Overwriting Saves a no-no ?

[Soundman]

I am wondering if anyone has noticed a problem of bad or corrupted saves when overwriting a saved game. At first I thought it may be coincidence, but let me explain. I have been using TMO and RSRDC. I had a carreer going with about seven or so completed patrols and after a particularly long patrol, I started overwriting some saves. The next time I went to play i got the dreaded "Silent Hunter has stopped working" message. Damn ! I suspected overwriting may have been the cause but who could know? So...I figured I would go ahead and updated my mods and start a new carreer. After downloading al the most current mod versions including 1.5, I started a brand new carreer and was off from Pearl. Stopped at Midway and continued on. Man I was grooving on the setup and about the time I got all the way across the Pacific to my patrol area, it was getting late, so I decided to call it a night. Well, due to no contacts, I saved a few times along the way, overwriting the file maybe twice. As a result I had only one save file besides the "In Port" saves. Low and behold, next time I went in, I got the dreaded "stopped working" message. What a bummer! Anyway, I am now convinced that overwriting may be a problem and will not be doing it anymore. Any comments? Has anybody heard of this?

[wetwarev7]

I overwrite my saves all the time and haven't experienced this. BUT, I allways save while on the surface, as I've heard of people having problems with saving while submerged, and I don't use any of the major mods.

(EDIT: Using SH4 Uboat addon also)

[Digital_Trucker]

I've heard of the problem, but never experienced it. Honestly, I overwrite all the time and don't have any problems with corrupted saves. Maybe I'm just the luckiest person in the world (kinda doubt it considering my normal luck) or there is some set of distinct circumstances that causes problems when overwriting.

I never save replays (except for special occasions and never overwrite a save with a replay), always save on the surface and never save when I'm in contact with any vessels. The save area for the game is on a different hard drive from my game install, too (don't know if this could be helping my luck out or not). I use every mod I can get my hands on that does what I like (which means a gajillion of them). I also don't activate mods in mid-patrol unless they are texture only mods.

I'm not sure if the operating system would have any bearing on this, but considering the number of problems that Vista causes, it wouldn't surprise me if there is something about it that messes with saves, too.

[AVGWarhawk]

To be honest, I never overwrote a saved game. But I will try it.

[Ducimus]

I overwrite all the time, habitualy, and constantly.

But i also run two saves. so my games backed up as i progress, incase one screws up. (habit i got into in SH3).

Ive always saved while on the surface, and never within 20-30Km of a harbor, and ive never had a problem.

[Fish40]

I always overwrite a save, and never have experienced any adverse behavior. I have also saved while submerged, a known "no no", but again, mabey due too luck, nothing adverse. The only thing I do really try to watch is the time of the save. There is an issue as to the in-game save hour, and problems with your whole crew turning in for a good nights sleep, all at the same time. Not a good thing Other than that, I can't really say I've had any issues with overwriting game saves

[Soundman]

Yes, I shoud have mentioned I am running Vista. I do however, follow the policy of not saving within sight of a contact or while submerged. One of the reasons I feel it may be an issue is because (as stated above) I had not had a contact yet in the whole patrol and had only one save listed inside of a fresh install. Again, I will not overwrite again, so if I end up with another corruption, I'll report it here.

[momo55]

Yep ..i do it the same way like Duci says and with TMO + RSRDC (1.5) ...no problems till now .

greetz

[THE_MASK]

I have overwriten saves since SH4 came out and have never had a single problem . I save as sober , then i delete my (while entering port) and (while leaving port) saves because there is no going back LOL .

[DrBeast]

No problem with overwriting saves, either. I use different saves per mission for different phases of a patrol - first save is used for when I'm en route from the harbor to my first assignment, I have an "On The Hunt" save which is used when I'm patrolling an area in search of prey, a "Contact!" save when I spot said prey, a save for when the encounter is over and I'm distanced from the scene of the crime and don't have any contacts, and a last save for the trip home. I overwrite those saves every time the criterion for saving in the particular "slot" is met, and I'm ALWAYS surfaced. "Why so many saves?", might you ask. Simple: my old rig was prone to CTDs, and the power grid in Greece is not the most reliable in the world.
Soundman, do yourself and your PC a HUGE favor and ditch Vista!

[Syxx_Killer]

I overwrite saves all the time. I just have two saves - an in base save and at sea save. I thought about having more types of saves, but with just the one at sea save that I overwrite it assures me that I really have just one shot at whatever I'm doing. If I knew that the game would run CTD free the entire patrol, I probably wouldn't have any saves (unless I have to exit the game).

[TDK1044]

Originally Posted by Ducimus

I overwrite all the time, habitualy, and constantly.

But i also run two saves. so my games backed up as i progress, incase one screws up. (habit i got into in SH3).

Ive always saved while on the surface, and never within 20-30Km of a harbor, and ive never had a problem.

Same here. I rotate between two overwritten saves every five minutes or so. Never had a problem.

[Rockin Robbins]

Originally Posted by TDK1044

Same here. I rotate between two overwritten saves every five minutes or so. Never had a problem.

Ditto. No issue. See the unfortunately named SH4 will not load/install instructions!!!!!
It will solve your problem.

[Wilcke]

<knocks on wood>