Configuration

Config Files & Paths

The active configuration follows the launch path when SMS can remount it. A memory card being present does not automatically move a USB-launched player's settings onto that card.

Where SMS.cfg and SMS.smb live

Launch source	Normal configuration location
Memory card, USB/MX4SIO/i.LINK/ATA mass volume, MMCE, PFS/HDD, writable UDPFS	SMS.cfg beside the launched ELF. SMS.smb follows the same resolved config directory.
SMB, developer host:, optical launch, or a boot mass device that SMS cannot remount after IOP reset	Fallback resolution: an available memory card can retain the card config; otherwise SMS searches writable USB/MMCE roots for an existing SMS.cfg, then prefers a USB target, then MMCE. The card path is the final fallback.
No usable launch directory	The configured memory-card default, normally mc0:/SMS/SMS.cfg (the selected card slot can differ).

Examples: mass0:/APPS/SMS/SMS.elf normally uses mass0:/APPS/SMS/SMS.cfg; mc1:/APPS/SMS.elf normally uses mc1:/APPS/SMS.cfg. BDM mass numbering can change across boots. A UDPFS server must permit writes for config saved there; an unreachable/read-only boot source can cause fallback.

SMS remounts filesystem boot devices before its second settings load. That is why a saved skin or display setting may load later than the first boot screen. The October repaint fix addresses that sequence; the reported restart case still needs acceptance.

IPCONFIG.DAT is separate

The network editor saves the PS2's static address/mask/gateway to mc?:/SYS-CONF/IPCONFIG.DAT when the configured memory card is usable. Without a card it uses the ELF's folder. Startup probes the boot-folder copy and the card fallback; a stale boot-folder copy can therefore matter. This file does not simply follow SMS.cfg into every fallback directory.

SMS.smb stores SMB server settings, including credentials, beside the resolved SMS.cfg. Keep your personal configuration out of public bug-report attachments or remove credentials before sharing it.

Language, skin, font and palette assets

Asset	Lookup
SMS.lng	Boot-folder copy first, then mc?:/SMS/SMS.lng. Enable the external language after installing a pack matching the build.
Skins/Name.smi	Boot-folder Skins/ first, then mc?:/SMS/Skins/. Names are selected and saved in config.
SMS.pal	Boot-folder copy first, then the configured memory-card SMS directory.
.mbf fonts	Scanned in the SMS card/boot locations; select the desired font in the relevant menu. See languages and subtitles.

Save, compare and reset

1. Use Save settings after changing autostart, language, skin or playback preferences.
2. If a setting reverts, check the exact launch directory and file timestamp; do not assume another copy on mc0: is active.
3. Before resetting, back up the active SMS.cfg and SMS.smb. Rename the config and relaunch to test defaults. A fresh config disables optional device autostart.
4. When comparing builds, keep a separate config copy for each and record which file each used.

Source: main.c, SMS_Config.c, SMS_IOP.c and SMS_GUIDesktop.c. The active target depends on successful remount/probe results.

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