Sony PlayStation 2 - Unlicensed Protection

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Revision as of 16:31, 26 November 2025

There are a variety of unlicensed PlayStation 2 protection methods which affect the way the discs are dumped.

Types of unlicensed PlayStation 2 discs and related copy protection:

• Discs which contain codes for both PlayStation 1 and PlayStation 2 consoles: These are PlayStation 1 formatted discs and do not contain copy protection.
• "BIG.DAT" protection: Dump with the standard method. These discs are usually produced with an indigo-colored bottom, or occasionally a clear (silver) bottom. Contains corrupted "BIG.DAT" file, and/or other file with similar corruption.
• "PS2/Datel Ring" protection: Requires using the redumper command "redumper --rings --correct-offset-shift". These discs generally have a black-colored bottom (or a very dark indigo-colored bottom), or a clear (silver) bottom (as with some "BIG.DAT" discs).
• "PS2/CodeBreaker Ring": Requires using the redumper command "redumper --rings --correct-offset-shift". This type of protection has been observed on Code Breaker v9.0 and later discs as well as Cheat Code Demon.
• Physical Ring protection: Which exists on discs in addition to other protections. In addition to using the appropriate methods required to getting with the above protections, see Ringed Disc Dumping Guide.
• Fake TOC / mini-cds with full-sized TOC / Data covered by label: For which a higher sector count is given by the TOC than is physically readable by a disc drive. For dumping these see redumper guide section for irregular disc types. This type of disc has only been observed with "v1" protection.
  • NOTE: Sometimes mini-CDs with full sized TOCs[1] are also released with a full-sized CD variant[2]. In which case if the readable data matches, the dumps are combined into a single redump entry[3].
  • NOTE: Sometimes CDs where the label covers part of the data (double-sided PS2 / DVD-Video discs)[4] are also released as variants where the label does not cover the data (single-sided PS2 disc)[5]. In which case if the readable data matches, the dumps are combined into a single redump entry[6].

See Also

• Relevant redumper bug reports[7][8]