Re: Crashing in both career types

Okay, so I had a chance to try this.  Was not a big deal as I just purchased the game and only have about 2 hours in it so I am not too worried about starting over.

I took the data folder from the Steam user data folder and dragged it to the desktop to save the file.

I then launched F1 and at the main screen (with the yellow graphics and drivers to the right and "press enter to continue") I pressed enter, received an error that the save file could not be loaded, then after about 30 seconds, the game crashed to the desktop.

I then decided to make sure Steam cloud saves were turned off for F1 and tried again.  This time I got past the previous screen, was presented with the save load error, selected to continue without saving and started up a driver career.  I was able to progress through to qualifying without issue this time around.  So, it may have been a corrupted save file for sure.  The big issue is now, I can't save anything.

So, I decided to uninstall the game.

Before re-installing, verified that the data was removed as well from the steam user data folder, also verified that steam cloud saves were turned off (they were on initially when I first started playing the game) and then started a new installation.

Once the installation was finished, verified that steam sync was still off and launched the game.   It loaded with the old save file. and crashed immediately after trying to enter qualifying.  I was frustrated to say the least as I have done everything to make sure Steam would not re-install that save file. 

So, I went through with deleting the save files again, and launched the game and we were back to crashing after the main splash screen on the error that it cannot load the save file.

The game acts as if there is not any way to start a fresh new save file as I am only given the option to retry or continue without saving.  The latter option does allow the game to work, but I cannot save any progress.  If I try and turn on autosave to start a new save it just tells me the file cannot be loaded. 

Thank you for trying. I have a few pointers here, in lieu of a fuller answer (time).

The Steam client has a way IIRC of deleting the game data. F1 23 properties (installed or not) via right click? You should investigate (or delete) this. Again, if memory serves you can delete all but a very small amount of data. 

What should happen is that the game has a Steam ID folder and under it is the F1 23 data within that Steam profile. There are folders named remote and local and I forget which way around these are synced but creating a new save I think stopped being possible without copying some data from Steam cloud sync to the profile. 

The game Steam ID also appears in a branch of the user folder. Take care of these files too. 

Basically the Steam sync is quite crude using date stamps only as a method of syncing (without any real user control or intervention). 

So I think the issue lies with you trying to keep Steam from syncing before you’ve created the files you are overwriting. But the sync issue is that the date stamps are ensuring your copied backups are overwritten with corrupt data. 

Hope this is clearer. EA and Steam clearly work differently in this regard.

So an quick update.

I was playing around and noticed there was an option on the main screen "options" selection to delete local save data.  What I did was I quit the game, went to steam and then turned on cloud sync for the game again.  Launched the game and then went to the delete local save data option, selected that and then the game rebooted and appeared to be reset to like new state.  I then verified on the Steam servers that in my save files, the F1 23 data was in fact gone.

I then started a new career in my team and was able to progress past practice, qualifying and make it to the race.  So at least I am now able to progress.

Saying that, after each practice session, the game would crash to the desktop in the exact same way it did earlier.  Would go to the black screen with loading in the top left corner, freeze for about 30 seconds then crash to desktop.  This time, I was able to pick up from where I left off.

So it appears there is still an underlying issue, but at least for now, I can continue to advance in my career.

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@6114fc7743178fe2 wrote:

So an quick update.

I was playing around and noticed there was an option on the main screen "options" selection to delete local save data.  What I did was I quit the game, went to steam and then turned on cloud sync for the game again.  Launched the game and then went to the delete local save data option, selected that and then the game rebooted and appeared to be reset to like new state.  I then verified on the Steam servers that in my save files, the F1 23 data was in fact gone.

I then started a new career in my team and was able to progress past practice, qualifying and make it to the race.  So at least I am now able to progress.

Saying that, after each practice session, the game would crash to the desktop in the exact same way it did earlier.  Would go to the black screen with loading in the top left corner, freeze for about 30 seconds then crash to desktop.  This time, I was able to pick up from where I left off.

So it appears there is still an underlying issue, but at least for now, I can continue to advance in my career.

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Thanks for outlining the steps for others. It's not an ideal solution, but in the event of corrupt saves, removing the data is the only realistic option to be able to move past it.