More Vita Troubleshooting

I can't install VPKs. (Error 0x80010002)

This is not a memory card issue or a motherboard issue. You just need to let your Vita or PSTV format the contents of a Vita memory card (ideally with not a lot of stuff on it) in Settings, then copy your entire memory card (ux0) via FTP, and then FTP it all back to your SD2Vita (ux0), choosing to overwrite in your FTP program when asked. 

Other than your FTP program, there is no longer any need for Windows and viewing hidden files! I believe this allowed me to format my SD card in VitaDeploy as well, skipping any formatting done on PC. (original Github thread) 

Sharkf00d keeps crashing.

The only reason you should bother with this is VitaDB Downloader, which as I understand is better than Vita Homebrew Browser. So instead of gambling with its extremely poor installation success rate, just download this guy's libshacccg.skprx and put it in ur0/data manually. I had to create the directory myself. 

Don't forget to download Autoplugin 2 for SharpScale, DolcePolce, and other must-have plugins. (original reddit thread)

I get a read-only message in Content Manager.

This just means QCMA on your PC isn't pointing to the right directories.  But even after you change them, you still have to click Refresh Database. Then you should be good to go!

PS Store and other sign-in methods immediately kick me out. 

Since official firmware doesn't seem to be updated anymore, I prefer to stay on the latest (3.74) and just use the browser hack (jailbreak.psp2.dev). As such, there was probably no need for iTLS-Enso which was a featured app within VitaDeploy. Once I got rid of it, I could sign in. 

EDIT: Actually, reVita, one of the more essential plugins for PSTV, doesn't work on newer firmwares, so back to 3.65 Enso it is. I was tired of Chovy-sign breaking all the time anyway. 

I enabled two-factor authentication (2FA) but it's still confusing.

I like to set this up on a browser. When you enable it, you're making unique passwords for unique devices, and when you log into those devices (e.g. PS3, Vita, or PSTV), you're using those unique passwords, not your "real" password as you would on your PS4 or PS5.

In fact, when jailbreaking my PSTV, I had formatted and deactivated plenty of times, but the unique password I had made specifically for that device a year ago still worked.

Downloads and Transfers always stop 

Seems like you can't rely on the Vita's memory card formatting after all. In my experience, a game stopped transferring, and when I tried outright downloading it, the download stalled at a similar point in the progress bar. I will try what this commenter said on a video:

Format your SD card on your PC as EXFat with 64 KB clusters; 128 KB clusters for 128GB cards and smaller. I use 1 TB cards in my Vita & they work great.

I do the whole zzblank / Win32DiskImager thing first, to be safe. 

EDIT: Seems you CAN properly format on just the Vita alone with UX0 to SD CloneTool Vita. But in my experience, you definitely want to install and enable YAMT first (Settings > Devices > Storage Devices , leave all defaults). 

I thought UX0 to SD CloneTool would just clone the contents of the memory card, but it mounted too, and I wanted YAMT to do that since YAMT is nicely integrated into the Settings menu. But on this particular Vita, I didn't have YAMT installed first. If you use UX0 to SD CloneTool first without YAMT, the app will mount, but then YAMT will be broken. What I did was run UX0 to SD CloneTool a third and final time with YAMT enabled and both YAMT options set to default. UX0 to SD CloneTool will give you a warning about exiting if your setup is working and that starting will reset, but this is what you want. When you do this, your system will restart. Then in the YAMT system settings, set ux0 to SD2Vita and uma0 to... well, I hope this doesn't actually matter, but I set it to Internal Storage because this Vita is a 2000 with the built-in memory.

Trying this again with a (more or less) fresh Vita TV, I got stuck in a bootloop with the UX0 to SD CloneTool after running it once and restarting, but holding the power button to go in safe mode and restore & delete, I tried the old way (download VitaDeploy, install YAMT lite, restart, go in Settings > Storage Devices, check Use YAMT, ux0: SD2Vita, uma0: Default)... and no freeze, so the SD2Vita card isn't broken. So maybe stick with the old ways after all, like Grandma always said!

Adrenaline Error: 80010087

Wrote about it here:

got this error when trying to play my own purchased stuff in their original EBOOT format, not ISO. Although converting to ISO would work, I remember reading that you have a limit of 100 ISOs, and EBOOTs have no such limitation. And I've never touched NPSBrowser.

I use AutoPlugin II, so what worked for me was:

PSP plugins > Install npdrm free plugin from qwikrazor87 > install the one "modified by lusid1"

FWIW I also have these relevant Vita plugins:

0syscall6 by SKGleba

Adrenaline by TheOfficialFloW (Fix double touch)

NoNpDrm by TheOfficialFloW

ExtremeRate Joy-Con replacement shells for Nintendo Switch

Just did this mod myself. Highly, highly recommended over spending 2x or 3x for a pre-modded one on Etsy. If you can keep track of screws, you're in good shape. So just get an ice cube tray or something.

I'd say the d-pad is good / very good, if not a little stiff. It's better than the stock Joy-con, as good as the d-pads of the NDS and 3DS,  and as good as or better than the d-pad on the Vita (which everyone says it's "the best" but I think is only better than average). My test is, if I can rub out a Shoryuken without any effort at all, it's good, and this d-pad lets you do that. I had less success doing a Shoryu Reppa, so it's not as good as my favorite d-pads (PSP-3000 and PS4). But it's perfectly adequate for shmups. With a Pintendo grip or similar, you can shmup without compromise in handheld mode.

EDIT: Got another one by some professional modder (overpriced, don't do this) and the d-pad was even less stuff. But let me be clear: none of these give the Joy-con a pivot. I should've just gotten this 3D-printed one after all: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hx8ziW64xo4

Survivor 45 - 4512 - "The Ex-Girlfriend at the Wedding"

Oh, man. Why oh why didn't Austin give his idol to Drew?? I blame Dee for not spilling the beans to Austin, like Austin spilled the beans to Dee. 

Not super-thrilled Jake has an idol either. He's not unlikeable, but I just like everyone else more!... except maybe Julie.

As I'm typing this I see the season finale will air on 12/20. Looks like I could've eased my binge-watching just a little bit. But I don't regret bingeing! I think bingeing two episodes a day for at least three days straight is the way to go because I'll have a hard time remembering peoples' names and caring about them otherwise. 

Survivor 45 - 4511 - "This Game Rips Your Heart Out?"

I was right to ship Austin and Dee! But maybe Austin wasn't, since he told Dee. But maybe he had to, in order to keep up trust with Dee and flush out the idol he gave Julie. I forget if people other than Drew know Austin has an idol for himself. 

So Emily goes. Sigh... I was rooting for her too.  Not sure who I want to throw my support to now, but it sure isn't Julie!

Survivor 45 - 4510 - "How Am I the Mobster?"

Saw some raw emotion here. Emily upon winning the reward challenge. Katurah's surprise at being picked. Katurah again after panicking from the water, and everyone helping her get over that. Jake hitting the Survivor Wall and Bruce helping him get over that. 

GJ Bruce. For everything. 

Survivor 45 - 4509 - "Sword of Damocles"

Bruce won again, huh? Huh.

Austin's cool factor is back up, is all I have to say. He even recognized that he had to be quick writing the name at Tribal Council. Smart, smart, smart.  

Jake survives yet again, but we're running out of fat to trim here. 

By the way, I ship Austin + Dee as Kendra suggested. 

Survivor 45 - 4508 - "Following a Dead Horse to Water"

Has it really been that many years since Survivor auction? Wonder why they took it out.

I like Jake, I guess, so I'm glad he's sticking around. Didn't really care one way or the other for Kellie or however you spell it. I did like that surprise look on her face. And wait, didn't she have an idol?