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How to Dump PS2 BIOS

Dumping copies the BIOS off a PlayStation 2 you own and onto your PC. It is the only method that is legal everywhere. You run a small tool called biosdrain on the console, and it saves the BIOS files to a USB drive.

This works on fat and slim models, and it makes no changes to your console. Once your USB drive is ready, the dump itself takes only a few minutes. Follow the steps in order, because the order is the part most guides get wrong. This is how to dump PS2 BIOS the right way, from a console you own.

What you need

A PS2 you own, a way to run homebrew on it, a USB drive, and the biosdrain tool.

  • A PlayStation 2 that powers on and reads discs, fat or slim.
  • A homebrew boot method. Free McBoot on a memory card is the easiest. FreeDVDBoot on a burned disc and a hardware modchip also work.
  • A USB flash drive formatted to FAT32 with an MBR partition. A small, older USB 2.0 drive tends to work best, since the PS2 can be picky.
  • The biosdrain.elf tool from its official source.

Which homebrew method should you use?

Free McBoot is the easiest if you have a memory card set up with it. If not, FreeDVDBoot is the best no-mod option.

Free McBoot lives on a PS2 memory card and boots homebrew the moment you power on, so it is the smoothest route. If you do not have a Free McBoot card, FreeDVDBoot is the unmodded answer. You burn a small file to a DVD-R at a slow speed, set the console language to English, and boot from the disc. Use the FreeDVDBoot version that matches your exact model. A hardware modchip works too, but disable it during the dump, because an active chip can produce a corrupted file. Whichever route you take, the steps after uLaunchELF opens are the same.

Is dumping legal?

Yes, when you dump from a console you own and keep the copy for your own use. That is the honest legal path.

The BIOS is Sony's property. Copying it from hardware you own is how you make a legal copy for emulation. Downloading one from a stranger is a different thing and is not the same in law. The tool only reads the BIOS, so it changes nothing on your console.

Why dump instead of download?

Learning how to dump PS2 BIOS yourself gives you the one file you can fully trust.

A dump from your own console is complete, region-correct, and free of anything hidden. It is also the way of getting a BIOS that is legal everywhere. Downloaded files can be incomplete, mislabeled, or tampered with, and you cannot always tell by looking. That is why dumping is the method we point to first, even though it takes a little more effort.

Before you start: prepare the USB

Set up the USB drive on your PC first, before you touch the console.

  1. Format the USB drive to FAT32 with an MBR partition.
  2. Download biosdrain.elf from its official source. The tool is documented and linked by the official PCSX2 dumping guide.
  3. Copy biosdrain.elf to the top level of the USB drive. Do not place it inside a folder.
  4. Eject the USB drive safely.

Step by step: dump the BIOS

Boot homebrew, open uLaunchELF, run biosdrain, and let it save to your USB drive.

SVGDump flowBoot homebrewFree McBootuLaunchELFfile browserbiosdrainreads the BIOSCopy to PCvia USB
  1. Remove any disc from the PS2. For Free McBoot, insert its memory card. For FreeDVDBoot, have the burned disc ready.
  2. Plug the prepared USB drive into the front USB port of the PS2.
  3. Power on the PS2. The Free McBoot menu appears, or the disc boots you straight in.
  4. Open uLaunchELF. On some setups it is named wLaunchELF or LaunchELF. These are the same tool.
  5. In uLaunchELF, open mass:/, which is your USB drive. If it looks empty or does not show up, reformat the drive or try another one.
  6. Highlight biosdrain.elf and press the confirm button, which is X or Circle depending on your setup, to run it.
  7. If it asks, choose to dump to USB. Let it finish. Do not power off the console or pull the drive. It shows a finished message when the dump is complete.
  8. Power off the PS2 and remove the USB drive.

Move the files to your PC and check them

Plug the USB drive into your PC. You will see the BIOS files. Verify them before you trust them.

On the drive you will find a main file named after your model, such as SCPH-70012.bin, along with companion files like rom1, rom2, erom, and nvm. Copy them to a safe folder. Then check the main file's SHA-256 or MD5 against a known-good value, the way our PS2 BIOS files explained page shows. A file dumped from your own console will match, which is how you know the dump worked.

Load the BIOS into your emulator

Put the files in your emulator's bios folder and select the main file.

Copy the files into the bios folder, then pick the main file in the emulator's BIOS settings. Our install guide covers the exact folder for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and Steam Deck, and the PS2 BIOS for PCSX2 page has the desktop details. If the file does not appear, the BIOS not found fix page walks through the causes.

Common dumping problems

Most dump problems come down to the USB drive or an active modchip.

  • The USB drive does not show up in uLaunchELF. Reformat it to FAT32 with an MBR partition, then try a smaller USB 2.0 stick.
  • The dump looks stuck. It usually is not. Give it a few minutes, and do not power off or remove the drive until the finished message appears.
  • Some files are missing or the output looks wrong. Disable any modchip and dump again, since an active chip can corrupt the result.
  • You are not sure the file is right. Match its checksum, and confirm the model in the file name matches your console's sticker.

What if you cannot dump your own?

If your console is dead or you no longer own one, you can use a verified file instead.

The clean path is always to dump your own. When that is not possible, use a file whose checksum you can match against a known-good value, which is what every file on our PS2 BIOS download hub provides. Steer clear of random archive or forum files, because they are often incomplete or tampered with, and you have no way to trust them. If you are unsure which region file you need, which PS2 BIOS to use makes the choice simple.

Frequently asked questions

Is it legal to dump my own PS2 BIOS?
Yes, for a console you own and for your own use. Downloading a BIOS from a stranger is a separate matter and is not the same as dumping your own.
Does dumping harm my PS2?
No. The tool only reads the BIOS chip and writes the files to your USB drive. It makes no permanent changes to the console.
Do I need to mod my PS2?
You need a way to run homebrew, such as Free McBoot or FreeDVDBoot. Both are removable and non-destructive, so they are not a permanent mod.
Which tool actually dumps the BIOS?
The biosdrain.elf tool, launched from uLaunchELF. Download it from its official source and copy it to the root of your USB drive.
uLaunchELF does not see my USB drive. What now?
Reformat the drive to FAT32 with an MBR partition, then try again. If it still fails, use a different drive, ideally a smaller USB 2.0 stick, since the PS2 rejects some drives.