Damaged save data error messages

Error prevention and placeholders in the Pokémon games:

?????????? | ????? | ! | Abnormal Pokémon | Bad Egg | Enigma Berry (Generation III) | Error! | Error codes (Generations I and II) | Error traps for damaged save data | Error traps to prevent impossible progress | Event data debugging messages | Instant victory effect (Generation II) | Mystery Zone | N/A | Pokégear instruction booklet trap | Rhydon trap | Special (location) | This Game Pak is designed only for use on the Game Boy Color. | This Pokémon cannot be traded.

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This article is a summary page for different variations of a glitches, etc. when talked about as a whole.

Within all of the handheld Pokémon games and most of the Pokémon franchise various error messages have been designed as error traps for corrupted data. Many of these messages are used directly on the title screens to stop the player attempting to load a damaged save file after choosing the 'Continue' option, however some of these have a more specific purpose.

In Generation I

1. "The file data is destroyed!" - This message only appears in Pokémon Red, Pokémon Blue and Pokémon Yellow. This message usually appears when the player chooses the CONTINUE option but the game cannot attempt to read the save file at all, as a method of informing the player and preventing the game from freezing. However, not all invalid save files are affected by this message especially if the player has no existing save file at all, so that the player does not recieve this message when attempting to start a new game for the first time.

In Generation II

1. "The save file is corrupted!" - This message only appears within Pokémon Gold, Pokémon Silver and Pokémon Crystal. It usually appears when the player chooses the CONTINUE option but the save file is invalid, as a method of informing the player and preventing the game from freezing. Like the similar message "The file data is destroyed" from Generation I, not all invalid save files are affected by this message especially if the player has no existing save file at all, so that the player does not recieve this message when attempting to start a new game for the first time.
2. "The window save area was exceeded." - This message has been found within the data of Pokémon Gold, Pokémon Silver and Pokémon Crystal, however its exact purpose is unknown. Theoretically this message may appear when the game attempts to save the player's game with an excessive amount of options on his or her 'start menu'. However, this is uncomfirmed.

In Generation III

An error handler, used for corrupted Hall of Fame data in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire.

1. "The save file is corrupted. The previous save file will be loaded." - This message appears in all handheld Generation III Pokémon games when the game attempts to load save data which is invalid but the game has backup save data, and will attempt to load the previous save data instead. Backup save data was introduced in Pokémon games from the third generation and onwards, so that if for example the console's battery runs out while saving the player does not have to start a new game.
2. "The save file has been erased due to corruption or damage. The game can be played." - This message will appear when the game has recently erased badly corrupted save data, as a method of informing the player that the continue option has been removed.
3. "The 1M sub-circuit board is not installed." - This message appears when the game attempts to take the player to the Continue or New Game screen but the sub-circuit board has not been installed correctly. This will prevent the player from saving, if he or she defeats the Elite Four without the sub-circuit board properly installed he or she will recieve the message "The save file has been erased due to corruption or damage. The game can be played" when returning to the title screen.
4. "The HALL OF FAME data is corrupt." - This message will appear when the player attempts to access the Hall of Fame, but the Hall of Fame data is invalid (or there is no Hall of Fame data at all, and the interface has been accessed through the use of a game-altering device or a semi-corrupted save file).
5. "Save error.." - This is presumably a message for when the game fails to read save data, although the exact causes of the message are unknown.

In Generation IV

1. "The save data could not be accessed. Please turn the power off and reinsert the DS Game Card." - This message appears in all handheld Generation IV games when the game attempts to locate the save data, but other in game processes are preventing the game from doing so. More commonly, this message will occur if the DS Game Card has not been inserted correctly.
2. "The data could not be read. Please turn off the power, then remove and reinsert the Game Boy Advance Game Pak." - This message appears in all handheld Generation IV games and occurs when the player attempts to migrate a Pokémon to Pal Park, but something else is preventing the game from accessing the save data on the Game Boy Advance Game Pak.
3. "Error saving data. The backup memory has failed. The game may be played, but it is impossible to save. Please turn off the power." - This message appears when the game cannot access or write any save data. It may occur if the DS game card is damaged, or if the game is emulated.
4. "The saved data could not be deleted..." - This message appears when the game cannot erase the save data, or (on rare occassions) fails to do so completely before the game manages the byte which determines whether there is save data or not. It may appear when the DS game card is damaged.
5. "The save file is corrupted. The previous save file will be loaded." - This message will appear when the save data is corrupted, but the game has backup save data. The game will attempt to load the previous save file.
6. "The save file will be erased due to corruption or damage." - This message will appear when the game identifies all save data to have been badly corrupted, before formatting the save data and removing the continue option.
7. "Save failed..." - This message appears when the player migrates Pokémon to Pal Park, but the game cannot save data on either the GameBoy Advance game or the Game Pak.
8. "Error reading the Game Boy Advance Game Pak’s save file. There may not be a file saved, or the save file may be corrupted." - This message commonly appears when the player attempts to migrate Pokémon from a Game Boy Advance Pak but there is no save data on that Game Pak, or it has been corrupted.
9. "Your Hall of Fame data is corrupted. It will be fixed if you enter the Hall of Fame again." - This message will appear when the player attempts to view the Hall of Fame, but the data within the Hall of Fame is unreadable.

Error messages only in Pokémon Platinum, HeartGold and SoulSilver

1. "The most recent Battle Video is corrupted. The previously saved Battle Video will be loaded instead." - This message appears when the player attempts to watch the most recent Battle Video in the Global Terminal, but the data is in an invalid format.
2. "The most recent Battle Hall record is corrupted. The previously saved record will be loaded instead." - This message appears when the player attempts to continue an existing streak in the Battle Hall, but the game cannot read the relevant byte in the save file concerning the Hall.
3. "The Battle Hall record has been erased." - This message appears when the player attempts to access his or Battle Hall data, but the game has erased it and all backup data due to corruption.
4. "There was an error. The Battle Video couldn’t be saved." - This message appears when the player attempts to save a Battle Video but other in-game variables have prevented the game from saving it.
5. "The data was corrupted. It could not be sent." - This message rarely occurs through normal gameplay. It happens when the player attempts to send a Wii Message but the chosen message is corrupt (e.g. consists of glitchy characters).
6. "Data is corrupted." - This message appears when the game partially loads a Battle Video, but the game takes the data within the Battle Video to be corrupted.
7. "Save data corrupted" - The cause of this error message is currently unknown. [1]