Need a way to check for faulty components

[Mobius]

Hello, in my neverending quest to find out why I can't load my save games on Football Manager 2005, I've now been informed it might be due to faulty hardware ( Original thread ---> http://community.sigames.com/eve/ubb.x/a/tpc/f/212206905/m/6452064801 )

So I need a way to check that all my shit is working properly, which software can I use? I could open my pc, I've been told that taking stuff out and refitting it might be the answer. Is it worth trying this? I really am very frustrated with this problem, being unable to save on a football sim is a tad annoying.

 

[Jonty]

Hi Mobius

Not to discredit those giving advice elsewhere, but I'd be very doubtful if a load/save problem could be caused by faulty hardware. As such I wouldn't start disassembling and reassembling your computer, not even your hard drive given (I presume) you're having no other trouble with it.

The most obvious things that come to mind are:

• Firstly, check where the save games are supposed to be stored and see if there are any files in that directory. At least this will tell you if the save games are being written and just not loaded, or whether they're not being created in the first place. Also make sure you're running the latest version of the game by grabbing the latest patch if any are available (N.B. sometimes patching the game can cause old save games not to work).
• Secondly, make sure you are running as an admistrator, not a limited account (I presume you're using Windows XP). Whilst this can create theoretical security risks, you'd be suprised how many applications stop working, or won't even install, if you're running a limited account (and with firewalls, virus scaners and such, you should be safe).
• Finally, try uninstalling the game and reinstalling in, to another directory if you used the default directory before, or to the default directory if you used a custom directory previously (some applications, although rarely, can be funny about where they are installed).

This is all fairly generic stuff, but I hope it helps. I wouldn't worry about your hardware, though (he says ... ). I'll have a search and see if anyone else is having trouble.

Just out of interest, is the error you receive a Windows error or one from the game itself?

Kind Regards

Edit ~ Sorry, just belatedly read that thread you linked to, please ignore some of the above about reinstalling etc.

 

[Mobius]

I'm patched to the latest version (at least until 5.0.3 comes out which is meant to be this afternoon. ) And the folder where save games go does have save games in it, each between 20-30mb or so. Also I've reinstalled countless times but I haven't tried installing elsewhere so I'll give that a shot. Would it make a different to install it to my other hard drive?
The error is I think a windows one, although I can't quite tell. Basically when I click to load my game, I get thrown to the desktop and a grey box comes up saying "save game cannot be loaded" then it takes me back to the FM2005 main menu.

 

[Jonty]

Hi Mobius

You could try installing it tom your other hard drive, just to see. Judging by what you've said it sounds like a problem with the game, but if no one else is suffering the same trouble then I'm really not sure. Are you running as an administrator or limited user? (Start > Control Panel > Users (Classic View)).

Kind Regards

 

[Jonty]

Hi Mobius

More thoughts ... hehe Are you running a 'patched' version of the game executable (fm2005.exe?), e.g. a no-cd version etc. If you are, try switching back to the original as these can cause endless problems if they're not done right (not that I'm advocating their use etc. ).

Also, do you think you could type up the error message or post a screenshot of the error? Thanks

Kind Regards

Jonty

P.S. Maybe this 5.0.3 patch will fix it, the last one fixed some unrelated save game issues.

 

[Jonty]

Hi Mobius

From what I can tell it seems like the game is prone to corrupting save game files. Your best bet would be to start a new game, see if that saves normally, then just keep regular backups of save games you know to be functioning

Kind Regards

 

[Mobius]

I'm not using any different exes, just the one that was created when I installed + the official update patches, and I am the administrator of this comp. I was thinking it couldn't be a problem with my hardware because I have save games on HL2/Sid Meiers Pirates/Doom 3/Age of Mythology etc..and countless other games and they never have problems loading.

I've just started a new save, put myself on "manager holiday" and am resuming control every 2 weeks (ingame) and saving then seeing if it loads okay, just to see if its a certain point in the game that it messes up at or something.

 

[Mobius]

Downloading the latest patch now.

Also, how can I see what mobo etc I have, so I can make sure they are updated too?

 

[Jonty]

Hi Mobius

Good luck with it all

As for detecting your motherboard and such, programs like SiSandra will I *think* tell you, amongst offering analysis of a great many other things. If this is overkill then just search Google for a suitable app, or someone will post their favourites here, as it's been a long time since I've used such software myself.

Alternatively check with your system manufacturer to see the specs of the machine then either grab the latest drivers from them or direct from your motherboard manufacturer.

Kind Regards

Jonty

P.S. If you're running an Intel motherboard and you just want to update your chipset drivers, you can use their Chipset Identification Utility (N.B. the chipset drivers, whilst needed, are different from the drivers for onboard graphics, LAN, RAID etc.)