Running as administrator in 32-Bit Vista. When I try to save or sign-in, I get the message: "TIM3 has been installed in a write-protected area. You cannot load or save puzzles."
I've tried to install it in different locations (like C:\Games or D:\Games), but I will still get the same message. Any ideas?

It is possible (though unlikely) that for some reason the folder is set as read-only. Right click on the folder, set read only, click apply, then remove read only and have the removal applied to folder and contents.
If this doesn't work, send support a ticket, they should be able to sort you out.

The folder is set to partially read only and I've tried what you said, but when I check the folder again it is still set to partially read only. But I think that's normal. All the files in the folder aren't read only.

If the folder is set to read only, but the files are not, it means (or should mean) that files can be modified but new files can't be created. I'd suggest contacting support in that case :/

Folders being read-only is completely normal on Windows and doesn't actually affect the ability to change anything in or about the folder: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326549 On Windows 7, the properties dialog for a folder even says explicitly that the read-only attribute only has relevance if it's set on a file.

I'm afraid I don't have any ideas about what might cause this issue, though.

You mean the following symptom, which sounds like the error encountered here?

But if this is normal on Windows, shouldn't a lot more people have this problem with TIM3?
Anyway, I've sent a support ticket. We'll see...

I have yet to encounter or even hear of a single program that fails for this reason (that doesn't mean they don't exist, but it's definitely not a whole lot). Not only that, but I have the exact same TIM3 running perfectly on my machines here (even though their folders are also read-only)

Folders have been marked read-only with no ill effects since Windows 2000, if not earlier. If this was the problem, there would be MANY, MANY more reports of problems with TIM3.

OK, the support takes ages to respond, and I'd like to try something else. Could someone upload their save file for me? Maybe my game just doesn't want to create one.

Sorry for the delay; didn't have time to make one before now.

This link contains a near empty save file for TIM3 - the only user is the Guest, and only the first puzzle has been solved.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/kagskbyxgcgqxfg/TIM.SAV

The file was located in the root of my C-drive, so you should probably place yours there too.

Thanks for the effort. Funny that the save file is located there. After some experimenting, I discovered my own save file in the root of my D partition (game is installed in D:\Games). But the game still can't read it. Even with your file, I can't go to the second puzzle, or save/load/signin.

So far, the support couldn't help me either, and I'm out of ideas. I even tried a pirated version and got the same error. This game just doesn't like me. :O

Perhaps that's the problem? It's an old game; people didn't have multiple drives or even partitions back then, so it might not work right unless it's on the C drive.

You could also just try placing the file on the C drive if you haven't; maybe it'll pick it up then.