A new update for PSX XMB Manager has been released , the utility makes it easier to install homebrew and games to the PSX’s internal HDD (DESR) by displaying them in the XMB menu.

This release introduces a number of new utilities for advanced disk and file management: you can now create and restore complete hard drive backups in raw format, install POPStarter directly onto the HDD connected to the PSX, and convert CUE backups to PS1 and PS2 compatible VCD or ISO formats.

https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=Checcolin80&dnt=true&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1943597810344993009&lang=it&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.biteyourconsole.net%2F2025%2F07%2F11%2Frilasciato-psx-xmb-manager-v4-0%2F&sessionId=576c82294f054c418afba382fe938623781fdcfd&siteScreenName=BiteYourConsole&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px

Tools for extracting files STARand PAK, as well as utilities for decrypting files KELFand REL, and unpacking system files such as xosdmainPS2/PSX BIOS have been introduced.

The HDD partition manager now allows you to mount and unmount a selected partition via the context menu, automatically assigning a free drive letter and using the partition name as the volume name.

Among the fixes made, a possible crash when setting game covers and an issue that caused the interface to freeze when installing homebrews have been fixed.

Finally, NuGet packages and some libraries have been updated, improving the overall stability and compatibility of the application.

Characteristics

Installing homebrew and PS2 games on the PSX’s internal HDD.
Manage backup of PS2 games on PC and games installed on PSX HDD (Game Library).
- By right-clicking on a (local) game you can quickly create a game project for the PSX.
Mount games from PSX HDD and change/update partition header.
- Change game properties / Update OPL-Launcher.
HDD partition management (Create partitions, Remove partitions (destructive), Change partition visibility).
Game Partition Manager (Dump Partition Header, Edit Game Title, Flags, DMA).

Notes

Requires FMCB installed on the memory card and Open PS2 Loader (to load games).
- Installation Guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SU594F0pYc
- Modified Open PS2 Loader: https://github.com/SvenGDK/Open-PS2-Loader
- Don’t forget to insert/replace OPNPS2LD.ELFin the OPL+ partition.
“XMB Tools” will be available in a later release.
It’s not recommended to interrupt the installation within the first 3%, as this may damage the HDD. The same applies to the last few percent of the installation.
Only connect your PSX HDD locally if you know how to do so and never initialize it on Windows!

Required drivers

PSX XMB Manager v1 – v2.2.1 (only) requires NBD 0.5.0-15 + Dokan Driver 0x190 (install both and reboot).

(W)NBD

To connect to the PSX NBD server you need to have an NBD client and driver on your PC:
- The Ceph MSI installer includes a signed version of the WNBD driver.
  It can be downloaded from here: https://cloudbase.it/ceph-for-windows/
- Install the client and reboot (required).
Installation and connection guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuPfzTY-Tps

Dokany

Required to mount and edit game partitions on the PSX HDD.
https://github.com/dokan-dev/dokany/releases

Creating a new project

Go to Projects -> New -> Here you can choose between a game or homebrew (app) project.
Another window will open asking for some details, please note:
- Project name: REQUIRED.
- Save project at: REQUIRED.
- Game/Homebrew title: REQUIRED.
- You can directly load a game ID from the ISO file, just browse the ISO file first.
Save the project and now proceed to “Edit resources”
- Option 1: You can upload your own cover images and screenshots by clicking on the image boxes.
- Option 2: You can upload all images from https://psxdatacenter.com/ by clicking “upload from PSXDatacenter”.
  - This only works if the game ID is in their database.
- Once finished, press “Save resources”.

Preparing a project

Select the created project from the list and simply press “Prepare project”.
Note: You can also delete the file EXECUTE.KELFinside the “Tools” folder to automatically download the latest OPL-Launcher.

Installing a project

Start Open PS2 Loader and the NBD server.
Connect to your PSX.
Select a prepared project from the list and click “Install on PSX”.
After confirming with “yes”, the installation process will begin.
- Note: If you install a game via NBD, this process can take 1-2 hours depending on the size of the game. Homebrew should install within a few minutes.

Guide

Homebrew: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PClmQXc1ytg
Games: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmTmhG1yrl0&t=4s

Changelog

HDD Utilities

Create and restore complete raw hard drive backups.
Install POPStarter on the connected PSX HDD.

Converters

Convert CUE backups to POPS (VCD) format.
Convert BIN/CUE backups to ISO (PS1 and PS2) format.

Extractors

Extract STAR files using Stargazer.
Extract PAK files using PAKerUtility.

Decryptors

Decrypt KELF files using kelftool.
Decrypt REL files.

Decompressors/Unpackers

Unzips a decrypted xosdmain file.
Extracts PS2/PSX BIOS files.

HDD Partition Manager

You can now mount/unmount a selected partition via the right-click context menu.
A free drive letter will be assigned automatically.
The partition name will be used as the volume name.