Recovery of save games after CTD.

cyberdude61 · 06-16-08, 04:34 PM

I have been playing PC games since Barbarian on the Amstrad 6128. If you don't know what that is, then you probably can't grow a beard yet

I have played many, many games over the years; they nearly all have one thing in common.

A CTD ruins, at the very least, the most recent save game. all of the Elder Scrolls series ( I play them when I'm feet dry ) is a classic example. Even the latest, Oblivion, is guilty. F5 (quicksave) has become a survival reflex. The Witcher, another newbie, also does it.

I have surmised that this is because the game system is updating your save by using a .tmp (temp) file which is constantly rewritten during gameplay, for instance reading your Captain's Log to see the million tons you have sunk in the last few minutes. When you save it writes this temp file to your save.

A CTD corrupts this file, and everything associated with it cannot be read. Goodbye savegame.

I use a two save system. let's call them save and save1. I save both at the same time every time. Save first, and save1 second. CTD screws up save, but save1 was not in use and is good.

Works for me.

06-16-08, 04:34 PM	#4
cyberdude61 Nub Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: UK Posts: 2 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Save Games I have been playing PC games since Barbarian on the Amstrad 6128. If you don't know what that is, then you probably can't grow a beard yet I have played many, many games over the years; they nearly all have one thing in common. A CTD ruins, at the very least, the most recent save game. all of the Elder Scrolls series ( I play them when I'm feet dry ) is a classic example. Even the latest, Oblivion, is guilty. F5 (quicksave) has become a survival reflex. The Witcher, another newbie, also does it. I have surmised that this is because the game system is updating your save by using a .tmp (temp) file which is constantly rewritten during gameplay, for instance reading your Captain's Log to see the million tons you have sunk in the last few minutes. When you save it writes this temp file to your save. A CTD corrupts this file, and everything associated with it cannot be read. Goodbye savegame. I use a two save system. let's call them save and save1. I save both at the same time every time. Save first, and save1 second. CTD screws up save, but save1 was not in use and is good. Works for me.