How do i fix a problem with preferences file

[GeneralShurtz]

alright i LOVE medieval 2 total war a lot. one of the things i liked was installing mods and submods for it. I installed the mod Third age total war and then made a copy of it, renamed it, and installed the frogs submod. it didn't suit my play style so i uninstalled it and went to play normal third age. i went to play and when i got into a battle the tiny banners i enabled where gone and the green arrows under the units where gone. i tired normal medieval 2 still no banners or green arrows. i tried all the expansions and the only other mod i had on which was stainless steel 6.3. stainless steel had the banners and the green arrows but every thing else didn't have the banners or green arrows. i uninstalled the whole game, and the mods, and the submods, and everything and re installed it but now no matter what i do the original game and the mods i install just don't have the banners or green arrow under them. i looked it up online and figure out that those options can be enabled and disabled in the preferences file. so i edited that and tried it and still no banners or green arrows. i have no back up files because i didn't think this would happen. does anybody know how to fix it? help would be gratefully appreciated since this is starting to affect how i fight battles.

[irishron]

medieval2.preferences.cfg is the place to turn them back on.
Hit the F1 key and see if they are listed there.

[GeneralShurtz]

i did not where to check with the f1 key so i tried in the medieval 2 files folder, preferences.cfg, medieval 2 title menu, and in battle. results where Microsoft thinking i needed help, nothing, and the control set up appearing. i do not know if i followed your directions correctly. i thank you for responding quickly though but perhaps if you could explain this in more detail it would be a little more clear what your instructions are.

[irishron]

medieval2.preferences.cfg, Win 7, users\username\appdata\roaming:Win 8 users\username\appdata\local: both after unhiding all files folders and drives in Folder Options.

disable_arrow_markers = 0
show_banners = 1

from mine.

When you find and set it, set the file to read-only or the game will overwrite it if the game doesn't first.

[GeneralShurtz]

i went in my appdata Roaming folder however all i saw where 3 folders saying Macromedia, Media Center Programs, and Microsoft. am i supposed to move any thing in there or something? Or am i supposed to have had a folder in there?

[irishron]

If all files and folders unhid and Win 7, yes.
If Win 8, look in appdata\local.

[GeneralShurtz]

well i unhid all the files from folder options and i see only the 3 folders listed in the post i made before this one. so is it yes to i am supposed to have a folder for medieval 2 there, or yes to i need to move something there?

[irishron]

Okay, try this.
Top-right corner of Computer, type preferences and see how many hits you get and where.

[GeneralShurtz]

i did this in 2 places, the appdata roaming file and in the computer file. no result from the appdata roaming, and only got 1 result from the computer search and that was from some old files my father has stored on the computer they have nothing to do with medieval 2 total war. they lead to some Microsoft windows framework presentation stuff.

[irishron]

Same box, type in cfg and see where it goes.
Are you logged in as Administrator?

[Ishan]

.cfg is an extension. Like for your songs in the end we see .wma or .mp3 etc. So first make sure you uncheck the option that hides the extensions from a file. Do this below and you will able to see file extensions:

[GeneralShurtz]

typed it in. found nothing for medieval 2 however notepad cfg files appeared. no medieval 2 files more old microsoft/windows files and i am the only user on the computer so i am logged on as administrator.

[irishron]

Out of curiousity, are you listed as Administrator here?

[GeneralShurtz]

i did what ishan said and then searched my computer for cfg and preferences and found the same results as last time, and Irishron i joined the site yesterday

[GeneralShurtz]

i see what you mean by administrator now irishron. i did not see the picture at first and yes i checked and it says i am administration of my computer.

[irishron]

Yes, I am aware you joined yesterday. I'm just trying to be sure we get all the bases covered.
1. Are you able to start a campaign?
2. Did you install it with the UAC enabled or disabled?
3. Did you install it on another drive?
4. Forgive me if already answered, DVD original, DVD Gold, Steam, other?

[GeneralShurtz]

1. Yes
2. don't know what that is
3 i have 2 drives Local Disk (C and Local Disk (E i know i installed it on Local Disk C however there is one on Local Disk E and i checked it. that one is a version of medieval 2 total war before i unistalled so i deleted that one and tested the normal one and still no green arrows or banners
4. DVD Gold

[GeneralShurtz]

those where not meant to be smiley faces

[irishron]

XP, Vista, Win7, Win 8?

[GeneralShurtz]

windows 7