Copying game save from PC to PS2 using uLaunchELF

This is a tutorial on how to copy game saves to your PS2 memory card using uLaunchELF (required for games like GTA)

What you need:
- PS2 Save Builder (http://www.ps2savetools.com/download.php?op=viewdownloaddetails&lid=74)
- Game saves (I get mine from http://www.gamefaqs.com/)
- uLaunchELF (http://www.sksapps.com/index.php?page=launchers.html)
- How to boot uLaunchELF from CD (thanks kiwi1 for the link!) (http://www.sksapps.com/index.php?page=bootelf.html)

I’ll use Gran Turismo 4 (PAL) save as an example here.

1) Use PS2 Save Builder to open the save file you obtained

2) Select all the files on the left hand side of the program, right click and select on “Extract”


3) Create a folder with the same name as the game ID (in this case, it’s the first file in the list, BESCES-51719GAMEDATA (everything after the “B” could be different, depending on the game and which region the game came from, but this file should be really easy to find), then click on OK (the filename will say “not used”, don’t worry about that)

4) Open the folder you just extracted the files to, if you did it correctly this is what you should see:


5) Copy the FOLDER (not just the files) to your USB flash

6) Load uLaunchELF on your PS2, browse to your USB flash (under mass:/). Locate the folder you just copied, then press R1 and select “Copy” to copy the entire folder

7) Browse to your MC (mc0:/ for the first MC, and mc1:/ for the second MC) and in the base folder press R1 again and select “mcPaste” to paste the entire folder here (do NOT use “Paste”, while it works for most games, some games like GTA, GT4 will only work if you use mcPaste)

8) You should see a folder called "BESCES-51719GAMEDATA" (again, name varies for different games) under mc0:/ (you may need to exit this folder and go back again to see it), and if you go into the "BESCES-51719GAMEDATA" folder, you should see the 4 files in there

9) Reset your PS2 and load the game, the game should now load the game save correctly.

You can also reverse this process to copy your game saves from your PS2 MC to your PC

[bold]Region of the game save:[/bold]
It IS possible to use game saves from different regions, what you need to do is to change this file "BESCES-51719GAMEDATA" (again, going back to my GT4 example) to match with the same game from a different region.

Using a different game as example (Kingdom Hearts 2), the Japanese version is "BISLPM-66233-01" and the US version is "BASLUS-21005-07". If you want to use the Japanese save on the US game, you'd need to rename "BISLPM-66233-01" to "BASLUS-21005-07", save this change, then save the whole thing to a folder called "BASLUS-21005-07"

 

Hey nice one dan, I'd like to see this stickied.
Where exactly on that site do I find game saves?

 

for each game if you look in the "Game Saves" section you'll find them. E.g. for GTA http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/ps2/save/931275.html

 

oh I see, the games I was looking at didnt have any, Cool, so I can use my MP3 player? It stores anything.

 

lol that'll explain it

MP3 player SHOULD work, I have used one and it worked, but I think it depends a bit on your luck and the brand you have... never hurt to give it a try

 

Well its just an elcheapo Teac, But it does say it can be used as a flash storage device, I'll give it a go.
I take it i'll be needing pal to match pal games(?)

 

Yep, well... actually, no, I'm going to modify the first post re. this question

 

Do you no of a good tutorial for booting ulaunchELF from CD?
I found this one but its far from "noob proof"
http://www.sksapps.com/index.php?page=bootelf.html

 

Yeah I know that link, I guess I'll put it in for completion, but this guide really assumes you have ulaunchELF up and running already... thanks anyway

 

Yeah, it's all pretty straightforward stuff. I'm just clueless as to how to actually get uLaunchELF up and running. I've got it dl'ed, but do I have to burn it to a CD, or is there another way to get it running?

 

See this link to burn uLaunchELF to a CD: http://www.sksapps.com/index.php?page=bootelf.html

 

Will this method work for a slim PS2? I copied the save folder to a USB drive, stuck it in the USB slot on my PSTwo, tried to loap Swap Magic, but it froze at the main Swap Magic screen. I tried to reload it again, this time inserting the USB drive after it had bypassed the main Swap Magic screen, loaded uLaunchELF, checked under Mass, and nothing was there. If there is any help that can be offered, it would be appreciated.

 

Yes it works for a slim PS2 (I used this on my V12). Maybe it's a USB flash compatibility thing? I know some USB flash aren't compatible, so try another one.

 

What kind of USB flash drive did you use on the slim PS2?

 

can't remember the exact brand but I used a 512mb one and it worked fine

 

Well, after reformatting my current USB flash drive, I'm able to transfer my save from the drive to my PS2, following the exact steps posted. After transferring my GTA: Vice City save, I check the Browser to verify that it's been transferred, and sure enough, there is the Vice City icon, no corrupt or anything. However, when I put in the Vice City disc and try to play the game, it doesn't seem to detect the save and just goes to the opening scene. The save appears to be transferring fine. It's just that the GTA disc doesn't seem to load it.

 

did you use game save from the same region??

 

The save I got off of GameFAQs was listed under Sharkport 2 Save (North America) section of the Vice City saves.

 

so i assume you have the NA version of the game? have you tried the action replay (or whatever it was called.. max or something) saves? I usually use those and never have problemsq

 

Can you explain how to make the uLaunchELF boot from cd a lil better, the link just tells you how to make a system.CNF file but thats it?

also, when it says Change the ELF to the ELF you have.

BOOT2 = cdrom0:\HDADVANCE.ELF;1
VER = 1.00
VMODE = PAL/NTSC

what exactly do I change? The Ver # or where it says ELF after HDADVANCE?

Really confused