Problems with saving

[shuhbonkboo]

I recently transferred Digital Devil Saga to my HDD, using HD advance exploit, but when I try to save the game twice (save overwrite) the game freezes and the analog led turns off. But I did notice that it's ok to save on two separate files. Is it the game, hdd, or memory card? Thanks.

[dlanor]

I recently transferred Digital Devil Saga to my HDD, using HD advance exploit, but when I try to save the game twice (save overwrite) the game freezes and the analog led turns off. But I did notice that it's ok to save on two separate files. Is it the game, hdd, or memory card? Thanks.

I've been playing this game a lot the last couple of days, using HDLoader patched by hdl_patch 0.6c, and I've had no saving problems at all. I've used a total of 3 save slots, but I've saved several dozen times, and all save slots have been overwritten repeatedly. I've seen no freezing at all, neither when saving nor otherwise.

The problem is most likely with your HDAdvance ELF file. I don't know how it is patched (if at all), but original HDLoader and HDadvance are VERY closely related, and both have several bugs in common. One such bug is that they missed implementing one of the functions to read system time, frequently used by games to set/check the timestamps of saved games.

That bug messed up the game saving for many games, so it's a prime suspect in your case. As it was one of the earliest bugs to be fixed by patching HDLoader, all versions of the patch utilities on this site have options/switches to fix it. So curing it should be simple, once you know how.

I suggest you read up on how these tools work, and then use them to upgrade your ELF. Though you may instead prefer to search the internet for one already patched, if patching it yourself seems too bothersome.

Best regards: dlanor

[shuhbonkboo]

Ok so I guess my problem is that my HDadvance (ver 1.0) is not up to date/patched. Can I put HDL with the .6c patch (the one you mentioned) instead? Or is there a patch for HdA?

[dlanor]

Ok so I guess my problem is that my HDadvance (ver 1.0) is not up to date/patched.

That version is byte-for-byte identical to original unpatched HDL, except that parts of it have been hacked to insert the HDA graphics and vocabulary. (eg: 'Convert' instead of 'Install' etc.) This was done in a futile attempt to make it appear as a genuine and independent product, rather than the simple rip-off that it is.

Can I put HDL with the .6c patch (the one you mentioned) instead?

Yes.

Or is there a patch for HdA?

No one develops anything for HDA. Not even the ones who 'make' it.

After all, they've no reason to do that, when they can just come here to find all the patches they need. Then they spend an hour or two using what they found to produce a 'New version' of HDA. They've done it in the past, and I'm sure they'll do it again...

Btw: I couldn't care less what they do. I think HDA may even be of help to a few people, as there are some things you can do with a pressed disc that you can't do without them. (Like non-mod non-exploit booting.) So these discs may help some people to get started, who would find that difficult without them. But in the end you need to upgrade from any disc-bound version, as they don't evolve any further, whereas the ELF patching does...

Best regards: dlanor

[shuhbonkboo]

I just tried playing God of War ("converted" from original disc) and I can overwrite save. So is it just DDS that is acting up? Maybe since it's a downloaded version, not a "converted" original?

[dick_onion53]

I don't really understand you question but...
Ok, the only real working version (to download) is the CONFUSION proper release. It is legal for you to download that if you own the game.

oh and, CHECK YOU PRIVATE MESSAGES (top right corner )

[dlanor]

I just tried playing God of War ("converted" from original disc) and I can overwrite save. So is it just DDS that is acting up? Maybe since it's a downloaded version, not a "converted" original?

I won't discuss 'God of War' specifically, for two reasons:
1: I don't have it, and never have tested it.
2: I know that it has other problems with original HDL/HDA.

As for the saving problem we were discussing, it does not affect all games.

Some games don't use the 'missing function' at all, and those then have no problem making correct timestamps for save files. This group of games is fairly small, but I do have some of them.

Other games may have those problems, but do not check the timestamps themselves, so they behave as if nothing was wrong. It is only when you inspect the timestamps in the PS2 browser that you notice their insane dates. This group of games is very large. I'd guess at appx 50%-60% of all games, perhaps even more! In game lists, these are usually called 'fully compatible', which is false.

Then we have the games, which seem to work normally despite the problem, except that they may behave abnormally under some conditions, like the case you discovered, where overwriting an old save failed. In some other cases a new save may seem to be ok, but may not work when reloaded! Fortunately most game lists recognize that these games do have a problem.

Finally we have the case of files which fail to work at all with saved games, as they use *both* the function that is missing and the correctly implemented function to create and to check the timestamps. Those tests will then always fail, and the game will be unable to use any saves at all. This is a rather small group of games, which are always recognized as incompatible in the game lists.

Using the current HDL patchers, all the problems associated with these 'timestamps' can be eliminated, thus raising the compatibility from 'dubious' to 'perfect' for the vast majority of games existing. And at the same time raising compatibility from 'unplayable' to 'perfect' for the vast majority of games that had known and serious compatibility problems.
(Only a few incompatibles remain, not *yet* dealt with.)

If you're still unconvinced that it is a bad idea to stick with the old bugs of original HDL/HDA, just because some game *seems* to save OK, then so be it. I've given you all the facts of the case. The rest is up to you.

Best regards: dlanor

[shuhbonkboo]

Well I guess I'd like to update my current HDA 1.0 to HDL with the .6 patch. But how do I do this? I had a friend put the exploit on my memory card. I noticed he didn't even need to use the retail disc, just connecting the PS2 to his comp via FTP. So in short, do I need to erase what he did and start over again or can I just use the patched ELF off of exploit station? If so how do I put it on there?

[dick_onion53]

I hope I don't get banned for this but.... Exploitstation.com has a BUNCH of great tut's for this stuff. Plz don't ban me.... it's a damn affiliate of this site.

[dlanor]

Well I guess I'd like to update my current HDA 1.0 to HDL with the .6 patch. But how do I do this?

There are tons of descriptions of how to do it, and several optional frontends for the HDL patcher program. You'll have to read up on those sections of these forums, to catch all the relevant info.

I had a friend put the exploit on my memory card. I noticed he didn't even need to use the retail disc, just connecting the PS2 to his comp via FTP.

That is one of the normal methods for people with suitable tols already installed. Personally I prefer moving small files like this, using a USB pen drive and the PS2 homebrew program LaunchELF. I use its file browser to copy files from that USB pen drive to PS2 HDD or MC. But I don't know what your friend put onto your MC, so you may not have such capabilities yet.

If your exploit just boots HDLoader directly, then you can neither use my methods nor those of your friend. That's why many people prefer to use the exploit to boot LaunchELF (or similar), and then use it to launch any other stuff, like HDL.

So in short, do I need to erase what he did and start over again or can I just use the patched ELF off of exploit station? If so how do I put it on there?

There's no need to erase anything, as the TITLE.DB will still be valid for any new ELF you use. But I suggest that you replace the BOOT.ELF file of the exploit with a (renamed) copy of LaunchELF v3.4 instead, so as to gain full freedom of what to launch, as well as access to a file browser for all PS2 media (HDD, MC, CDVD, USB).

Since you have a friend who already has the tools needed, I suggest you talk to him again about helping you with this stuff. What he needs to do is simply to FTP a copy of LaunchELF.ELF, renamed as BOOT.ELF to the PS2 MC, so as to replace the current BOOT.ELF used by the exploit. Then also FTP to the PS2 any other ELF programs you may need, such as a patched copy of HDLoader. Then you just boot that MC, and set up LaunchELF to start the stuff you need. And remember that LaunchELF can start ELFs from all PS2 media, so you don't have to store anything other than LaunchELF on the MC. For example: HDLoader works fine started from either HDD or a USB drive. I use both those methods myself. (HDD normally, but USB for test versions.)

Best regards: dlanor