Problem with memory card in savestate

[klauslanza]

Hi,
while playing with Xenogeras (and I'm deep into cd1), I accidentally lost the memory card files, but having the savestate, I did not worry.

I created another pair of memory card and I continued the game without problems, but now when I try to save from the file menu, I can't do anything on the cards. Not even deleting or copying.

Is there any workaround to make the memory card functioning again? I'm afraid to rely only on savestates, and maybe between to switch to cd2 I need a memory card with a regular save :-P

Thanks

Byez

[SimonMallion]

You might be able to extract the memory cards from your actual save state using PSXMemTool. Just open the save state and then save it as a memory card file. Then set ePSXe to use your new memory card file. Let me know how you get on, I have not tested this with ePSXe 1.6.0 save states.
The best thing to do is to always use the same method of saving, ie. always use save states or always use memory cards.

[klauslanza]

Hi,
first of all thanks for the fast reply!

I'm using PSXeven v0.17b and I've tried to open the save states with your great program, but all I get is corrupted data on the memcard. I've tried saving it the same, but opening the resultin mem card give no result. Maybe this is because only epsxe states are supported.

Is there any way to make the memory card functioning on this states? If it help, I could attach it to the thread.

Hope you could help and thanks for all the works you put in your project! It's great!

[SimonMallion]

Oh yeah, I guess 1.17b doesn't support PSXeven saved states, but 1.18b does: http://psxmemtool.ngemu.com/files/PS....18b_Setup.exe try that.

Don't forget to choose PSXeven when you open your saved state.

[klauslanza]

Wow.. this version wasn't even on your homepage! ^__^

I've tried as you say, but even now after I save the memory card with PSXMemTool and load them in PSXeven, I can't neither load form the normal menu nor save in the save state (it always says Save failed).

Maybe a possible solution could be editing the savestate so that it can use a completly empty mem card to save. After one save I can finally load the regular way and close this problem (from now always regular mem card!) ;-)

BTW... Thanks so much for your availability!! You rule man!

Greetz

[SimonMallion]

So when you opened your save state with PSXMemTool, did they appear correctly and not corrupted as they did with 1.17b (1.17b only supported ePSXe saved states).

And did the memory card files look as if they had recent Xenogears saves?

I was thinking that if they did then you could perhaps load your memory card into ePSXe and resave using that emulator and then switch back to PSXeven? Or alternatively, zip the memory card and post it here, I have Xenogears (somewhere).

[klauslanza]

Originally Posted by SimonMallion

So when you opened your save state with PSXMemTool, did they appear correctly and not corrupted as they did with 1.17b (1.17b only supported ePSXe saved states).

And did the memory card files look as if they had recent Xenogears saves?

The program opens the savestate correctly, but the memory card appear corrupted, with invalid saves.

Originally Posted by SimonMallion

I was thinking that if they did then you could perhaps load your memory card into ePSXe and resave using that emulator and then switch back to PSXeven? Or alternatively, zip the memory card and post it here, I have Xenogears (somewhere).

I've tried to switch to ePSXe, but no way. The memory card is corrupted.
The only thing left is to post here the save states. The Xenogear version is NTSC usa.
I don't post memory card files because they are only recreated with your program; as I said, I've accidentally deleted the originals.

It looks like you know a whole lot about savestates format... so maybe you could look around these savestates and modify them in a way that they can accept a blank memory card loaded into the emu. I think that the real problem is from the fact that the emu thinks the card in it is the old one, and now there is an empty one... maybe the emu can't detect a card switch during playing.

Hope this helps, but keep in touch, I'm really appreciating your efforts ^__^ Thanks again, this is the best soft support ever ;-)

[SimonMallion]

You mentioned you could post the save states, I can have a look at them. Maybe my version of PSXMemTool doesn't support PSXeven 0.17b save states properly.

(I guess because of the size of them you wont be able to post here, could you upload them somewhere, or email them to me smallion@ngemu.com)


Edit:
Yippie, this is my 1000th post

[klauslanza]

Congratulation for your 1000th post ^__^

Here it is the link for the savestates!

http://195.120.219.10/reg/reg/reg/states.zip

Let me know about it!

Thanks and byez

[SimonMallion]

Thanks for the zip file. I was unable to extract the first saved state (SLUS_006.64.003) but I was able to extract the other.

I managed to extract the memory cards from this saved state and have attached them as a zip file, hopefully these are some use to you?

I guess PSXMemTool doesn't properly work with PSXeven 0.17b saved states, I think it supports earlier versions though. I will get this fixed and get you to test it for me if you like?

[klauslanza]

What can I say.... You absolutly kick ass man!!!! Thanks a lot!!! This mem card game is a pair of hour from where I'm now, but no problem, I will replay it so I'll have finally the saving function back!!

You did a great work indeed!! Thanks thanks thanks!

I would be real happy to be able to help you with testing, just drop a line and if I could, I'll do it! I owe a big one!!

PS: IMHO the best soultion in that case would have been to hack the save and let it use an empty memcard file. Was it possible or is it too deep in the states file structure? Just a question ^__^

PPS: here it is a link to another save state. If it result corrupted too, maybe we can understand better the way it works

http://195.120.219.10/reg/reg/reg/SLUS_006.64.zip

[SimonMallion]

Okay, here are the memory cards extracted from your latest save state (attached). Hopefully these will be later in the game.

I know what the problem is in PSXMemTool except that I don't have the source code here to modify (I am at work). I shall probably update the source and compile it at the weekend. Then I will get you to test it for me

It would not be too hard to 'hack' the save to 'insert' a blank memory card, at the moment PSXMemTool is only designed to extract the memory card contents, but it will be something to think about.

Good Luck!

[klauslanza]

You're right! A specific tool is best!

I appreciate a lot all your doing about this saves, now I'm back at my original point in the game, thanks to you!!

I'm also using a lot your tool to backup and move save games between memory card.. and it work real good. I had only one problem with the last version that hanged at the startup. I deleted the plugin (after checking out the .log), and now it's all ok. Just to let you know.. since I'm not even using that plugin right now ;-)

Good bye and good work my friend, and I'm eager to try the new version when it's ready

PS: am I wrong, or on your site the 1.18b is not yet linked?

PPS: BTW, great cat! ^__^

[SimonMallion]

Version 1.18b is not linked on my site since I sorta lost interest in doing anymore development on PSXMemTool. But recently I had a look at my webpage statistics and noticed that I still get about 2,500 visits per month so it has inspired me to carry on doing some more. I have implemented a lot of new features to 1.18b so I should release that, and update the website once this PSXeven bug has been ironed out.

With regards to your request to 'insert a memory card into a save state', I decided to add a menu option called 'Insert into Saved State' which should do what you need.

I am glad PSXMemTool works good for you, I only wrote it because I originally wanted to check what changes occur in memory card files when you buy items in games etc. with a view to creating memory card editors.

[klauslanza]

It's a good new hearing you're returning to this project! I'm sure it's still actual due to the always increasing interest in PSX emulation (not only in the PC platform). And I'm sure a lot of ppl finds it real usefull and well done, just by looking at your web stats (if you mind, a lot of visit from Italy are mine ^__^ ). And for sure it's an omnicomprensive tool, you don't need sorta of 1000 different utility just to do some format conversions. :-P

So keep on the good work, and if you need testing just leave a PM.

Byez

PS: the new option is a good news also. I'm happy to have inspired it! Can't wait for the release.