gamecube memory card (for my son) help!

[jre]

Friends,
Ok, my story is very typical.

Mega Catz 16x Card

Gamecube

Card is corrupted.

I cannot get to any game saves on the card.

My gamecube is giving me one choice only: format: yes or no.

As an experienced PC hacker, I cannot believe that there is no way to restore the FAT table for this card and remove or isolate the corrupted sectors, etc.

Has any one hacked the Game cube so that this can be done?

This is for my son, please help!

Sincerely,
JRE

[equalsign]

I would first try cleaning it. I've fixed more than one corrupted memory card doing that. Use a q-tip with some electrical contact cleaner, rubbing alcohol, or water (listed in order of effectiveness). If that works I would immediately back up all of my save data to another memory card, just to be safe. You can buy 3rd party memory cards of any size from GameStop for 2.99 USD I think. I'd be hesitant about investing in a 1019 (official or otherwise) though. I hear they don't play nice with Wiis.

Sorry I can't be of more help. I'm looking further into the subject and will tell you if I find anything.

[jre]

equalsign,
I will give it a try.

I have familiarity with Game Boy SP cartidge care and repair.

I was also wondering if I tried accessing it using a Wii?

Or maybe that would just make things worse.

Thanks,
-jre

[equalsign]

If you have soft-modded your Wii there are homebrew applications that allow you to copy your Gamecube save data to an SD card (and then back). I haven't tested them out myself, but I've heard positive things. That may be your best bet.

[Mozgus]

I've had nothing but bad luck with any third party cards, especially ones with large storage. You should definitely opt for an official gamecube card. They're still pretty cheap.

[D.D.D.]

equalsign,
I will give it a try.

I have familiarity with Game Boy SP cartidge care and repair.

I was also wondering if I tried accessing it using a Wii?

Or maybe that would just make things worse.

Thanks,
-jre

I had a similar thing happen and I tried reading/using it on the Wii... Same results: Format y/n. Sorry for no good news there but perhaps a few saved minutes~

[jre]

Friends,
Thanks for the feedback.

I appreciate all your help.

I can't tell you how much it helps to have others who have tried some of these ideas to revive memory cards. At least I can know that I am going in the right direction.

But the fact that no one has hacked the Gamecube so that the cards can be restored seems a mystery to me.

I expected to find someone who has done this and send my card to them.

-jre

[Niode]

Unless you have a modded Gamecube then you'd still be in the same position you are in now. The tool would be in .dol format and would need the ability to run unsigned code (aka modchip).

If the memory card is corrupt you're going to have a hard time extracting the saves from it even if such a tool exists.

I think you would be better off buying a first party memory card. I got a couple 256 block (or whatever it is, I can't remember) for £2 from Gamestation a while ago.

I've never bought third party cards and I've never had a problem. My friends who have bought those stupid 8x/16x multi page memory cards have had nothing but trouble with them.

It's most likely to do with the fact that every time you switch 'pages' on the card you are essentially removing it and then plugging a different one in whilst the power is switched on (If you have read your operating instructions/retail Gamecube game manual, it says explicitly not to do this).

It's like unplugging a memory stick from a PC without un-mounting it first. Most of the time you can get away with it but if any bits are being written to a file when it's unplugged, bang, corruption occurs.

You can imagine doing this several times on your memory card when you are looking for a save, and where do you look for it? Right on your memory card browser screen, which is accessing the data on the card. That's just asking for trouble.

Steer well clear of 3rd party memory cards. You seem to be getting a good deal with the amount of space but it only causes headaches in the long run. It's just not worth it.

[jre]

Friends,
I tried the alcohol and cue tip. No luck.

I can see that experience here is urging me to get a Nintendo memory card.

Consider your advice taken.

Niode, thanks for you input.

Maybe the truth is experience teaches you to buy Nintendo cards.

Sophisticated hacks are not necessary when you buy the right card.

-jre

[pompeyparsons]

I've had nothing but bad luck with any third party cards, especially ones with large storage. You should definitely opt for an official gamecube card. They're still pretty cheap.

I agree with Mozgus I tend to stick to first party accessories for the most part. The basic 256 memory for the Gamecube has never done me dirty yet.