Saves being overwritten by "Auto save" Anyone else? «12...Next Go

s_stutler

This is mainly to see if I'm the only one. I have confirmed that "auto save" is writing over my saved games. I took a picture of my Saves folder, loaded my game... waited for autosave. Exited out. And compared the 2 pictures. A saved game was missing! I don't play TS4 much, I think that is why I am noticing this and not many others. I only have a few saves and the families and houses I have made during those saves are completely gone. Their houses, the Sims themselves, and they are not in my bin either! This is an unfortunate series of events... I wanted to play TS4 tonight, but I see now i should have just left TS2 on! Plum!

rosemow

Hello
The auto save has its own file .
It is the file with the name slot_00000001.save .
I will post a link to your other thread, so that other simmers who read this thread will know about your issues
http://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/899310/you-have-got-to-be-kidding-me-plum-all-my-sims-are-gone

s_stutler

Ok- good. Thank you! ... but in reply to this, that sounds great in theory but that is not what is happening since updating my game to the newest patch. Now that I know how to share pics, I will show you my saves folder. My saves are being overwritten.

s_stutler

s_stutler wrote: »

Ok- good. Thank you! ... but in reply to this, that sounds great in theory but that is not what is happening since updating my game to the newest patch. Now that I know how to share pics, I will show you my saves folder. My saves are being overwritten.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153907956017666.1073741858.618547665&type=1&l=70898d1ff3

rosemow

These are your save game files pictures .

rosemow

Hello
What is happening is what is meant to happen. The game is auto saving back up versions of the autosave file. This doesn't affect your other file. The game is just creating more back up versuons of the autosave file.

s_stutler

rosemow wrote: »

Hello
What is happening is what is meant to happen. The game is auto saving back up versions of the autosave file. This doesn't affect your other file. The game is just creating more back up versuons of the autosave file.

So then what happened to the save dated 9/5 - I took a pic to show you that folder. Then I was going over the stuff you suggested, I think at that time I removed the mods folder... either way I exited back out and went back and that save was gone. Where did it go ? I didn't delete it. I didn't save before exiting. . . I'm just dumbfounded. When was this "auto save" feature enacted?

rosemow

The save version dated 9/5 was a version of the autosave file from another day. As more autosave versions are made, they replace the ones that are already there.
This link explains about the autosave file
http://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/803383/auto-save-and-how-it-works#latest

DeKay

The autosave feature has always been there but it has gone through some changes. I'm not too sure why you have one version of that same slot in an older date. Did you check in game to see if the save game is still there? You can see by the name of the household that is active. I would also suggest you to rename your saved games within the game so you can find them easily.

s_stutler

But I've seen other Simmers folders, they are filled way more than mine, and they have way more dates, I don't even play that much. You saw the dates July and about 5 days ago (which I loaded by accident, did not save and exited out immediately) - so why are other Simmers showing multiple dates and I can only show a few.. and mine are disappearing/changing ? I see the "auto-save" date on the link you sent was Dec 2014 - so that means its been in the game the whole time, and up until now I have never had an issue with it.

rosemow

Each time you start a new save game file, a new slot number is created. Because you don't play Sims 4 often, you may be still playing the same save game file so won't have many save game files/slot numbers in your saves folder.

s_stutler

rosemow wrote: »

Each time you start a new save game file, a new slot number is created. Because you don't play Sims 4 often, you may be still playing the same save game file so won't have many save game files/slot numbers in your saves folder.

But wouldn't the dates still change? I don't leave the game on. I play maybe once every 3-6 months. Honestly I should have about double the saves than what is showing. Idk what happened to them all. But off the top of my head I know I had at least 6 rotational families. July sounds like legit last time I played.. and prior to that would have been March or April..where are those saves?

rosemow

If your rotational families are in the same game, there will only be one slot number used. The game makes back up versions of your save game. The backup versions keep getting replaced each time that you play.

s_stutler

rosemow wrote: »

If your rotational families are in the same game, there will only be one slot number used. The game makes back up versions of your save game. The backup versions keep getting replaced each time that you play.

Ohhhh!! Welll. That makes sense then as to why there are only a few saves. But. Then what happened to the other families on the save.. and their houses and even my gallery .. they are all just gone I got the game, the same day it came out 2 years ago. If I was overwriting my own saves so to speak, then all the families I made should be there. Along with the latest family I made back in like July. I think my save is corrupted. And I think they are gone. Lost to the SimsUniverse for all eternity... -cries- I was in the middle of a Disney legacy! ...and I had a Neil Caffry Sim! He was maxed out on writing, art, painting.. (does TS4 have a criminal career? Can't remember) but he was maxed out on everything.. and it took me ages to make Alex, Sarah, and Kate -cries some more- And my Sim self! Hubby and I had 5 kids! It took us 5 boys before we finally had a girl! -cries more- And the house! It took me ages to build that house... although I did just find the blueprints I drew prior to making it. -sigh-

rosemow

I am so sorry
You may need to start a new save game.

DeKay

I'm sorry that you lost all your progress. Maybe next time, try to backup your saves and tray folders before updating the game. That's what I always do (except that I don't do it for my tray folders but maybe I should XD). It will also be good to go to household management in world map view and save your household frequently to your My Library so this will keep any of their progress in skills or jobs, just in case you need to start over.

DarkAmaranth1966

First, if the things that appear to be missing form your gallery have CC or Mods, you need to check, Include Custom Content on the left, under Advanced in the Gallery widow to see them.

Second as for saves, 4 versions is normal. If you want to save a specific game at a specific point, choose SAVE AS in the in game menu, then you can easily find that save and load it as well as make a backup copy.

rosemow

Hello
I will just post the link to your other thread here again , so that if other simmers have the same issues as you experienced , it may help them to do the suggestions in the other thread . It will also help simmers to know what you have done to help your situation. The other thread also has your computer details.
http://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/899310/you-have-got-to-be-kidding-me-plum-all-my-sims-are-gone

s_stutler

DeKay wrote: »

I'm sorry that you lost all your progress. Maybe next time, try to backup your saves and tray folders before updating the game. That's what I always do (except that I don't do it for my tray folders but maybe I should XD). It will also be good to go to household management in world map view and save your household frequently to your My Library so this will keep any of their progress in skills or jobs, just in case you need to start over.

I never know when there is an update. LOL. I basically only play TS4 when I am pressed for time and can't load up TS3 because of it. I click to open it and it doesn't load right away, and then I go and look and its updating... Even if I did back it up, it wouldn't really help me since Origin won't let me play without updating, so then I would have a saved copy of my un-updated game that I wouldn't be able to play with. -sigh-

s_stutler

DarkAmaranth1966 wrote: »

First, if the things that appear to be missing form your gallery have CC or Mods, you need to check, Include Custom Content on the left, under Advanced in the Gallery widow to see them.

Second as for saves, 4 versions is normal. If you want to save a specific game at a specific point, choose SAVE AS in the in game menu, then you can easily find that save and load it as well as make a backup copy.

Thanks for your insight! I did try checking the "cc box" but it shows nothing. With or without cc the only thing in my gallery is EA creations. None of my lots or Sims are there. I was able to play fine with no issues prior to the latest update, and then after loading the update, all my custom made Sims and houses were just gone. Save for the last family I played with. -sigh- I only have 2 saves in my folder. Which I guess is normal for me, since I really just save each family and leave the game, they don't get their own name usually, unless I am planning on playing with them again..as in the case with the missing Sims, who all had custom save names based on their last name.. smh

rosemow

Hello
It would be good to make a backup copy of your sims 4 folder. Then if issues occur, you will still have copies of your save game files in your saves folder and will have the files of your sims /builds that are in your library in your tray folder. You can then replace them back in to the sims 4 folder if issues occur.

DeKay

s_stutler wrote: »

DeKay wrote: »

I'm sorry that you lost all your progress. Maybe next time, try to backup your saves and tray folders before updating the game. That's what I always do (except that I don't do it for my tray folders but maybe I should XD). It will also be good to go to household management in world map view and save your household frequently to your My Library so this will keep any of their progress in skills or jobs, just in case you need to start over.

I never know when there is an update. LOL. I basically only play TS4 when I am pressed for time and can't load up TS3 because of it. I click to open it and it doesn't load right away, and then I go and look and its updating... Even if I did back it up, it wouldn't really help me since Origin won't let me play without updating, so then I would have a saved copy of my un-updated game that I wouldn't be able to play with. -sigh-

Hmm, I think if you open to Origin, and click on Origin > Application Settings and scroll down to untick Update: Automatically keep games up to date. I have mine turned on so I can't really say this is what this option does but I think it should be the correct one. LOL. That way when your Origin opens, you would only get like a star beside your TS4 box art and that's when you know there's an update. Then you can backup your folders.

If you want to play the game without updating, you will have to unplug your internet cable completely. And log into Origin (Offline).

rosemow

Simsvip usually also posts when there is a new game patch, so it is good to keep a watch on that site
http://simsvip.com
Also crinrict's helpful blog site also posts information when there is a patch update
http://sims4.crinrict.com/en/category/patch/
There is a section on the forum threads also where the latest patch notes are posted on the day that the patch is released.
http://forums.thesims.com/en_US/categories/latest-patch-notes

s_stutler

Although thats all helpful. I still have my original question.. as in this case. So let's say I backed up my game. Then installed the update and now found out it deleted all my families. Ok. So what now? Origin will not let me play TS4 without updating the game. So I now have a broken updated game..and my game before the update that isn't broken. So what now? I can't play with my unbroken game without breaking it.. This is the reason for which I hate that updates are mandatory! -angry sigh- I used to wait out on the updates for TS3, see what others were noticing, etc before updating. Simply put, it used to be a choice if I wanted to update my game or not, now (automatic or not) you have to update if you want to play, otherwise you don't play. Even if you play without the Internet, Origin will give you a notice that says "There is an update for TS4, you will not be able to play until this update is installed" -.-

rosemow

Hello
After updating your game, if you found that the game had deleted your save game files and/or the sims/builds that were in your library, you could remove the saves and tray folders that are in documents-electronic arts-sims 4 folder and copy back from your " back up" the old save and tray folders and place them in the sims 4 folder instead of the other ones. Then you would have your original save games and sims/builds back in the game.

s_stutler

rosemow wrote: »

Hello
After updating your game, if you found that the game had deleted your save game files and/or the sims/builds that were in your library, you could remove the saves and tray folders that are in documents-electronic arts-sims 4 folder and copy back from your " back up" the old save and tray folders and place them in the sims 4 folder instead of the other ones. Then you would have your original save games and sims/builds back in the game.

I guess. I would just worry they would be deleted again though, like I am now. I had some families that I spent a long time designing the Sims of.. and I can't seem to get them right, now. And I am worried they will be deleted again. I am now making sure to upload all my Sims to the community however, in the event that this ever happens again! Currently, I am working on the characters from the hit USA Network TV show, White Collar. They seem to be coming along nicely. Although I wish the Criminal trait wasn't so evil. And I wish there was more they could do, like pick pocket and break into houses.. -sigh- Even forging paintings and trying to sell them to the gallery- just things the main character does on the show. I've found I enjoy CAS more than I enjoy playing the game!