"Virtual" memory card Wiped out?!

[CygnusXI]

Boohooo!!11

I was 20+ hours into "Tales of the Abyss" (ps2 game) using a virtual ps2 memory card on my ps3. Now its... wiped?!

Oh man. Please tell me I can recover it. In the xmb menu it says 0k/7998k which implies that its a full memory card, which it was close to being full (I had a bunch of save files on it), but when I click it it says "No save data". Grrr.

And when I try to load my saved game (naturally) in the Tales menu it says there is an Un(freakin)formatted memory card.

BAH! I'm a bit pissed right now. Is there anything I can do or am I hosed and have to start all over?

[Pluto]

This happened to me ages ago, and unfortunately, there's nothing you can do.

Usually if the memory card is unformatted, there's nothing you can do to change that. [ At least, that's the case when it happens on the PS2. ]

[Garfunkel]

that's quite a piss weak bug, that is the sort of thing Sony should have fixed before launch, i have to say, their firmware hasn't been the greatest.

If they don't fix that soon it will be very very dissapointing.

[PSXBatou]

I'm just about done with Ratchet & Clank : Up Your Arsenal... i would be major pissed off if i lost that save game :( Seems this just adds to the bugs that need to be fixed. The big one on my list is 480i PS2 games looking like absolute crap, and no DVD upscaling. *Fingers crossed for March*

[EvilTaru]

I'm just about done with Ratchet & Clank : Up Your Arsenal... i would be major pissed off if i lost that save game :( Seems this just adds to the bugs that need to be fixed. The big one on my list is 480i PS2 games looking like absolute crap, and no DVD upscaling. *Fingers crossed for March*

Just copy the saves to a memory stick to be on the safe side.

[CygnusXI]

Ok, it's the Morning now, and the Grolsch beers are all gone, so I'm a bit calmer...
Let me tell you a little more detail so maybe you all can test-- or avoid what happened to me.

First, I copied the memory card to the ps3's virtual ps2 card. I used Your device Sony.

I can't be certain on exact size, but the memory card was nearly full, maybe had 1 to 1.2meg left.

I started the Tales game, weeks ago, and have only played it on the ps3, and ONLY used one save file in the game.

The last time I played, about a week ago, I was in a dangerous place in the game, so I saved to a second save file in game, to avoid overwritting the main save file.

I'm wondering if the issue was sparked by that second save file?

[stanDarsh]

I've had corrupted data on ps2 memory card before. The machine turned off during a blackout while it was writing data to the memory card. If the machine got turned off somehow while writing to it, then that would be a possible reason why this has happened.

[frosty]

Please post this in the "PS3 issues and fixes" sticky as well. I think it would be cool if we compiled all of our issues with PS3 and send Sony a message with all of them in it. I'm sure they'd listen.

[venomv]

Did you use the power switch? I have heard of that causing issues.

[CygnusXI]

Power wasn't an issue.
No, I power down via the PS button-- always.

So, here's what Im gonna do from now on.

I have made 2 virtual cards. One is called Active and one is Backup Active.
When I save in game I use Active, and every other save or so I use the PS button to Assign slots and make the Backup Active in slot 1 and save on that card.

By swapping back and forth I figure I'm safe. The chances of 2 cards being wiped at the same time (hopefully) is slim. Kinda a pain.

Here's another thought

I know that Tales makes 2 actual files when you save one game. There is a Tales System file and then the actual save data file. Does FF12 use this "2 save file" system also? Could someone check? Because I was searching the web and found someone that this happened to while playing FF12.

[Z]

first off, since you have your aves on PS3, you should have made a backup of it on your PC. in fact, backup everything you on your PS3 like PSN content, PSP games and PS2 saves. remember digital rule No.1: always backup your pure digital content.

now, as for solutions, it may be simple. download any of the free recovery programs and use them on your PS3 HDD via PC. if yoiur PC doesn't recognise the HDD as an external HDD, take it out of your PS3 and plug it directly to your PC.

hope that works for you. if all fails, just download a save from gamefaqs.com that is around where you are- or the full save and back track.
shit happens. sorry.

[Z]

I know that Tales makes 2 actual files when you save one game. There is a Tales System file and then the actual save data file. Does FF12 use this "2 save file" system also? Could someone check? Because I was searching the web and found someone that this happened to while playing FF12.
nope. FF games have one save. as for the two saves thing, there is only one system settings save- unless you make multiple settings. the actual gameplay is saved in one file. I am sure Tales does the same as well.

[CygnusXI]

Ah ok thanks Z.

Can this backup to PC be done via home wireless network?
My PC and Ps3 are 3 floors apart, and I'm teh lazy:hugegrin:
Or usb flash thingy?