PS3 SaveData Transfer via FTP

#homebrew #jailbreak #gaming #backups

Official Sony Backup Restore

I've attempted this before and had it working. Over time strange stuffed happened. The biggest being controllers not working wirelessly. This was after upgrading to a larger SSD. I would pop in the old HDD and the controllers would work wirelessly. This told me it wasn't the Bluetooth failing but some other strange glitch.

Backup on CFW over FTP

Custom Firmware

Assuming you've already have CFW installed on your PS3, and using MultiMan or WebMan to run the FTP server

What File Tool to Use

I've used both WinSCP and native Windows Explorer. I've found using WinSCP more helpful when moving lots of files/directories at once as it will retry and reconnect when dropped. Native Windows Explorer is really convenient if you're just moving a single .pkg file or maybe just a folder or 2. But be warned...

Don't bother using FTP

I know what the title says. I'm not changing it for those who do land on it looking for a solution. FTP is SLOW, even if you have both devices hooked up to the network via ethernet. With MutliMan, just use the file browser and copy files over to a SSD connected by USB. This will be MUCH faster. A 200gb transfer took over 6 hours (and would need multiple retrys) compared to a 3 hours through USB. The USB will show up in the file browser as dev_usb000

If you plan on a Partial Backup

My first biggest pitfall was only backing-up partial data. I initially like to start with a small set of data first so I know it works, then continue with the rest. What I didn't understand was that game saves and game data live in the same folder. If I didn't copy over everything then it would look like I have missing costumes, tracks, karts, custom levels. Some games even start you fresh as if it's a completely new save file.

This is very apparent for titles like LittleBigPlanet 1 & 2, as well as ModNation Racers which has savedata for level progression and a separate "Game Data Utility" for user created content (such as costume designs, built levels, customized karts, etc.)

ModNation Racers

I was looking in /dev_hdd0/savedata and /dev_hdd0/<USER_ID>/savedata but I've learned Game Data Utility lives in with /dev_hdd0/<USER_ID>/game with all other installed packages.

I looked to the nopaystation browser to find what ModNation Racer's Game ID was NPUA80535. Didn't realize the Blue-ray disc would have a different Game ID than the PSN release.

When I tried to copy the disc to my internal drive I got a note BCUS98167-[ModNation Racers] to internal HDD? . Then I realized I should look into my /dev_hdd0/<USER_ID>/game and low and behold

/dev_hdd0/<USER_ID>/game/BCUS98167_UCC

And I know damn well sure that UCC stands for "User Created Content". I could have spared myself the headache and just backed up the whole /game directory. This whole explanation is to help anybody else who tried to mod their PS3 in an efficient way like me.

renew the license via PSN

Some titles still showed "renew the license via PSN". I'm pretty sure these were game shares I downloaded on different accounts. An old trick that is now biting me now years later. Not sure what fixed it, but I think it was booting into Safe Mode and "rebuilding the database" a 2nd time. Didn't have to verify the game on PSN.

Fake User

Credit

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