New Idea that may solve corrupted save issues

[Chaoic16]

I have realized this, after thinking about this for a while after exploring through game files, including save files.

I have realized that, but please correct me if I am wrong though, what caused corrupted save files is:

1) Being near to any enemy units.
2) Being near to enemy terrains
3) having a saved file that is larger than 4.0 MB at least.
4) being submerged

So I realized something and I noticed that the save files have increased amounts of differnt files in each folders that contain of saved files. So I have though about this, how about if the community could work together on developing a software known as 'save editor' where the program would itself "reposition your ship' further from any enemy units, surface your ship, and would seek and destroy the 'junks' *non important* information in saved itself where it would reduce the saved file itself.

This program would iron out any possibilities of save files being corrupted and repair the corrupted file by doing these progress. At once this software is released and if it really work, it would save everyone from purely hellish time in campaign having to go through many of corrupted saves.

So what do all of you think of this? I think this would be life saver and 'god sent' for every gamers of SH4, including this community.

:up:


Chaoic out...

[magic452]

Corrupt saves are an individual thing, some have problems others don't, so what causes them is debatable. I doubt that a one size fits all would work.

I save under any circumstances, any where and at any time. Haven't had a bad save in better than a year and a half.

I only save at the nav. map and at 1 TC than pause the game than save.
I some times get the "torpedo fire" or smoke on the water thing but they don't effect the game. I never get a failure to load or CTD from a save. Haven't had a CTD in almost 2 years. I guess I'm lucky in that respect.

Try the Nav. map thing it has worked for some.

Magic

[Armistead]

I agree that being around land, ships,ect ..can corrupt saves, but I think it's more of a computer related thing. I had that problem with my lower end cp...With my new one, I save all the time around stuff. I also notice it will load the save almost as fast as I click, where before loading a save took a few minutes if a lot of stuff was around.

[Rockin Robbins]

That's all SH3 stuff and has no application to SH4.

I have had hundreds of saves under all conditions, including with a torpedo on the way to a target with no issues.

[Chaoic16]

Rockin Robbins and all of you,

can each of you PLEASE explain to us individually what are the specific conditions where you would save files without having them being corrupted files?

These will be very helpful to me and my bro, Meeeeee8880 who constantly suffers with so many of corrupted saved files.

Thanks!

:salute:


Chaoic out...

[magic452]

I think that corrupt saves are more a computer or install problem than a game issue. What other prg. are running, virus scans, firewalls, etc. Mods might have something to do with it but I run quite a few with no problem.

I save a lot under ALL conditions with no bad saves. My game time is in short spurts and I reload a lot of saves. Haven't had any bad saves since I went to the Nav. map and paused before saving.

My rig runs the game very well, 2 good 512 meg video cards, 3 gigs ram and a good AMD cpu and 600W power supply. All virus and firewalls are OFF. Running XP pro. Sh4 1.5 with TMO 163 and several smaller mods by Webster.

One word of caution, If your within 4000 yd. of an IJN escort and at silent running, when you load a save silent running is the last thing to kick in and the escort WILL hear you and come a runnin'. I've tested this many times and the escort will hear you.

If your having real bad save problem, a look at your set up may be in order.

Not saving when you are close proximaty to land, convoys, shallow water etc. may help, I just don't have to do these things. Lucky I guess. :up:

Magic

[Rockin Robbins]

Ditto. I've never done any of those weird "don't save too close to land, in detection range of any other ships or subs, in shallow water, within x miles of port, while not facing Mecca...."

I have saved the game hundreds of times, mostly during combat and never had a problem. I even purposely saved a game with the torpedo in the water on the way to the target and everything was fine. I don't pay any attention whatever to what the conditions are when I hit save.

One thing will make a difference. Make absolutely sure your shortcuts to SH4 point directly to SH4.exe. I'll bet 90% of corruption issues could be solved with just that change. The others could be caused by changing mod configurations and then trying to load up a game saved at sea. For certain mod changes you need an in-port save.

Keep your last in-port save always. That way you can only lose the cruise you are on. As far as all that other Silent Hunter 3 hocus pocus: fergiddaboudit!:D

[kylesplanet]

I'm with RR here...I've had the game since the first patch and have saved under all conditions and have never had a bad save. I even did the torpedo in the water thing and it was just fine. Only time I had any problem was when I installed a mod during the patrol.

[Stealhead]

Yeah it seems to vary from machine to machine so get the save file bugs others dont.I would say if you sometimes have the save bugs then you should save the game often like once each new day in the game.