help me about save file

[Freung]

I cant import my save file to my game. I copied save file to "C:\Users\spyga\AppData\Local\Rockstar Games\GTA IV\savegames" but when I start game I log in on GFWL or what I dunno pressing home button thing starting game game creates new save file and I cant see my imported save file in load game section how can I import my save file ? thx

[AntiqueGamer]

Your save games and key binding data is in the following folder: C:\Users\<your name>\AppData\Local\Rockstar Games\GTA IV\savegames\user_<long number> - if you have several long numbers, just open the folders one by one until you find a file called ControlMap.dat and this is where GTA-IV, The Lost and Damned, and The Ballard of Gay Tony saves the game. NOT on some cloud - this is a ten year old game we're talking about here that existed long before there was a cloud so all saves are done locally.

So in order to import a save file, go to the direction mentioned here and then import the save file. It MUST however be numbered SGTA400, SGTA401, SGTA402, SGTA403 etc. with the maximum possible number being SGTA412 - the last one SGTA412 is usually auto-saved by the game at the end of every mission. The others are your save slots.

That is UNLESS you have modded the game - the settings shown here are the game default.

[Freung]

dude that is what I'm saying I have my save file backed up when I go that save file location (where I must paste my save) I paste my save file then launch game > pressing start button boom saying starting new game when game lets me control car in first dock area I press ESC then go GAME section to load my save by manual but it says no save file found in hdd

[AntiqueGamer]

Nope, I get it - and got it the first time but my intention was to make absolutely sure you and I were on the same page. Clearly we are. With that in mind the only thing that I can think of that would cause this problem is a mod - have you modded the game? By default GTA-IV looks in the location you and I both mentioned - so something has screwed up the code. I know this does not make any sense at all, but its either there or its not ... but I do have a possible solution,

If you read my earlier commentary you will notice it says ''if you have several long numbers, just open the folders one by one until you find a file called ControlMap.dat'' it is entirely possible that you have an earlier installation on the machine which created a sub-folder with one of those long names and that - as silly as this sounds - you're looking in the wrong folder and have put the save file in the wrong folder. As dumb as this sounds, I've done it! It happens. So here is an idea for you.

Play the game, get to Roman's cruddy apartment and then save. Then put the game in the background while you open the general location of the save game folders - if you see a file there called SGTA400 with a very recent save date/time on it you will know for sure that this is the correct folder. I appreciate that this sounds incredibly simplistic but it works.

Then you place the file you wish to import into the folder I just mentioned and try to load it. If it fails its failing for two reasons, (1) the file you are attempting to load into the game is incompatible for some reason or other, (2) its corrupt - in other words there is no data that the game can recognize inside it. I've seen people edit these files and doing so can screw up the file and cause it to be considered invalid -- but in your case you're saying the file simply isn't there to be loaded.

Be interesting to see if this can be resolved. If any of the above helps, let me know.

[Freung]

I solved issue by putting xlive.dll to main file location and worked like charm but yeah multiplayer and achivements are disabled ofcourse but there is nothing else to do. (but I'll try ur latest method by moving xlive.dll to somewhere else) Thank you man.

[AntiqueGamer]

So you WERE using xlive the whole time? Well, that explains everything. You see, mods foul up the way the game works - I'm glad you got it working but xlive save files do not use the same save format as the normal GTA-IV save files so GTA-IV could not read it for that reason.

REMEMBER VIDEO-WARRIORS: MODS BREAK GAMES

[Freung]

no I wasnt using xlivethe whole time I tried everything and last xlive thing just worked

[AntiqueGamer]

Well, that does not make a lick of sense - but at least you have it working now.

[Freung]

yea its working perfect now thanks for ur effort.