String of corrupted saves and crashing

[1Patriotofmany]

I'm having a string of corrupted saves that crash and been having the program crash when I save and exit to windows, with the usual window's window of Silent hunterIV has stopped working or words to that effect searching for solution to problem ect. Pissing me off. I haven't changed anything, been running the same campaign for a long time with FOTRSU 1.3


Do I need to start all over and reinstall? Win7x64 pro.

[KaleunMarco]

I'm having a string of corrupted saves that crash and been having the program crash when I save and exit to windows, with the usual window's window of Silent hunterIV has stopped working or words to that effect searching for solution to problem ect. Pissing me off. I haven't changed anything, been running the same campaign for a long time with FOTRSU 1.3


Do I need to start all over and reinstall? Win7x64 pro.

yes, i've seen this behaviour.
it is very frustrating.
here is a list of actions to try, no guarantees:
1. reboot. you may have fragmented memory. re-launch SH4 and your savegame.
2. delete the files in C:\Users\YourUserName\Documents\YourThreeLetterAcr onym\data\cfg. Keep only only the RichSavedGames and SaveGames folders. launch SH4 and reset your options. exit. relaunch sh4 and reload the game.
3. if you have been applying and reapplying mods/fixes, you can try the Mod Soup fix (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?p=1228828#post1228828). if not, then skip on down to #4.
4. delete all of the savefolders/files and relaunch your career.

good luck!
:Kaleun_Salute:

[1Patriotofmany]

yes, i've seen this behaviour.
it is very frustrating.
here is a list of actions to try, no guarantees:
1. reboot. you may have fragmented memory. re-launch SH4 and your savegame.
2. delete the files in C:\Users\YourUserName\Documents\YourThreeLetterAcr onym\data\cfg. Keep only only the RichSavedGames and SaveGames folders. launch SH4 and reset your options. exit. relaunch sh4 and reload the game.
3. if you have been applying and reapplying mods/fixes, you can try the Mod Soup fix (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?p=1228828#post1228828). if not, then skip on down to #4.
4. delete all of the savefolders/files and relaunch your career.

good luck!
:Kaleun_Salute: Thank you for the reply. Before I came back here and saw your post, I realized the point where this all started was an encounter west of Japan in the rain with a convoy. For some reason that encounter screwed it all up. I backtracked about 6 saves to right before that encounter save and avoided the entire convoy. Now it's saving and exiting properly. Maybe because I got sunk in that encounter, it's stuck somehow if I interact again with that situation? Very weird. But anyway I just avoided that whole scene and now it's working fine again. Yes I cheated

[KaleunMarco]

Thank you for the reply. Before I came back here and saw your post, I realized the point where this all started was an encounter west of Japan in the rain with a convoy. For some reason that encounter screwed it all up. I backtracked about 6 saves to right before that encounter save and avoided the entire convoy. Now it's saving and exiting properly. Maybe because I got sunk in that encounter, it's stuck somehow if I interact again with that situation? Very weird. But anyway I just avoided that whole scene and now it's working fine again. Yes I cheated

haven't seen that before.
totally unexplainable.

i had a similar experience...kinda sorta the opposite cause: i sank a ship, saved and very shortly thereafter CTD. the saved game would NOT reload.
i had to retreat to the save prior to the sinking and then NOT sink that ship when it passed by.
very odd.

HOWEVER (notice the caps :D) this occurred with a prior release of FOTRSU and has not occurred with either 1.46 or the recently released Preview Edition.

[1Patriotofmany]

haven't seen that before.
totally unexplainable.

i had a similar experience...kinda sorta the opposite cause: i sank a ship, saved and very shortly thereafter CTD. the saved game would NOT reload.
i had to retreat to the save prior to the sinking and then NOT sink that ship when it passed by.
very odd.

HOWEVER (notice the caps :D) this occurred with a prior release of FOTRSU and has not occurred with either 1.46 or the recently released Preview Edition. There's newer releases for FOTRSU? I wasn't even aware of that. Thought I had the latest with 1.3! Shows you how my attention span is LOL. Yeah I've always random CTD even with vanilla and here and there corrupt saves but never like the CTD during saving and a long string like this one. Thanks again!

[KaleunMarco]

There's newer releases for FOTRSU? I wasn't even aware of that. Thought I had the latest with 1.3! Shows you how my attention span is LOL. Yeah I've always random CTD even with vanilla and here and there corrupt saves but never like the CTD during saving and a long string like this one. Thanks again!

that sounds like a Win10 compatibility issue which can happen at any time because Microsoft is constantly forcing down updates that change the conditions under which SH4 runs.

i myself had this problem earlier in the year: SH4-FOTRSU was running fine and then poof...CTD's for no apparent reason. after much-gritting and gnashing of teeth, i re-ran the Compatibility Wizard and some settings were changed and things ran (and are running) more smoothly.

one more item, FOTRSU is now at 1.46 AND there is a beta update 1.46 Ver 16. go to Page One of that forum and check it out.

good luck, Herr Kaleun!

[1Patriotofmany]

that sounds like a Win10 compatibility issue which can happen at any time because Microsoft is constantly forcing down updates that change the conditions under which SH4 runs.

i myself had this problem earlier in the year: SH4-FOTRSU was running fine and then poof...CTD's for no apparent reason. after much-gritting and gnashing of teeth, i re-ran the Compatibility Wizard and some settings were changed and things ran (and are running) more smoothly.

one more item, FOTRSU is now at 1.46 AND there is a beta update 1.46 Ver 16. go to Page One of that forum and check it out.

good luck, Herr Kaleun! WIN7X64. Where is the save file located at? I'm having a big brainfart. I'm just gonna unactivate 1.39 and install 1.46 and if that doesn't work uninstall everything and start over, but 1.46 says to delete the save folder.

[KaleunMarco]

WIN7X64. Where is the save file located at? I'm having a big brainfart. I'm just gonna unactivate 1.39 and install 1.46 and if that doesn't work uninstall everything and start over, but 1.46 says to delete the save folder.

\Documents\SH4

[1Patriotofmany]

\Documents\SH4 Thank you sir! I deactivated 1.3 and activated 1.46 without deleting the save file, working great, but I know if it starts acting up, I should start over and delete it, now that I know where to look for it.

[KaleunMarco]

Thank you sir! I deactivated 1.3 and activated 1.46 without deleting the save file, working great, but I know if it starts acting up, I should start over and delete it, now that I know where to look for it.

you're a braver man than i am, Gunga Din.
:Kaleun_Salute:

[1Patriotofmany]

you're a braver man than i am, Gunga Din.
:Kaleun_Salute: Naw, just lazier in my older age.
:ping:

[fireftr18]

You went to an earlier save and was able to restart the game. That's good. The problem you described is well known from way back when the game was new. The save file is very complicated. If you save over existing files too much, you'll eventually corrupt the file. The solution is to save each time in a new file, and save frequently. For instance, "fireftr1,""fireftr2," etc.

[1Patriotofmany]

You went to an earlier save and was able to restart the game. That's good. The problem you described is well known from way back when the game was new. The save file is very complicated. If you save over existing files too much, you'll eventually corrupt the file. The solution is to save each time in a new file, and save frequently. For instance, "fireftr1,""fireftr2," etc. I do that, so that wasn't the problem. I make sure I don't even use the same starting letters or use any numbers.

[mikesn9]

I do that, so that wasn't the problem. I make sure I don't even use the same starting letters or use any numbers.


Do you have a gazillion saves?
best to delete some older ones. I always keep a few recent 'good' saves.

[1Patriotofmany]

Do you have a gazillion saves?
best to delete some older ones. I always keep a few recent 'good' saves. Yes that's a great idea! But ever since I backtracked and even updated FOTRSU without deleting the save file like we're supposed to it's been running nonstop no problems. Weird glitches. Thanks Mike BTW, I appreciate your posts!

[fireftr18]

Yes that's a great idea! But ever since I backtracked and even updated FOTRSU without deleting the save file like we're supposed to it's been running nonstop no problems. Weird glitches. Thanks Mike BTW, I appreciate your posts!

Glad you got it sorted. Mods can cause some weird or sometimes funny glitches.

:Kaleun_Salute:

[1Patriotofmany]

HAHAHA I spoke too soon without knocking on wood. Guess I'll delete the save file after all.

[1Patriotofmany]

Since following the directions with a clean install, haven't had an issue. (Knocking on my head)

[1Patriotofmany]

Spoke too soon. Still having corrupt saves. This really makes playing the game a PITA. You get some good sinkings then you have to start again before you sank them. ERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Why waste my time!

[propbeanie]

Just to be certain, do you have LAA or the 4Gig Patch properly applied to the SH4.exe file? Also, don't shell-out to Windows while playing. Someone in the SH3 threads mentions being able to Pause the game, and use the <Windows><D> key in Windows 10 to get to the desktop and then do things, but I tried it on the Win7 machine downstairs and it still trashes the game. I have the screen on this computer "Windowed", and it does much better. Lastly, don't add and subtract mods, unless you're certain they are safe to do so. As to what is considered "safe"... If you use high TC, that can also cause issues, as can not waiting after you click the "Save" button before exiting. Saving when there is not much going on is safest, and I have Saved before while in the middle of a convoy and not had trouble later, but other times... Lastly, if you are still doing FotRSU v1.46 and earlier, if you encounter an IJN AI Sub, that can cause corrupted data that can result in the player's submarine gauges hanging at 12 O'Clock high, which is bad data, and could contribute to bad Save data. You could try the "FotRSU Preview" file, but put the "Preview EnlistedFix (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kBKsdslS1CJdWJsmtJk-hAq7BvP97jzT/view?usp=sharing)" on top of it. But, unfortunately, bad Saves have been a constant with the game. Better than SH3 was in that regard, but definitely not perfect.

[1Patriotofmany]

Just to be certain, do you have LAA or the 4Gig Patch properly applied to the SH4.exe file? Also, don't shell-out to Windows while playing. Someone in the SH3 threads mentions being able to Pause the game, and use the <Windows><D> key in Windows 10 to get to the desktop and then do things, but I tried it on the Win7 machine downstairs and it still trashes the game. I have the screen on this computer "Windowed", and it does much better. Lastly, don't add and subtract mods, unless you're certain they are safe to do so. As to what is considered "safe"... If you use high TC, that can also cause issues, as can not waiting after you click the "Save" button before exiting. Saving when there is not much going on is safest, and I have Saved before while in the middle of a convoy and not had trouble later, but other times... Lastly, if you are still doing FotRSU v1.46 and earlier, if you encounter an IJN AI Sub, that can cause corrupted data that can result in the player's submarine gauges hanging at 12 O'Clock high, which is bad data, and could contribute to bad Save data. You could try the "FotRSU Preview" file, but put the "Preview EnlistedFix (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kBKsdslS1CJdWJsmtJk-hAq7BvP97jzT/view?usp=sharing)" on top of it. But, unfortunately, bad Saves have been a constant with the game. Better than SH3 was in that regard, but definitely not perfect. I have the LBA installed, latest Fotrsu, started all over with the install, still it's random. Seems to occur more often after I get a new sub in port. Yeah, I know vanilla did this to me also. Just voicing my frustrations, Got two large IJN Navy ships in these saves, highly irritating. I tend to save and resume for a bit before leaving the game, and yes I never shell out anymore, not even to check and trade stock and options :) Maybe I'll give it a full minute or 2 when saving before doing a resume or exit game. How long in the game after a high TC run do you suggest waiting? Thanks again for the help!

[propbeanie]

If I think about it, I bring TC down to 1x, do a slow count to 3, then Save. Typing in a new unique name, clicking on the Save button twice (once for "focus", and once for "execution"), and then count to 3 again, then either continue or exit. Usually speaking, no "pause" is really necessary, but there are those instances where it is. The only way to find out if it was necessary, is to have a failed Load... that is not cool.

[Mad Mardigan]

What I do is a gradual step down from high TC (which I edit the main.cfg to only allow it to rack out to 256 & no higher. :shucks:) down to 1 TC... wait 3 minutes or so to 5. After that I then note the date & time (which I use in making My saves so that it's not exactly carbon copy.)

example:

P-1 M1-A 15/06/42 21:30 hrs

Breaking that down...

P-1 = Patrol am doing.

M1-A = current skipper, I use the next letter at the end to denote different named skippers. M1-A is J. T. 'Mad' Mardigan. Full name, James Tiberius Mardigan.. an homage to J. T. Kirk, a well known skipper in their own right.. at least space wise. :shucks:

15/06/42 = In game date done as I recall the navy did back then... if I have My info right.. Day, followed by month, then year &...

Finally,
21:30 hrs ... time stamping, military style... that's 9:30 p.m. for land lubbers & non military folk... :D

After I enter in the pertinent data, I hit save... twice, once to clear the cursor out of the naming bar & the 2nd to save.

After saving, I'll go back to interior view in the sub then make for the bridge to just enjoy the view for... about 5 minutes before exiting.

I always do My saves when I know it's night & always vary up the time as I don't have to worry about the date... that rolls on. In addition, to also knowing I'm surfaced... only other things I make sure of, is no ships around & 70+ nm away from land (as is possible, that is... I generally try to avoid saving near land if at all feasible. :yep:)

That's just the way I do My saves & has worked great & have not had any issues with saves not loading when I go to get back in to skippering My sub. :up:

Any way...

Hope this info helps... :shucks: :yep: :up:

M. M.

:Kaleun_Salute:

[1Patriotofmany]

Okay I've been waiting one minute or longer between the time I click save and resume, and one minute or longer for every step to exiting the game, haven't had a corrupt save even with ships close by and underwater. Knocking on wood(my head) because every time I think it's solved it's not :) Seems delaying during the save and resume or save and exit game steps is working.