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Any way to decrease save file size?


joemodda

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Are you certain it's not bloat? What evidence to you have to say it's not bloat? How did you come to that conclusion? I ask these questions because I have double the amount of mods you have, nearly 300 hours gameplay, nearing my 1200th save, and only have a 6.3MB save file with my current character. I never have had a save file near 10MB in the time I've played Oblivion, with many different mod load outs and characters.

 

Have you checked your OBSE.log to see if there is any mention of bloat? Many times OBSE will report when there are an excessive amount of strings being saved. You can also get save statistics, and OBSE statistics, from Wrye Bash. You should review those as well.

 

Also a corrupt save can be corrupt for whatever reason. It may have nothing to do with size of the file, but instead the content within the file. So if the file is corrupt you should just ditch it, it's the only safe thing to do. This is why I keep so many different saves. If one does become corrupt I have something to fall back on. Worst case scenario is I lose about 30min of game time.

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To be honest, the only way I know of detecting a bloat is by right-clicking my save file on Wrye Bash and choosing "Remove Bloat."

And you mention something about "OBSE Log?" Do you think you can brief me in on what that does?

 

As for backing up my save files, I use the streamline save feature to save my games. I can revert to an earlier save (and I did), but after a few minutes of gameplay, the save file just goes corrupto again.

 

If it helps, should I post a list of my mods and the load order? (I use BOSS as well)

 

And thanks for your helping me out :teehee:

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Wrye Bash is fine for removing Bloat, it does fair enough. If you notice in the right click menu you can also get statistics.

 

About the OBSE.log. If, I'm assuming you do, have OBSE installed it creates a log in the Oblivion folder. It's a simple .txt file. Open that up and see if it mentions anything about excessive strings. You will see the following if you have possible bloat

Loading strings
 WARNING: substantial numbers of string variables exist for the following files (may indicate savegame bloat):
   All Natural Base.esm (872 strings)
   Toggleable Quantity Prompt.esp (320 strings)
   EnchantmentMastery.esp (118 strings)

 

You can disable those mods, clean save, then re-enable them again to "start fresh" so to speak.

 

Posting your Load Order would be beneficial, yes. Someone might be able to spot a mod that's notorious for bloat.

 

If all of your saves eventually become corrupt after a certain point then I have to assume something is triggering that. Finding exactly what that trigger is might be tricky. Deactivating suspected mods is a good start. Sometimes you might just simply have to start over. It's happened to all of us at least once where you just can't rescue your information and have to abandon it.

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Do you, or any of your mods, use the 'placeatme', (a notorious bloat cause) command? Or on the same tack, the 'DuplicateAllItems' or 'RemoveAllItems" on companions?
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Here's the load order:

 

  Reveal hidden contents

 

 

Also here's the Wrye Bash Statistic

 

  Reveal hidden contents

 

 

I ckecked the OBSE log; there isn't any mention of bloating, but underneath "Loading Array Variables," there are a bunch of lines that read

"plugin didn't finish reading chunk"

And one line "plugin did not read all of its data (at 000000000001204A expected 000000000001204B)"

I don't use companion mods and I don't seem to recall having a mod that utilizes "placeatme" commands or stuff similar to that. But you can look through my load order to help me spot mods that wou;d cause bloating

 

70+ hours into the game and I'm barely half-way through with the game. I don't want to start over AGAIN! This problem happened to all 4 of my playthroughs. I hate having to start over and I really hate having to gather all my uber equipment just to lose it all.

Oyyeah, does dropping items in your house count towards bloating? I usually like to display some of my finer loot around my house, sort of like a museum. I didn't drop as much stuff in this save, but I did it in previous playthroughs.

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If your save file is actually corrupt there is not really anything that can be done. You simply have to revert to a previous save or start over. That's all the choices you have.

 

I think you're experiencing problems that's specific to your setup if you're continually getting corrupt saves. The trick is finding exactly which mod is causing it. Unfortunately I can't help you with that other than advising against mods that use the previously mentioned commands Hickory listed. A fresh install and rework of your Load Order might be due. Since this is the best way to "clean" everything out and start over.

 

Check out the sticky thread at the top of this page for Corrupted Saves. Maybe something there can be of some help.

 

I have nothing more to offer other than cutting down on some mods until you get a perfectly stable game.

 

Good luck.

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Some experts say that the definition of a bloated save file is one that reaches 10 MB. At that point problems become more frequent and it may be best to abandon that character and start a new one.
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  • 2 weeks later...

I just realized something. Now this might sound unusual, but I like to hoarde a lot of stuff. I've got a LOT of magic weapons/armor in my chests.

I don't know why, but I have a strange magic item fetish and I can't stop collecting them. When I find some I usually dump my item load into the designated chests.

 

Do you guys think this have to with the unusual bloat? The items in the chest don't reset/disappear and so they just sit there collecting dust...

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