Save and Load issue, including "illegal characters in the name"
Timberborn looks for save games in the C (C:\Users\*myname*\Documents\Timberborn\Saves\) directory. I have Timberborn saved to a different drive (my F-drive), so my saved games are there. When I try to load a game, I get a blank menu (and C:\Users\...\Saves\ is empty). I cannot figure out how to tell the game to load saves from my F-drive.
[mod edit]: For players not being able to save game due to "illegal characters" message:
It can be caused by the Windows Ransomware protection blocking timberborn.exe from accessing the Documents folder where the saves are stored after the initial save.
See Admin message from January 2nd below for suggested solution. (full text doesn't fit in limits)
Comments: 35
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02 Jan, '22
Gin Fuyou Admin PinnedJarar and other players, try this method found by Andrew Wall:
Found the issue, the Windows 10 Ransomware protection is blocking timberborn.exe from accessing the Documents folder where the saves are stored after the initial save.
Here is how you can allow the Timberborn executable to access and write to the save location within the Documents folder:
Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security > Virus & threat protection.
Under Virus & threat protection settings/Protection against ransomware click on Manage ransomware protection
Here you can click Allow an app through Controlled folder access and add the app through recently blocked apps where it should show up. -
18 Sep, '21
JonasI tried to load the last played game it was a world I created and played on and suddenly windows crashed my pc shut down and doesn’t turn on again………. got it on again tried to start a new game and again windows crashed
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09 Oct, '21
GoatgogI've had a message pop up saying "Saving failed. Make sure there are no illegal characters in the name and there is enough disk space." since a certain point in the demo. I've now bought the game, but still get the same error.
The name of the savegame is default (I don't give a name).
Where/how can I check that the game has enough space on disk? -
13 Oct, '21
agbAs for loading issue. Every time I load my save, all the beavers are thirsty and/or hungry. Even if everything is all right as I leave the game
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13 Oct, '21
Gin Fuyou Adminagb, that looks as an issues of it's own. There were a few reports about something missing in the save game. It seem to happen rarely, so not sure if devs could already reproduce and locate the the problem. If you have a save file that has that issue, please mail it as described here: https://mechanistry.com/bug
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01 Jan, '22
Niels Kristian Ravn MergedI get the following error when trying to save the game. it started out saying autosave failed. looking at the logs it looks like it is trying to open a file which i cannot find on my computer, changing the save name, makes it look for a file with the new name, but this does not exist.
"Saving failed. Make sure there are no illegal characters in the name and there is enough disk space."
i have sent the logs to the logs@mechanistry.com email address -
02 Jan, '22
DanYeah my game isn't saving, I keep getting "Saving failed. Make sure there are no illegal characters in the name and there is enough disk space." this is getting annoying that i can't save my world, what would be causing this
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02 Jan, '22
Andrew Wall MergedGot the same error, can't save at all and can't start a new colony with the same type of error when naming the colony
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02 Jan, '22
NicholasSame problem.
keep getting "Saving failed. Make sure there are no illegal characters in the name and there is enough disk space."
annoying -
02 Jan, '22
Gin Fuyou AdminFor folks who have "Saving failed. Make sure there are no illegal characters in the name and there is enough disk space."
Do you have game with Iron Teeth or Folktails? If former, try if you have same issue with Folktails. Looking into it. -
02 Jan, '22
Andrew Wall MergedSo, I had whitelisted the game exe in the antivirus, firewall and the antimalware currently running without it making any difference, but then I noticed that under windows 10 virus and threat protection there is now something called Ransomware Protection. Here I took a look at the logs and lo and behold, the timbergame exe file was blocked from making changes to anything within the Documents folder. Allowed access and it can now save as normal again.
Here is how you can allow the Timberborn executable to access and write to the save location within the Documents folder:
Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security > Virus & threat protection.
Under Virus & threat protection settings/Protection against ransomware click on Manage ransomware protection
Here you can click Allow an app through Controlled folder access and add the app through recently blocked apps where it should show up.
Hope this will be of help to others facing the same issue. -
02 Jan, '22
JararPurchased game yesterday. First play yesterday I created 2 saves manually and autosave created 4. Those save files from my first play I can find in the save folder outside the game. Once in the game, no save files are shown to load.
I then started a new game and ever since the second game start I am unable to save. Always get the check for enough space or illegal characters. I am using the default save name, no luck. I then tried single letters or numbers and same message. Lastly turned off cloud saves in properties before loading the game again. Tried to save again same issue.
As I am new to the game all of this is with the Folktails as I have not unlocked the Iron Teeth yet. -
02 Jan, '22
JararI actually had the blocked folder access show up just after I left my message. I made the changes and now am able to save.
Thank You. -
01 Feb, '22
AlexHey, Found the "solution"
The illegal character, it is a " " (spacing). Therefore if it saves in you users folder and your username has a spacing in it, you might want to change it. I used the following guide: https://www.minitool.com/news/change-user-folder-name-windows-10.html . I personally found the Command Line Guide really good and quick.
Greetings -
02 Feb, '22
Robert Beer Mergedas above, I reloaded game and all progress lost, noticed wild trees were not respawning while I was playing before I tried saveing either.
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02 Feb, '22
Gin Fuyou Admin MergedTry this method found by Andrew Wall:
Found the issue, the Windows 10 Ransomware protection is blocking timberborn.exe from accessing the Documents folder where the saves are stored after the initial save.
Here is how you can allow the Timberborn executable to access and write to the save location within the Documents folder:
Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security > Virus & threat protection.
Under Virus & threat protection settings/Protection against ransomware click on Manage ransomware protection
Here you can click Allow an app through Controlled folder access and add the app through recently blocked apps where it should show up. -
27 Feb, '22
KarimI can't seem to be able to save.. and i don't want to allow an app through controlled folder access. that a bad idea and not safe. i have work documents on my computer and don't want to jeopardize the security. any other way around it?
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12 Mar, '22
Gin Fuyou Admin"when I go to exit and save game it says illegal characters I put troopers 1 same when I start a new" (suggested by Robert Beer on 2022-02-02), including upvotes (1) and comments (1), was merged into this suggestion.
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12 Mar, '22
Gin Fuyou Admin"game wont save after update 1" (suggested by jesper on 2022-02-12), including upvotes (1) and comments (0), was merged into this suggestion.
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08 Jun, '22
Gin Fuyou Admin"Saving failed" (suggested by Niels Kristian Ravn on 2022-01-01), including upvotes (3) and comments (2), was merged into this suggestion.
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15 Sep, '22
Joe MergedI started getting an error today stating that I have an illegal character in the save file name (2022-09-15 11h30m, Day 3-16) and there isn't enough disk space. I can't figure out what the illegal character is and tried to create a new world with the same issue when I try to name the world Water Logged. I double checked where I have my saved games and there are 83.1GB of free space on the disk accordioning to Windows. I was able to play the game and save last night with no issues. I have uninstalled and reinstalled the game and verified it in steam three times with no solution. I also attempted restarting my computer without solving the problem.
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15 Sep, '22
Gin Fuyou Admin MergedSee answers in this topic please: https://timberborn.featureupvote.com/suggestions/215302/save-and-load-issue-including-illegal-characters-in-the-name
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16 Sep, '22
Joe MergedAfter removing all of my saved games, I was able to play again. Again, I had the same issue this time I noticed as with last time it was sometime after auto save on cycle 4 after day four(the last playable save is 4-4). When I tried to manually save it was cycle 4 day 14 when I was getting that error. In both instances I was playing as the iron teeth. Hope this additional information helps.
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16 Sep, '22
Gin Fuyou Admin MergedJoe did you try suggested solution?
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20 Sep, '22
CherokeeUnable to save. Previously had 4 saved games, started a new one after deleted those other four and now unable to save this new fifth one.
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20 Sep, '22
Gin Fuyou AdminCherokee, and have you tried the suggested solution?
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22 Sep, '22
Simon MergedI can not save my game, it says that Saving failed, make sure there are no illiegal characters in the name and there is enought space on the disk. This happens many times, sometimes I just need to wait few hours and it fixes itself but sometimes I have to quit the game without saving... Pls fix it
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22 Sep, '22
Gin Fuyou Admin MergedPlease use search and try suggested solution first
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22 Sep, '22
Gin Fuyou Admin"Can't save game" (suggested by Simon on 2022-09-22), including upvotes (1) and comments (1), was merged into this suggestion.
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18 Oct, '22
Benjamin MergedIt says it's the characters or the disc space, but its not.
Autosafe fails too. -
01 Nov, '22
Gin Fuyou Admin MergedCheck the notice here please!
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01 Nov, '22
Gin Fuyou Admin Merged"Bug: Can't save after a few hours of gameplay" (suggested by Benjamin on 2022-10-18), including upvotes (1) and comments (1), was merged into this suggestion.
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27 May, '23
Jamie CMove the save folder where you want, and place a Symlink in the old place with the same name as the old folder name.
There are many places on the internet to show how to make Symlinks, and there is an addon for Explorer to make it really easy.
The "Link Shell Extension" is what you want. -
10 Sep, '23
Gin Fuyou Admin"Illegal Character in Name and Not Enough Space to Save Game" (suggested by Joe on 2022-09-15), including upvotes (2) and comments (6), was merged into this suggestion.
