How to change timestamps of Playstation 2 savegames
This tutorial is about how to change the timestamps of your savegames and to extract a compressed PS2-savegame-file into a uLaunchELF mcPaste-compatible version by creating a PS2_MC_Backup_Attributes.BUP.bin.
VER. 1.1 08.03.2005
written by Jones23
This document is best viewed with notepad, courier new.
WHY I WROTE THIS:
Since I own a Maxdrive, I made a lot of savegame-backups with it(*.max). Sadly all timestamps (further: TSPs) are lost during this process. Then I discovered uLaunchELF(uLE) and it's way to preserve TSPs and thought about how to use this for "TSP-recovery".
I found a way to edit the PS2_MC_Backup_Attributes.BUP.bin (MCBA.bin) in order to set the TSP manualy.
Only a few compressed savegame file (CSF)-formats lack the TSPs (eg max, pws).
Most others (eg sps, psu) contain them.
This means you can download any CSF, extract it to your HDD and recover the TSPs by using uLE's mcPaste and a edited MCBA.bin.
TOOLS NEEDED:
- unofficial LaunchELF (min v. 3.42), available at the official support forum in the homebrew section at http://www.ps2-scene.org/forums/index.php A great prog for the PS2, released by "'E P'" and "dlanor".
You need the mcPaste-command to perform the TSP-change. I recommend to use the latest version.
- PS2-Save Builder v0.8x, available at http://www.ps2savetools.com/
This prog can extract and create the following CSF formats:
- AR MAX Power Save (*.pws)
- AR MAX V3 (*.max)
- Code Breaker Saves (*.cbs)
- Memory Linker (*.psu) (extract only)
- NPort (*.npo)
- SharkPort 1 (*.spo) (extract only)
- SharkPort 2 (*.sps)
- SharkPort (*.md)
- Xploder 4 Pro (*.p2m)
- X-Port 1 (*.xpo) (extract only)
- X-Port 2 (*.xps)
It also allows you to edit the icon.sys and to view/change the file-attributes.
As far as I can tell it works pretty well.
- Hex Editor e.g. "DF Hex Editor", available at http://www.del-net.com/ "Produkte" section (german and english version). I like this one. It's really easy to use and has a propper layout.
- Windows calculator (or any other calculator that can convert HEX to DEC and vice versa)
CSF-FORMATS IN DETAIL:
At least these are all details I could figure out.
- AR MAX Power Save (*.pws) no TSPs, no attribute change, icons changed (these are patched with various cheats, like tons of money or all weapons when starting a new game)
- AR MAX V3 (*.max) no TSPs, no attribute change, original icons
- Code Breaker Saves (*.cbs) all TSPs set to date of creation, supports attribute change (file only), original icons
- Memory Linker (*.psu) original TSPs and icons
- NPort (*.npo) no TSPs, supports attribute change (file only)
- SharkPort 1 (*.spo) ??? (couldn't find one of those)
- SharkPort 2 (*.sps) original TSPs, supports attribute change, icons changed
- SharkPort (*.md) original TSPs, supports attribute change
- Xploder 4 Pro (*.p2m) original TSPs, supports attribute change
- X-Port 1 (*.xpo) ??? (couldn't find one of those)
- X-Port 2 (*.xps) original TSPs, supports attribute change, icons changed
NOW FOR HEX BASICS:
Here is an example of the MCBA.bin created with uLE by copying a Burnout3 save to host (PC HDD).
The first block is the pure HEX-code like it's displayed in a HEX-editor.
left=offset, mid=HEX-code, right=ASCII-code
Second block is mainly a translation from HEX to DEC and the last block shows the meaning of the entries.
0001 0203 0405 0607 0809 0A0B 0C0D 0E0F 0123456789ABCDEF
0x000 001E 0D05 0503 D607 001E 0D05 0503 D607 ......÷.......÷.
0x010 0000 0000 2784 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 ....'Ñ..........
0x020 4245 534C 4553 2D35 3235 3835 0000 0000 BESLES-52585....
0x030 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 ................
0x040 0025 0D05 0503 D607 003B 1205 0503 D607 .%....÷..;....÷.
0x050 4CF1 0000 9784 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 LÒ..óÑ..........
0x060 4245 534C 4553 2D35 3235 3835 0000 0000 BESLES-52585....
0x070 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 ................
0001 0203 0405 0607 0809 0A0B 0C0D 0E0F 0123456789ABCDEF
0x000 30 1305 0503 2006 30 1505 0503 2006 ......÷.......÷.
0x010 m=8427 ....'Ñ..........
0x020 NAME NAME NAME NAME NAME NAME NAME NAME BESLES-52585....
0x030 NAME NAME NAME NAME NAME NAME NAME NAME ................
0x040 37 1305 0503 2006 59 1805 0503 2006 .%....÷..;....÷.
0x050 61772 m=8497 LÒ..óÑ..........
0x060 NAME NAME NAME NAME NAME NAME NAME NAME BESLES-52585....
0x070 NAME NAME NAME NAME NAME NAME NAME NAME ................
0001 0203 0405 0607 0809 0A0B 0C0D 0E0F 0123456789ABCDEF
0x000 SS MMHH DDMO YEAR SS MMHH DDMO YEAR ......÷.......÷.
0x010 FOLD ....'Ñ..........
0x020 NAME NAME NAME NAME NAME NAME NAME NAME BESLES-52585....
0x030 NAME NAME NAME NAME NAME NAME NAME NAME ................
0x040 SS MMHH DDMO YEAR SS MMHH DDMO YEAR .%....÷..;....÷.
0x050 SIZE SIZE FILE LÒ..óÑ..........
0x060 NAME NAME NAME NAME NAME NAME NAME NAME BESLES-52585....
0x070 NAME NAME NAME NAME NAME NAME NAME NAME ................
Legend:
SS/MM/HH/DD/MO/YEAR: (sec/min/hour/day/month/year) the TSP, the fist is the "date of creation", second the "date of last update" you must switch the offsets of the YEAR (from "D607" to "07D6") to convert it uLE shows date of last update (note: all dates of playstation files are in Tokyo time because the PS2's clock is set to that timezone. The PS2browser simply adjusts time-display to your time-zone.)
SIZE:
filesize in byte (same offset-switch as YEAR to convert)
FOLD/FILE:
describes wether it's a file (9784) or a folder (2784) uLE shows this as "m=8497" (my BEDATA-SYSTEM folder is m=A027)
NAME:
enter the file/folder-name in the ASCII-field to the right
MAKE YOUR SAVE:
- Extract the files in the CSF to a folder with the "ROOT/ID"-name using PS2-Save Builder. Now you can replace those silly X-Port/SharkPort-icons with the originals.
- Create a MCBA.bin holding the TSPs you want, regarding the sceme mentioned above with a HEX-editor and move it to the savegame-folder.
- Use uLE to copy and "mcPaste" the savegame-folder to your Memory Card.
That's it.
Now you have a savegame with correct TSPs on your Memory Card, ready to be loaded.
Special Thanks to:
- 'E P' and dlanor for an outstanding app. It was never so simple to backup your MC. Keep up the good work!
- Everyone at ps2-scene That forum is so great!
Thanks for reading this. It's my first tutorial and I hope my english is not so bad and that
I could make myself clear.
Best regards Jones23
