB version.

3. Record whether it is a one-console or all-supported-consoles installation.

4. Store the original working card as a backup.

Example label:

FMCB 1.966

Cross-Region Normal Install

Created July 2026

Do not label a modern cross-region normal installation as “Multi-Install,” because the two methods are technically different.

IMAGE NEEDED: Finished cards with clear labels.

Caption: Keep one tested FMCB card as a backup installer card.

Troubleshooting

The installer does not appear on the USB drive

• Confirm the USB drive is MBR/FAT32.

• Try the other front USB port.

• Insert the USB before opening wLaunchELF.

• Use a smaller USB 2.0 drive.

• Confirm that the files were extracted instead of copied as a compressed archive.

• Check for FMCBInstaller.elf.

• Keep the INSTALL and lang folders with the ELF.

The installer opens to a black screen

Possible causes include:

• Missing support folders

• Missing language files

• Incompatible or outdated wLaunchELF version

• Problematic USB drive

• Modchip conflict

• Damaged installer archive

Try:

1. Re-extracting the complete installer package.

2. Using a different FAT32 USB drive.

3. Launching the installer with the wLaunchELF version bundled in the maintained package.

4. Removing unnecessary USB devices.

5. Temporarily disabling the console’s modchip when possible.

The installer project documents modchip conflicts, and users have also reported black screens when the full installer folder was not preserved.

The installer reports a MagicGate error

The target memory card cannot provide the card-specific ID required to sign a PS2 system update.

This often means:

• The card is a low-quality third-party card

• Its MagicGate implementation is incomplete

• The card is failing

• The card will never support FMCB as a system update

Use:

• An official Sony 8MB MagicGate card

• A known compatible high-quality replacement

• A supported memory-card emulator

The maintainer states that a card producing this MagicGate error cannot support Free McBoot, PS2BBL or another bootloader installed as a signed system update.

The installation fails partway through

• Format the target card and retry.

• Verify there is enough available capacity.

• Download the installer package again.

• Use a different USB flash drive.

• Test another memory card.

• Confirm the console is not being interrupted by a modchip.

• Do not install over an old Multi-Install filesystem without formatting first.

The console boots normally without the FMCB logo

• Make sure the new card is in slot 1.

• Reseat the card.

• Clean its contacts carefully.

• Confirm that installation targeted slot 2 originally.

• Test the card in the PS2 used to create it.

• Confirm that the console supports FMCB.

• Reinstall using the all-supported-consoles option.

• Check whether the console is a late SCPH-9000X system.

FMCB cannot autonomously boot on consoles whose system-update support was removed in later boot ROM versions.

The Free McBoot logo appears, but the menu freezes

• Remove the USB drive and restart.

• Remove other attached storage devices.

• Temporarily remove the internal hard drive.

• Disable a modchip when possible.

• Try a different FMCB version when the console contains a modchip.

• Reinstall from a fresh package.

The installer maintainer notes that USB-driver crashes can cause FMCB to stop at the logo while searching for recovery files, and some modchips interfere with the OSDSYS menu or ELF loader.

Menu entries are missing

The menu automatically hides applications when their configured ELF paths cannot be found.

• Confirm the applications were included during installation.

• Check the card’s APPS, BOOT and SYS-CONF folders.

• Open Free McBoot Configurator.

• Verify the application paths.

• Reinstall using the complete application package when needed.

Free McBoot supports menu entries with multiple fallback paths and hides entries whose configured applications are unavailable.

The target card shows corrupted-data icons

• Do not manually delete system-update folders.

• Back up normal saves immediately.

• Format the card using the FMCB installer.

• Perform a fresh normal installation.

• Do not select Multi-Install.

Traditional Multi-Install uses crosslinked files and can produce corruption if files are changed or deleted. The maintained installer recommends a normal installation instead.

Final result

The existing PS2 memory card now contains a fresh Free McBoot installation created from a known-good installer package.

The new card can:

• Start Free McBoot automatically

• Launch wLaunchELF

• Launch Open PS2 Loader

• Run compatible PS2 homebrew

• Serve as a backup installer card

• Be moved between supported consoles when a cross-region normal installation was selected

Keep the original working card somewhere safe. Having two tested FMCB cards makes it much easier to recover from accidental deletion, card failure or configuration problems.

Related Redux Gems guides

• PS2 Soft Mod with a Preloaded Free McBoot Card

• PS2 Network Adapter IDE-to-SATA Upgrade

• PS2 Disassembly and Cleaning

• PS2 Cooling Fan Upgrade