It seems that you're using an outdated browser. Some things may not work as they should (or don't work at all).
We suggest you upgrade newer and better browser like: Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer or Opera

×
The game is one of my absolute favorites, and so far this version of it is running wonderfully... except when I try to save. Both "Save" and "Save as..." immediately crash the game to the desktop. Help please?
I'm on Windows XP Media Edition.
Post edited December 17, 2009 by DraconicDak
This question / problem has been solved by Namurimage
avatar
Factoid: Yeah, I can't say 100% that the VM doesn't have anything to do with the problems, because VMs do have unique drivers, but given that the game proper works just fine it seems unlikely to be the cause.
avatar
Namur: Yeah, it sounds like a folder pemissions problem, or at least i can't think of anything else that would cause the crash when trying to save.
The new Data folder you created in the new directory to where you copied the game files. Have you checked it's not set as 'read only' aswell ?
EDIT:
I just installed gog's version of Riven on my Win7 Ultimate 64bit machine to check out this save problem, and i'm not experiencing it.
-Right clicked the installer to run it as admin,
-Installed the game to the default location,
-Right clicked Riven's shortcut to run it as admin,
And that was it. I can save and load whitout any problems and as far as i can tell everything is working as it should.

I'm trying to load up my Win7 VM right now. I will update with the results, but on XP (and all NTFS file systems) all folders are marked as "read only" it's an attribute of the folder itself, not necessarily reflecting the contents. I've checked the file security permissions to make sure no inheritance is set up that forces files to be read-only or something...and I've looked at the individual files for read-only attributes and haven't found any.
avatar
Factoid: I'm trying to load up my Win7 VM right now. I will update with the results, but on XP (and all NTFS file systems) all folders are marked as "read only" it's an attribute of the folder itself, not necessarily reflecting the contents. I've checked the file security permissions to make sure no inheritance is set up that forces files to be read-only or something...and I've looked at the individual files for read-only attributes and haven't found any.

The read only attributes of the files in the folder are not relevant to this problem, since by saving you're trying to create new files, not change existing ones. The folder's attributes may be relevant, as the fix works, for some people at least, simply by moving the files to a folder not set to 'read only'.
On the original install folder you probably won't be able to change the read only att of the Data folder, but you might be able to do it in the Data folder you created in the new directory. Have you tried that ?
Post edited December 19, 2009 by Namur
Riven is crashing for me too when I try to save. Copying stuff to a new folder as described in the solution post doesn't solve the problem. In fact, it prevents the game from even running, because the game won't run without the Windows 95 compatibility option, and this flag does not get copied over. I have to set the flag manually, and when I do, the game runs, but it still crashes when I try to save.
avatar
ikantspelwurdz: Riven is crashing for me too when I try to save. Copying stuff to a new folder as described in the solution post doesn't solve the problem. In fact, it prevents the game from even running, because the game won't run without the Windows 95 compatibility option, and this flag does not get copied over. I have to set the flag manually, and when I do, the game runs, but it still crashes when I try to save.

Can you check if the new 'Riven' folder you created and the new 'Data' folder you created inside that are set to read only, and if you can change those folders atts in case they are ?
And are you guys running windows accounts with admin previleges or limited accounts ?
Neither folder has any attributes at all. Every file has the "A" attribute (as shown by running "attrib /s /d") and nothing else. And I'm running Windows XP with an admin account.
avatar
ikantspelwurdz: Neither folder has any attributes at all. Every file has the "A" attribute (as shown by running "attrib /s /d") and nothing else. And I'm running Windows XP with an admin account.

To check the folder's read/write atts just right click the folder in question and choose 'properties' to see if the 'read only' checkbox is ticked. Files atts are not relevant. Saving will create new files not change existing ones.
Do you think the files you swapped around to fix the missing animations could be messing things up ?
The 'read only' checkbox has a half-tick, as all folders without attributes do. If you create a new folder anywhere and immediately check its attributes, the "read only" one will be half-ticked. The "attrib" command shows the folder has no attributes at all.
Also, this is the original GoG installation. The Frankenstein installation (with riven.exe and menus.dll from the DVD) saves and loads just fine.
Post edited December 19, 2009 by ikantspelwurdz
avatar
ikantspelwurdz: Also, this is the original GoG installation. The Frankenstein installation (with riven.exe and menus.dll from the DVD) saves and loads just fine.

Then i honestly don't have any idea about what's going on there.
I don't know if this will make a difference or not but it can't hurt to try.
You say you can save on the 'other install' right ?
Try to make a couple of saves there and then copy those saves over to the original gog install. Copy one of the saves you made and the SAVE.rvn file.
Post edited December 19, 2009 by Namur
When I try to load using the GOG binaries, it says "Save Changes? (yes/no/cancel)." Picking anything but cancel makes it crash.
Post edited December 19, 2009 by ikantspelwurdz
avatar
ikantspelwurdz: When I try to load using the GOG binaries, it says "Save Changes? (yes/no/cancel)." Picking anything but cancel makes it crash.

I'm sorry mate, i can't think of anything else, maybe someone else will take a whack at it.
It still looks like you're not allowed to change the content of the game folder in any way for some reason, but i have no idea why.
Post edited December 19, 2009 by Namur
Ok, so it works under Windows 7. I can open the game, with or without compatibility mode enabled, and I can save and load.
I'm having some audio popping problems, but it sounds like it's the VM, not the game, because even the Win 7 bootup sound is crackling. I need to tinker around with that, but for the time being it works.
Thanks for all the help! Time to dig back into this game. I was making some good progress before all these problems sidetracked me.
avatar
Factoid: Ok, so it works under Windows 7. I can open the game, with or without compatibility mode enabled, and I can save and load.
I'm having some audio popping problems, but it sounds like it's the VM, not the game, because even the Win 7 bootup sound is crackling. I need to tinker around with that, but for the time being it works.
Thanks for all the help! Time to dig back into this game. I was making some good progress before all these problems sidetracked me.

Ah, that's awesome. Have fun with Riven. It's an amazing game ;)
I think I found out how to fix it for me! First, I got rid of the compatibility flag. Next, I loaded up Microsoft ACT and did some trial and error with the various fixes that Windows 95 mode loads. I found out that when "Win95VersionLie" is de-selected, saving and loading works just fine.
In addition, I found that de-selecting "HideDisplayModes" makes the game window bigger.
So now I have a custom SDB installed for Riven, that uses every Windows 95 compatibility flag except Win95VersionLie and HideDisplayModes, and so far it seems to work.
That's good news and thanks for posting the fix ;)
Maybe it will help others who run into the same save/load problems.
I have another issue with saving, where rather than letting me enter a name to save, it opens up a box that looks as if it's for loading games instead. I have no idea what's causing it, but the end result is the same: no saving for me.