Lost all map data Singleplayer B42 modded

[ManuelitoBulnesGaming41]

Hi. I was playing b42 modded when I entered my world with my character and noticed I lost all the exploration data on my map, which kinda sucks since I explored a lot. I noticed a similar post about this issue but it was for multiplayer b41 and the solutions proposed were aimed at that, and won't work for me. Does anybody know how to fix it? Maybe a way to recover that data or at least avoid it happening again?

[Nordil(Hun)]

Originally posted by ManuelitoBulnesGaming41:

Hi. I was playing b42 modded

- unstable build
- uses mods

Hm what could go wrong?

[Arsenal[26]]

There is also no support or expectation of reliability with saves created prior to the most current version. B42 can crash a dozen different ways from sunday. That will also result in all sorts of lost data.

These crashes are blamed on Mods and Old Saves... so don't expect any solutions for awhile.

[ManuelitoBulnesGaming41]

It's not like I'm complaining and asking the devs to come and solve the problem. Of course these things could happen in the version of the game I'm playing with mods. I'm just asking nicely if anyone knows some tech wizardry I could perform to get the map data back, track the exact source of the problem, be it a particular mod or sandbox setting, or prevent it from happening again. Just as straightforward as that.

[Fun is Not Allowed]

Originally posted by ManuelitoBulnesGaming41:

It's not like I'm complaining and asking the devs to come and solve the problem. Of course these things could happen in the version of the game I'm playing with mods. I'm just asking nicely if anyone knows some tech wizardry I could perform to get the map data back, track the exact source of the problem, be it a particular mod or sandbox setting, or prevent it from happening again. Just as straightforward as that.

Yeah, that's not right. How to fix it? Unfortunately, I have no idea whatsoever. How to stop it happening again? My best advice is to try to remember which mod you installed before you noticed the problem and remember that mod is not friendly for mid-save installation. You might also try reaching out to that mod maker, if possible to see if they can help.

[Arsenal[26]]

if someone were to troubleshoot on your behalf, they would need alot more information.

I've had map resets occur after a crash for instance. But never from a properly exited game session. That would be information tidbit #1

The solution assuming your situation is the same, is simple... Prevent the crash from occurring.

I've got my crashes pretty much under control with the mods I use. That would be tidbit #2.

Absent those bits of info, It would be unlikely I think that anyone would come with your solution.

[Fun is Not Allowed]

Oh, one last bit of advice. Make backups of your save location. I've got backup software on my computer that makes a backup of my C: drive every day. I had a crash mess up my save a year or so ago. I loaded my backup software and did a selective restore of the zomboid save directory. I lost everything I'd done that day, but it was better than losing the save entirely.

[ManuelitoBulnesGaming41]

Originally posted by Arsenal26:

if someone were to troubleshoot on your behalf, they would need alot more information.

I've had map resets occur after a crash for instance. But never from a properly exited game session. That would be information tidbit #1

The solution assuming your situation is the same, is simple... Prevent the crash from occurring.

I've got my crashes pretty much under control with the mods I use. That would be tidbit #2.

Absent those bits of info, It would be unlikely I think that anyone would come with your solution.

Now that you mention that about crashes, I just remembered a key detail that my dum dum brain forgot about my session last night: I alt f4 the game instead of exiting the normal way. It was so obvious but I just realized it's the most likely cause for the map reset. Guess I have to avoid alt f4ing this game. I have no idea if something like this comes from a mod or vanilla b42. Btw is there really no way of getting back that map info if I didn't have a backup?

[ManuelitoBulnesGaming41]

Originally posted by DrLamp:

Oh, one last bit of advice. Make backups of your save location. I've got backup software on my computer that makes a backup of my C: drive every day. I had a crash mess up my save a year or so ago. I loaded my backup software and did a selective restore of the zomboid save directory. I lost everything I'd done that day, but it was better than losing the save entirely.

I avoided making backups because sometimes it's slow and takes time, but I think I should start doing that from now on. Thanks for the advise.

[Nordil(Hun)]

Originally posted by ManuelitoBulnesGaming41:

Originally posted by Arsenal26:

if someone were to troubleshoot on your behalf, they would need alot more information.

I've had map resets occur after a crash for instance. But never from a properly exited game session. That would be information tidbit #1

The solution assuming your situation is the same, is simple... Prevent the crash from occurring.

I've got my crashes pretty much under control with the mods I use. That would be tidbit #2.

Absent those bits of info, It would be unlikely I think that anyone would come with your solution.

Now that you mention that about crashes, I just remembered a key detail that my dum dum brain forgot about my session last night: I alt f4 the game instead of exiting the normal way. It was so obvious but I just realized it's the most likely cause for the map reset. Guess I have to avoid alt f4ing this game. I have no idea if something like this comes from a mod or vanilla b42. Btw is there really no way of getting back that map info if I didn't have a backup?

Nope.
ALT+F4 is actually a forced shutdown, so the game does not save ANY PROGRESS.
It was like that in B41 as well. You can look up the bug reports and support discussions and can find multiple mentions of this.
The saving progress happens when your character sleeps. Or when you quit the game normally. In B41 even selecting the exit to the desktop occasionally could make you lose map progress.
If you play zomboid never use ALT+F4, as the saving process is not automatic. (Though there was some talk about having an autosave feature every day at a certain time dunno if it ever got implemented, but highly unlikely.)

Originally posted by ManuelitoBulnesGaming41:

Originally posted by DrLamp:

Oh, one last bit of advice. Make backups of your save location. I've got backup software on my computer that makes a backup of my C: drive every day. I had a crash mess up my save a year or so ago. I loaded my backup software and did a selective restore of the zomboid save directory. I lost everything I'd done that day, but it was better than losing the save entirely.

I avoided making backups because sometimes it's slow and takes time, but I think I should start doing that from now on. Thanks for the advise.

Just pin in your Win Navigator the folder from where and where to you wish to copy.
That makes things a lot easier:)

[Fun is Not Allowed]

^ What he said.

Originally posted by ManuelitoBulnesGaming41:

Originally posted by Arsenal26:

if someone were to troubleshoot on your behalf, they would need alot more information.

I've had map resets occur after a crash for instance. But never from a properly exited game session. That would be information tidbit #1

The solution assuming your situation is the same, is simple... Prevent the crash from occurring.

I've got my crashes pretty much under control with the mods I use. That would be tidbit #2.

Absent those bits of info, It would be unlikely I think that anyone would come with your solution.

Now that you mention that about crashes, I just remembered a key detail that my dum dum brain forgot about my session last night: I alt f4 the game instead of exiting the normal way. It was so obvious but I just realized it's the most likely cause for the map reset. Guess I have to avoid alt f4ing this game. I have no idea if something like this comes from a mod or vanilla b42. Btw is there really no way of getting back that map info if I didn't have a backup?

Oh yeah...Alt-F4 to exit this kind of game is really really bad. That isn't "close" the way you might think, it's more like "abort". Windows terminates the process and the game doesn't get a chance to do a graceful shutdown which includes saving your world.

I'm not going to say that there is no way. However, there is no way *that I know of*.

[ManuelitoBulnesGaming41]

Makes sense. Thank you for your help and time. At least I know now that alt f4 is a big no no in PZ.

[Fun is Not Allowed]

Originally posted by ManuelitoBulnesGaming41:

Makes sense. Thank you for your help and time. At least I know now that alt f4 is a big no no in PZ.

It's that way for any game that periodically saves in the background. If you alt-f4 out while that save is in progress it can mean sayonara for your save file. I would try to get out of the habit entirely to be perfectly honest.

[Nordil(Hun)]

Originally posted by DrLamp:

Originally posted by ManuelitoBulnesGaming41:

Makes sense. Thank you for your help and time. At least I know now that alt f4 is a big no no in PZ.

It's that way for any game that periodically saves in the background. If you alt-f4 out while that save is in progress it can mean sayonara for your save file. I would try to get out of the habit entirely to be perfectly honest.

Since in B41 occasionally i encountered the progress loss with exit to desktop, i make sure to exit to main menu first and from there to quit the game.
Never lost any progress since i use this.)