Save backups?

[Wayward_Son]

Okay, I've been spending a lot of time recently coming back to PC gaming from years of mainly console stuff, but it's been a while so be gentle if this comes off as a dumb question...

It's come to a point where I need to install all my games (that are currently on a laptop) on a more powerful desktop PC which I am currently building with parts here and there from Newegg. But I started looking through my PrgFiles, and holy christ on a crutch at all the save files... then modded save files, backed up originals, all the config files. A massive amount of data we're talking, here.

I was wondering if anyone here knew of a way to simplify copying all that from machine A to machine B; I'm willing to do it the old fashioned way if I have to, but seeing as how I format my boxes every 6 months or so, I'd like to avoid having to keep doing that over and over.

What say ye, is there any app or script out there that can automate some of this? I'm looking at mostly older games here, half of them are pre-millennium, and overall there's about 25 or so titles with multiple saves each, plus all the config files (none of it came from Steam, I dunno if that's relevant). Even a cataloging application of some sort would be useful (although I suppose I could do that in Excel or Access)

Again, sorry if this is a noob post, but I'm lazy and not good at organizing data :\

[fitbabits]

If I'm reading your question correctly, you're looking for a method to transfer files (in this case your saved game data) from your laptop to a desktop you're building - without doing the standard migration. In which case, transferring the files over a home network (wired or wireless) would be a good option. I've done this in the past and it worked a treat. Note that it will most likely be slower than the standard method.

[RandoM51]

For most of gaming history there wasn't a standardized place to store game configuration data and saves. Even now that windows provides such a place not every game uses it.

In that environment it is very hard to make automation that will work on/for everything.

I generally don't keep saves myself after I've finished my first run on a game. The potential for DLC has made me keep some saves longer than usual, though. If I had a 10 year old save for Master of Magic would I really still remember wtf I was doing at that point in the game or would I need to start over?

I don't see why formatting your OS partition every 6 months---which is something you don't really need to do nowadays with a Windows box, FYI---causes a problem with game saves. Don't install on the OS partition and don't keep your saves there. When you feel you must reinstall the OS, just do the OS partition, leaving the games partition alone. Then all you'd need/want to do is restore your icons and/or start menu entries, which *can* be automated.

[Wayward_Son]

Those are both fantastic ideas, I think I will put them both to use.

Thanks guys!

[nabokovfan87]

Originally Posted by Wayward_Son

Okay, I've been spending a lot of time recently coming back to PC gaming from years of mainly console stuff, but it's been a while so be gentle if this comes off as a dumb question...

It's come to a point where I need to install all my games (that are currently on a laptop) on a more powerful desktop PC which I am currently building with parts here and there from Newegg. But I started looking through my PrgFiles, and holy christ on a crutch at all the save files... then modded save files, backed up originals, all the config files. A massive amount of data we're talking, here.

I was wondering if anyone here knew of a way to simplify copying all that from machine A to machine B; I'm willing to do it the old fashioned way if I have to, but seeing as how I format my boxes every 6 months or so, I'd like to avoid having to keep doing that over and over.

What say ye, is there any app or script out there that can automate some of this? I'm looking at mostly older games here, half of them are pre-millennium, and overall there's about 25 or so titles with multiple saves each, plus all the config files (none of it came from Steam, I dunno if that's relevant). Even a cataloging application of some sort would be useful (although I suppose I could do that in Excel or Access)

Again, sorry if this is a noob post, but I'm lazy and not good at organizing data :\

Essentially you have to look in a few places and just back them up on your own (unless there is a utility somewhere).

Steam stuff is installed in:

C:/program files/steam/steamapps/

Just back that entire folder if possible (you won't have to download your games again either). The saves could be there, or in about 5 or 6 other locations.

1. Inside the game installation files

C:/program files/ and look for the installation folder, if it is steam, then it would be in steam apps if that is where THAT game saves stuff.

2. My documents

Again, just back up this entire folder along with my videos, pictures, music, etc. when you get a new pc.

3. Hidden files/app data.

Some games, fallout 3, save in wierd locations. You need to go to folder options (in windows 7, ctrl panel. In xp, go to my computer/explorer and click on tools, then folder options. Then click on the view tab, and you want to select show hidden files and folders, and uncheck hide protected operating system files). From there you would look for:

XP:
C:/documents and settings/username/application data

win7
C:/users/username/application data

and will have to search in there.

If you don't want to bother with that, or just want to make sure you have the files you need, be sure to just google "[game name] save game file location" and you will likely find where its at.

[mightbe]

There's a few different apps out there that try to help you back up all of your saves. The only one I've used is GameSave Manager. It worked for 65% of them and I manually backed up the rest.

[nabokovfan87]

Originally Posted by RandoM51

I don't see why formatting your OS partition every 6 months---which is something you don't really need to do nowadays with a Windows box, FYI---causes a problem with game saves. Don't install on the OS partition and don't keep your saves there. When you feel you must reinstall the OS, just do the OS partition, leaving the games partition alone. Then all you'd need/want to do is restore your icons and/or start menu entries, which *can* be automated.

Yes, you kind of do. Over the months things get installed/uninstalled and the registry gets so cramped with crap that its starts to chug. Maybe someone installed too many "utilities" to "help" solve some sort of issue and in doing so added spyware and such. Maybe someone got a trojan and instead of spending weeks it takes a day or two to completely redo an entire install. That is why you would do it, not every 6 months, perhaps once a year, but there is a logic being doing so.

Isn't it kind of dumb to assume everyone has a setup like you with a "games partition" or that they wouldn't want to save their saves because they won't remember what they did last time they played. I'm not on some personal vendetta to attack you, but just open your mindset a little and keep the fact that not everyone is you in mind when you reply to these things.

[Expugnare]

Originally Posted by nabokovfan87

Yes, you kind of do. Over the months things get installed/uninstalled and the registry gets so cramped with crap that its starts to chug. Maybe someone installed too many "utilities" to "help" solve some sort of issue and in doing so added spyware and such. Maybe someone got a trojan and instead of spending weeks it takes a day or two to completely redo an entire install. That is why you would do it, not every 6 months, perhaps once a year, but there is a logic being doing so.

Isn't it kind of dumb to assume everyone has a setup like you with a "games partition" or that they wouldn't want to save their saves because they won't remember what they did last time they played. I'm not on some personal vendetta to attack you, but just open your mindset a little and keep the fact that not everyone is you in mind when you reply to these things.

The fact that you had to put a disclaimer about it being personal pretty much outs you immediately.

Registries can be cleaned and defragged with ease and if you get severe trojan and adware infection multiple times a year, you really need to take a look at your computing habits and install some sort of protection.
Or stay away from sketchy Russian pron sites.
And keeping multiple data partitions is always a good idea (not that I am the best at remembering to set them up) and RandoM didn't assume that he had such a scheme in place, rather he recommended it going forward.

RandoM can be a dick sometimes, but he knows his shit better than almost anyone else on the site, so I'd heed his advice.

[Karak]

Originally Posted by RandoM51

For most of gaming history there wasn't a standardized place to store game configuration data and saves. Even now that windows provides such a place not every game uses it.

In that environment it is very hard to make automation that will work on/for everything.

I generally don't keep saves myself after I've finished my first run on a game. The potential for DLC has made me keep some saves longer than usual, though. If I had a 10 year old save for Master of Magic would I really still remember wtf I was doing at that point in the game or would I need to start over?

I don't see why formatting your OS partition every 6 months---which is something you don't really need to do nowadays with a Windows box, FYI---causes a problem with game saves. Don't install on the OS partition and don't keep your saves there. When you feel you must reinstall the OS, just do the OS partition, leaving the games partition alone. Then all you'd need/want to do is restore your icons and/or start menu entries, which *can* be automated.

I do this, saving game saves to a non OS and all installs to a non os and both are backed up separately from the OS. Installs of new stuff are easy.

[Karak]

Originally Posted by Wayward_Son

Okay, I've been spending a lot of time recently coming back to PC gaming from years of mainly console stuff, but it's been a while so be gentle if this comes off as a dumb question...

It's come to a point where I need to install all my games (that are currently on a laptop) on a more powerful desktop PC which I am currently building with parts here and there from Newegg. But I started looking through my PrgFiles, and holy christ on a crutch at all the save files... then modded save files, backed up originals, all the config files. A massive amount of data we're talking, here.

People may kill me for this but it has always worked for me.
I have just installed the new motherboard in the system and let the OS figure it out after removing the original motherboard drivers.

There is a couple good docs on what to delete right before you switch out.
I have now switched out 23 motherboards without any change to the OS. From intel to amd, to intel, to amd on one of them. I upgrade the harddrives when they are lagging behind. This has never been an issue with me and despite the worry the registry is fine.

One thing is, they have now done exhaustive testing to show that extra files in the registry or crap left over DOES NOT slow the system down. That's not me saying it thats some of the most specialized tweak/hardware websites on the web. Using software tools to track data access times and boot times.

Anyway just food for though.

[Voodoo]

I frequently share game saves between my laptop & desktop. The program I use is called MS SyncToy. Recently, I was playing Dawn of War 2 - Chaos Rising and would find myself changing between the laptop & desktop. Well, all I would do is initiate a sync for that game (each directory is setup separate in the program). No issues, what-so-ever.

Now, I don't doubt that you'd be able to do the same thing I accomplish using any assortment of directory structure. The problem is that the registry on the two machines won't match. To get around this, I simply export the necessary registry keys for said game, import them into the other machine and then sync the game directory. This, is course, doesn't work for DD games which is where my first paragraph comes into play.

[nabokovfan87]

Originally Posted by Expugnare

The fact that you had to put a disclaimer about it being personal pretty much outs you immediately.

RandoM can be a dick sometimes, but he knows his shit better than almost anyone else on the site, so I'd heed his advice.

When someone personally attacks my knowledge of something multiple times and tells me that "I have no idea what I'm talking about", I get pretty damn pissed. As I said MY goal is not to personally attack him, it was to inform him that there are indeed circumstances where you do want to completely redo an OS to get it running faster and just clean things up.

Originally Posted by Voodoo

I frequently share game saves between my laptop & desktop. The program I use is called MS SyncToy. Recently, I was playing Dawn of War 2 - Chaos Rising and would find myself changing between the laptop & desktop. Well, all I would do is initiate a sync for that game (each directory is setup separate in the program). No issues, what-so-ever.

Does this app pretty much just let you select x directory and back it up to x place on other drive? That is what it looked like from what I could tell, I will have to give it a shot.

[Voodoo]

Originally Posted by nabokovfan87

Does this app pretty much just let you select x directory and back it up to x place on other drive? That is what it looked like from what I could tell, I will have to give it a shot.

It is a sync instead of a backup. I find it very useful, especially when I forget which computer has the most recent save game.

[RandoM51]

Originally Posted by nabokovfan87

Yes, you kind of do. Over the months things get installed/uninstalled and the registry gets so cramped with crap that its starts to chug. Maybe someone installed too many "utilities" to "help" solve some sort of issue and in doing so added spyware and such. Maybe someone got a trojan and instead of spending weeks it takes a day or two to completely redo an entire install. That is why you would do it, not every 6 months, perhaps once a year, but there is a logic being doing so.

Isn't it kind of dumb to assume everyone has a setup like you with a "games partition" or that they wouldn't want to save their saves because they won't remember what they did last time they played. I'm not on some personal vendetta to attack you, but just open your mindset a little and keep the fact that not everyone is you in mind when you reply to these things.

Uh, no, "I" don't. Once again you're spreading misinformation. Let me address each one individually.

1. If things are properly uninstalled, so are their registry entries. Everything doesn't have a good uninstall config, though, so some of this you might need/want to do by hand, or with a registry cleaner.

2. If somebody installed too many utilities trying to fix something and instead made it worse it isn't the hard drive that needs reformatted, it is their decision-making process. Repeat after me: If I mess it up because I don't know what the fuck I'm doing it is not the fault of the operating system, it is my fault.

3. If somebody gets a trojan within 6 months of an OS install, every time they do an install, then that somebody has a problem. HINT: Once again, the problem isn't the operating system. Install a good AV and keep it up to date. Add anti-malware protection while you're at it, and use firefox with noscript. Voila, you've protected yourself from most of the threats out there. If you download keygens and wonder why your computer stops working properly, you get what you deserve.

4. I wasn't assuming that everybody would approach their PC build in a logical, organized fashion. Making that assumption is pretty much impossible for anybody after reading just one of your posts in this forum. I was explaining a method for avoiding many re-installs. I suppose it was stupid of me to expect you to understand the concept.

5. If you were on a personal vendetta to attack me you'd have to pull your head out of your ass long enough to do the research to even begin to know what you're talking about. You should take some advice from Abraham Lincoln: Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.

Your tech knowledge, when not flat out incorrect, is woefully out of date. I picture Castaway 2, featuring a gamestop employee on a desert island with issues of PC magazine from 1990-1995 as his only reading material.

The saddest part of it all is that I can keep a Windows XP install in peak condition for years with minimal effort whereas you manage to break a modern OS within 6 months of install, over and over and over and over again.

[Voodoo]

Originally Posted by RandoM51

Your tech knowledge, when not flat out incorrect, is woefully out of date. I picture Castaway 2, featuring a gamestop employee on a desert island with issues of PC magazine from 1990-1995 as his only reading material.

The saddest part of it all is that I can keep a Windows XP install in peak condition for years with minimal effort whereas you manage to break a modern OS within 6 months of install, over and over and over and over again.

[nabokovfan87]

If you want to personally attack me, feel free to do so in a PM or email, I don't want to destroy this forum with negative attacks simply because you don't agree with me and I don't agree with you. I don't want to sit here and argue back and forth over who is right and who is wrong. I have giantbomb pc forums for that. I would rather take a more respectful approach and just get back to my original point of saying keep in mind that not everyone has everything set up or does everything your way, and in fact just because YOU might not have to do something or don't do something does not mean that it must be terrible or incorrect if you do.

There is always a situation to disprove whatever someone says, and it would be rather childish to have to site here daily and argue about scenarios for doing something or calling someone a fucking dumbass for doing something. For instance, your last sentence, about how YOU manage to keep xp running and I manage to fuck up a modern OS. When in all of my post did I say I had to reinstall an OS every 6 months/year. What I said was "someone" referring to all of those relatives and people I play games with, friends, whomever, who call me up and ask how do I do this or why is my computer so damn slow. Hell, I had my grandma call me sunday and ask me how to delete spam from her email.

I think you get the point, and considering the damn thread is about backups and not OS installs, I want to apologize for bringing shit so damn off topic.

[mightbe]

Originally Posted by Voodoo

I giggled furiously.

[muddi900]

Originally Posted by Voodoo

Now, I don't doubt that you'd be able to do the same thing I accomplish using any assortment of directory structure. The problem is that the registry on the two machines won't match. To get around this, I simply export the necessary registry keys for said game, import them into the other machine and then sync the game directory. This, is course, doesn't work for DD games which is where my first paragraph comes into play.

I have used your method on my Steam folder and it works perfectly. I don't know if you can do it with individual steam game.