Copy Character without special tools / hardware or server tricks

Some time ago I found out how to backup your PSO.ver2 character to another VMU.

Now were i want to switch the VMU my char is on i want to share what i found out. (My char is on a 4 slot VMU and the slot indicating LED starts flickering so I better move to another card)

You need:

DC
PSO.ver2
VMU #1 (with the original char on it)
VMU #2 (were you want to save the copy)
nothing more

Here is how it works.

As you all know, the PSO char file is copy protected and if you swap the VMU ingame it wont save your char saying wrong VMU...

Well, lets say you have a char named Test-Dude which is a HUmar and has REDRIA ID.

The following just has to be done once for preparation:

Just put in VMU #2 and make a new (dummy) char.
Things to mention are: It has to be the same Class/Race, in this case HUmar and it has to be the same ID, easiest if you use the same name. Proportions and dressing does not matter.
Now leave the dressing room and save. On the online/offline selection press B to abort.

The following steps can be made every time you want to copy your char.

Insert VMU #1 and load you char (online, offline it's your choice)
Replace VMU with VMU #2 and save.
Well, PSO tells you its the wrong VMU, I know...
Just be stuborn and tell PSO you want to save, after a few tries (think I remember it was 6 times) PSO is your friend and saves to the other VMU.

Best thing:
The 2 chars now work one beside the other without restrictions and you can easily copy from one to another and back.
You can keep a backup and if something happens to your char, just use the backup to go on.

There is just one thing to be aware of when playing online:
When you switch the "versions" of the char, ensure to have more exp and a higher playing time on your char than on the last visit of the server. (Well, simply kill some monsters in offline mode and play some minutes)

Hope this comes handy for someone

This sounded entriguing, so I just tried it. It does indeed work. One thing to note is that you do not need to create a new character of the same Section ID or even of the same class. Your second VMU just needs to have a PSOV2 save file on it. If it does, PSO will let you save if you select "Save" five times. If there is no PSOV2 file on the VMU, then you can select "Save" as many times as you want, and it never will. Also, you should always do this offline, because if you do it online, you will lose your unequipped items and Meseta since you didn't save properly to your original VMU (although if you go online and do this from the lobby without joining a team, you should only lose your Meseta and not your unequipped items). If you do this offline, you won't lose anything. This also has potential for allowing people with USv2 serials to make new characters...

Also:

Little Vamp wrote:There is just one thing to be aware of when playing online:
When you switch the "versions" of the char, ensure to have more exp and a higher playing time on your char than on the last visit of the server. (Well, simply kill some monsters in offline mode and play some minutes)

I assume you're saying this because of the protection on Sega's server against backups. It was theorised that PSO saves the number of times you have connected to the server in your save file, and Sega's server also recorded that number. If the number of connections remembered by the server was higher than the number saved in the VMU file, then Sega knew that you were using a backup and wouldn't let you connect. You could get around this by trying to connect over and over, and each time incrementing your number of connections by +1. Eventually, the number of connections in the VMU file would match the server record, and you'd be allowed to connect.

This is no longer a problem, because no private servers perform this check. You can connect freely with backups of your characters, and you don't have to worry if the backups are lower level or have less play time than the originals.

Aleron Ives wrote:This is no longer a problem, because no private servers perform this check. You can connect freely with backups of your characters, and you don't have to worry if the backups are lower level or have less play time than the originals.

Note to self: Add non-bypassable check for time/level just to throw people off for extra fun.

Seriously though, good job figuring this out. Could end up being quite helpful to people with USv2 characters they'd rather not lose.

BlueCrab wrote:Note to self: Add non-bypassable check for time/level just to throw people off for extra fun.

Curses! Foiled by the tricksy crustacean again!

Doing this is definitely easier than any other method of backing up your characters, haha. I'm just surprised it took more than a decade for somebody to find it.

Actually I found it out about 7 years ago were i accidently "mixed up" some VMUs and had some troubles with lots of chars i tested out... (Ok, we were drunk a little and just wanted to play pso and my girlfriend took out the vmu searching a DL-quest)

Good to hear its even easier. Maybee I remember some more tricks from time to time...

What happened to e-mailing your char to yourself (assuming you have e-mail set up on the DC)?

I know that works--I've done it and use this method to back up regularly.

However... would this be the magical solution that would finally, finally let me switch over from shared serials to unique ones w/o losing my character...?

Moopthehedgehog wrote:What happened to e-mailing your char to yourself (assuming you have e-mail set up on the DC)?

This way is faster and less hassle.

Moopthehedgehog wrote:However... would this be the magical solution that would finally, finally let me switch over from shared serials to unique ones w/o losing my character...?

No.

Aleron Ives wrote:

Moopthehedgehog wrote:What happened to e-mailing your char to yourself (assuming you have e-mail set up on the DC)?

This way is faster and less hassle.

Moopthehedgehog wrote:However... would this be the magical solution that would finally, finally let me switch over from shared serials to unique ones w/o losing my character...?

No.

Oh... Well, at least this is more or less idiot-proof.
(Well, as long as people actually read it and follow it step by step...)