Memory card 2 not usable and / or not properly detected

[lorn10]

Describe the bug

Hi all!

I am on PCSX-Redux Linux build 0ac6197 and it looks that the memory card 2 is completely unusable. This is true for Crash Bandicoot Warped and also Crash Bandicoot with the PSX OpenBIOS and the stock retail one.

The output is simply "An error has occurred":

It should be noted that the memory card 2 never worked for me properly. So I never saved anything direct to it but I have used the new memory card manager to copy some data from mc1 to mc2. However, the content is because of the bug not recognized.

For more information see the memory card files in the attachment. 👍
mc1&2_26022022.tar.gz

Expected behavior

The memory card 2 should be usable as card 1.

Steps to reproduce the bug

Please use the attached mc files to reproduce the problem.

Operating System

Kubuntu 20.04 LTS

CPU model

Intel Core i5-2500S

GPU model

AMD Radeon HD 6770M

BIOS version

both are affected

CPU emulation mode

Interpreter

Additional information

The problem is also present with the Windows build under Wine.

[wheremyfoodat]

I will be checking this when I'm on PC later tonight, but just to make sure, is the "Memory card 2 inserted" checkbox in the memory card manager checked?

[glitch-in-the-herring]

Can confirm that memory card 2 doesn't work for me either when playing Breath of Fire III and IV. I'm using version 7263.20220222.4.x64 on Windows 10.

I have memory card 2 inserted in the settings.

[wheremyfoodat]

@glitch-in-the-herring Is this on OpenBIOS or a retail one? OpenBIOS still has some memory card troubles on some games.

[glitch-in-the-herring]

Correction: The "No File" error in the screenshot I attached is caused by BoFIII not detecting any valid save files in memcard2, and when copying memcard1's contents over to memcard2. Memcard2 in BoFIII seems to work fine otherwise (under both OpenBIOS and retail)

However, the error does happen in Breath of Fire IV using OpenBIOS

Even though memcard2 does have save files (this time, I checked)

Using OpenBIOS is probably the explanation as memcard2 works fine using a retail BIOS.

There is another memory card related error where some save files are not detected properly by the game, This happens on both BoFIII and IV, and both retail and OpenBIOS. I'll open a separate issue for that looks like I was wrong again, this is an OpenBIOS only issue

[lorn10]

@wheremyfoodat Yes, the checkbox is set. 😉

And mc 2 is even not detected when I uncheck mc 1.

Update: This error occurs in my case with both, PSX OpenBIOS and Retail.

[wheremyfoodat]

@lorn10 I'll try to see if I can find anything soon then

[wheremyfoodat]

@lorn10 I can't reproduce this issue using your memory cards. What exactly should I do with them, and how do I get to the screen where your error is shown?

[lorn10]

Interesting, then this is a Linux related issue? As mentioned, the saving on mc 2 is in my case simply not recognized when I want to select a save state in the game Crash Bandicoot Warped via the normal "load" function. The above message is right after this displayed.

Furthermore when I uncheck mc 1 it is also not possible to make a new fresh saving to mc 2. Will delete both mc files and check the behavior with empty ones. So will report back later. 👍

Update: I have deleted both files and tested two new (and empty) ones. The error message is still reproducible with both bios types. It appears right after the normal "load" option is selected at the start menu screen.

As mentioned, this is true for Kubuntu 20.04 LTS.

[lorn10]

A short update, this issue still exists for me also with PCSX-Redux build e37d9a5.

And regarding the original Crash Bandicoot game there is a (strange) difference between the number of loading states.

With PSX OpenBIOS (from the Windows build 8340) I have at the position 11 a damaged slot:

While with the stock retail BIOS SCPH-7502 BIOS v4.1 this is not the case, slot 11 is empty (which is correct):

And finally, it would be really helpful for Linux users to know which PSX OpenBIOS file is effectively the "best one". I use the openbios.bin file because it has the same size as the original bios. But maybe I should use on Linux the variant with elf extension, so openbios.elf. This also works but is has the same issue. Whatever, any hint which bios file should be when used would be quite helpful, thanks @wheremyfoodat. 👍

[wheremyfoodat]

OpenBIOS does still have some memory card woes in a lot of games, we discovered that a few weeks ago. So yeah, not as stable as the retail BIOS for a decent amount of games. You should use the bin file btw, regardless of OS

[wheremyfoodat]

Also I'm not sure, but you might want to make a new memory card. Your current one might be corrupted.

[johnbaumann]

Hello there. There's been some updates to the memory card code in both redux(via #995) and openbios(via #1004) . I did some brief testing of the games mentioned and they appear to work. Could you please confirm if you are still having issues @lorn10 @glitch-in-the-herring ?

[glitch-in-the-herring]

I can confirm that the issues don't appear anymore. In fact, I've been using memcard2 for a while now without really realizing it! Thanks.

[lorn10]

A short status update. There is a change in the topic. Instead of the mentioned error message (see first picture) I have now an other message which tells me to insert a memory card into slot 1. This occurs always and regardless of whether the memory card 2 is empty or contains some data (which is copied over from card 1).

So it looks that the underlying problem is not resolved for me. The memory card 2 is not usable, it is simply not detected. Maybe this is a Linux specific issue. I am now on Kubuntu 22.04 LTS.

Addition: This happens with stock and latest PSX OpenBIOS. Tested build was PCSX Redux build 72dbece.

[wheremyfoodat]

AFK at the moment so I can't test for myself, but might be worth trying the game with a fresh, blank memory card. Dynarec/OpenBIOS bugs have led to the creation of corrupt memory card images in the past with all sorts of funny problems.