Can't reload World from menu
Can't reload World from menu after first time playing. I'm play testing my world and after I save and try to reload I get this message; Cannot load this save game. It may have been saved with ex...
Forum Discussion
FOUND A WAY TO RECOVER YOUR OLD NON-USABLE SAVES - YAY!!! :D
Personally, I think this is easiest of all methods as you can then save your game normally and don't have to mess with removing other world files. In the end, all that will be required is overwriting ONE file before each play session.
**Before doing this, make a full copy of your old unusable saved game and put it aside somewhere. While I never had any problems using this method, it is always a smart move to back up your files.
PREFERRED method:
1. Start a "new game" of the world giving you grayed out saves.
2. Create one sim (you won't be keeping him so don't spend too much time)
3. Use "motherlode" cheat and immediately send him on vacation (anywhere)
4. The minute the vacation area loads. Save and then exit the game.
5. Go into your "saves" folder (in My Documents) and open the save folder you just created. Make a copy of the file called Meta.data. Save it to your desktop as you will need it each time you want to play this particular world.
6. Locate your previously unusable saved game. Open the folder and overwrite the old Meta.data file with the new one that you copied.
7. Load the game and have fun playing!
NOTES: (Two things)
1. When your game is loading, you are going to see the name of that dummy sim you created, don't worry about it, once the hood fully loads, it will be as if he never existed. Only your recovered saved game data will be there as normal - just like you want it to be.
2. Each new time you save, it will still appear grayed out in your "Main Menu" - but no worries, next time you are ready to play, just overwrite that same Meta.data file and you will be good to go.
I tested this with about 20 various "grayed out" saved games and it worked each and every time flawlessly. Your old save games will still contain everything they had before - your sims do not lose relationships, skills, jobs, lifetime happiness, inventory, etc - everything will be exactly how you left it.
I also tested with adding additional skills and other changes then saving and using the Meta.data replacement on the new saves - everything was retained by the game without issue.
If you don't have a previously unusable saved game, you can start a new game, knowing that you will be able to play them by simply replacing the Meta.data file before each play session.
NOTE: You CAN simply use another world's Meta.data file and it does work. However, I feel less comfortable merging two different world's data so that's why I recommend going the vacation save route to generate a new Meta.data file specific to that particular world and using that one.
For info, It seems that the minimum number of files created during a save game are:
Neighborhood file (this records the current state of the map, including who lives there - do NOT replace this or you will lose your families!)
Traveldb file (this seems to record your overall hood progress in the vacation areas - not necessary to replace)
random letters file - I believe THIS is the file that maintains your actual sim data for each save - never overwrite this file.
Meta.data file (this seems to be the general game info, exp packs, patches applied, etc)
Personally, I think this is easiest of all methods as you can then save your game normally and don't have to mess with removing other world files. In the end, all that will be required is overwriting ONE file before each play session.
**Before doing this, make a full copy of your old unusable saved game and put it aside somewhere. While I never had any problems using this method, it is always a smart move to back up your files.
PREFERRED method:
1. Start a "new game" of the world giving you grayed out saves.
2. Create one sim (you won't be keeping him so don't spend too much time)
3. Use "motherlode" cheat and immediately send him on vacation (anywhere)
4. The minute the vacation area loads. Save and then exit the game.
5. Go into your "saves" folder (in My Documents) and open the save folder you just created. Make a copy of the file called Meta.data. Save it to your desktop as you will need it each time you want to play this particular world.
6. Locate your previously unusable saved game. Open the folder and overwrite the old Meta.data file with the new one that you copied.
7. Load the game and have fun playing!
NOTES: (Two things)
1. When your game is loading, you are going to see the name of that dummy sim you created, don't worry about it, once the hood fully loads, it will be as if he never existed. Only your recovered saved game data will be there as normal - just like you want it to be.
2. Each new time you save, it will still appear grayed out in your "Main Menu" - but no worries, next time you are ready to play, just overwrite that same Meta.data file and you will be good to go.
I tested this with about 20 various "grayed out" saved games and it worked each and every time flawlessly. Your old save games will still contain everything they had before - your sims do not lose relationships, skills, jobs, lifetime happiness, inventory, etc - everything will be exactly how you left it.
I also tested with adding additional skills and other changes then saving and using the Meta.data replacement on the new saves - everything was retained by the game without issue.
If you don't have a previously unusable saved game, you can start a new game, knowing that you will be able to play them by simply replacing the Meta.data file before each play session.
NOTE: You CAN simply use another world's Meta.data file and it does work. However, I feel less comfortable merging two different world's data so that's why I recommend going the vacation save route to generate a new Meta.data file specific to that particular world and using that one.
For info, It seems that the minimum number of files created during a save game are:
Neighborhood file (this records the current state of the map, including who lives there - do NOT replace this or you will lose your families!)
Traveldb file (this seems to record your overall hood progress in the vacation areas - not necessary to replace)
random letters file - I believe THIS is the file that maintains your actual sim data for each save - never overwrite this file.
Meta.data file (this seems to be the general game info, exp packs, patches applied, etc)
