I second this. I have it turned off and it still says it's syncing as soon as it hits the main menu.

I have to wait for it to finish before i can play.

How then to go about to really shut it down (besides using the :arrgh!:version)?
Marc

No, I dont sync my games online.

I had SH5 set up to sync online saves. During my last patrol I kept hitting a certain time and date in the campaign where it would try to auto-save/sync online. Each time this attempt was made the game would Crash To Desktop. After this happening several times I disabled on line saving/sync. Even after I disabled it it also said it was syncing games from the server at the main menu. I had to go back 2 saves for it to finally not CTD.

Looking back now I forgot that I had edited a .tga file the day before and I think that somehow corrupted my online auto saves/sync, causing my CTD problems. The DRM probably thinks the game files are corrupt possibly because they have been altered(?) and CTD.

I still have syncing off and my auto saves are up to date with my current campaign. No more CTD so far. (Crosses fingers!!!)

I had exactly the same experience.
Now turned off.

I lost a few saves and some gone corrupted or something (just CTD while loading).
I turned off online saves and now I "only" have the usual bugs, like morale going to zero etc etc.

Same, it ignores my wishes and syncs anyway.

I think this is cepts in the graphics settings (sync) and are actually used for the operation for 3D glasses.

This will move the images Syncron.
if I'm not mistaken.
But this option I have nowhere found on SH5

Is there like a screenshot or a picture?

Well, if you crash out of the game for any reason (it doesn't get shut down properly, allowing it to upload saved games), you'll lose all progress next time you start it, as the syncing process makes sure your saves are identical to what's on the server. I imagine the same thing happens if the game shuts down properly, but servers are down/inaccessible at the time.
This can be worked around by copying all your saves to another location before risking the sync, and if they get deleted, copying them back after the game has started and sits in the main menu.
I haven't had a chance to verify that turning sync off will actually turn sync completely off. However, if it does, that's what I'd recommend.

Last nite it took a really unusual long time to synch, so I just turned it off. I've not seen much time difference thus far, tho.:hmmm:

Well I've left this alone and as it is stock. Reason being is I have no problem with it. And I like to leave something that hasn't any problems alone.
Besides if i ever have to uninstall and reinstall like I have once already, I wont have to start all over again. The online saves will be there and I can just pick up where I left off in spite of the fact that I reinstalled the sim.

Hold on.. so most people aren't using on of SH5's most hyped online features that was used to sell the broken DRM ??

Neh.

The only valid reason for online saves in general I can think of is if you had hundreds of hours invested in Guild Wars. I read this somewhere on this forum, can't recall where. IIRC correctly this is the guiding principle behind DRM.

I'm perfectly capable of handeling my own saved games thanks. Including backups.

What does Guildwars have to do with it?