Crash
 

I'm sorry to bother you, but can't find a solution to my issue. My mods:

[C:\SH4 TMO\MODS]
1_TriggerMaru_Overhaul_2-5
1_TMO_25_small_patch
RSRDC_TMO_V502
RSRDC_V5xx_Patch1
1.5_Optical Targeting Correction 031312 for RSRDCv502
1.5_OTC_Realistic Scopes for 5 to 4 RSRDCv502
Improved Ship Physics 2.6_TMO_RSRDC_OTC
OTC_ISP_Crew Mod
TMO_Visuals_for_RSRDC
Fixed_CD_sonar_RSRDC
IJN_Radar_Fix_2
1.5_OTC_US Radar from Start for TMO
Easier AI for TMO 2.5 by Orpheus

I finished the first patrol without issues, but later patrols have been experiencing more and more crashes when I try to load saved games. I'm on the fourth patrol and can't seem to proceed.

I didn't alter my mods since the campaign began. I don't Alt + Tab to desktop with the game running.

On patrols 2 and 3 when the game would crash on loading a save, I loaded a previous save and once that ran, loaded the latest saved game. That no longer works. My saved game file sizes never exceeded 5MB and I can't load 2MB size files now. The one thing I am able to load is the saved games upon entering and leaving port (<1MB file size).

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Question: if I save a game with a contact on radar at 8nm distance, will that cause issues?

Are you saving them to the same name? I found that caused a lot of crashes.

No, each save gets a unique name and I never overwrite saves.

Saving game while there're nearby contacts maybe would cause problems.
As you've said,you can load upon entering/leaving port.Okay,try loading upon leaving port,let the game start and now load the crashed save.It worked for me for Operation Monsun mod.

nionios,
I've tried that several times with no luck.

I have virtually the same Mod list as you. I eliminated the crashes by first adding the SH4.exe to the Large Address Aware program, adding the 4Gb patch for good measure, and following an old protocol for saving that includes always saving from the Control Room view (F2), and waiting a bit (30 seconds to a minute) for the game to fully save to disk (it's not instantaneous). I actually watch my disk activity light to make sure the major activity has stopped before hitting the Resume button. The only times I will lose a Save game (unable to reload) is one taken near the end of a patrol that had a lot of activity (many sinkings), and I think that too is because I did not let the Save activity complete before exiting or moving on.

This all may be anecdotal, and the software engineers out there may say it is all superstition, but it works for me. Like many suggested, I (almost) never overwrite a previous save, using the game's date as the key save name feature. Good luck!:salute:

I have shown in red, what you really do not need and can cause problems.

The reference to the 4GB patch is good and important, without the run in SH4 no major modes.

I would suggest SH4 completely uninstall then again everything reinstall (also the SH4 folder under "My Documents") included 4GB patch and JSGME.

Alternatively, I can offer you my ModSoup for TMO_RSRDC_OTC which runs without problems and stable.
There is everything in there what you are looking really ... and much more.

Hope this helps you further.

Edit:
Alt + Tab to desktop destroyed your game and Scores.

TorpedoBait,
Thanks for taking the time to help me.

I have 64 bit Win 7 with 16GB of RAM, so I don't think the 4GB patch for WIN XP is called for or am I missing something?

Question on the Large Address Aware program. I have tried to use it, but it will not apply to the SH4.exe file. That is the target file, right? LAA will simply not change from "false" to "true" on my SH4.exe file, but it works on other .exe files in my game folder.

Bleiente,
Thanks for your reply as well.
TMO_Visuals_for_RSRDC
Fixed_CD_sonar_RSRDC
IJN_Radar_Fix_2
Easier AI for TMO 2.5 by Orpheus
What makes you say these four mods are not needed and can cause problems?

These problems have been largely treated by RSRDC and OTC as resolved by Ralles ModSoup.

Since the development of FORTS -ultimate- certainly takes still requires a good deal of time, I can give you this advice only alternative.

The operating system knows about all the RAM you have, but the app does not. If neither 2gig app will "take" on your SH4.exe, check to see if you have the "Read Only" set in the General properties tab. Navigate to your SH4 game folder, right-click on SH4.exe, left-click on properties, and the General tab should be the first one open (usually). There should not be a check mark in the "Read Only" toward the bottom of the tab. If there is, click on it to make it go away. If it isn't there, then something else is going on with that.

Some of the mods Bleiente mentions probably overwrite portions of the other mods, which in some cases can then cause issues with the "base" mod's 'efficiency', shall we say, and sometimes its actual functionality. Issues like that can cause a drop in framerate, disply glitches, or CTD probs. It might also be that some of the mods are redundant. I'm not familiar with what all you have, but I've encountered similar issues before by making my own "mod soup" - quite by accident, of course...

Thanks so much propbeanie,
That was it; SH4.exe was Read Only. I reached port, removed these:
TMO_Visuals_for_RSRDC
Fixed_CD_sonar_RSRDC
IJN_Radar_Fix_2

and applied the Large Address Aware program to SH4.exe. I'll give that a go.

I can't speak to the "Easier AI for TMO" mod, but the other three are already in the" OTC for RSRDC v502"

As propbeanie said, the games sh4.exe file is defaulted to "Read-Only" status. changing this parameter by unchecking the menu box and saving will allow LAA to work as expected. With a 64 bit OS, you'll gain double the defaulted memory access that the game originally runs. Should be a big help.

==================

I don't think so. The usual issue is there's too much memory usage when you try to save (like a large convoy just off from the sub, or the game trying to render too much of the near by land, or a swarm of planes). A detected target that isn't even rendered yet at 8 nm shouldn't cause a bit of trouble. It's also possible that you should give the game plenty of time to save a game file completely before exiting the game. I know you should give the game plenty of time just to exit, before going to something else....adding a large save probably will require even longer to complete.

Since removing
TMO_Visuals_for_RSRDC
Fixed_CD_sonar_RSRDC
IJN_Radar_Fix_2
and applying LAA, I haven't had any difficulty on patrol 5. So far, so good. Thanks to all who've responded.

Great....thanks for getting back.

Too many times we never hear whether or not our advice helps.