how to backup saves

[Proton_]

i want to free some memory and save them in my hd, using the mcpaste or the psu? thanks

[dlanor]

i want to free some memory and save them in my hd, using the mcpaste or the psu? thanks

Ok, I'll describe what you need to do. This description assumes that you use default settings for the 'OK' and 'Select/Cancel' buttons of uLE, which are 'Circle' and 'X' respectively. If you have changed that setting in your uLE configuration, then you also need to swap the use of those buttons as described below.

To backup gamesaves from MC to PSU files on HDD:

1: Start uLE and enter its FileBrowser

2: Create some folder on a PFS partition to hold your PSU files
- You can create new partitions in uLE's HddManager, or simply use an old one
- I use the system partition "__common" (created by HDL but unused by it)
- I also suggest using subfolders for each game, or each card, to keep things separate
To create a folder, press 'R1' button for a menu, and choose "New Dir" using D-pad and 'Circle' button (All such menu commands are chosen the same way so I won't describe that below)

3: Browse to the memory card holding your gamesaves and select each gamesave folder you want to back up (move the cursor to each save and press 'X' button to set the selection of that folder).

4: When all gamesaves to be backed up this time are selected, press 'R1' button to get the menu, and choose the command "Copy", to save the selections in a clipboard. This fact is then indicated by a green light at top right of browser.

5: Browse to the HDD folder where you want the PSU files and again press 'R1' button to get the menu, and this time choose the command "psuPaste" to start creation of the new PSU files, one for each of the gamesave folders selected earlier.


To restore gamesaves from PSU files on HDD to MC:

1: Start uLE and enter its FileBrowser
2: Browse to the HDD folder where you have the PSU files to be restored.
3: Select each PSU file to be restored (just as when you selected gamesaves)
4: Press 'R1' for the menu and choose "Copy" command (also as before)
5: Browse to the MC where you want the gamesaves restored and again press 'R1' for the menu, and this time choose the command "psuPaste" to save the restored gamesave folders to that memory card.

As you can see, the restoration process is quite similar to the backup process. As far as your own actions are concerned the main difference is the order in which you visit the two locations. But that order defines what the program will do, as the 'psuPaste' command acts one way when the destination is a memory card, and another way when it is some other device (like HDD or USB).


Summary of important menu commands:

"Copy" is used to copy a selection list to a clipboard. This is the recommended command to start any backup or restoration of gamesaves.

"Cut" is similar to 'Copy' but will cause the originals to be deleted after being pasted to a new destination (by any of the three paste commands). This is not recommended for gamesave operations, although it is supported.

"Paste" is used to transfer all files/folders selected by the clipboard to current browser location. This is used for normal copying of files/folders.

"psuPaste" is only available for transfers between MC and non-MC storage, and works differently depending on the direction. For gamesave folders coming from MC, it creates PSU files on the non-MC destination. But for PSU files coming from non-MC storage, it restores the original gamesave folders on the MC destination, including all MC-specific attributes and timestamps.

"mcPaste" is an older variant with similar backup purpose as "psuPaste", but "psuPaste" is more flexible (can handle saves "mcPaste" fails to handle), so "psuPaste" is recommended for all new gamesave backups.


I hope this post clarifies things for you.

Best regards: dlanor

[Proton_]

as always you give me the light man, one other thing if i download a savegame do i have to transfer via ftp to the hd and then to the mc with this same process?

[Z-Saber]

Tagging because I've wondered about the exact backup process.

[dlanor]

as always you give me the light man, one other thing if i download a savegame do i have to transfer via ftp to the hd and then to the mc with this same process?

No, though that too should work. Personally I never use FTP anymore, except for some testing. Instead I mostly use the "host:" interface, in which case there is no need to ever transfer the PSU files to PS2 media.

You can browse to "host:" instead, select the PSU files as I described, then browse to the MC and use psuPaste to install gamesaves directly over the network. With the CNF variable "NET_HOSTwrite = 1" (must be set by manual editing of LAUNCHELF.CNF, for safety reasons), you can also create PSU backup files in the same fashion, so that they only exist on your PC.

Even so, I do prefer to handle my PSU backups on the PS2 HDD, as mentioned earlier. This way, I have access to all my backed up saves wherever I have the PS2, without being dependent on any PC.

Another way that willl also work well is to copy PSU files to a USB storage device connected to the PC, and then reconnect it to the PS2 for similar restoration of the gamesaves, this time by selecting the PSU files on "mass:".

In the end it's up to your personal taste which method you prefer.

Best regards: dlanor

[Proton_]

it seems easier to copy to the usb flash and then psu to the mc, ok thanks man, you've already got yourself a place in heaven

[unholydoragon]

so to back up saves i need "file browser" how do i get it? also, how do i get the elf files to boot up when i plug it into the ps2? thanks

[dlanor]

so to back up saves i need "file browser" how do i get it?

There are many file browsers, but the one under discussion here is part of the homebrew program "uLaunchELF". You get this by downloading it from the first post of the main 'sticky' thread, which is simply entitled "unofficial LaunchELF". The first post of that thread always contains the latest release ZIP (and sometimes some older ones too, but you only need the latest).

also, how do i get the elf files to boot up when i plug it into the ps2?

The same ways you do it with any other PS2 programs. You can burn a bootable PS2 CD-R disc and boot this with a mod-chip or SwapMagic, or you can use the 'exploit' method on old fat PS2s, or you can use special SwapMagic methods to launch ELFs either from memory cards or USB storage units. I'm not sure what method would suit you best though, as that depends on what stuff you already have.

Best regards: dlanor

[unholydoragon]

so does that mean i cant boot ulaunch off of my usb device? Also, for a cd do i just burn those elf files onto a cd and it will boot? dont i need an iso for that or something? Thanks

[dlanor]

so does that mean i cant boot ulaunch off of my usb device?

How you can or can't boot any ELF depends on what kind of mod you have.

If you have no hardware mod, then you can only boot pressed CD/DVD discs, but such are available containing 'soft mods' like SwapMagic, which I believe you said elsewhere that you are using. Was that a misunderstanding ?

If you are using SwapMagic you can use whatever boot methods it offers, which for some versions includes USB, while some may be restricted to MC (which is also a good method). Of course, you'll still be booting the SwapMagic disc first, as an unmodded PS2 can only boot pressed CD/DVD discs. The PS2 itself has never supported booting from devices like USB or HDD etc, and never will, so it requires either a mod-chip or a soft-mod like SwapMagic.

Also, for a cd do i just burn those elf files onto a cd and it will boot?

No. There must also be a "SYSTEM.CNF" file to indicate what to launch at bootup, and for very small CD content it is also advisable to add some dummy file, as the PS2 routines 'dislike' small CDs.

dont i need an iso for that or something? Thanks

You clearly don't know how to make PS2 bootable discs, so please study one of the many tutorials available on that subject. It's not very complex really, once you have the necessary knowledge and tools.

You should also realize that without a hardware mod-chip, booting burned CD-R discs will always require disc swapping, so it may be more convenient to use another boot method if you can. The old SwapMagic version you mentioned in an earlier post should at least have support for ELF booting from memory cards, but I don't have access to docs on that version, whereas you should have them (since you have the product), so please try to find that info yourself.

Best regards: dlanor