Loading Saves

[Invictus1017]

When i try and load a save, the loading bar just sits there at half way then crashes. I can start a new game ok though. The patch did not fix this, and my computer has sufficient specs.

Thanks.

[MarkDuffy]

Welcome to our family, Invictus1017! :)

I am not a technical person & one of our Pros will be along shortly. Are you saying that you can't load ANY saves, or just one? I have never had this problem. How about Autosaves? These too?

Good Luck! :)

[Invictus1017]

It appears not any saves from my campaign. I created a sandbox then immedialty saved and loaded fine.

[Invictus1017]

My DxDiag is attached

[MarkDuffy]

It appears not any saves from my campaign. I created a sandbox then immedialty saved and loaded fine.

Excellent! :)

What do you mean "created a sandbox"? You used the Editor?

You also know you can play the campaign cities directly from the "Play a Scenario" option? Load one & save it immediately. Do it for a few of them. Try Nekhen, Nubt & Men-Nefer. These are the first cities in each of the three campaigns (Easy, Medium & Hard). Tell me if it works. Don't use "Play a Campaign"

[Keith]

Do a hard drive clean up and defragment your hard drive.

If the saves you mad in your campaign are not loading they could be corrupted.

[Invictus1017]

Don't hold me to these, but I do see a couple of possibilites that can cause problems. In any case it won't hurt to do as I suggested in my previous reply anyway.

Now, I see you only have an Intel Chipset and not a true video card. That alone could be a problem. Your resolution of 1400X900 might be a bit high for the game with the chipset. Try chagging your resolution to 1024X768 (or as close as possible) to see if that helps. If you didn't edit your graphic options in-game you might need to do that as well before loading. A couple of things to try anyway. A real video card might be a good investment.

Sincerely,
Phil




I tried changing the resolution then loading, didn't do anything. This computer has ran more graphicly intesive games. As for upgrading, its a laptop.

[Keith]

I tried changing the resolution then loading, didn't do anything. This computer has ran more graphicly intesive games. As for upgrading, its a laptop.

There aren't many more games that put more strain on the graphics system than CotN. Intel chipset graphic systems can run the game, but usually at reduced settings.

Despite Intel's claims, they just don't measure up to a fullblown graphics card like Nvidia or ATI.

If the maps you are loading are based on the "huge map" in the editor, your system may not be able to handle them.

However, since you said that your campaign saves won't load, it still sounds like they may be corrupted to me or you have something else causing a problem like your virus scanner. Norton's AV is known to cause trouble with some games. Try disalbing your virus scanner before running CotN.

[Invictus1017]

Defragmenting and reinstalling did nothing, and in safe mode the game wouldnt even start. *sigh*, i guess i will have to play on my desktop.

[Invictus1017]

It appers the file wont load on my other comp either.

Corruption..

[Keith]

Kiss it goodbye and delete it. Nothing else you can do with it.

[Invictus1017]

It is happening with other saves, i attached one that didn't load for some one to try.

[MarkDuffy]

It is happening with other saves, i attached one that didn't load for some one to try.

Duffy at your service, Invictus. Downloading now. Be right back. :)

EDIT: Remember to turn ALL of your buildings, Invictus. Imaged here are your three brickmakers that are turned the wrong way. All buildings need either a space or a road in front of their doors. Brickmakers have a half-open side & an open side. You are on the half open side. The door is on the left side in this image of your beginning city in Nekhen. Your other buildings were turned correctly from what little I saw. Left-click & hold, drag in a tiny circle until you see the door direction arrow & then release to place. You look fine from my end.

Any other game strategy needs to be placed in the strategy section. Post your questions in either your current thread or create a new one at your pleasure.

I hope you get your computer/game problems fixed, but your autosave is fine! :)

PS ~ I renamed it before I transferred it to my game so it wouldn't get lost in with my autosaves. ;)

[Keith]

Try installing a newer copy of DirectX 9.0c.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/directx/default.mspx

Microsoft makes improvements to it and offers newer version every few months.

Yours is version 5.03.2186. I installed a newer version in June after I wiped my drive and had to reinstall everything and mine is 5.03.2600.

[Invictus1017]

The only thing in my startup was Mcaffe which i took out and uninstalled because i don't use it. As to upgrading direct x, i tried it said my version was current. If it means anything, when im trying to load the screen goes black and
like its trying to resize or something. Also i think i posted the wrong
save file...lol. The one attached is the one i can't load, the one i posted loaded fine.

[MarkDuffy]

Also i think i posted the wrong save file...lol. The one attached is the one i can't load, the one i posted loaded fine.

Be right back on this one, also! ;)

EDIT: Nope. Loads halfway then crashes to desktop. So sorry, Invictus. :(

REEDIT: Leave the bad file up a few days until others have had a chance to look at it also, Invictus. Then please remember to use edit post, Go Advanced, then Manage Attachments to REMOVE bad files from our Forum. I have deleted it from my computer already. Thankx! :)

[Invictus1017]

I'm cleaning up my registry now. I'll have to develop my city some more, and make some saves then try loading again. I'll let you know in a bit, thanks for the help so far.

EDIT: Unfortunatly all registry cleaners require money to fix all the problems, if anyone has one or comes across one that fixes all problems for free let me know.

Thanks.

[Invictus1017]

Not too surprised you had problems though after seeing the applications with missing files.

Sincerely,
Phil




About 600.

[Invictus1017]

I cleaned all the problems (found a cleaner), and so far everything is loading fine. I don't know if it's because i cleaned my registry or its just a coincidence,:D .

[Keith]

The version number is the same, it's just that the incremental versions are slightly different every few months with new improvements. You should still be able to download and install the currently available version of DX9c.

Did you install CotN from the local admin account on your system, or from a user account in the admin's local group? CotN requires this and might explain the problem with the autosave files.

Personally, I don't recommend relying on autosave. I make manual saves of my cities every time I make a major change or reach a goal. I use a new save file name for each one like Men-nefer1, Men-nefer2, etc. That way if there is a problem I can go back to a previous save and restart from there.

[Keith]

I'm cleaning up my registry now. I'll have to develop my city some more, and make some saves then try loading again. I'll let you know in a bit, thanks for the help so far.

EDIT: Unfortunatly all registry cleaners require money to fix all the problems, if anyone has one or comes across one that fixes all problems for free let me know.

Thanks.

I posted a thread in the Outside World a few months back called A Handy Utility, IIRC, about RegSeeker registry cleaner. Its free and does a pretty good job. There is a link there to download it. I used it myself before my HD crash in June.

If you have the newest version of McAfee's security center suite, it has a registry cleaner function included.

[Keith]

Here is a link to that thread.

When I ran it the first time I had over 3000 items it cleaned.

[Manni]

I cleaned all the problems (found a cleaner)
What is the name of the cleaner?

I hope it is not RegSeeker.
RegSeeker has a bad reputation.

[Invictus1017]

It's called Amust.

[Manni]

Amust isn`t freeware. FREE 30 day trial

[Keith]

What is the name of the cleaner?

I hope it is not RegSeeker.
RegSeeker has a bad reputation.

RegSeeker worked just fine for me. No problems with the system afterwards and I used it a number of times before I wiped my hard drive after the power outage corrupted Windows on me.

[Invictus1017]

Amust isn`t freeware. FREE 30 day trial
That depends on certain things. ;)

[Manni]

That depends on certain things. ;)

I see which "things" you mean..........;) ;)

[Manni]

@Phil Walker

It is annoying when people ignore to give a notice of sucess to the involved helpers........:rolleyes:

[Keith]

It would have been nice to have heard that he had got it working. Good to see he fixed his problem.

[Keith]

I happens a lot on the Sierra forums. Some people comeback but most just vanish.

I had one tonight that had a game that kept telling him he had the "wrong disc". As I suggested, it turns out he had a Packard Bell copy. He came back to let me know and to help others by attaching a copy of a patch he found, but it was just a copy of someone else's .exe file and I had to remove the file, since there is no legitimate fix for the PB problem. At least he came back. ;)

[Manni]

Some people comeback but most just vanish

I would say: "kindergarten" third class rated.....:p

[MarkDuffy]

I cleaned all the problems (found a cleaner), and so far everything is loading fine. I don't know if it's because i cleaned my registry or its just a coincidence,:D .

Excellent! :D

Thankx for letting us know, Invictus! Happy Gaming! :)