386 réponses à ce sujet

[OHYEAH]

hey perigee when i want to back up my save file it says i can't... how do you do?

[Perigee]

OHYEAH wrote...

hey perigee when i want to back up my save file it says i can't... how do you do?

ME2 has two save game files; one hosts your character profile and the other hosts the actual saved games. The profile file is protected so you cannot copy it e.g. to USB stick (somebody said that it's to prevent trophy cheating i.e. to prevent players passing on the ME2 profile from PSN account to another). However, the save game file you can copy to external media. ...which is good because that is exactly the file that gets corrupted when the fault occurs AFAIK, the profile file remains intact.

Modifié par Perigee, 30 janvier 2011 - 03:38 .

[grimmbodin]

Same problem here. 2nd playthrough, froze during loading screen for Migrant Fleet. Was on my last loyalty mission before going into the end game missions too File corrupted, character gone. I guess I'm lucky it didn't happen on the initial playthrough. Still extremely frustrating though.

[ibram_ps3]

Just want to say happened to me last night, 20 hours of gameplay wiped, as someone has already mentioned it seems to have happened as it autosaves after a cutscene or new areas opening up. It happened as one user previously stated:



"...game crashed just before car chase during LoSB"





If we were given ample warning that this could happen in the first day of release then we would have taken measures not to lose our corrupt data. We aren't technophobes if there is a problem, then email the users about it and we will safeguard for something like this. But in order to keep the consumer second guessing I had to go search for



"mass effect 2 corrupted data save ps3"



A massive SALUTE to Bioware and EA's inability to rustle up some form of customer service. No other game has given me this problem, sure games freeze over but not a single one corrupts the saved data since 2008.



Thanks for the £40 bill and a useless 20 hour gaming time burnt. It would be too much to ask for a more robust save file algorithm [sarc]

[bigearn1]

Thats intersesting, its the same spot mine froze up. As soon as we got into the car it froze.

[Ayanko]

Just Froze on me also, must have been 27 hours in doing the kasumi DLC, I go into the vault in the elevator get the option to change my armour. Ohai Freeze. Luckily it hasn't corrupted my save Data. Auto saved my behind. Checking to see if it freezes in the same spot now.

[Neotenko]

Just logged on here to say, that I'm one amazingly really pissed off customer.



Game freezing I can live with. Crashes and even corrupting a save file... not the end of the world.



But wiping ALL my saves, auto, main save and both back ups? well thank you very much. I mean destroying the game in it's entirety so that I can't even go back to older saves is a game breaking bug I really don't expect to see in a AAA title. It's beyond comprehension really.



That's 30+ hours of my life I won't get back. I'll get a fair bit of cash trading this in for Dead Space 2 so not the end of the world but I'll think twice about getting SW:TOR and ME3 now.

[kingkranz]

Everyone should be backing up there game. I have restored all my corrupt files and the game has been running smooth for 27 hours.

[PapaLongLegs]

kingkranz wrote...

Everyone should be backing up there game. I have restored all my corrupt files and the game has been running smooth for 27 hours.

King, can I ask you a question about backing up and restoring your saves by quoting myself from another thread?

"I don't doubt evilroot's honesty, but can anyone else confirm that backing up the copyright free save and restoring it after corruption actually works?

Just to get this straight:



1: Play

2: Back up the save file that isn't copy protected

3: Corrupt

4: Replace the broken file with the back up (leaving the copy-protected file as is)

5: Carry on playing"



Is that basically how it works, and does it work?

Modifié par PapaLongLegs, 30 janvier 2011 - 10:33 .

[SR3]

PapaLongLegs wrote...

can anyone else confirm that backing up the copyright free save and restoring it after corruption actually works?

Second this.  Grabeq and AnoHeartilly were freaking everyone out last Monday-Tuesday with reports that even properly backed-up data couldn't be restored after corruption.  Now we have reports from evilroot, kingkranz and StokedUp that contradict these.  (Am I missing anyone else?)  

I know a patch is immanent, but it would still be nice to know if my fear of returning to this game even with data backed up is justified.  It's been six days, and I'm getting antsy!

[Grabeq]

@SR3



Remember that i reported information i obtained from another guy, haven't experienced corrupted data issue myslef. He could have done something wrong while restoring his saved games. Didn't want to freak anyone out.

[Espada_Andy_2]

Why do u guys keep playing when you know that a problem exists?

[Perigee]

Espada_Andy_2 wrote...

Why do u guys keep playing when you know that a problem exists?

I myself have some concerns (fears, actually) that the upcoming patch won't be the silver bullet for this problem. I learned from Bioware's posts that the patch will fix the system crashes caused by memory fragmentation. AFAIK, these crashes have caused the save game file corruption in case the file has been open at the time of the crash. So even if the memory usage related issues are corrected, isn't it (and it is) possible that the game crashes also for other reasons than memory fragmentation (which will be issued withthe said patch). And if the answer is yes, isn't it equally possible that (especially autosave enabled) the system is writing on the save game file exactly at the time of thecrash and hence the result might be once again corrupted file? The above thoughts of mine are of course only layman's thoughts so hopefully Bioware can provide some technicallycorrect comments on these worries

So from my part, even when the patch is available and installed, I will still continue to use the extra 50 seconds per game session to backup my save games because nothing and nobody will compensate the lost games for me if the patch a) does not work or does not address all the faults that may lead to save game corruption.

And just to clarify, this is not a expression of mistrust from my behalf towards Bioware's ability to troubleshoot and correct faults, it's simply a fact of life that while correcting SW faults, something might be left unaddressed and the problem will not be completely solved. So until I have 100% assurance/experience from community that the patch really works - which takes weeks - I will keep on backing up the games. Not a biggy for me, couple of tens of seconds spent on making a copy to USB stick after the game sessions.

So this is why I would personally like to see a confirmation if the backup/restore works, even if there's a patch coming to the problem. Hopefully i did not upset Bioware too much - pls understand that I'm just old and cynical  

Modifié par Perigee, 31 janvier 2011 - 02:58 .

[terrordactyl1]

Perigee wrote...

Espada_Andy_2 wrote...

Why do u guys keep playing when you know that a problem exists?

I myself have some concerns (fears, actually) that the upcoming patch won't be the silver bullet for this problem. I learned from Bioware's posts that the patch will fix the system crashes caused by memory fragmentation. AFAIK, these crashes have caused the save game file corruption in case the file has been open at the time of the crash. So even if the memory usage related issues are corrected, isn't it (and it is) possible that the game crashes also for other reasons than memory fragmentation (which will be issued withthe said patch). And if the answer is yes, isn't it equally possible that (especially autosave enabled) the system is writing on the save game file exactly at the time of thecrash and hence the result might be once again corrupted file? The above thoughts of mine are of course only layman's thoughts so hopefully Bioware can provide some technicallycorrect comments on these worries

So from my part, even when the patch is available and installed, I will still continue to use the extra 50 seconds per game session to backup my save games because nothing and nobody will compensate the lost games for me if the patch a) does not work or does not address all the faults that may lead to save game corruption.

And just to clarify, this is not a expression of mistrust from my behalf towards Bioware's ability to troubleshoot and correct faults, it's simply a fact of life that while correcting SW faults, something might be left unaddressed and the problem will not be completely solved. So until I have 100% assurance/experience from community that the patch really works - which takes weeks - I will keep on backing up the games. Not a biggy for me, couple of tens of seconds spent on making a copy to USB stick after the game sessions.

So this is why I would personally like to see a confirmation if the backup/restore works, even if there's a patch coming to the problem. Hopefully i did not upset Bioware too much - pls understand that I'm just old and cynical  

Goddammit, there's always one miserable bugger that has to come along and rain on everyone's parade

We are all happy in the knowledge that in the next few days Bioware will release a magical patch that will fix crashes, corrupted saves and feed the starving children in Africa.

Please allow us a few day's worth of blind hope......before we all return next week moaning that the game is still broke after the patch

[Perigee]

terrordactyl1 wrote...
Goddammit, there's always one miserable bugger that has to come along and rain on everyone's parade

We are all happy in the knowledge that in the next few days Bioware will release a magical patch that will fix crashes, corrupted saves and feed the starving children in Africa.

Please allow us a few day's worth of blind hope......before we all return next week moaning that the game is still broke after the patch

[SR3]

Grabeq wrote...

@SR3

Remember that i reported information i obtained from another guy, haven't experienced corrupted data issue myslef. He could have done something wrong while restoring his saved games. Didn't want to freak anyone out.

Thanks for that clarification, I do remember that now.  So all we've really had is AnoHeartilly as far as firsthand reports on these forums go.  Ano's account is pretty thorough, but contradicts a lot of what we've been seeing lately.  Decisions, decisions - to play or not to play

[StokedUp]

Perigee wrote...

StokedUp wrote...

Luckily though ive been copying my progressed save game to my external hard drive everytime i finish playing. So i basically only lost 3 hours of play, sure i was gutted to have to scan all them planest again but it wasnt too bad as i didnt lose all my progress. i have since done all progressed which i lost and gone by the part where it froze and ive now just landed on Horizon.

As there have been many posts on restoring backup save file working / not working, could you pls describe what you exactly did when you restored the save game data from ext-HDD? Simply overwrote the corrupted file with the one from ext-HDD? First deleted the corrupted save game file from PS3 and then copied the backup from ext-HDD? ...or something else?

I 'm asking since i'm also diligently backing up my save games while waiting the worst to happen, however there have been quite many posts saying that restoring the backups simply won't work. But obviously for some cases it does so I'm just qurious did you do something differently than the others

Hey pedigree sorry for taking so long to reply,

Ok ill give a step By Step of what i do when i copy my Mass effect 2 saves to the external hard drive and also what i did when i got the corrupted save crash.

- First i'll do a manuel save in-game, it's usually when im in the Normandy that i manually save simply because thats when i know you can manual save.

--Quit game after you've manually saved your game.

--Plug external hard drive into PS3 via the USB port at the front

--go to "save data Utility(PS3)" on the GAME tab in your XMB menu (the menu where your saved games are)

--go to the Mass Effect 2 save data, you'll only be able to copy your manual saved data as it's not copy prohibited.

--highlight it press TRIANGLE,  and choose "copy" on the menu that pops up.

--the destination of where your copying should automatically display (in my case it says USB DEVICE)  then just select it and it'll copy. and thats how i copy my data.

Dont leave your External hard drive or USB stick plugged into your ps3 while your playing because if the game crashes i dont know whether that might destroy the data on your USB or External Hard drive. It probably wouldnt but im not taking the risk.

Now when i was hit by the Corrupted save bug this is what i did step by step to get my save back.

--first of all my game crashed

--after waiting around 1 minute at the frozen screen i turned off my PS3 by the button on the FRONT not the BACK.

--Turned my PS3 back on and went to "Save Data utility(ps3)" in the XMB menu. I saw that the saved data icon rather than displaying the "MASS EFFECT 2" title, it just said "CORRUPTED SAVE" or "CORRUPTED DATA".

-- I deleted this corrupted data.

--Plugged my Hard drive into my PS3 via USB at the front.

--The option to select the External hardrive becomes available at the top of the "save data utility(PS3)" menu once it's plugged in, so i selected that.

--The Mass Effect 2 save data icon displays in there and is not corrupted.(obviously)

--so just press TRIANGLE on that and choose "copy" from the menu that pops up.

--it then copies onto your ps3 again and i just started up the game and it was all good.

Obviously i had lost the 2-3 hours of play in which i'd done from that save till when it crashed but i didnt have to start the game all over again. I now copy a save game to my hard drive after every mission i do or after scanning alot of planets then start the game back up and carry on. That way i know that if it crashes ill be safe.


i hope that was ok for you buddy!!

Modifié par StokedUp, 31 janvier 2011 - 07:30 .

[Perigee]

StokedUp wrote...


Hey pedigree sorry for taking so long to reply,

Ok ill give a step By Step of what i do when i copy my Mass effect 2 saves to the external hard drive and also what i did when i got the corrupted save crash.

- First i'll do a manuel save in-game, it's usually when im in the Normandy that i manually save simply because thats when i know you can manual save.

--Quit game after you've manually saved your game.

--Plug external hard drive into PS3 via the USB port at the front

--go to "save data Utility(PS3)" on the GAME tab in your XMB menu (the menu where your saved games are)

--go to the Mass Effect 2 save data, you'll only be able to copy your manual saved data as it's not copy prohibited.

--highlight it press TRIANGLE,  and choose "copy" on the menu that pops up.

--the destination of where your copying should automatically display (in my case it says USB DEVICE)  then just select it and it'll copy. and thats how i copy my data.

Dont leave your External hard drive or USB stick plugged into your ps3 while your playing because if the game crashes i dont know whether that might destroy the data on your USB or External Hard drive. It probably wouldnt but im not taking the risk.

Now when i was hit by the Corrupted save bug this is what i did step by step to get my save back.

--first of all my game crashed

--after waiting around 1 minute at the frozen screen i turned off my PS3 by the button on the FRONT not the BACK.

--Turned my PS3 back on and went to "Save Data utility(ps3)" in the XMB menu. I saw that the saved data icon rather than displaying the "MASS EFFECT 2" title, it just said "CORRUPTED SAVE" or "CORRUPTED DATA".

-- I deleted this corrupted data.

--Plugged my Hard drive into my PS3 via USB at the front.

--The option to select the External hardrive becomes available at the top of the "save data utility(PS3)" menu once it's plugged in, so i selected that.

--The Mass Effect 2 save data icon displays in there and is not corrupted.(obviously)

--so just press TRIANGLE on that and choose "copy" from the menu that pops up.

--it then copies onto your ps3 again and i just started up the game and it was all good.

Obviously i had lost the 2-3 hours of play in which i'd done from that save till when it crashed but i didnt have to start the game all over again. I now copy a save game to my hard drive after every mission i do or after scanning alot of planets then start the game back up and carry on. That way i know that if it crashes ill be safe.


i hope that was ok for you buddy!!

Excellent, thank you really much that you took the time and described what you did, StokedUp!   With all the forum juggling between "it-works / "it-does-not-work" it's good to have a clear, step-wise description how it has been succesfully done.

I don't know about rest of you guys but I'm now in peace with my ME2, USB stick and safe-copies...

Modifié par Perigee, 31 janvier 2011 - 09:02 .

[PapaLongLegs]

I second that, thanks very much stokedup! It's as reassuring as when the patch confirmation popped up last week and I can now play happily in the knowledge that my backups will work!

[CREAMallDAY]

I'm not touching Mass Effect 2 until the patch releases. And even when it does I'll wait a few days.

[fcavalheiro]

My save data just got corrupted.



Although I haven't lost too much (I had a back-up file), I strongly recommend you not to trust Bioware's workaround and think that if you play only a few hours no harm will be done. I lost my save data after playing for only 30 minutes. If I didn't trust their workaround I would have been saving even more frequently. Unfortunately, now I've lost a few hours (that's okay, though).



On a side note, in case someone is interested, you don't even need a USB stick for backing-up. I had another user profile on my playstation xmb, so I was just copying my save file there. Now, I have just copied it back to the user it belonged.

[Scandigeek]

I thought I'd throw in my own observations of this nasty bug.  

First off for those of you who are concerned that such a thing can happen to your PS3 versions of DA, don't be.  Mass Effect 2 and Dragon Age use completely different methods of saving your game.  

Dragon Age actually saves each save individually.  So if a save gets corrupted you can always fall back on a previous save.  In fact I had this happen to me where the game froze as I was saving and lost the save, but I was able to fall back on one of my earlier saves to keep going.

Mass Effect 2 on the other hand lumps all your saves for a character into one character file.  For purposes of identification the system checks your last save file.  Check the information on your PS3 and you'll see that the location of said character is from your last save.  

Unfortunately it means if this save gets corrupted, your ps3 can't identify the file so the whole character file cannot be read, hence the corruption.  

As for the freezing on load screen and following corruption.  The autosave feature automatically saves every time you enter a new location, as in take an elevator, hail a cab, dock, etc.  This counts as your last save.  

Disabling Auto Save could alleviate this problem.  One fellow said his game froze on the elevator in the Kasumi Memory quest. Disabling the auto save could prevent that from happening in the future.  

There are two problems with this however, first off the game will not let you manually save at certain points but the autosave will kick in so you don't have to start over in say, a boss fight, or some end mission dialog.   If you can live with out that insurance, fine.

Secondly is that there is actually another save that the game makes every time you enter a new mission area in the game, it also does this everytime you dock  in a "weapons holstered district" upon leaving the Normandy.   This is that "restart mission" feature that comes in handy if you ever screw up you team line or load outs, or miss credits, resources, or tech during a mission.  I do not believe that this feature can be manually shut off.  And it's quite possible the character file will count this as a "last save" as well.

For those of you doing the Lair of the Shadow Broker dlc and experience a freeze at the beggining of the car chase followed by the corrupted save, this built in save could be the culprit, as this is actually counts as a new mission area, like the second act for lack of a better term. 

The car chase freeze could be because of a memory problem that happens when it switches to car chase mode, but I'll leave that to people who know a hell of a lot more about programming then me.

All in all the best thing to do would be as Perigee suggested. Back up this save file on a usb. Even if Bioware fixes most of the problems, freezes can still happen.  So if you don't what all the time to go to waste its best to be safe then sorry. 

[SR3]

@ Scandigeek



All of this seems spot on. Given that some were still reporting loss of data even with the autosave turned off, it really does seem like the "restart mission" save is the culprit in at least some cases.



On the subject of BioWare's workaround, even though the advice they've been giving is "restart your game every few hours," I have a feeling that the problem has more to do with number of automated saves made within a time period than it does with just running the game for any amount of time. This is consistent with their original report that the "issue is caused by too many level transitions within a single gaming session." If you're doing multiple missions in one sitting, even if you're not playing all that long, you're increasing your risk of fragmentation and data corruption. Even if you have the autosave off, at the very least you're racking up "restart mission" saves.



I'd be interested in hearing back from those who reported "the workaround doesn't work, I only played x hours and the game still crashed..." to see how many missions they were playing in that amount of time. Some of the loyalty missions are actually quite quick; you could stuff three or four of them into just and hour and a half play session.

[Perigee]

Scandigeek wrote...

I thought I'd throw in my own observations of this nasty bug.  

*** good points ***

Scandigeek, you had lots of good points in you post.

Somehow all this makes me think that the only way to completely remove the risk of corrupted saves would be to change the way how the game handles the save game file in the first place. I wouldn't expect it to be a paramount development task if a patch would be provided which either starts to use separate physical files for each save game after installing the patch (while still keeping the old "bulk" save game file accessible for loading) or alternatively the patch would perform a file conversion for the existing "bulk" save game file to chop it into individual physical save game files (autosave and "restart mission" save included). And build of course the necessary application logic to the game itself to support this. This way, the crash (not matter for what reason it might take place) would only mess up with the one save game file that was open at the time of the failure.

On the other hand, this might  be what Bioware has been thinking also - we shall know once the patch is in distribution

EDIT: the problem of course in the "file conversion" option is that it manipulates players' save fame files. If something in that conversion script goes horribly wrong and the end result is that you don't have save game file at all, Bioware gets lots of "happy" customer by providing a "correction" that erased everything. Tricky...

EDIT2: I believe Bioware is having loads of fun during coffee breaks while reading "forum experts'" analysis/suggestions on how the development should be done

Modifié par Perigee, 01 février 2011 - 09:42 .