Max Drive

From PuroGamerWiki

Action Replay MAX

Developer	Datel Corporation
Release Date	N/A
Platform	PlayStation 2
Memory Card Space	Varies
Number of Players	N/A

The Action Replay MAX is a Save Transfer & Cheat-enabling device namely for the Playstation 2. The Action Replay (AR) comes if various forms. Some come with the USB Thumb Drive and some don't. If you do not have your own USB Thumb Drive you should buy the AR Product that comes with the USB Thumb Drive. The model that is generally recommended at present time is the AR Max EVO Edition.

1 Instructions
- 1.1 Basic Instructions
- 1.2 Detailed Instructions (Pictures)
2 F.A.Q.'s
3 Similar Products
4 Related Pages

[edit] Instructions

All Instructions are courtesy of Guides and FAQ's written by others Including Dhalsimrocks, Monitor and many others who have contributed info along the way. Thanks to them for figuring this stuff out.

[edit] Basic Instructions

1) Download Edit Pack in .Max format & Save to computer.
2) Plug Max Drive USB Thumb Drive into Open USB Port on Computer.
3) Drag Downloaded Edit Pack (.Max File) onto the USB Thumb Drive so it's now copied onto the Thumb Drive
4) Take USB Thumb Drive to the PS2 and Plug it into the USB Port.
5) Insert Max Drive Disc for PS2 and turn on the Playstation. Let the disc load.
6) Select "Max Memory" on the screen. Then Select "My Devices". Select the USB Drive on the left as your Primary Device and it will list all the save files on the drive. Press X on the save you want to transfer so it checks it in the list.
7) Press Right on the D-Pad to go to the menu on the right. Go down to the UNCRUSH Option. Press X and then Select the Memory Card you wish to Uncrush to. UNCRUSH the save to your memory card. DO NOT COPY IT TO MC. You MUST Un-Crush it or it won't work.
8) The Software will popup a meter at the top of the screen while it Reads and then Writes to the Memory card. This will take a minute or so. When it's done, your save is transfered. That's all there is to it.

[edit] Detailed Instructions (Pictures)

http://fpr.ath.cx/fpr/armax/ - Courtesy of Dhalsimrocks & Monitor
Here is a Walkthrough of the entire process WITH Pictures as well as more detailed instructions
specifically related to using the Product with Firepro Returns

[edit] F.A.Q.'s

Q: Do I really need a Max Drive? What does it do?
A: If you want to transfer edits you need one. It's the easiest way to transfer edit packs to the PS2. You download the save to your computer. Drag the .max file onto your Max Drive which you plug into a USB port. Take the Max Drive and plug it into the ps2. Load the Max Drive software disc in the ps2 then UNCRUSH the save to the memory card. It Couldn't be simpler. For [Firepro Returns], If you want to add more edit packs it gets a little more complex. You'll need a second memory card for that so you can transfer the contents of the 2nd edit pack into the pre-existing save on your first memory card.

Q: I see multiple versions of the Max Drive. Which one do I need?
A: You need the version that COMES WITH THE USB DRIVE. It is called the AR Max EVO Edition. If you can't see a USB Flash Drive on the package, it's not what you want. The correct device is pictured at the beginning of this post. While it's true that you can buy the non-flash drive version and get it to work with a regular flash drive, there is no way to know which flash drives will work with the software. Lots of theories but no facts. So just buy the right thing from the get-go and know it will work.

Q: I already have USB Thumb Drives. Can I buy the AR Max without one?
A: Sure, however not all USB Thumb Drives work. There's no real definitive answer on why but generally a USB Thumb Drive under 1 GB will work. No Guarantees though. Some external hard drives that connect via USB can also be used, in addition to MP3 Players & Ipods. Again, No Guarantees.

Q: Ok I want one but I can't find one. Where do I buy it?
A: An accessory like this isn't heavily stocked in stores. Best Buy and Gamestop may have it but you'll probably end up ordering it online. Amazon carries it, Click Here to go to Amazon's page for the AR Max EVO Edition.

Q: My Computer says the Max Drive is Copy-Protected. How do I fix that?
A: There is a switch on the side. One side is Copy-Protect (Locked) and the other side isn't (Unlocked). Flip the switch to Unlocked.

Q: Why do you recommend 2 Memory Cards for Firepro Returns? I'm poor.
A: You can only have 1 save on a card. So if you want to download another edit pack and have it's contents, you either have to overwrite the save you already have or transfer the edits from a 2nd card onto your existing save. The transfer option is obviously the better way since you're adding to a save you already have. If all you're using the 2nd card for is transferring edits, get a generic one. If you plan to use it for transferring and actually saving other games to, get the Sony brand memory card.

Q: I have a Playstation 3. Will the Max Drive work for me?
A: No. You actually don't need it, edits are really easy to transfer on the PS3 because you don't need any special software. There are plenty of detailed instructions in the Fireproclub FPR American Saves Forum area of that site.

Q: When I go into the Memory Manager, My screen turns grey and starts scrolling like it's in PAL format or something crazy. What's wrong?
A: This seems to be a problem in 2007 with the Max Drive. Lots of reports of this with no real fix other than telling you to return it for another one or to use a competitor's product. Sorry

Q: I use a Mac or Linux. Can I use the AR Max Software?
A: Yes. You don't actually need the Software disc that comes with the AR Max. You just drap the .MAX file that you've downloaded onto the USB Thumb Drive when it's plugged in and you're done.

[edit] Similar Products

Codebreaker - Cheaper product (Made by Pelican) that does NOT come with a USB Thumb Drive. Available at stores including Toys R Us, Wal-Mart and most stores that sell videogames.
ULaunchELF - Homebrew software that you use on your own USB Thumb Drive to transfer saves without buying software.