Thanks for posting this information. The fix half-worked for me. A few days ago I was up to the third part of Episode 4 when the game crashed. Today I tried to play and it didn't recognise any progress since the end of Episode 2. This fix let it see where I was up to in Ep4.
However, when I tried to start Episode 4 at the checkpoint I was up to it instead restarted the episode. I got out to the menu and went to start it again and my Ep4 progress had been wiped. This sucks. How can you have a problem with the save system in a game like this? Especially considering that cutscenes and dialogue are unskippable. UNACCEPTABLE
I had a similar problem previously (had to replay the end of Episode 2 four times to be able to start Episode 3).
I'm using a MAC and I downloaded straight from Telltale so don't have the second Steam folder, Does anyone know where the second prefs file might be. I only have one file from searching.
Every time I replace the pack/default prefs.prop file (7kb) with the older one (around 244kb) from the Documents folder the game creates another 7kb file in pack/default as soon as the game starts up to re-replace it. Am I doing something wrong? Also do I just leave the save files in the Documents folder when I do this? I think the game isn't syncing correctly with the bigger prefs.prop
I cant access my saves either, despite having tried to sync the prefs.prop files. I was trying to load from my EP4 checkpoint when the game loaded in windowed mode. So i changed to fullscreen and set the resolution back up to 1080. Then there were no saves listed in the game menu. I tried restarting the game several times, switching around the prefs.prop files and the same outcome each time. I only get the three 'New Game' slots.
There are 48 save files in the 'my documents' folder, there must be a way to restore them surely.
Ok, this is it. I've had it with this game. How is it possible, that a high profile GOTY such as this has its developer completely overlooking the issues? How is it, that Telltale takes NO responsibility whatsoever for their defect product?
This "game" isn't even a game. It's an interactive movie. All it has going for it gameplay wise, is the illusion of "I the gamer" being somehow in charge of the story progression. It's the small nuances like "do I side with this guy or that guy" or in some instances "who gets to live".
If only any of this mattered... IT DOESN'T! None of the decisions carry over. And it's not like this is some small unrelated issue concerning a niche group of gamers who've somehow managed to mess up their systems. I'm pretty sure this issue concernes EVERYONE, at least those playing on Vista/7/8 and have their prefs.prop stored in multiple places desync.
[SPOILERS... in case someone is actually dense enough to read this thread while not having played beyond the first episode]
I mean, let's face the facts here. How many players do you think would actually notice that Doug is alive when they really saved Carley, 30%...? How many players do you think actually notice smaller nouances like having gone neutral with Kenny and Lilly in the beginning of EP2, while later Lilly states she's glad you took her side earlier?
How many gamers in the end (of those that notice these issues) actually give a shit? maybe 25%? And how many of those actually take it up in the forums... maybe 5%? Folks, this isn't an isolated issue! The game is broken, period. The fact that bunch of people are also suffering from other technical issues (which for all it matters, I'm currently void of) makes it even more difficult for them to notice these glitches in the narrative.
And these glitches pretty much destroy the only reason to play this game. It's a disgrace that Telltale can't fix such an intrinsic function of the entire game, that which without it's nothing but an interactive cartoon... without the interactivity.
So, while this "game" has an awesome writing, storytelling, soundtrack and art direction, it doesn't change the fact that this interactive movie is broken. The only thing in it that actually resembles a video game... you know, the "interactivity" where you get to make some ostensible choices for how you play, don't even end up working correctly.
Last Telltale game I will buy, even if it was from a sale. :mad:
I hope this fix works for someone atleast, doesent do much for me. I would advice people to NOT buy this game untill it has been repaired. Savegames goes missing constantly, and startup freezes accurs every now and then.
The Walking Dead is not worth anything in its current state, I appreciate the mud under my shoe more than this game. Keep clear folks, this is robbery in plain sight.
S4: Ok I am done with this episode but my decisions wont move to new episode!
A: This is different situation. As i said when you end an episode it will update "prefs.prop" file in "Pack\default", but when it want to read your decisions it read "prefs.prop" file in "Documents\Telltale Games\The Walking Dead". So solution is to copy "prefs.prop" from "Pack\default" to "Documents\Telltale Games\The Walking Dead".
Telltale recommended deleting the prefs.prop from the pack\default location as a fix for this. It shouldn't be that a random person understand their stuffed up save system better than the actual company.
Going to try and replay the last section in order to try and regenerate that file, but knowing my luck it wont work as I've already spent at least an hour replaying that last bit trying to get it to work (thanks for not letting us skip anything at all, including the spoiler 'next time' trailers and the credits.)
Telltale recommended deleting the prefs.prop from the pack\default location as a fix for this. It shouldn't be that a random person understand their stuffed up save system better than the actual company.
The problem there is, that the prefs.prop should only be in the savegame folder, but on some systems under some circumstances gets generated in the install folder.
If anyone finds out what exactly leads to it being generated in the install folder on some systems, that would be very useful information.
ok I had a issue last night like this, but got it fixed. I have the latest version of OSX on mac, I bought the game off steam, so don't know if this will work if you got it right on Telltale.
Was almost at the end of Episode 3 when the game started lagging. So I logged out, was going to continue from the last save which was a few minutes before. However it looked like nothing saved at all. Was kind of pissed so I actually checked this thread. I couldn't find those folders mentioned for Mac by searching. So I eventually did this.
Open Steam, Go to Library, Right Click on Walking Dead, Properties,Local Files,Browse Local Files, Right Click Walking Dead, Show Package contents, Contents, Resources, Pack, Default, Made a copy of the prefs.prop and moved it to desktop as a precaution. Then delete the prefs.prop from the Default folder.
When I opened Walking Dead again, my Episode 3 save appeared. Just finished it, and worked fine. Hope it helps a few folks
So far it works. I have to replay the whole game but episode 3 saves for me now. But I'm hoping that it doesn't do this again. Last time the problem didn't start happening until episode 3 so I don't think that I can be sure yet.
The problem there is, that the prefs.prop should only be in the savegame folder, but on some systems under some circumstances gets generated in the install folder.
If anyone finds out what exactly leads to it being generated in the install folder on some systems, that would be very useful information.
Actually DjNDB, this is not acceptable. I don't have access to their source code so how can I tell them where is the problem!? Do you want me to create a sandbox for their game and correct all file read and writes using hooks!? Or you want us to tell them where is the problem from assembly code? If they cant fix their game they can give us their source code so we can fix it.
And at other hand it is not even our responsibility. Why we must search for problem of their game?! They must fix it. Not us. I want to know how much time they put to fix this problem already?!
I mean it is not hard to search for all read and writes of configuration file and debug it. I think they don't have the time for respecting customers.
Telltale recommended deleting the prefs.prop from the pack\default location as a fix for this. It shouldn't be that a random person understand their stuffed up save system better than the actual company.
Going to try and replay the last section in order to try and regenerate that file, but knowing my luck it wont work as I've already spent at least an hour replaying that last bit trying to get it to work (thanks for not letting us skip anything at all, including the spoiler 'next time' trailers and the credits.)
Yes they told it one time and never again. Do you think if it was their problem they couldn't fix it?! This problem is there even from EP2 and we are now using EP5 and they don't even know where is the problem yet.
And just for information. I am a C++, C#, VB.Net, PHP, Asp.Net, etc developer and unlike you I can find out how a program works with a simple app named "Process Monitor".
And, I just tried to help. Nothing more. So if you can't accept that just leave this topic.
I am not saying a customer should have to do anything.
It's just weird, that it only happens on some systems. I have run TWD so far on Windows 7, XP and Windows 8, and haven't seen a second prefs.prop being created myself. Therefore it would be interesting to know if there's anything the affected have, that makes it repeatable.
I would love to dig through the source code, if i had the opportunity, but that's not how it is. Therefore all someone who wants to help other users can do is trying to mitigate the problem by finding workarounds like you did, or reporting anything that can help track down the problem to support@telltalegames.com
Like you, I am just trying to help others, using the resources that are available to me. I appreciate that you are here to help.
OMFG DUDE YOUR A FUCKING LEGEND I JUST COPIED THAT FILE FROM DOCUMENTS INTO STEAMAPS AND IVE RESTORED MY ENTIRE SAVE FILE!!!!! OMFG YES I CAN FINALLY SEE MY ENDING!!!!!
Hey, thanks for the post. Will this fix the black screen issue? I have completed episode one and I let it finish and roll through all the credits, but every time I try open my game and play episode two, the screen just goes black. Matt P from the support team said to rewind to a place where it would load and I should have the problem any more, so I have played the last chapter of episode one about 5 times, and still, episode 2 won't load. Help! This is so frustrating.
I got a new laptop, and I tried to move my saves from my old computer to my new documents folder. But when I start up the game it does not see the saves. I tried to find the Pack/default folder but I couldn't find it.
Just have to say that this method completely solved my maddening problems with my saved game. I was depressed that I was going to have to lose all my work and just do a random play for hte 400 days dlc, but this is a life saver. Too bad it is kinda buried in the forums. Should definitely be a sticky topic.
While there is good information in this thread, some of it can even cause more problems. Most of it was not known at the time it was posted, but I have gathered a bunch of experience fixing savegames now. If anyone has savegames issues, i suggest creating a new thread, and including the support tool information.
Having prefs.prop files in multiple places will result in inconsistent savegames. Therefore every suggestion to copy the prefs.prop from one place to another where the game could find it is dangerous. Having any prefs.prop in the install folder will break the ability of playing consistent playthroughs on multiple Windows user accounts.
Also the links to "%public%\Documents\" are not needed normally. That folder is only used when the game runs in compatibility mode for win95 or win98/me. Using that workaround would result in having the same savegame folder on multiple Windows user accounts.
Since I don't expect users to understand all the potential problems they can run into, I am sinking this thread. It's better to look at every savegame issue individually and decide what's the best way to recover the progress.
I downloaded both seasons of the walking dead for the PS4 and when I try to start season 2 it tells me that it cannot find any saved data on my system. I've tried uploading my saved files to my online storage, saving the save files on a USB stick and connecting it to see if it finds it that way, copying my saves into other slots to see if that works and creating entirely new saves, none of which have worked. Please send solution.w
Ok, for those who have the save file and the .prop in the right folder. check the name of the folder of your season one save file. it should be named exactly "The walking Dead" (without the quotation marks). this will make it move above the season two save folder. and in my case, it works!
Comments
However, when I tried to start Episode 4 at the checkpoint I was up to it instead restarted the episode. I got out to the menu and went to start it again and my Ep4 progress had been wiped. This sucks. How can you have a problem with the save system in a game like this? Especially considering that cutscenes and dialogue are unskippable. UNACCEPTABLE
I had a similar problem previously (had to replay the end of Episode 2 four times to be able to start Episode 3).
Is this only me that think EP5 was very short?! Ended less than 2 hours.
There are 48 save files in the 'my documents' folder, there must be a way to restore them surely.
This "game" isn't even a game. It's an interactive movie. All it has going for it gameplay wise, is the illusion of "I the gamer" being somehow in charge of the story progression. It's the small nuances like "do I side with this guy or that guy" or in some instances "who gets to live".
If only any of this mattered... IT DOESN'T! None of the decisions carry over. And it's not like this is some small unrelated issue concerning a niche group of gamers who've somehow managed to mess up their systems. I'm pretty sure this issue concernes EVERYONE, at least those playing on Vista/7/8 and have their prefs.prop stored in multiple places desync.
[SPOILERS... in case someone is actually dense enough to read this thread while not having played beyond the first episode]
I mean, let's face the facts here. How many players do you think would actually notice that Doug is alive when they really saved Carley, 30%...? How many players do you think actually notice smaller nouances like having gone neutral with Kenny and Lilly in the beginning of EP2, while later Lilly states she's glad you took her side earlier?
How many gamers in the end (of those that notice these issues) actually give a shit? maybe 25%? And how many of those actually take it up in the forums... maybe 5%? Folks, this isn't an isolated issue! The game is broken, period. The fact that bunch of people are also suffering from other technical issues (which for all it matters, I'm currently void of) makes it even more difficult for them to notice these glitches in the narrative.
And these glitches pretty much destroy the only reason to play this game. It's a disgrace that Telltale can't fix such an intrinsic function of the entire game, that which without it's nothing but an interactive cartoon... without the interactivity.
So, while this "game" has an awesome writing, storytelling, soundtrack and art direction, it doesn't change the fact that this interactive movie is broken. The only thing in it that actually resembles a video game... you know, the "interactivity" where you get to make some ostensible choices for how you play, don't even end up working correctly.
Last Telltale game I will buy, even if it was from a sale. :mad:
The Walking Dead is not worth anything in its current state, I appreciate the mud under my shoe more than this game. Keep clear folks, this is robbery in plain sight.
Can't thank you enough!
Telltale recommended deleting the prefs.prop from the pack\default location as a fix for this. It shouldn't be that a random person understand their stuffed up save system better than the actual company.
Going to try and replay the last section in order to try and regenerate that file, but knowing my luck it wont work as I've already spent at least an hour replaying that last bit trying to get it to work (thanks for not letting us skip anything at all, including the spoiler 'next time' trailers and the credits.)
The problem there is, that the prefs.prop should only be in the savegame folder, but on some systems under some circumstances gets generated in the install folder.
If anyone finds out what exactly leads to it being generated in the install folder on some systems, that would be very useful information.
Was almost at the end of Episode 3 when the game started lagging. So I logged out, was going to continue from the last save which was a few minutes before. However it looked like nothing saved at all. Was kind of pissed so I actually checked this thread. I couldn't find those folders mentioned for Mac by searching. So I eventually did this.
Open Steam, Go to Library, Right Click on Walking Dead, Properties,Local Files,Browse Local Files, Right Click Walking Dead, Show Package contents, Contents, Resources, Pack, Default, Made a copy of the prefs.prop and moved it to desktop as a precaution. Then delete the prefs.prop from the Default folder.
When I opened Walking Dead again, my Episode 3 save appeared. Just finished it, and worked fine. Hope it helps a few folks
And at other hand it is not even our responsibility. Why we must search for problem of their game?! They must fix it. Not us. I want to know how much time they put to fix this problem already?!
I mean it is not hard to search for all read and writes of configuration file and debug it. I think they don't have the time for respecting customers.
Yes they told it one time and never again. Do you think if it was their problem they couldn't fix it?! This problem is there even from EP2 and we are now using EP5 and they don't even know where is the problem yet.
And just for information. I am a C++, C#, VB.Net, PHP, Asp.Net, etc developer and unlike you I can find out how a program works with a simple app named "Process Monitor".
And, I just tried to help. Nothing more. So if you can't accept that just leave this topic.
It's just weird, that it only happens on some systems. I have run TWD so far on Windows 7, XP and Windows 8, and haven't seen a second prefs.prop being created myself. Therefore it would be interesting to know if there's anything the affected have, that makes it repeatable.
I would love to dig through the source code, if i had the opportunity, but that's not how it is. Therefore all someone who wants to help other users can do is trying to mitigate the problem by finding workarounds like you did, or reporting anything that can help track down the problem to support@telltalegames.com
Like you, I am just trying to help others, using the resources that are available to me. I appreciate that you are here to help.
Honestly mate i couldnt thank you enough
big hugs respect n cudos to u bruv thanks
rancid
I got a new laptop, and I tried to move my saves from my old computer to my new documents folder. But when I start up the game it does not see the saves. I tried to find the Pack/default folder but I couldn't find it.
Just have to say that this method completely solved my maddening problems with my saved game. I was depressed that I was going to have to lose all my work and just do a random play for hte 400 days dlc, but this is a life saver. Too bad it is kinda buried in the forums. Should definitely be a sticky topic.
While there is good information in this thread, some of it can even cause more problems. Most of it was not known at the time it was posted, but I have gathered a bunch of experience fixing savegames now. If anyone has savegames issues, i suggest creating a new thread, and including the support tool information.
Having prefs.prop files in multiple places will result in inconsistent savegames. Therefore every suggestion to copy the prefs.prop from one place to another where the game could find it is dangerous. Having any prefs.prop in the install folder will break the ability of playing consistent playthroughs on multiple Windows user accounts.
Also the links to "%public%\Documents\" are not needed normally. That folder is only used when the game runs in compatibility mode for win95 or win98/me. Using that workaround would result in having the same savegame folder on multiple Windows user accounts.
Since I don't expect users to understand all the potential problems they can run into, I am sinking this thread. It's better to look at every savegame issue individually and decide what's the best way to recover the progress.
I downloaded both seasons of the walking dead for the PS4 and when I try to start season 2 it tells me that it cannot find any saved data on my system. I've tried uploading my saved files to my online storage, saving the save files on a USB stick and connecting it to see if it finds it that way, copying my saves into other slots to see if that works and creating entirely new saves, none of which have worked. Please send solution.w
Ok, for those who have the save file and the .prop in the right folder. check the name of the folder of your season one save file. it should be named exactly "The walking Dead" (without the quotation marks). this will make it move above the season two save folder. and in my case, it works!