Can't load or save games

[border10]

From the Start screen, when I click on Load I get the exception below. I also get the same error when I try to load, save, or 'save game as' from the Main screen (accessed from in-game). I just bought DW and ROTS and was playing for the first time when I tried to save my progress. Then I checked the Load and Save Game As options and they too errored. I reinstalled twice from disk and am in the process of getting my download link re-activated.

Loved the game for the 2 hour I played. Thank you for any help you can give me.

************** Exception Text **************
System.AccessViolationException: Attempted to read or write protected memory. This is often an indication that other memory is corrupt.
at System.Windows.Forms.FileDialogNative.IFileDialog.Show(IntPtr parent)
at System.Windows.Forms.FileDialog.RunDialogVista(IntPtr hWndOwner)
at System.Windows.Forms.FileDialog.RunDialog(IntPtr hWndOwner)
at System.Windows.Forms.CommonDialog.ShowDialog(IWin32Window owner)
at System.Windows.Forms.CommonDialog.ShowDialog()
at DistantWorlds.Start.ebFS0ZgLKNDfMxKBfSc(Object )
at DistantWorlds.Start.m1DpTLdiW(Object , LinkLabelLinkClickedEventArgs )
at System.Windows.Forms.LinkLabel.OnLinkClicked(LinkLabelLinkClickedEventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.LinkLabel.OnMouseUp(MouseEventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WmMouseUp(Message& m, MouseButtons button, Int32 clicks)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Label.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.LinkLabel.WndProc(Message& msg)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.OnMessage(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)


************** Loaded Assemblies **************
mscorlib
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.4952 (win7RTMGDR.050727-4900)
CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.NET/Framework/v2.0.50727/mscorlib.dll
----------------------------------------
DistantWorlds
Assembly Version: 1.5.0.6
Win32 Version: 1.5.0.6
CodeBase: file:///C:/Matrix%20Games/Distant%20Worlds/DistantWorlds.exe
----------------------------------------
System
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.4927 (NetFXspW7.050727-4900)
CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Drawing
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.4927 (NetFXspW7.050727-4900)
CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Drawing/2.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Drawing.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Windows.Forms
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.4927 (NetFXspW7.050727-4900)
CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Windows.Forms/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Windows.Forms.dll
----------------------------------------
DistantWorlds.Controls
Assembly Version: 1.5.0.6
Win32 Version: 1.5.0.6
CodeBase: file:///C:/Matrix%20Games/Distant%20Worlds/DistantWorlds.exe
----------------------------------------
DistantWorlds.Types
Assembly Version: 1.5.0.6
Win32 Version: 1.5.0.6
CodeBase: file:///C:/Matrix%20Games/Distant%20Worlds/DistantWorlds.exe
----------------------------------------
Microsoft.DirectX.DirectSound
Assembly Version: 1.0.2902.0
Win32 Version: 5.04.00.2904
CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC/Microsoft.DirectX.DirectSound/1.0.2902.0__31bf3856ad364e35/Microsoft.DirectX.DirectSound.dll
----------------------------------------
AxInterop.WMPLib
Assembly Version: 1.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 1.0.0.0
CodeBase: file:///C:/Matrix%20Games/Distant%20Worlds/AxInterop.WMPLib.DLL
----------------------------------------
Interop.WMPLib
Assembly Version: 1.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 1.0.0.0
CodeBase: file:///C:/Matrix%20Games/Distant%20Worlds/Interop.WMPLib.DLL
----------------------------------------
System.Deployment
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.4927 (NetFXspW7.050727-4900)
CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Deployment/2.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Deployment.dll
----------------------------------------
Microsoft.VisualBasic
Assembly Version: 8.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 8.0.50727.4927 (NetFXspW7.050727-4900)
CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/Microsoft.VisualBasic/8.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/Microsoft.VisualBasic.dll
----------------------------------------
PresentationCore
Assembly Version: 3.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 3.0.6920.5001 built by: Win7RTMGDR
CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_32/PresentationCore/3.0.0.0__31bf3856ad364e35/PresentationCore.dll
----------------------------------------
WindowsBase
Assembly Version: 3.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 3.0.6920.5001 built by: Win7RTMGDR
CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/WindowsBase/3.0.0.0__31bf3856ad364e35/WindowsBase.dll
----------------------------------------
Microsoft.DirectX
Assembly Version: 1.0.2902.0
Win32 Version: 5.04.00.2904
CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC/Microsoft.DirectX/1.0.2902.0__31bf3856ad364e35/Microsoft.DirectX.dll
----------------------------------------

[Data]

Memory corruption? The same happens if you reboot?
googling for " Attempted to read or write protected memory. This is often an indication that other memory is corrupt." seems to point to .NET issues; consider reinstalling .NET as well or check for a newer version - this one seems old.

[border10]

Thanks for the reply Data. This is a brand new pc with Windows 7. It came with .Net 3.5.1. DW and ROTS require 3.0. I suspected my 3.5.1 version was corrupted and downloaded .Net 4.0. I do see 4.0 in my Uninstall a Program list, but I have no idea if it is being used.

One other note, since I first turned this pc on last week, I can only RUN downloaded files from the internet...I cannot SAVE. If I click SAVE, the download window and the web page close without an error message. I've tried turning off Norton and Windows firewall with no results. Since my problem with DW and ROTS is related to Load and Save, maybe this download issue is related. Tried googling for this problem but found nothing close enough.

I would appreciate any other ideas and a word from CF on any more details about the exception report.

Thanks

[Data]

On thing I remember is that similar problems involved more than one .NET installed. In those cases, keeping only one .NET version solved the issue.
It may not be related but it's worth a shot; aside from this, I'm empty [:)]
Either way, good luck and hope you get back into it soon.

[bonesbro]

It's a Windows problem, not a .NET problem.  Something is causing a crash whenever the common save dialog comes up.  If that's a new PC you should talk to whoever sold it to you because it's broke.

[cookie monster]

I sometimes have corrupted saves

The game also runs out of memory when loading a save on a 1400 star galaxy, even though my laptop has 2GB memory

A reboot of DWROTS allows the save to load

This is with the latest Beta

[Data]

Before that you didn't have this problem? Or you did not have a chance to play on earlier versions?

[cookie monster]

ORIGINAL: Data

Before that you didn't have this problem? Or you did not have a chance to play on earlier versions?

I guess your refering to me.

Ive only just started playing DWROTS.

First thing I did was patch to latest beta.

Never played any other version.

[Data]

Yap, thx cookie. The reason I asked was to try and verify the root cause for this...if it happened in every version than the problem should be outside DW. From all the previous cases of corrupted saves this is mostly the case.
Bypassing a singel corrupted save is easy but having this as a general problem points to what bonesbro has suggested. In case of that and if the saves themselves are not corrupted yet we can test it by loading them on a different machine with DW.

[cookie monster]

Latest beta.

Just thought I would manually save after a big session clicking away in the expansion planner.

Then the game wont save.

It sez something like not enough memory. My laptop has 2GB.

This is a daily occurance.

Here's the picture.

[Data]

If the memory is not enough than you can test by closing any other application (only ie and adobe in this case) as well as keep minimum services. Try this after a fresh boot.

[cookie monster]

I did try that, I figured it out for myself.

It's abit better now.

The laptops running at full tilt!

CPU Fan's loud and it's burning my leg.

I now have some leg padding.

These save files are 40MB!!!

I know there's alot of data in a 1400 star galaxy,but still...

[Data]

It's like your describing my situation...the fan and leg parts are spot on [:)]
But I do have 4Gb on my laptop and even if it sometimes sounds like a Boeing it doesn't run into this. I'd highly recommend adding one more gb, it could make all the difference.

[cookie monster]

Data. I'll see what I can do. It came with 2GB as standard so maybe I can squeeze some more ram in there.

[Data]

Most of them come this way, only two memory slots with 1gb memory cards each. Most probably you'll have to remove one of the 1gb ones and put a 2gb one instead but it's doable. For the fans though it's not so doable so our legs will continue to suffer [:)]