rome total war help needed

**spidy** · March 23, 2008, 02:35 PM

Thks for looking hope you can help, I Bought rome total war (gsp white label) from a shop, been playing it on off for 3 weeks now with no problems autosave. For some reason autosave when loading sends me back too my desktop, now i've tryed this below and the game reloaded as far as i know with no problems but my saved game still not works any clues. i've no idea what version this is, nor do i know what or if the patchs what i've read in the threads will work thanks and kind regards spidy.

This is the procedure I use in fixing RTW computers. It has been used a lot, but read and understand it before plowing in. It will solve about 80% of the most common install/reinstall problems, and is based on official Activision procedures. If registry entries/program files are missing/nonexistant when at a step to remove them, just continue anyway. Do not arbitrarily skip steps unless you understand why you are doing so. The penalty, however, is just that you could have wasted your time and need to do the whole thing again if your next install attempt fails. This procedure will allow RTW to reinstall in many cases.

PROBLEMS/SYMPTOMS:
"There was a problem uninstalling the game and now I can't reinstall."
Or, "RTW does not work now, but it was working in the past!"
Or, "I want to totally remove all RTW and just start over again!"

ASSUMPTIONS:
1. No overclocking
2. System has a known stable power supply
3. Motherboard BIOS and Video Card BIOS is up to date, and properly configured
4. System is clean & relatively free of dust inside (e.g., no heating/fan problems)
5. No viruses (strongly recommend www.eset.com/home/home.htm NOD32 over all other AV programs)
6. No spyware or adware (suggest freeware www.safer-networking.org/...oad/Spybot - Search & Destroy)
7. No rootkits. Since early 2005, that your have never had any Sony music CD in your computer (specifically, that the undetectable www.sysinternals.com/blog...ights.html Sony rootkit has ever been installed you your machine.)
8. Disable Anti-virus protection & close all background programs and unnecessary processes (use CTRL-ALT-DEL and also look in the Tray)
9. Assuming game was installed to default C:\, with Windows XP SP2 system default directory names
10: Before beginning, back up any RTW files you want to keep, like savegames, preferences.txt, etc.
11. Normal RTW uninstall (e.g., via Control Panel) tried, but failed.

WARNING:
This procedure is for an Advanced user. Some parts are based/quoted on official Acitvision solutions. Read/understand the whole procedure before beginning. Do not attempt registry changes if you are not comfortable editing the Registry (however, you will not be able to do the manual uninstall without Regedit). It is a good idea to back up your registry FIRST, and also KNOW HOW TO RESTORE IT! Know this: Altering the *wrong* things in the registry could result in complete operating system failure. Get someone to help you if you are not sure!

DETAILED PROCEDURE:
You can manually remove RTW from your system in 4 steps:
STEP 1. Remove the registry entries
STEP 2. Remove the game files
STEP 3. Remove the RomeTW.ini
STEP 4. Remove the Installer files

Note 01: If any of the following keys are already removed (e.g., you carefully look, and they are simply not there, then go to the next step. Remember which ones are gone and post about it.
Note 02: It may help viewing to turn off WORD WRAP in notepad (or your editor).
Note 03: The Objective of STEP 1 is to delete certain registry keys.
Note 04: In Regedit, you can enable View - StatusBar and look at the bottom of the Regedit window to see the full name of the key you are looking at -- Take a look at it to carefully VERIFY you are deleting the correct key.
Note 05: The Appendix lists the keys which will be removed.

---- STEP 1. Remove the registry entries ----
1-01) Click Start then Run.
1-02) At the prompt type: REGEDIT. The registry editor will open.

1-03) Click the "+" next to HKEY_CURRENT_USER.
1-04) Click the "+" next to SOFTWARE.
1-05) Right-Click & delete the "The Creative Assembly" entry (the sub-keys will be deleted too).

1-06) Click the "+" next to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.
1-07) Click the "+" next to SOFTWARE.
1-08) Right-Click & delete the "The Creative Assembly" entry (the sub-keys will be deleted too).

1-09) Go back to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE.
1-10) Click the "+" next to Microsoft
1-11) Click the "+" next to Windows
1-12) Click the "+" next to CurrentVersion
1-13) Click the "+" next to Uninstall
1-14) Delete the key named {4089999C-6CB7-4F9D-A2F6-DB158DBF91FB}
1-15) Delete the key named {B6BB246A-D1AC-2414-D84D-13C8F3D38C43}
1-16) Delete the key named InstallShield_{4089999C-6CB7-4F9D-A2F6-DB158DBF91FB}
1-17) Delete the key named InstallShield_{B6BB246A-D1AC-2414-D84D-13C8F3D38C43}

1-18) Click the "+" next to InstallShield Uninstall Information
1-19) Delete the key named {4089999C-6CB7-4F9D-A2F6-DB158DBF91FB}
1-20) Delete the key named {B6BB246A-D1AC-2414-D84D-13C8F3D38C43}

1-21) Go back to SOFTWARE.
1-22) Click the "+" next to Classes
1-23) Click the "+" next to Installer
1-24) Click the "+" next to Features
1-25) Delete the key named 4089999C-6CB7-4F9D-A2F6-DB158DBF91FB
1-26) Delete the key named B6BB246A-D1AC-2414-D84D-13C8F3D38C43
1-27) Go back one level to Installer: Click the "+" next to Installer
1-28) Click the "+" next to Products
1-29) Delete the key named 4089999C-6CB7-4F9D-A2F6-DB158DBF91FB
1-30) Delete the key named B6BB246A-D1AC-2414-D84D-13C8F3D38C43

1-31) Go back to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE.
1-32) Click the "+" next to SEGA
1-33) Delete the key named "Rome Total War - patch 1.3"

1-34) Close the registry editor

Note 06: At this point, the hardest part is over; your registry is cleaned of relevant RTW entries (though several hundred may still remain).
Note 07: If you want to keep your savegames, copy them from the Saves directory now!

---- STEP 2. Remove the game files ----
2-1) Double-click My Computer.
2-2) Double-click the C:\ drive.
2-3) Double-click Program Files.
2-4) Double-click Total War
2-5) Right-click on the Rome: Total War folder and choose delete.

Note 08: Your program files are now removed.

---- STEP 3. Remove the RomeTW.ini file ----
3-1) Click the Start - Find (or Search) - Files & Folders
3-2) Search your C:\ drive for a file called RomeTW.ini
3-3) Delete the RomeTW.ini file (it should be in C:\WINDOWS, e.g., C:\WINDOWS\RomeTW.ini)

---- STEP 4. Remove the Installer files ----
4-1) Set folder display otions to show hidden folders and files
4-2) Explorer - Tools - Options - View - Choose "Show Hidden Files and Folders"
4-3) Explorer - Tools - Options - View - UNCHECK "Hide protected operating system files"

4-4) Navigate to folder (it is normally hidden) C:\Program Files\InstallShield Installation\
4-5) If present, delete folder called C:\Program Files\InstallShield Installation\{4089999C-6CB7-4F9D-A2F6-DB158DBF91FB}
4-6) If present, delete folder called C:\Program Files\InstallShield Installation\{B6BB246A-D1AC-2414-D84D-13C8F3D38C43}

4-7) Navigate to the folder C:\Windows\Installer\
4-8) If present, delete folder called C:\Windows\Installer\{4089999C-6CB7-4F9D-A2F6-DB158DBF91FB}
4-9) If present, delete folder called C:\Windows\Installer\{B6BB246A-D1AC-2414-D84D-13C8F3D38C43}

4-10) *Reboot* your machine (needed to remove the files loaded at boot/RTW start!)

Note 09: Codecs -- RTW needs to have the codecs of WMP9 or WMP10 fully installed and functional (naturally, you also need a working sound card and good drivers). With Windows XP, if you suspect there is a problem with codecs (e.g., you may have installed other codecs and messed things up), then you might want to uninstall WMP10, then reinstall WMP10 if you suspect you have any codec-related problems. Ideally, you should uninstall WMP10, then reinstall it (purely to get the correct codecs installed an properly registered) before you make a clean install of RTW.

Note 10: You can download the WMP10 install for XP directly from Microsoft for free: www.microsoft.com/windows...nload.aspx

Note 11: You can now do a clean install (normal or desktop).

APPENDIX: These are the registry keys which Step 1 removes (including all key contents):
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\TheCreativeAssembly
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\The Creative Assembly
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion \Uninstall\{4089999C-6CB7-4F9D-A2F6-DB158DBF91FB}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion \Uninstall\{B6BB246A-D1AC-2414-D84D-13C8F3D38C43}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion \Uninstall\InstallShield_{4089999C-6CB7-4F9D-A2F6-DB158DBF91F B}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion \Uninstall\InstallShield_{B6BB246A-D1AC-2414-D84D-13C8F3D38C4 3}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion \Uninstall\InstallShield Uninstall Information\{4089999C-6CB7-4F9D-A2F6-DB158DBF91FB}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion \Uninstall\InstallShield Uninstall Information\{B6BB246A-D1AC-2414-D84D-13C8F3D38C43}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Installer\Features\40899 99C6CB74F9DA2F6DB158DBF91FB
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Installer\Features\B6BB2 46AD1AC2414D84D13C8F3D38C43
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Installer\Products\40899 99C6CB74F9DA2F6DB158DBF91FB
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Installer\Products\B6BB2 46AD1AC2414D84D13C8F3D38C43
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\SEGA\Rome Total War - patch 1.3

GENERAL NOTE: Read thru this thread for the revision changes. If you note any errors, or have suggestions, post in a new thread or PM me (Wartrain).

Changes in 1.13 (30Dec2005):
- New Title, credits where appropriate
- Corrected a link

Changes in 1.12 (08Dec2005):
- Removed the [url] entries which are not enabled at this site
- Minor editing corrections

Changes in 1.11 (07Dec2005):
- Added Sega key for Patch 1.3 (Step 1-31 thru 1-33) (will not affect most reinstalls until the newly-announced post-1.3/BI patch is released)
- Added quotes around key names for readability in Step 1-05 and Step 1-08

Changes in 1.10:
- Rewrite with more detail
- Remove several more registry entries which cause common conflicts
- Numbering
- Delete BI entries
- Add antivirus info
- Add Step 4
- Add Appendix
- Add more description

**irishron** · March 23, 2008, 04:55 PM

Corrupted saved games are nothing new. Can you start a new campaign? If so, consider as experience and put it on your next campaign.

**spidy** · March 23, 2008, 05:42 PM

ok thks irishron will this happen all the time or is there a way to stop it from doing it again

**irishron** · March 23, 2008, 05:58 PM

It seems to be like other games that have save capabilities. If you have stuff running in the background, and we all do, and if they decide to access their files while you're trying to save yours, it gets corrupted. The background programs are supposed work when the disk is idle but it seems some of their priorities are set too high by default. I haen't looked at that aspect of windows and just start a new campaign.

**Brusilov** · March 24, 2008, 03:09 AM

I've read in several forums that it's best to turn off autosave. I've now done this.

I've never had a corrupted save game so I may be lucky in that respect.

I also keep clean copies of RTW at various patch levels - these are only used as a base for the mods that I use.

I also try and follow the other recommendations (defrag drives, remove all possible services from running in the background etc). No matter how many services you stop there appears to be some you can't get rid of - I get an annoying Quicktime check on updates every now and then.

**spidy** · March 24, 2008, 06:41 AM

Thank you Irishron !
Now I know and yes sometimes programs do try too connect too the internet for updates this sends my game down too the task bar, and prob where the problem lies.

Brusilov I will turn autosave off and give it a go thank you.

**Brusilov** · March 24, 2008, 07:03 AM

Originally Posted by spidy

Thank you Irishron !
Now I know and yes sometimes programs do try too connect too the internet for updates this sends my game down too the task bar, and prob where the problem lies.

Brusilov I will turn autosave off and give it a go thank you.

Just remember to do a manual save - I've had some CTDs and lost quite a few turns of gameplay.

I am now doing a manual save every turn.

I think my CTDs may be caused by a memory leak. I've reinstalled the mods I used and it appears OK - so the mod copy (I keep my mods in separate folders) may have become corrupted somehow.

**spidy** · March 24, 2008, 05:50 PM

Originally Posted by Brusilov

Just remember to do a manual save - I've had some CTDs and lost quite a few turns of gameplay.

I am now doing a manual save every turn.

I think my CTDs may be caused by a memory leak. I've reinstalled the mods I used and it appears OK - so the mod copy (I keep my mods in separate folders) may have become corrupted somehow.

Yes will do, Glad you told me was only going to save every so often, will do one every turn, I bet it gets a bit boring doing it every time, but it, as too, be done thks.