Saved games aren't showing up?

[Trickk]

If even reinstalling this weird thing someone called a utility don't help I think not even praying to the nine will help too.

 

Maybe I should try backing up my save game, my data folder, and reinstalling oblivion?

[nosisab]

If even reinstalling this weird thing someone called a utility don't help I think not even praying to the nine will help too.

 

Maybe I should try backing up my save game, my data folder, and reinstalling oblivion?

 

If the trouble is already in those folders it will reaper when you return the backup. But you can try this. ask bben to point you his tutorial for a clean installation if need.

 

But before returning the data folder from backup, try returning the saved games, one at a time (not the whole folder) and test if the saves show up.

[bben46]

Saw the post. If you need it, here is my recommendation for a clean install that will preserve your save games, Oblivion.ini and Mods in a separate location. Then you can either put them back or leave them out as you wish.

 

When you uninstall Oblivion it doesn't really uninstall everything. Then when you start adding mods before you have started the game, some things may not get initialized properly. Here is my recommended procedure for uninstalling and reinstalling.

 

I would appreciate any feedback on this as it is something I expect to post often and I hate to give bogus or useless information.

 

Reinstalling Oblivion

 

My instructions assume you are using Windows XP and have installed Oblivion into the default location. If you are using Vista or Linux, the file locations may be different.

 

For a full reinstall, first you should try to preserve your mods and save games. The easiest way is to rename the data folder where your mods are stored C:\Program Files\Bethesda Softworks\Oblivion\Data to something else such as \olddata. Then rename the folder that has your saved games and Oblivion.ini, C:\documents and settings\your user name\my documents\My Games\oblivion to something like \My games\Old Oblivion - this saves your saved games and the oblivion.ini file.

 

Then, using the original CD, NOT the Launcher on your Hard drive. Select uninstall.

 

After it completes the uninstall, reboot your computer - this is important as it allows Windows to remove some references to the original Oblivion.

 

This would be a good time to do a file clean up and defragment your hard drive.

 

Now, again using the original CD, reinstall Oblivion.

 

Before adding any mods, patches or Shivering Isles, start the game and make a save. This initializes some stuff that needs to be initialized.

 

Now, If you DO NOT use Shivering Isles, patch the game using ONLY the latest Oblivion patch. All of the stuff from the earlier patches is included.

 

Be sure you use the proper language patch. If you use the wrong one it may work, but with a strange mixture of languages. (Germanglish?) Or it may crash.

 

NOTE: there are two English Patches UK & US and they are different. (Some people actually think we speak the same language) Use the one that matches your original disk.

 

If you use Shivering Isles, DO NOT install the Oblivion patch. Install Shivering Isles, then ONLY the latest Shivering Isles patch. All of the updates for Oblivion are included. There is only one Shivering Isles patch for both US & UK English

 

Now, again start the game and make a save. Test to be sure everything is working right (No purple objects or yellow blocks)

 

Before adding any mods, back up both your \data folder and the save game folder. Copy them, don't move or rename them, to a different folder - such as \Bethesda\Clean Oblivion\data and \Bethesda\clean Oblivion\saves.

 

Note, Your Oblivion.ini file is in the same folder, but seperate from, the save game folder.

 

Now rename the \data folder to \newdata and the \oldata back to \data. this restores all of your mods. You should now have 2 data folders \data, and \newdata. Then rename the new My Games\Oblivion to something like \New Oblivion. and the \Old oblivion to \oblivion - this restores all of your saved games and your original Oblivion.ini file.

 

If you have the same problem, it is most likely caused by a mod. However, you now have a clean install to fall back on. You can rename the files back to what they were and be back to your clean install without having to reinstall again.

 

Sounds like lots of work, but you will have a clean install and a back up clean install when you are finished.

[nosisab]

how many headaches I would not have if I just knew your tutorial some time ago bben46, if I could I would give you another kudos right now.

 

all of us, even the one that think himself 'seasoned' would do good keeping it as a checklist if need of reinstall arises. thank you very much for it.

[Trickk]

Saw the post. If you need it, here is my recommendation for a clean install that will preserve your save games, Oblivion.ini and Mods in a separate location. Then you can either put them back or leave them out as you wish.

 

When you uninstall Oblivion it doesn't really uninstall everything. Then when you start adding mods before you have started the game, some things may not get initialized properly. Here is my recommended procedure for uninstalling and reinstalling.

 

I would appreciate any feedback on this as it is something I expect to post often and I hate to give bogus or useless information.

 

Reinstalling Oblivion

 

My instructions assume you are using Windows XP and have installed Oblivion into the default location. If you are using Vista or Linux, the file locations may be different.

 

For a full reinstall, first you should try to preserve your mods and save games. The easiest way is to rename the data folder where your mods are stored C:\Program Files\Bethesda Softworks\Oblivion\Data to something else such as \olddata. Then rename the folder that has your saved games and Oblivion.ini, C:\documents and settings\your user name\my documents\My Games\oblivion to something like \My games\Old Oblivion - this saves your saved games and the oblivion.ini file.

 

Then, using the original CD, NOT the Launcher on your Hard drive. Select uninstall.

 

After it completes the uninstall, reboot your computer - this is important as it allows Windows to remove some references to the original Oblivion.

 

This would be a good time to do a file clean up and defragment your hard drive.

 

Now, again using the original CD, reinstall Oblivion.

 

Before adding any mods, patches or Shivering Isles, start the game and make a save. This initializes some stuff that needs to be initialized.

 

Now, If you DO NOT use Shivering Isles, patch the game using ONLY the latest Oblivion patch. All of the stuff from the earlier patches is included.

 

Be sure you use the proper language patch. If you use the wrong one it may work, but with a strange mixture of languages. (Germanglish?) Or it may crash.

 

NOTE: there are two English Patches UK & US and they are different. (Some people actually think we speak the same language) Use the one that matches your original disk.

 

If you use Shivering Isles, DO NOT install the Oblivion patch. Install Shivering Isles, then ONLY the latest Shivering Isles patch. All of the updates for Oblivion are included. There is only one Shivering Isles patch for both US & UK English

 

Now, again start the game and make a save. Test to be sure everything is working right (No purple objects or yellow blocks)

 

Before adding any mods, back up both your \data folder and the save game folder. Copy them, don't move or rename them, to a different folder - such as \Bethesda\Clean Oblivion\data and \Bethesda\clean Oblivion\saves.

 

Note, Your Oblivion.ini file is in the same folder, but seperate from, the save game folder.

 

Now rename the \data folder to \newdata and the \oldata back to \data. this restores all of your mods. You should now have 2 data folders \data, and \newdata. Then rename the new My Games\Oblivion to something like \New Oblivion. and the \Old oblivion to \oblivion - this restores all of your saved games and your original Oblivion.ini file.

 

If you have the same problem, it is most likely caused by a mod. However, you now have a clean install to fall back on. You can rename the files back to what they were and be back to your clean install without having to reinstall again.

 

Sounds like lots of work, but you will have a clean install and a back up clean install when you are finished.

 

Thank you so much!

 

Just one question... can't I just copy and paste my Data folder to backup my mods instead of renaming it?

Seems like it would be easier...

 

Thanks.

[bben46]

Yes, but you must copy the data folder to a different folder. If your data folder is very large it could take a while (mine takes more than 10 minutes). Then when you copy it back, you will have the long wait again, plus, it will overwrite what is there unless you copy that somewhere else also. By renaming the whole folder it effectively does the same thing in one second vs 10 minutes. The only drawback is that it will be in the same location as the original - Oblivion/newdata and Oblivion\data will both be in the same oblivion folder.

 

I actually have 4 versions in mine cleandata, nowdata, CSdata and Liodata. One is a clean save data (cleandata) with no mods, but with SI & Oblivion patched. One is for work on my current mod project (CSdata) one is a 'safe' data of my current character, with lots of mods (liodata) and the other is my current game with new mods that I am not sure about yet. when they prove stable I will replace the liodata with that one and continue with the nowdata. I rename the one I want to use to data (along with the save game folder) I have batch files to automatically change between nowdata and CSdata - for playing or modding.

 

Each data started as just data, Before playing, but after making my first save in the game, I made a copy and named it cleandata, then after playing for a while, I copied it to a new file Nowdata (giving 2 data files) then later I copied a known good version of nowdata to liodata as a backup. The CS data started as a cleandata (without SI). Then when I saw that I wanted something from SI in my mod, I added it.

 

Whenever I want to test a mod I make a backup copy of nowdata first. Then if the new mod does something I don't like, I just rename the known good nowdata to data and I'm back to where I was before installing tat mod.

 

I think what I am doing is similar to what your save manager does but again somewhat different.

[Trickk]

Yes, but you must copy the data folder to a different folder. If your data folder is very large it could take a while (mine takes more than 10 minutes). Then when you copy it back, you will have the long wait again, plus, it will overwrite what is there unless you copy that somewhere else also. By renaming the whole folder it effectively does the same thing in one second vs 10 minutes. The only drawback is that it will be in the same location as the original - Oblivion/newdata and Oblivion\data will both be in the same oblivion folder.

 

I actually have 4 versions in mine cleandata, nowdata, CSdata and Liodata. One is a clean save data (cleandata) with no mods, but with SI & Oblivion patched. One is for work on my current mod project (CSdata) one is a 'safe' data of my current character, with lots of mods (liodata) and the other is my current game with new mods that I am not sure about yet. when they prove stable I will replace the liodata with that one and continue with the nowdata. I rename the one I want to use to data (along with the save game folder) I have batch files to automatically change between nowdata and CSdata - for playing or modding.

 

Each data started as just data, Before playing, but after making my first save in the game, I made a copy and named it cleandata, then after playing for a while, I copied it to a new file Nowdata (giving 2 data files) then later I copied a known good version of nowdata to liodata as a backup. The CS data started as a cleandata (without SI). Then when I saw that I wanted something from SI in my mod, I added it.

 

Whenever I want to test a mod I make a backup copy of nowdata first. Then if the new mod does something I don't like, I just rename the known good nowdata to data and I'm back to where I was before installing tat mod.

 

I think what I am doing is similar to what your save manager does but again somewhat different.

 

Well, I managed to fix the problem. I did everything the exact way you said, and my saves are working again... yay!

 

But, I have a new problem... none of my mods are working. Yes, I've enabled them all but they don't work...

 

I'm just about ready to unplug my computer, take it up to the second story window and toss it out.

[Trickk]

Yes, but you must copy the data folder to a different folder. If your data folder is very large it could take a while (mine takes more than 10 minutes). Then when you copy it back, you will have the long wait again, plus, it will overwrite what is there unless you copy that somewhere else also. By renaming the whole folder it effectively does the same thing in one second vs 10 minutes. The only drawback is that it will be in the same location as the original - Oblivion/newdata and Oblivion\data will both be in the same oblivion folder.

 

I actually have 4 versions in mine cleandata, nowdata, CSdata and Liodata. One is a clean save data (cleandata) with no mods, but with SI & Oblivion patched. One is for work on my current mod project (CSdata) one is a 'safe' data of my current character, with lots of mods (liodata) and the other is my current game with new mods that I am not sure about yet. when they prove stable I will replace the liodata with that one and continue with the nowdata. I rename the one I want to use to data (along with the save game folder) I have batch files to automatically change between nowdata and CSdata - for playing or modding.

 

Each data started as just data, Before playing, but after making my first save in the game, I made a copy and named it cleandata, then after playing for a while, I copied it to a new file Nowdata (giving 2 data files) then later I copied a known good version of nowdata to liodata as a backup. The CS data started as a cleandata (without SI). Then when I saw that I wanted something from SI in my mod, I added it.

 

Whenever I want to test a mod I make a backup copy of nowdata first. Then if the new mod does something I don't like, I just rename the known good nowdata to data and I'm back to where I was before installing tat mod.

 

I think what I am doing is similar to what your save manager does but again somewhat different.

 

Well, I managed to fix the problem. I did everything the exact way you said, and my saves are working again... yay!

 

But, I have a new problem... none of my mods are working. Yes, I've enabled them all but they don't work...

 

I'm just about ready to unplug my computer, take it up to the second story window and toss it out.

 

UPDATE:

 

All of my mods are now working! I forgot to update Oblivion to v1.2 :P!

 

Thank you for helping me guys!