TWD: PC Missing Save Game / Game Restart [POSSIBLE SOLUTION Windows7/64 bit]

[tokra100]

Hi All,

Like many of you on here I have been plagued by my game restarting every time I accidentally pressed escape, alt-tab etc. After a lot of digging I managed to come up with a fix that works for me. I have only tested this on Windows 7-64 bit, however, the nature of the fix should work for any 64 bit version of windows.

NOTE: After further experimentation I have found that a cut down version of the original instructions also works 9/10 times (and restores your current saves). Please try Method 1 first and if for some reason that fails move onto method 2.

WARNING: This fix involves editing you systems registry. Please backup your registry before making any changes.

Method 1

1. For windows 7/vista users press

Start Menu -> Type 'regedit' -> Press Enter

For Windows XP users

Start Menu -> Run -> Type 'regedit' -> Press Enter

2. In the registry editor naviage to

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Telltale Games\

Right click on the WalkingDead101.exe entry and select export. Save this file to a directory on your machine

3. Open the file exported in the previous step in notepad. Replace the line

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Telltale Games\WalkingDead101.exe]

With

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Wow6432Node\Telltale Games\WalkingDead101.exe]

Your full file should read something like the following

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Wow6432Node\Telltale Games\WalkingDead101.exe]
"Language ID"="1033"
"Language"="english"
"Manual"="Manual.pdf"
"ReadMe"="Readme.txt"
"Install Location"="C:\\The Walking Dead\\GameData\\"
"Uninstaller"="C:\\The Walking Dead\\UNINSTALL_WalkingDead101.exe"
"Franchise"="WalkingDead100"
"Distribution"="Telltale"
"Version"="1.0.0.15"
"SaveGameFolderName"="The Walking Dead"

Save your changes and close the file.

4. Double click the file you just edited. When asked "Are you sure you wish to continue?". Select yes.

5. Your done. Start your game as normal.

Method 2

1. Uninstall The Walking Dead. Remove all save games. Make sure the %USERPROFILE%\My Documents\Telltale Games is also deleted.

2. For windows 7/vista users press

Start Menu -> Type 'regedit' -> Press Enter

For Windows XP users

Start Menu -> Run -> Type 'regedit' -> Press Enter

3. In the registry editor naviage to

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Telltale Games\

Delete the WalkingDead101.exe entry and ALL its sub keys.

4. Close the registry editor.

5. Re-install the walking dead. Do not launch the game.

6. Reopen the registry editor as outlined in step 2.

7. Navigate to

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Telltale Games\

Right click on the WalkingDead101.exe entry and select export. Save this file to a directory on your machine

8. Open the file exported in the previous step in notepad. Replace the line

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Telltale Games\WalkingDead101.exe]

With

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Wow6432Node\Telltale Games\WalkingDead101.exe]


Your full file should read something like the following

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Wow6432Node\Telltale Games\WalkingDead101.exe]
"Language ID"="1033"
"Language"="english"
"Manual"="Manual.pdf"
"ReadMe"="Readme.txt"
"Install Location"="C:\\The Walking Dead\\GameData\\"
"Uninstaller"="C:\\The Walking Dead\\UNINSTALL_WalkingDead101.exe"
"Franchise"="WalkingDead100"
"Distribution"="Telltale"
"Version"="1.0.0.15"
"SaveGameFolderName"="The Walking Dead"

Save your changes and close the file.

9. Double click the file you just edited. When asked "Are you sure you wish to continue?". Select yes.

10. Your done. Start your game as normal.

You may be able to re-import old save game backups however I have not tested this approach.

Let me know if this works for you

[tokra100]

Quick update everyone. I have managed to complete all of chapter 1 and move onto chapter two.

Before this I was having trouble getting a game to save at any point. I have also done a quick test on a laptop of mine (Vista/64bit). The first install encountered the same problems. Again this was solved with the above.

Hope it helps

[Khorino]

Just finished the first episode, no problem! Thank you!

But what is the logic on that registry modification? Out of curiosity.

[tokra100]

The reasoning comes from how windows provides access to the registry for 64-bit and 32-bit applications. For 64-bit applications Windows provides registry access as normal. However when a 32-bit application is run windows substitutes the normal registry view for the content of the WOW6432Node. This is to allow for different configurations for 32-bit and 64-bit applications, as well as ensuring that the information is isolated to the correct process.

Normally this works fine however the problem here arose because the Telltale installer ran as a 64 bit application, while the TWD ran as a 32 bit application. This meant that any registry entries created by the installer were invisible to the actual executing program.

The normal fix here would be either

a) Write the registry entries to both the normal registry position and the WOW6432Node.

b) Have both the installer and executing program use the same bit-level assemblies.

This could also lead to an explanation of why Telltale are having trouble tracking this issue down. If they are developing and testing on 32-bit machines it will be impossible for them to replicate this issue.

Hopefully we will see a general purpose patch for this, but, until then this workaround will get you up and running.

[DjNDB]

Originally Posted by tokra100

1. Uninstall The Walking Dead. Remove all save games. Make sure the %USERPROFILE%\My Documents\Telltale Games is also deleted.

Great guide.
Shouldn't it be enough to limit the deleting to
%USERPROFILE%\My Documents\Telltale Games\The Walking Dead
?

[tokra100]

Originally Posted by DjNDB

Great guide.
Shouldn't it be enough to limit the deleting to
%USERPROFILE%\My Documents\Telltale Games\The Walking Dead
?

Thanks.

Yes it probably would. When I wrote the original instructions I wanted to make sure that the instructions gave all the information necessary.

After further tests I found that you only need to do the registry fix. Most save games will appear as expected afterwards. I will edit the original post to have a shorter, initial fix, and then the full one if all else fails.

[Khorino]

Originally Posted by tokra100

The reasoning comes from how windows provides access to the registry for 64-bit and 32-bit applications. For 64-bit applications Windows provides registry access as normal. However when a 32-bit application is run windows substitutes the normal registry view for the content of the WOW6432Node. This is to allow for different configurations for 32-bit and 64-bit applications, as well as ensuring that the information is isolated to the correct process.

Normally this works fine however the problem here arose because the Telltale installer ran as a 64 bit application, while the TWD ran as a 32 bit application. This meant that any registry entries created by the installer were invisible to the actual executing program.

The normal fix here would be either

a) Write the registry entries to both the normal registry position and the WOW6432Node.

b) Have both the installer and executing program use the same bit-level assemblies.

This could also lead to an explanation of why Telltale are having trouble tracking this issue down. If they are developing and testing on 32-bit machines it will be impossible for them to replicate this issue.

Hopefully we will see a general purpose patch for this, but, until then this workaround will get you up and running.

I see. Thanks!

[Morkev]

Originally Posted by tokra100

Hi All,
*snip*
Let me know if this works for you

Greetings, tokra100!

You, sir, are a true scholar and a gentleman.
I will make sure my children write poems honoring Your name!

With hat-in-hand thanks from Morkev!

[smellylettuce]

Thank for the great guide, I hope Telltale pick up on this and update as necessary.

[sebarnolds]

Thanks for the help. I'll try that and hope it works as I just started the game an hour ago and paused the game only to discover that saves were not working.

BTW, I am using the Telltale store version and I am running Vista 64bits. I really hope Telltale will quickly fix this...

[tokra100]

Originally Posted by sebarnolds

Thanks for the help. I'll try that and hope it works as I just started the game an hour ago and paused the game only to discover that saves were not working.

BTW, I am using the Telltale store version and I am running Vista 64bits. I really hope Telltale will quickly fix this...

Hi mate

This should fix it no problem. However I would have expected some official word from telltale regarding this issue. While the workaround is not particularly complex it is definitely enough to be off-putting to the non-technical gamer (let alone the less technically confident!)

[Autoduel]

Didn't work for me. I bought the game yesterday and played to somewhere on the farm and when I tried to quit for a break I got stuck in the starting over loop. I then came on here and found this post and made the regedit changes and started playing again today.

I quit out at Clementine's house to test it and it worked. It saved and let me continue from there. So I kept playing thinking things were ok, until I paused to go to the bathroom a ways into the drugstore area. Then I got stuck in the loop again and had to alt-f4 out of it.

If telltale can't address this I don't see how I can play this game any more.

[DaShiznit]

This is the same problem I have been having. I tried the reg fix (Win 7 / 64 bit) and it didn't work for me either. I haven't heard back from 4 support tickets since this began.

I went to the BBB link for Telltale Games and filed a report. They are not BBB accredited, but maybe it might light a fire in the right spot.

[MadsDK]

The fix didn't work for me either. I have filed a support request with Telltale - but haven't heard from them yet.

I really want to play this game, so maybe I'll just buy it for another platform :-)

Best regards,
Mads

[denimismis]

Hey

Thanks a lot for your work!
I don't know if i would have been able to do this before i did the method 1 fix, but now i can access my save games and rewind the last stage i was in (but not by clicking continue) so i can continue playing the game.

Is there a place where i can leave a ticket about this problem in the game? I couldn't find any support section on their site. I'm amazed how this kind of bug can be left in a game.

-Dennis

[thedarkwarrior]

This didn't work for me as the files don't seem to exist in my registry though the Telltale folder does but I just wanted to point out that this thread has FOUR THOUSAND VIEWS.

Wake the heck up Telltale and fix your game.

[wreckratz]

Didn't work for me either - game wouldn't run after I made the change (error 80). Haven't tried the second method yet, although if it gives a "file not found" error I'm not sure if that would fix it...

[LuckyJack6]

I re installed the game and kept my save files but they aren't showing up when I try to load them in the game. How do I access them?

[permie]

Didn't work.