Gamecube USB 64mb memory card problem?

[Londonner]

I installed the v 2.00 of the software; not the supplied one, but the updated one available from EMS' website.

I connected the USB mem card to my PC, pointed to the drivers, and all went well. I ran the program, and it can recognise the card.

So I went to my USA Gamecube, switched it to US mode, inserted the USB mem card, and inserted a US game (Burnout first, then Ikaruga, and then Mario Sunshine). On each game, when it checked for the memory card it would say 'Memory card is corrupted' and offer options to reformat it. When I selected reformat on each game, it would try, then give up and say 'Memory card is corrupted' and offer options to reformat again.

Unfortunately, I don't have a TV so I play my Gamecube via my PC monitor using a modded VGA cable. As some of you may know, this means everything runs in progressive scan, but Nintendo didn't in their infinite wisdom make the start up screens prog scan - so there's no way for me to format the card at boot up. I can only do it within a game.

Anyone come across this problem before and know how I can resolve it?

Thanks

[Londonner]

I appear to have solved the problem. I think card contained some files uploaded using an earlier version of the software. I download 1.6 and deleted the files.

When a game asks to reformat it, it now works. And there is no read or write problem using 2.0 software.

If you come across this problem then I suggest going to www.hkems.com and finding the software page and trying to access the card using different versions of the software!

[charlesr]

I've got one of these on the way from Play-asia, so I'll keep this in mind. Thanks.

[Londonner]

Hopefully you'll have a smooth experience as you're getting a brand new one. Here are some links worth bookmarking:

Good starting place:
Savethecube's USB mem card guide

Save files and forum:
Savethecube

More save files:
NGCFS Yahoo! Group

Support pages:
Lik-sang's USB mem card forum
Lik-sang's USB mem card FAQ

Manufacturer:
Latest software download page
Support FAQ

[charlesr]

Commander Marklar sent me a backup of his card, which I uploaded on to mine. It's got a 1080 save along with ghosts and replays. When I plug it into the GC, it doesn't recognise there's a save game there. Could this be caused by a software mismatch? Edit: He had the pal version so I'll try the below. See if you can convert from pal to us.

Also, rather cool if it works - The new version of the software lets you change a J save to a US save! So you could start playing the J version. I'm going to try it out with my Fzero save soon.

[Londonner]

I am going mental with this card.

Alas, whilst I managed to get it working (to the extent that the card would be recognised by the PC, and I could transfer saves to it) it appears that everytime I try to use it, regardless of what kind of Cube it's in, it asks for it to be reformatted:

I have now tried a UK save on on UK Pal Cube. I've also tired it on my US Cube in Jap and US modes (using US and Jap saves respectively). Each time, they say the card needs to be formatted. Fine, I've thought, let's reformat and start again. But when I do format it, when I play a game and it's time to save the results, the game will say that it doesn't recognise the card.

Weird as.

[Pootle UK]

I wondered as to when you'd send me your mem cards to upload the WE6:FE data for you!

Well glad to know that you've got the USB mem card - nifty device that it is

[Londonner]

Yes, I'm sorry I didn't get in touch with you. I just went ahead and just bought one.

Unfortunately, it's not nifty if I can't get it working! ft:

Would you mind if I sent you my card for you to mess with? I mean, if you can't get it to work on your setup, then it's buggered for sure. I just can't help but think maybe I'm doing something wrong.

Thanks

EDIT: I've asked Commander Marklar if he can email me his file so I can try 're-building' my card.

[Commander Marklar]

Also, rather cool if it works - The new version of the software lets you change a J save to a US save! So you could start playing the J version. I'm going to try it out with my Fzero save soon.

I bet it isn't really that clever, just converting byte-formats rather than specific save conversions. I'm assuming JPN and US saves are the same format, with a few minor differences for PAL saves (e.g. 1080 looks like it has a flag for 60/50hz).

[Londonner]

From what I gathered it's possible to change the region from EU to US, and vice versa - but not possible to convert Jap to US/EU and vice versa given differences in encoding. Can anyone confirm this is the case?

Commander Marklar: Can you please e-mail me your card backup file? I have a funny feeling that certain default files have been deleted from the card, hence why neither UK, US or Jap Cubes can format the card successfully. I'll PM you. Thanks

[Pootle UK]

Well when you're ready or have exhuasted all avenues then drop me a PM

Hope you manage to get it sorted out okay though!

[charlesr]

If you are still having trouble, send me your card for testing.

I've successfully converted a pal 1080 save to a US version using v2 of the software. It lets you convert it to Japan version as well, but I can't test the save. However, I can't seem to convert the ghosts and replays. The app just ignores them and won't let me back them up either, unless I do a full card backup.

[charlesr]

I've recently acquired a US copy of Fzero, so I thought I'd try converting my J save to US. However, for some reason Fzero save games are not copyable, i.e. I cannot copy from one card to another, so I can't get it off the GC memory card and on to the usb one. At first I thought perhaps it was having trouble with the usb card, but I tried another J memory card and it didn't work with that either. I then tried moving a US Fzero save and that didn't work either. Anyone ever come across this? Can some save games be copy disabled or something?

[Londonner]

I don't think there is any copy protection, but more a case of formatting compatibility. As far as I'm recall (not 100% certain, but vaguely reading about it at one of the links above ...) you can't convert a Jap save to EU or US; and vice versa.

EU => US
US => EU
Jap => Jap

Something to do with encoding variations between the Jap and EU/US formatted cards.

Why you couldn't copy from J to J ... I don't know! I can only suggest trying to format the J card into J again, and trying again.

EDIT: Deleted some stuff as I read your post wrong!

[charlesr]

I joined up at the save game community here
Looks like save games can be copy protected. Fzero cannot be moved from one card to another...
Apparantly there's no problem chaning saves if you can get them on to the card. It's just one byte that acts as a flag. (4th byte on the save).