diff --git a/source/ngc/fileop.cpp b/source/ngc/fileop.cpp
index aa8b36d..19f2559 100644
--- a/source/ngc/fileop.cpp
+++ b/source/ngc/fileop.cpp
@@ -234,15 +234,15 @@ bool ChangeInterface(int method, bool silent)
 			WaitPrompt ("USB drive not found!");
 		#endif
 	}
-	else if(method == METHOD_SMB)
-	{
-		sprintf(rootdir, "smb:/");
-		mounted = ConnectShare(NOTSILENT);
-	}
 	else if(method == METHOD_DVD)
 	{
 		sprintf(rootdir, "/");
-		mounted = MountDVD(NOTSILENT);
+		mounted = MountDVD(silent);
+	}
+	else if(method == METHOD_SMB)
+	{
+		sprintf(rootdir, "smb:/");
+		mounted = ConnectShare(silent);
 	}
 
 	return mounted;
diff --git a/source/ngc/filesel.cpp b/source/ngc/filesel.cpp
index fda9dc7..577cd3b 100644
--- a/source/ngc/filesel.cpp
+++ b/source/ngc/filesel.cpp
@@ -93,19 +93,21 @@ int autoLoadMethod()
 {
 	ShowAction ("Attempting to determine load method...");
 
+	int method = 0;
+
 	if(ChangeInterface(METHOD_SD, SILENT))
-		return METHOD_SD;
+		method = METHOD_SD;
 	else if(ChangeInterface(METHOD_USB, SILENT))
-		return METHOD_USB;
+		method = METHOD_USB;
 	else if(ChangeInterface(METHOD_DVD, SILENT))
-		return METHOD_DVD;
+		method = METHOD_DVD;
 	else if(ChangeInterface(METHOD_SMB, SILENT))
-		return METHOD_SMB;
+		method = METHOD_SMB;
 	else
-	{
 		WaitPrompt("Unable to auto-determine load method!");
-		return 0; // no method found
-	}
+
+	GCSettings.LoadMethod = method; // save method found for later use
+	return method;
 }
 
 /****************************************************************************
@@ -113,25 +115,28 @@ int autoLoadMethod()
 * Auto-determines and sets the save method
 * Returns method set
 ****************************************************************************/
-int autoSaveMethod()
+int autoSaveMethod(bool silent)
 {
-	ShowAction ("Attempting to determine save method...");
+	if(!silent)
+		ShowAction ("Attempting to determine save method...");
+
+	int method = 0;
 
 	if(ChangeInterface(METHOD_SD, SILENT))
-		return METHOD_SD;
+		method = METHOD_SD;
 	else if(ChangeInterface(METHOD_USB, SILENT))
-		return METHOD_USB;
+		method = METHOD_USB;
 	else if(TestCard(CARD_SLOTA, SILENT))
-		return METHOD_MC_SLOTA;
+		method = METHOD_MC_SLOTA;
 	else if(TestCard(CARD_SLOTB, SILENT))
-		return METHOD_MC_SLOTB;
+		method = METHOD_MC_SLOTB;
 	else if(ChangeInterface(METHOD_SMB, SILENT))
-		return METHOD_SMB;
-	else
-	{
+		method = METHOD_SMB;
+	else if(!silent)
 		WaitPrompt("Unable to auto-determine save method!");
-		return 0; // no method found
-	}
+
+	GCSettings.SaveMethod = method; // save method found for later use
+	return method;
 }
 
 /****************************************************************************
diff --git a/source/ngc/filesel.h b/source/ngc/filesel.h
index a2759e8..d07d6aa 100644
--- a/source/ngc/filesel.h
+++ b/source/ngc/filesel.h
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ void FreeSaveBuffer();
 bool MakeFilePath(char filepath[], int type, int method);
 int OpenROM (int method);
 int autoLoadMethod();
-int autoSaveMethod();
+int autoSaveMethod(bool silent);
 int FileSortCallback(const void *f1, const void *f2);
 void StripExt(char* returnstring, char * inputstring);
 
diff --git a/source/ngc/preferences.cpp b/source/ngc/preferences.cpp
index 7590f1f..b2c48d7 100644
--- a/source/ngc/preferences.cpp
+++ b/source/ngc/preferences.cpp
@@ -123,6 +123,7 @@ preparePrefsData (int method)
 		memcpy (savebuffer, saveicon, offset);
 
 		// And the comments
+		memset(prefscomment, 0, 64);
 		sprintf (prefscomment[0], "%s Prefs", VERSIONSTR);
 		sprintf (prefscomment[1], "Preferences");
 		memcpy (savebuffer + offset, prefscomment, 64);
@@ -316,7 +317,7 @@ SavePrefs (bool silent)
 
 	// We'll save using the first available method (probably SD) since this
 	// is the method preferences will be loaded from by default
-	int method = autoSaveMethod();
+	int method = autoSaveMethod(silent);
 
 	if(!MakeFilePath(filepath, FILE_PREF, method))
 		return false;
diff --git a/source/ngc/smbop.cpp b/source/ngc/smbop.cpp
index 1521078..9135e6e 100644
--- a/source/ngc/smbop.cpp
+++ b/source/ngc/smbop.cpp
@@ -26,8 +26,8 @@
 #include "filesel.h"
 
 bool networkInit = false;
+bool autoNetworkInit = true;
 bool networkShareInit = false;
-bool networkInitHalt = false;
 
 /****************************************************************************
  * InitializeNetwork
@@ -36,36 +36,32 @@ bool networkInitHalt = false;
 
 void InitializeNetwork(bool silent)
 {
-	if(networkInit || networkInitHalt)
+	// stop if we're already initialized, or if auto-init has failed before
+	// in which case, manual initialization is required
+	if(networkInit || !autoNetworkInit)
 		return;
 
 	if(!silent)
 		ShowAction ("Initializing network...");
 
-	s32 result;
+	char ip[16];
+	s32 initResult = if_config(ip, NULL, NULL, true);
 
-	while ((result = net_init()) == -EAGAIN);
-
-	if (result >= 0)
+	if(initResult == 0)
 	{
-		char myIP[16];
-
-		if (if_config(myIP, NULL, NULL, true) < 0)
-		{
-			networkInitHalt = true; // do not attempt a reconnection again
-
-			if(!silent)
-				WaitPrompt("Error reading IP address.");
-		}
-		else
-		{
-			networkInit = true;
-		}
+		networkInit = true;
 	}
 	else
 	{
+		// do not automatically attempt a reconnection
+		autoNetworkInit = false;
+
 		if(!silent)
-			WaitPrompt("Unable to initialize network.");
+		{
+			char msg[150];
+			sprintf(msg, "Unable to initialize network (Error #: %i)", initResult);
+			WaitPrompt(msg);
+		}
 	}
 }
 
@@ -88,14 +84,32 @@ ConnectShare (bool silent)
 	return false;
 	#endif
 
-	// check that all parameter have been set
-	if(strlen(GCSettings.smbuser) == 0 ||
-		strlen(GCSettings.smbpwd) == 0 ||
-		strlen(GCSettings.smbshare) == 0 ||
-		strlen(GCSettings.smbip) == 0)
+	int chkU = (strlen(GCSettings.smbuser) > 0) ? 0:1;
+	int chkP = (strlen(GCSettings.smbpwd) > 0) ? 0:1;
+	int chkS = (strlen(GCSettings.smbshare) > 0) ? 0:1;
+	int chkI = (strlen(GCSettings.smbip) > 0) ? 0:1;
+
+	// check that all parameters have been set
+	if(chkU + chkP + chkS + chkI > 0)
 	{
 		if(!silent)
-			WaitPrompt("Invalid network settings. Check settings.xml.");
+		{
+			char msg[50];
+			char msg2[100];
+			if(chkU + chkP + chkS + chkI > 1) // more than one thing is wrong
+				sprintf(msg, "Check settings.xml.");
+			else if(chkU)
+				sprintf(msg, "Username is blank.");
+			else if(chkP)
+				sprintf(msg, "Password is blank.");
+			else if(chkS)
+				sprintf(msg, "Share name is blank.");
+			else if(chkI)
+				sprintf(msg, "Share IP is blank.");
+
+			sprintf(msg2, "Invalid network settings - %s", msg);
+			WaitPrompt(msg2);
+		}
 		return false;
 	}
 
diff --git a/source/ngc/vba.cpp b/source/ngc/vba.cpp
index 85e4896..b9a1cf1 100644
--- a/source/ngc/vba.cpp
+++ b/source/ngc/vba.cpp
@@ -167,17 +167,18 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	DI_Init();	// first
 	#endif
 
+	InitDeviceThread();
+
 	// Initialise controllers
+	PAD_Init ();
+
 	#ifdef HW_RVL
 	WPAD_Init();
 	// read wiimote accelerometer and IR data
 	WPAD_SetDataFormat(WPAD_CHAN_ALL,WPAD_FMT_BTNS_ACC_IR);
 	WPAD_SetVRes(WPAD_CHAN_ALL,640,480);
-	#endif
-	PAD_Init ();
 
 	// Wii Power/Reset buttons
-	#ifdef HW_RVL
 	WPAD_SetPowerButtonCallback((WPADShutdownCallback)ShutdownCB);
 	SYS_SetPowerCallback(ShutdownCB);
 	SYS_SetResetCallback(ResetCB);
@@ -197,7 +198,6 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
 	// Initialize libFAT for SD and USB
 	MountAllFAT();
-	InitDeviceThread();
 
 	// Initialize DVD subsystem (GameCube only)
 	#ifdef HW_DOL
diff --git a/source/ngc/vbasupport.cpp b/source/ngc/vbasupport.cpp
index 6957abe..4daae70 100644
--- a/source/ngc/vbasupport.cpp
+++ b/source/ngc/vbasupport.cpp
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ bool LoadBatteryOrState(int method, int action, bool silent)
 	int offset = 0;
 
 	if(method == METHOD_AUTO)
-		method = autoSaveMethod(); // we use 'Save' because we need R/W
+		method = autoSaveMethod(silent); // we use 'Save' because we need R/W
 
 	if(!MakeFilePath(filepath, action, method))
 		return false;
@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@ bool SaveBatteryOrState(int method, int action, bool silent)
 	int datasize = 0; // we need the actual size of the data written
 
 	if(method == METHOD_AUTO)
-		method = autoSaveMethod();
+		method = autoSaveMethod(silent);
 
 	if(!MakeFilePath(filepath, action, method))
 		return false;
@@ -349,6 +349,7 @@ bool SaveBatteryOrState(int method, int action, bool silent)
 	if(method == METHOD_MC_SLOTA || method == METHOD_MC_SLOTB)
 	{
 		char savecomment[2][32];
+		memset(savecomment, 0, 64);
 		char savetype[10];
 
 		offset = sizeof (saveicon);