HELP!!! Save corrupted/unable to load or even save game anymore!!

[King of Persia]

Ever since the last "Steam Update" where I had to restart steam (I mayyyy have done it while the cloud sync was happening for the game?), I now receive the following message anytime I boot up the game:

********
Unable to load system saved data.
Delete all game saved data and restart the game.
Restarting without deleting data will result in unloadable save data.
*********

BUT, the bigger issue is now I CAN'T EVEN START A NEW GAME AND SAVE THAT GAME!!
I have tried starting a new game and saving it.
Once I restart the game, I get the EXACT SAME MESSAGE above!!
I have tried with and without cloud sync, and it keeps doing the same error.


UPDATED AND FIXED!:

The way I fixed is I needed to do a whole process where I had to delete/clear the steam's cloud save data. It is a somewhat convoluted process which is listed here: https://www.addictivetips.com/windows-tips/steam-cloud-saves/

BUT, I will try to list a more simplified version here for your convenience as best as I can and to show you what I did to RETAIN YOUR OLD SAVES and to not do all the unnecessary steps in the above website!

1. First thing you need to do is backup/copy your old saves into another folder so you don't lose your progress. Go to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\(unique number)\2050650(this is the app ID for RE4R)\remote\win64_save\. Once you are here, copy ONLY the files that have the word Slot in it (for this example, I will assume you have 2 manual save files), so copy data001Slot and data002Slot into another folder or your desktop.

EDIT: Thanks to @Ren for pointing this out, but if you would like to also retain your autosave file, you can also copy and backup the "data000" file, just DO NOT copy the date00-1 file, this is the file that is corrupted.

2. Next, right-click RE4R in your steam library > Properties > General > UNTICK box that says Keep games saves in Steam Cloud

3. Go back to the folder where RE4R saves are (2050650 folder) and DELETE both the remote folder and the remotecache.vdf file.

4. Hard-close steam with Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc). Go to Processes and End Task on all Steam apps. (Make sure again that both remote folder and remotecache.vdf are still deleted).

5. Open Steam, open RE4R and it should open it like it was a fresh install (will ask you to adjust brightness etc). This is GOOD and also means you shouldn't get the error message anymore.

EDIT: @Fleeex has reported that after completing Step 5 he was still receiving the error message on game startup, however he continued following the steps all the way through and reported that it still managed to fixed his issue, so do not panic if you still get the error message.

6. Start a New Game and just get up to the first Typewriter. Save the game in both the first slot AND the second slot (assuming you have 2 saves you want restored, if you have more saves then save in the number of slots you wish to restore). Now close the game.

7. Right-click RE4R in Steam again and go to Properties > General > now TICK the box that says Keep games saves in Steam Cloud. When you exit properties, it should say on RE4R the game is not in sync with cloud.

8. Now open the game and you will get the Steam Cloud Conflict screen (it asks you if you want to use the Local saves or the Cloud saves). Choose Local Save and let it overwrite the Cloud save.

9. FINAL STEP to restore your old saves. Close the game, go back to your 2050650 folder and go to the remote\win64_save folder. OVERWRITE data001Slot and data002Slot (and data000 if you wish to recover your autosave too) with your original saves that you backed up.

10. Boot up the game (again, choose to load local saves and overwrite cloud). Now, load your game from either Slot 1 or Slot 2 (it will say Chapter 1, but once you load the save it will be where you left off originally). Save the game again and it should now correctly save as the chapter you are actually up to.

Please let me know if this helped anyone and if it is not working for you I will try my best to help!

[King of Persia]

bump

[Grimzy]

And you did delete the save files and / or even the whole folder for the game in your userdata folder in steam?

[King of Persia]

That's the thing, I have looked in userdata, in the root steam folder, my documents, etc. I cannot find the save anywhere

[Grimzy]

Originally posted by King of Persia:

That's the thing, I have looked in userdata, in the root steam folder, my documents, etc. I cannot find the save anywhere

It should be in your steam folder then userdata, then one of the folders with a number and then folder called: 2050650
E:\Steam\userdata\xxxxxx\2050650
Thats where the saves are. Try renaming it or moving the folder somewhere else and then try a new save without cloud sync first.

[King of Persia]

oh ok found it thanks.

is there any chance that i can "uncorrupt" these saves??

[King of Persia]

@Grimzy

so just an update on the above.

I located the save folder you stated, I deleted everything in there.

I boot up the game, STILL get that same message re Unable to load system data etc (I have also turned off cloud sync at this stage, so there is no save data for the game to even load!)

Same issue also occurs where I am trying to save a fresh game. It saves, I reboot the game, and the game tells me it is unable to load that new save.

It's like it is permanently damaged??? NO idea how to fix this one..

[King of Persia]

I feel like maybe I need to also delete the profile associated with the game?? like the config file or something? cause my graphic settings and everything remain the same, even though i have deleted all the saves and all files in that folder you mentioned.

[Grimzy]

Originally posted by King of Persia:

I feel like maybe I need to also delete the profile associated with the game?? like the config file or something? cause my graphic settings and everything remain the same, even though i have deleted all the saves and all files in that folder you mentioned.

You can try that , it will jsut generate a new one when you start the game again.

[King of Persia]

yep, tried it, didn't work still same issue.

literally at a stalemate here, i have no idea what to do

[Obi-Wan Ketobi]

This just happened to me, too. The game crashed and after restarting the message popped up and I can't load any saves.

[Nick ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ Cage]

I have the same issue and nothing I've done seemed to fix the problem

[Obi-Wan Ketobi]

I have backups of my saves from yesterday and today. Neither work. The message pops up right after the intro logos. I tried reinstalling the game and disabling the steam cloud, but it didn't help.

[Grimzy]

Just to clarify: you didnt use any mods or cheats?
I think Spiderman game also had a similar issue, but then a patch was released to fix it, so if nothing else helps you will sadly have to wait for a patch fix.

[Nick ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ Cage]

No modifications to the savefile at all. I was playing earlier today, took a break and turned off the game. Went to boot it again and when I launched it I got the "Unable to load saved data" message

[King of Persia]

GUYS!

I just managed to fix it and retain my save file (unfortunately, the in-game "challenges" and achievements have reset, but at least I did not lose my progress).

I am updating my initial post with how I did it so I can hopefully help anyone out who has this issue.