SD2Vita Format Tool

SD2Vita Helper Tool
File:Sd2vitahelpertoolvita.jpg
General
Author	AntHJ
Type	PC Utilities
Version	1.2
License	Mixed
Last Updated	2021/07/13
Links
Download
Website

SD2Vita Helper Tool is a tool that Properly flash zzBlank and Format your SD card with the correct allocation and file system . This may also detect fake SD cards as well.

What is SD2Vita Helper Tool?

This tool was designed to quickly and easily flash the zzBlank.img to you SD and check its reported capacity. it will then automatically determine which file allocation unit size it should format the card to and potentially spot fake SD cards.. once the card has formatted the tool can link to you Vita through USB and copy the contents of ux0 making it simple to upgrade your SD size or start fresh.

Running the SD2Vita Helper Tool

RIGHT CLICK the SD2Vita Format Tool.bat file and select 'Run as administrator' - this is needed due to needing permissions to repartition and format the drive.. on some computers you may get a security warning, just click 'More info' then click 'Run anyway'

Using the SD2Vita Helper Tool

Select the location of the SD card you wish to blank, I have made the script try to work out your SD card location but PLEASE make sure you select the correct drive that shows your SD.. After selecting a drive a box will then show with details about your card. again make sure that the information shown reprsents the card you wish to blank / format.

If your card flags as fake, beware if you decide to continue, this could just be a miss calculation but as a rule, a genuine SD card should be 93% of there printed size. so for example:

    128gb   shows as between 116gb -> 119gb
    256gb   shows as aroud 238gb
    400gb   shows as around 372gb
    515gb   shows as around 476gb

Once confirmed, the automated process begins. it will temporarily format the SD as a standard card and change its label. next the zzBlank.img will be flashed to clear all previous partitions. then it will determin which file allocation size it needs and formats accordingly.

Once the card has been prepared you will be asked if you would like to Clone the current Vita setup, you could just select NO and the app will will close. You would now need to make a backup of UX0 onto the SD.

Your SD card will NEED a copy of the Vitas UX0 drive, otherwise it will not boot up correctly and you may get stuck
    in a boot loop. if this happens, hold the L bumper as the system starts to boot from the origional storage instead.

Screenshots

Clone / Upgrade an existing setup

For example, you can use this tool to copy data from a smaller SD onto a larger SD (Upgrade).

If you select YES and decide to clone/upgrade your current system setup you will need to prepare the Vita itself for the transfer. Unless the SD card is accessible with a 2nd Card reader. To use the Vita as a card reader, do the following..

• Launch the VitaShell app
• Press the Start button and make sure USB Mode is set to the main storage,
  • Memory Card if your using the Sony memory
  • sd2vita if you currently have an sd2vita already running (i.e. Upgrade),
  • psvsd if your using a USB device or psvsd adaptor
• Press Start again to confirm the settings
• Press Select to start the USB Link
• Press Yes/OK on the computer to start the transfer process

After the files have copied, launch Autoplugin2 and goto the Vita plugins section and the sd2vita settings page. You now need to change the drive allocations to:

• MCD = NONE, INT = NONE, GCD = UX0, UMA = NONE
• if your using a psvsd or usb device then swap GCD = NONE to none and UMA to UX0
• if you want to use your Sony memory card as additional storage, set MCD = UMA0
• select save the goto exit for it to reboot the vita

You can now check Settings - System Information and confirm the SD card size.

Changelog

(v.1.2)

• Use this tool on your PC to zzBlank your NEW SD card, perform a basic check to see if your SD is potentially a fake and then format the card with the correct file allocation size ready for use in the SD2Vita..
• After formatting you have the option to directly clone an existing setup from either the Vita or an SD
• lite version has the clone option removed *

(v.1.1)

• First Release.

External links

• Github - https://github.com/AntHJ/SD2Vita-Format-Tool
• VitaDB - https://vitadb.rinnegatamante.it/#/info/707