(PS3tools) Apps Crashing / RegEdit Nightmare

[SKEPTiCK]

Ok, so I am having issues with very specific parts of the ps3tools collection and I don't know why becuase everything was working good until I made some (slightly accidental) changes to the registry... and yes, I have had this problem in the past on my Windows 10 laptop which made me assume that it was just a W10 issue but now that my laptop is dead and I'm stuck on Windows 7, well, it can happen on Win7 too.

So, here is the initial process of everything I did before screwing up the registry / certain apps

1. Installed ps3tools collection 4.8.1.exe to:

• C:\Program Files\PST00LKIT\ps3tools

2. Copied "MSVBVM50.DLL" into these 3 directories:

• "C:\Program Files\PST00LKIT\ps3tools"
• "C:\Program Files\PST00LKIT\ps3tools\tools"
• "C:\Program Files\PST00LKIT\ps3tools\tools\BruteForceSaveData"

3. Copied "libgcc_s_dw2-1.dll", "libz-1.dll" & "make_self_wc.exe" into:

• "C:\Program Files\PST00LKIT\ps3tools\tools\scetool"

4. Enabled PKG_ContentID.exe & PkgView.exe to always run as Admin from compatibility properties

5. Added PKG_ContentID & BruteForceSaveData to DEP in Adv. System Settings > Performance

After that, everything launched fine (mmTM GUI, PKG_ContentID, Scetool GUI, etc.)
The only thing I had left to get working was PKG Tools for the right-click context menu.

6. Installed "remove_ps3tools_file_associations.reg" to the Windows Registry

Finally, AFTER ALL THAT, the PKG Tools in right-click context showed up and worked!

But alas, it is not working now & there were 2 other issues prior to the context menu breaking.

• when I opened a .pkg with 7zip, it overwrote itself as the default handler through whole registry
• also, CCleaner flags ".PKG" as unused file extension, had chance to keep but opted to delete
• Later, when growing frustrated, tried fully removing .PKG from associated filetypes in regedit

Even after all that, I still had not given up, though it has still gotten me nowhere yet.

So then I thought that maybe the registry breaks had something to do with it. What I mean is how:

• RegEdit will shorten "C:\Program Files" to "C:\PROGRA~1" in command folders
• RegEdit will shorten "C:\Program Files (x86)" to "C:\PROGRA~2" in command folders

I thought that maybe this was normal for the Program Files but it was also shortening PST00LKIT

• So, what I had was "C:\PROGRA~1\PST00L~1\" etc. through the whole registry
• I manually went through registry & replaced every single instance of these breaks
• I've even re-installed the tools 3x to C:\Users\DELL\6CHARS to shorten paths more.
• Also tried restoring system/registry to 3 days ago before doing any of this.
• I set commands for the right-click PKG tools in regedit, but they only work for 1 use

So, I can change what boots what but it only works once. I set "Open Package File" to "PkgView.exe" and yes it works that 1st time from the right-click PKG tools, but just gets written right back over with "PKG_ContendID.exe"

and yes I'm aware of commands that come after such as "%1" which is the only one that is barely still working now. The only 2 options that work for me from right-click PKG Tools are:

• "Extract to current path..." and "Split PKG"
• PS3 Splitter crashes when trying to do anything
• PS3 Games Datatabase crashes shortly after boot
• PS3 Game Updates won't open, a very fast message with lock flashes for less than 1 second
• When using PKG_ContentID to check a PKG, it crashes saying "PKG File (has stopped working"

and this elusive "PKG File" (application I am speaking of, not actual package file) being automatically overthrown by 7zip or broken by accepting .PKG as unused file ext. then deleting / and even trying to manually fix the entire registry to get it working again, can still result in more stress than is ever needed.

I had basically tried for 12 hours straight, at this point, I want to make my own right-click context menu.

Initially, I was just trying to make an icons pack + more sorted folder system for the tools collection but that "tools" folder is too heavy to tackle & can cause alot of issues if you drag folders out of it. I also made folders for "pkg tools", "resigners" that were in the same directory as "tools" but now I have to do this again.

The lesson basically is that having PKG Tools work from the right-click context menu is somewhat of a one-chance opportunity it seems, one chance as in... If you do get it working, you better pray on your registry that it stays that way. Because if that application called "PKG File" stops working then you will have a very hard time getting to the root of how & where it runs from when it is not there if you look in your system's applications... and even if you completely uninstall ps3tools, purge it from the registry or rewind your PC to an earlier time you will find out that it is still probably broken when you bring it back.

I am not able to factory reset at this time and as for manually trying to fix it, I give up.

 

[pinky]

you shouldn't have to copy those files. ps3 tools has a dependency: VB5 Runtime Modules. install that from the discussions thread.

 

[SKEPTiCK]

you shouldn't have to copy those files. ps3 tools has a dependency: VB5 Runtime Modules. install that from the discussions thread.

Ok, so I could not find anything about VB5 in the discussions. I installed VB5 Runtime pack from here:

https://visual-basic-5-runtime-files.en.uptodown.com/windows/download

Ran installer, says may not have installed correctly, re-installed again with compatibility but nothing.

• PS3 Game Updates doesn't open, gives what I believe is security/certificate error (flashes too fast to read)
• Games Database just opens and crashes
• PS3Splitter can be opened but is not able to start splitting before crash.
• PKG_ContentID did work (before registry mess) but now crashes after selecting file

The last 3 all give simple message of "Application has stopped working. Windows will search for a solution"

Also, from "PKG Tools" in right-click context menu:

• "Extract to current path..." and "Split PKG" are the only functions that actually boot something (now)
• the other 8 options in between the two that work do not boot anything at all.

There, if 1st post tl;dr, sorry, I've tried to sum it up.

I had ALL OF THIS working just fine 20 hours ago, with no VB5 Runtime pack needed. I just copied some files that KMZ was linking too because aldostools is known to give issues if those specific files are not present and they were the proper files.

Also, the only registry patch from ps3tools that actually did any visible good is "remove_ps3tools_file_associations.reg"

Because that is the one that actually makes the right-click PKG tools work for people have issues with it.

Everything else does who knows what and it's all over my registry now... and yes, it is the aldostools provided here

https://www.psx-place.com/threads/p...have-coollection-updated-by-aldostools.11453/

 

[Berion]

when I opened a .pkg with 7zip, it overwrote itself as the default handler through whole registry

Opening doesn't overwrite extensions recognition rules. You must agreed to allow app always use 7-Zip to open*.pkg for that. So don't do it and You still be able to open supported files by 7-Zip...

also, CCleaner flags ".PKG" as unused file extension, had chance to keep but opted to delete

This doesn't matter. Windows registry anyway, is broken by design, it is not possible to keep it super clean, as even CCleaner doesn't doing it well enough (for user safty, and BTW; You shouldn't use versions took over by Avast ;]).

 

[DeViL303]

because aldostools is known to give issues if those specific files are not present and they were the proper files.

Quick note, "aldostools" is the name of the developer, not the name of the tools. They are called "PS3tools". You could edit the title of the thread maybe

The lesson basically is that having PKG Tools work from the right-click context menu is somewhat of a one-chance opportunity it seems, one chance as in... If you do get it working, you better pray on your registry that it stays that way. Because if that application called "PKG File" stops working then you will have a very hard time getting to the root of how & where it runs from when it is not there if you look in your system's applications... and even if you completely uninstall aldostools, purge it from the registry or rewind your PC to an earlier time you will find out that it is still probably broken when you bring it back.

TBH i never had much issue enabling this. All I ever needed to do after a windows reinstall was to run PKG_ContentID.exe as admin once and never had any issues after that. Not sure why you had issues, I never touch my registry tbh.

 

[SKEPTiCK]

Opening doesn't overwrite extensions recognition rules. You must agreed to allow app always use 7-Zip to open*.pkg for that. So don't do it and You still be able to open supported files by 7-Zip...

Initially, I did not make 7zip the default handler for .pkg, I was just testing opening a pkg with 7zip and it over-ruled "PKG File application"

Also, I can re-associate the .PKG files with other applications yes but 8 functions in the right-click PKG Tools call upon an application called "PKG File" which is not an actual application that can be found in System Apps or Install / Uninstall because is installed to the registry as a ghost application

 

[pinky]

TBH i never had much issue enabling this. All I ever needed to do after a windows reinstall was to run PKG_ContentID.exe as admin once and never had any issues after that. Not sure why you had issues, I never touch my registry tbh.

pretty much this.

it will show different options if you right click on a package like in this pic, right click a folder (create pkg), right click a self file (decrypt/encrypt), etc., so what appears depends on what's being right clicked. is this what you're asking?

 

[SKEPTiCK]

pretty much this.

View attachment 31970

it will show different options if you right click on a package like in this pic, right click a folder (create pkg), right click a self file (decrypt/encrypt), etc., so what appears depends on what's being right clicked. is this what you're asking?

Yes but "Extract to current path..." is the only option that actually works. "Split PKG" Opens Splitter but it crashes before split

Yes, exactly, the other 8 in between them they are calling upon this app called "PKG File" that does not show

This "PKG File" app (basically controller of all the auto-functs.) did not even show upon 1st initial, proper, and working install.

Does not show from system applications and never did, so my only assumption is it's all hidden in the registry somehow.

 

[Berion]

Initially, I did not make 7zip the default handler for .pkg, I was just testing opening a pkg with 7zip and it over-ruled "PKG File application"

Because You agree to that. You not need to agree.

 

[DeViL303]

Yes but "Extract to current path..." is the only option that actually works. "Split PKG" Opens Splitter but it crashes before split

Yes, exactly, the other 8 in between them they are calling upon this app called "PKG File" that does not show

This "PKG File" app (basically controller of all the auto-functs.) did not even show upon 1st initial, proper, and working install.

Does not show from system applications and never did, so my only assumption is it's all hidden in the registry somehow.

I always just let it install into the default location inside the current users folder. For me this is C:\Users\DeViL303\ps3tools\. Maybe putting it in program files is part of the issue.

BTW, with the dll, you can just put one copy in your windows/system32 folder and apps will read it from there. No need to put multiple copies in each folder afaik, unless you had a different reason for doing that.

I recommend starting again and removing any mods you did to the registry.

 

[SKEPTiCK]

Because You agree to that. You not need to agree.

lol, I agree with you :P but I'm still quite certain that I did unclick ".pkg" as filetype to associate with 7zip. and by associate I mean treat it as default app. So even after decline of .pkg association with 7zip, just from doing an extract with 7zip via right-click menu I do not think it should automatically assume control of .pkg like that but idk maybe i forgot.

 

[pinky]

that's a good point. it might be that you put the files in program files. I left mine as default, same as @DeViL303 . not sure if that's what's causing your issue, but I wouldn't mess with regedit unless you have a backup like a disk image. it takes me about an hour to make a disk image of my entire system, then thirty minutes to restore it. you don't want to cause damage to the registry or anything else.

I don't understand why you're comparing 7zip with pkg tools. as in my first pic, 7z is a separate option. it's all tied to content id from what I remember. however, I've heard of some people not being able to get this to work. not sure why. here's make pkg (right click any folder):