How to transfer offline saved games

[GoofyHTS]

Hey

 

If you were as stupid as me, only backing up the Rockstar Games folder in "C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Local Settings\Application Data" and you never backup the XLive folder (I never searched how to do this assuming it worked like previous gta's) this guide can help you. I've got my old save games to work after I formatted my PC, note that I am using a XLive offline account.

 

First, you have to get the "serial" off your old save game, it will be in the "Rockstar Games\GTA IV\savegames" folder, look at the "user_xxxxxxxx" folder, that xxxxxx is your serial, mine was "user_e00000477f81782c". Write down this serial.

 

If you have more than one of these user_xxxxx folders, it probably means you have more than one offline account, choose the correct one.

 

Now, go into GTA IV and register a new offline account, use the SAME name you used before.

 

Exit GTA IV.

 

Download a hex editor.

 

Hex edit this file in "C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\XLive\Content\e00000477f81782c\FFFE07D1\00010000"

 

Note your serials will be different, but hex edit the file with the xxxxxxxxxxx_MountPt folder in the same directory, mine is like:

 

 

after you opened the file, change serials in this file to your old save game serial which you wrote down, there are two of them, marked in red.

 

 

Note that the first serial to edit, is in a kind of reverse order, take note of this when editing in your serial!

 

after you've done, save the file. (GTA IV must be closed down otherwise you'll get access denied messages)

 

Change the file name of the file you've just edited to your old save game serial, also change the name of the xxxxxxxxxxx_MountPt folder in the same directory to your save game serial.

 

Change the folder name to your old save game serial of the folder that is in "C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\XLive\Content"

 

Then finally replace the entire Rockstar Games folder with your old one in "C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Local Settings\Application Data"

 

Start up GTA IV and go to "Guide" and the game should list your Profile Name, sign in with that. Now you should be able load your old save games again,yay!

 

Please write feedback if this worked or not, so I can have a look? just maybe I missed something because I messed around quite a bit....

Edited February 8, 2009 by GoofyHTS

[CharmingCharlie]

This has already been posted here :-

 

http://www.gtaforums.com/index.php?showtopic=386144