How To Recover Saves - PC Only Guide

Sim Připojen: 14/06/09 02:52 Zprávy: 3245 Lokalita:North America On-line

If this applies, did the save game that crashed during load make use of custom content that you recently removed (Store items or third party content)?

No, I hadn't removed anything or added anything when it happened. I was only in buy mode, applying lamps to my rooms, went to live, tried to save and couldn't (twice) then it crashed. And now appears unrecoverable?

edit: Sorry it took a bit to reply, went off for dinner and some football to alleviate my sims frustration.

Further Update: Problem solved, the saved game works again! After I made a fresh reinstall of the game, I gave the saved game a shot and it didn't work. So figuring I had nothing to lose as it was already lost, I deleted the day and previous day DCbackup's inside the file and it seemed to have done the job. Wished I would have deleted them earlier. Maybe it was a solve and maybe it was just a corrupt item that I couldn't find to delete. But either way I am happily back in my saved game, which now has a secondary back up, just in case.

Thank you for your help though, Nichaedemus.

Sim Připojen: 04/06/09 10:29 Zprávy: 208 Lokalita:Florida Off-line

Shadow autor:

QueenLioness84 autor:I'm confused....What EXACTLY is this method of game retrieval supposed to do? It it supposed to restore your town back to it's original state from the last time you saved your game(after months of playing, altering, etc.)?

This solution is for corrupted save files. It reverts saves to the last time you ever saved.

I recommend only using it if you're having problems.

Well, my dear, I am having a problem. The last time I tried to save my game, to shutdown in the middle of the save. I went back into the game to find all my was Sims and progress were gone. I'm basically at the point of starting all over again. All my custom content that was saved in the appropriate bins were still there, but everything was wiped clean.

I don't know what I could do to recover my game. I don't want to start all over again. It took me months to get to where I was.

Sim Připojen: 29/05/09 20:33 Zprávy: 3301 Lokalita:USA Off-line

QueenLioness84 autor:

Shadow autor:

QueenLioness84 autor:I'm confused....What EXACTLY is this method of game retrieval supposed to do? It it supposed to restore your town back to it's original state from the last time you saved your game(after months of playing, altering, etc.)?

This solution is for corrupted save files. It reverts saves to the last time you ever saved.

I recommend only using it if you're having problems.

Well, my dear, I am having a problem. The last time I tried to save my game, to shutdown in the middle of the save. I went back into the game to find all my was Sims and progress were gone. I'm basically at the point of starting all over again. All my custom content that was saved in the appropriate bins were still there, but everything was wiped clean.

I don't know what I could do to recover my game. I don't want to start all over again. It took me months to get to where I was.

Do you have a backup file? If you have a backup file, rename that to .sims3, and clear you caches in MyDocuments.

That would be:
CASPartCache
simCompositorCache
compositorCache
scriptCache

Sim Připojen: 29/05/09 20:33 Zprávy: 3301 Lokalita:USA Off-line

cbgluvmcr autor:Please help if u can. I understand how to change the file name on my backup file that's not the problem. My problem is that even if i change the name on the file the file TYPE still says BACKUP. Is there any ways to change the file TYPE?

That shouldn't be a problem.
Did you have any problems starting up your game?

Sim Připojen: 04/06/09 03:53 Zprávy: 1 Off-line

Please help if u can. I understand how to change the file name on my backup file that's not the problem. My problem is that even if i change the name on the file the file TYPE still says BACKUP. Is there any ways to change the file TYPE?

Sim Připojen: 29/05/09 06:56 Zprávy: 38 Off-line

Thanks so much Shadow

I just had the problem today and decided to check out the forums.

If we had benes to give you would have all of mine for today

Sim Připojen: 20/08/09 17:57 Zprávy: 15 Lokalita:Washington, DC Off-line

Shadow - you are my hero!!!

I only lost a few hours of playing. Thank you thank you!!!

Sim Připojen: 20/08/09 17:57 Zprávy: 15 Lokalita:Washington, DC Off-line

Thanks for the tips! I'll try this tonight!
Also thanks for the tip on saving more frequently. I'm glad that's the cause and not something else - at least I can correct that!

Sim Připojen: 20/08/09 17:57 Zprávy: 15 Lokalita:Washington, DC Off-line

QueenLioness84 autor:

Shadow autor:

QueenLioness84 autor:I'm confused....What EXACTLY is this method of game retrieval supposed to do? It it supposed to restore your town back to it's original state from the last time you saved your game(after months of playing, altering, etc.)?

This solution is for corrupted save files. It reverts saves to the last time you ever saved.

I recommend only using it if you're having problems.

Well, my dear, I am having a problem. The last time I tried to save my game, to shutdown in the middle of the save. I went back into the game to find all my was Sims and progress were gone. I'm basically at the point of starting all over again. All my custom content that was saved in the appropriate bins were still there, but everything was wiped clean.

I don't know what I could do to recover my game. I don't want to start all over again. It took me months to get to where I was.

This is EXACTLY what happened to me - except I haven't even downloaded custom content. I have been playing the game as sold, no cheats, nothing. I was heartbroken last night. I can't wait to try this tonight. I'm hoping it works, I was on the 4th generation of my family. I'd saved about 2-3 hours before... so hopefully I am a little close to where I was during the save/crash thing. Sigh.

Sim Připojen: 12/09/09 20:09 Zprávy: 1 Off-line

so i lost my neighborhood got deleted.
I went to the electronic arts folder in my computer, then clicked on the sims 3 folder.There is no saves or save folder in there

and i cannot find any of my saved games. Though other neighborhoods show up in the game.

Its just the one that I'm missing and I want to find so i can delete the backup. But i can't even find the files

UGHH

Sim Připojen: 29/05/09 20:33 Zprávy: 3301 Lokalita:USA Off-line

imxbeinghonest autor: so i lost my neighborhood got deleted.
I went to the electronic arts folder in my computer, then clicked on the sims 3 folder.There is no saves or save folder in there
and i cannot find any of my saved games. Though other neighborhoods show up in the game. Its just the one that I'm missing and I want to find so i can delete the backup. But i can't even find the files UGHH

Did you go in MyComputer or MyDocuments?

Sim Připojen: 19/09/09 18:08 Zprávy: 1 Off-line

OMG Shadow, thank you sooooooo much!! I seriously almost started to cry when I lost my file but now I have it back! You're a lifesaver!

Sim Připojen: 02/07/09 01:59 Zprávy: 2504 Lokalita:Earth Off-line

When i try and rename my sunsent valley backup file i get this message

i click yes then i get this

Help?

Sim Připojen: 14/06/09 02:52 Zprávy: 3245 Lokalita:North America On-line

You must first delete the file named "Sunset Valley.sims3". Once you have done that, you can then rename the "Sunset Valley.backup" file using the original filename of the save you just deleted.