Hardware help - PS2 HDLoader question

i understand this isn't technically emulation help, but i didn't want this lost in non-console help in the other section

has hdloader or any other loader program been getting updates? my fat ps2's laser's finally on its way out and i'd like to try this method out, except from what i recall it exploited some kind of PSX TOC hole to run ELFs, and i was wondering if there have been other methods to boot from hard drive. i ask this mainly because i'd like to be able to boot psx isos from the hard drive, and curent hd loader programs don't allow for that. or at least, the last time i checked it didn't. honestly that was late last month, but i thought i'd ask here while i resume research.

i mean, is there a method to boot games via linux on the ps2? maybe it could be done that way?

i can live with just ps2 loading, but any help would be greatly appreciated!