PS2 Shows “PlayStation 2 Disc” Instead of “DVD Video” (Modchip Fix)
The browser label is the diagnosis: “DVD Video” means the exploit can trigger; “PlayStation 2 disc” means something else grabbed the drive first.
Short answer: If the browser identifies your burned FreeDVDBoot disc as a “PlayStation 2 disc” instead of “DVD Video”, your console almost certainly has a modchip that is preventing the DVD Player firmware from launching. You do not need FreeDVDBoot on a modded console at all — but if you want to run it anyway, many modchips can be temporarily disabled, for example by holding START on controller 1 while booting from standby (README example; the exact key varies by chip).
Why this happens
FreeDVDBoot works by making the console’s DVD Player firmware parse a crafted DVD-Video structure. A modchip intercepts disc identification earlier in the boot path and presents the disc as a PS2 disc, so the DVD Player never runs and the exploit never triggers. The burn is probably fine — the chip is the blocker.
What to do
- First, decide whether you need FreeDVDBoot at all: a working modchip already lets you run homebrew and backups through its own path. FreeDVDBoot is for unmodified consoles.
- If you still want FreeDVDBoot (for example, to install FreeMCBoot cleanly), try disabling the chip temporarily. The README example is holding START on controller 1 while booting from standby; consult your chip’s documentation (Matrix Infinity, Modbo, and others differ) for its disable key or switch.
- If there is a physical disable switch, use it for the FreeDVDBoot boot, then re-enable the chip afterwards if you want it.
- If you cannot disable the chip, do not keep re-burning discs — no burn will fix a chip that is intercepting identification.
How to confirm a modchip is present
Signs include: the browser label described here, a boot logo or menu that is not Sony’s, or the console booting burned discs without any softmod. If you bought the console used, a previous owner may have installed a chip without telling you. Opening the console to look for a small add-on board near the drive is the definitive check, but only do that if you are comfortable with console hardware.
Next steps
Verified against: CTurt FreeDVDBoot README troubleshooting (PS2 detects disc as PlayStation 2 disc instead of DVD Video = modchip; disable by holding START, for example), checked 2026-10-24.