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Possible Issue with Shenmue 2 save files

PostPosted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 8:32 pm
by shengoro86
Hi everyone,

So this morning I was enjoying some Shenmue 2X Undub.

While playing I noticed something I've never seen before.
When selecting save files to load, everything seemed fine. However, when I went to save into the same slow I got an "unsuccessful" error message.

The file was created on a normal Shenmue 2X running from HDD, I loaded it and tried to save with the undub version (sits in its own folder with its own game files).

It saved fine as long as it was saved into a new slot.

Not sure if S2XUndub causes the failure.

Here is my setup.

Original Xbox
Soft-modded using hacked saves for Mechassualt.
Running Unleash X (newer version but not latest).

S2X and S2XUndub in their own folders on F partition, save files in normal partition.

To my knowledge the executable for undub has been altered (correct me if I'm wrong but changed references? to allow it to see the undub audio folder). Could this be causing an issue with save file handling?

This scenario is the ONLY time Ive ever seen this.

My HDD is old, so corruption may be possible. But since it was able to read the files, I'm ruling this out.


Thanks for reading this!

- James

Re: Possible Issue with Shenmue 2 save files

PostPosted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 11:48 am
by Master Kyodai
Hard to tell exactly, but could be an NTFS problem, like the game has sufficient rights to create a new file but not enough rights to overwrite/delete a file. I think i had heard about something similar with some modded Xbox OS years ago. YOu could try to reformat the HDD or install a different OS (Like newer version of Unleash X), but as it sounds i have doubts it is a corrupted HDD, sounds more like a software problem to me.

Re: Possible Issue with Shenmue 2 save files

PostPosted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 12:18 pm
by kakuzawa
shengoro86 wrote:To my knowledge the executable for undub has been altered (correct me if I'm wrong but changed references? to allow it to see the undub audio folder). Could this be causing an issue with save file handling?

It only changes reference STREAM to STRJAP folder to look for audio files. While I'm not 100% sure, I do think it shouldn't affect saving as this info is neither hashed, nor is the part of key to generate checksum (when save hash computed by game doesn't equals the one stored in file you will get corrupted message). I didn't completed Undub version but I didn't recall having problems with saving and loading when I played it. (I also have softmodded Xbox) In 2 weeks I will have time and access to Xbox so maybe then I can give you better feedback.
Maybe you can rescue save file by using my save editor. After editing savegame (for instance change Ryo position.z from 0 to 0) save it with my app. If the problem is only in hash it should calculate good one and you will be able to load save without problem. If not there was some serious corruption when saving and it maybe caused by RAM, rather than HDD (check for example if save is 11264 bytes big).

Master Kyodai wrote:NTFS[/qupte]
Xbox uses FATX file system.
Master Kyodai wrote:YOu could try to reformat the HDD or install a different OS (Like newer version of Unleash X), but as it sounds i have doubts it is a corrupted HDD, sounds more like a software problem to me.

Saves are stored in E/UDATA/4d530032 I don't think you have to clear anything more. If you reformat HDD beware that you will have to do softmod again.

Re: Possible Issue with Shenmue 2 save files

PostPosted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 3:55 pm
by shengoro86
Thanks for the feedback Master Kyodai and Kakuzawa, yeah I think the issue is a combination of software and hardware because I started to see random deletion on my harddrive. I will test this issue with other games as S2XUndub may not be the only one.

I'm looking into putting a 2tb sata drive in anyway so I'm not too skeptical.

kakuzawa wrote:
If you reformat HDD beware that you will have to do softmod again.



Haha, you don't have to tell me, I've reformatted my box soo many times after tinkering around.

I don't know if this is known as I dont talk about it much but I helped create the exploit for the buffer underflow of the xbox, the exploit used with the hacked save files that load the linux installer for Evox or UnleashX. Fun times.


Let me take the time to thank you Kakuzawa, you've done some fine work on your tools for Shenmue modding. The save editor is a gift from heaven, as I am not afraid of backing up ALL of my S2x saves since I can now recreate them from a master save.

Great work bro.

Re: Possible Issue with Shenmue 2 save files

PostPosted: Tue Feb 26, 2013 2:28 pm
by OldClassicGamer
I dont have undubbed Shenmue 2. Can you please send me files. I would appriciate it very much

Re: Possible Issue with Shenmue 2 save files

PostPosted: Tue Feb 26, 2013 9:38 pm
by shengoro86
I uploaded the undub, check the other thread.