Windows gta3.img shadow copies

[donuteater]

Just noticing that Windows Vista 64 makes shadow copies of gta3.img and also any files you

might change. Figured this out recently when I changed a map wrong in MEd and the game

wouldn't start. Uninstalled the game, deleted all data from Program Files (x86) and User/Documents,

reinstalled, still wouldn't start (it crashed).

 

Fortunately, I happened to have learned the other day that Notepad2's Open dialog box can

see these (IE's Save As dialog does the same thing I think), so I navigated to Program Files (x86)

and there was the San Andreas folder again...and gta3.img and the ipl I had been working on.

Completely invisible in regular "Windows Exploder".

 

Probably has to do with system restore or something, so I don't know when (or if) those files

ever get deleted. So, if you mess up with the game files, then try to copy paste unedited/previous

versions of those game files to fix the problem...what if the shadow copies donut get changed?

 

That's happened to me before. Just wondering if anyone else has this problem. Also, does the game

work if you install to a folder other than Program Files?

 

Thanks for the help,

Donut Eater

[donuteater]

I'm surprised no one has run into this yet, there's a good article on the subject at:

Invisible Files

 

Basically, what I believe they are saying (and from what i've observed) is that only vendor

authenticated files are written to Program Files while others are written to the VirtualStore

folder. Thus, if you use something like MEd or IMGtool to modify the files of GTASA, then

those files are written to the VirtualStore folder (and somehow GTA runs those??).

 

I noticed this today when I completed a map using MEd, checked Program Files, and the

date of gta3.img was wrong (it was 2005). Using Notepad2's file open dialog box, the

date was 2011.

 

Now here's the real mystery (that bit me in the ass tonight). I copied gta3.img (the 2011

MEd edit one) to another folder on my drive. A few hours later it had turned into the 2005

version (all my work was gone as I had messed up an edit and want to restore my

previous edit!!)

 

Not sure if it's because I copied it from the "VirtualStore folder" or what. I guess my next step

is to rename the file to something (something I learned in the early 2000s fighting against

the SecuROM program). I hope that works....

 

{

DO NUT

EA< T < ER

}

 

EDIT: Ah yeah, I remember (in the end) I had to put the files in a zip folder to protect them...

that SecuRom program was a real beeeeeyatch......

 

EDIT02: Oh yeah, and I forgot the BEST one. When you uninstall GTASA it does NOT delete

your altered gta3.img from VirtualStore. Thus, when you install again, the game will use the

altered gta3.img, resulting in the same crash or your unwanted mod(s) still in the game while

the Program Files file has the 2005 date. Duhhh, that will mess with yer head...

Edited December 3, 2012 by donuteater

[donuteater]

Well, I went ahead an uninstalled the game, then installed it in another directory on my

C: drive...and the game worked! I remember back in da day when you tried to install

in a non-Program Files folder (like back in Win98SE Lite dayz), the program would

usually not run.

 

Also, did some MEd editing and gta3.img (in the new install location) shows a date

change AND isn't found in VirtualStore....so I guess it works. As an added bonus,

you don't have to deal with UAC when changing out files.

 

I'm still gonna zip my modded gta3.img, etc files just to be on the safe side tho.

 

Glad I found this out as that VirtualStore has been messing with my head for ages.

This is about the 3rd time I've attempted at modding this game and the first two really

messed with my head (I'd mod something/replace a car, then copy the orginal gta3.img

file into the Program Files (86) folder, AND THE CAR WOULD STILL BE THERE!!! Yikes!)

That was weird.

 

Alls good in da hood now homies tho....

Yres true lie, DonutEater

[ZAZ]

Thanks for sharing your experience.

I often saw posts from users, mostly on win7, who had the problem that they can't restore a mod inside of gta3.img

This sounds strange and i only could remember to a post from any user on vista who described that such problems are caused by the shadow copy

I 'm still on winxp and can't imitate it. But i installed gtasa on my girlfriends pc who have win7. I installed a mod and then i restored the mod, everything worked fine,

Install dir is c:\Games\Grand Theft Auto San Andreas

I also had a look about the virtual store, at C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Virtual Store and found only a file of microsoft outlook

A special function of win7 gives access to restore a backup copy and only if you use the RESTORE function, does it change files on your drive.

 

Would be nice if you could answer some questions as summery

your system is win Vista, right?

 

-what's the path of shodow copy?

 

-when or in which case does windows create the shadow copy?

 

-when or in which case does windows apply the shadow copy?

does it belong to the install dir of gtasa?

 

-how to disable that windows apply the shadow copy?

Edited December 8, 2012 by ZAZ

[TheGodfather.]

Thanks for sharing your experience.

I often saw posts from users, mostly on win7, who had the problem that they can't restore a mod inside of gta3.img

This sounds strange and i only could remember to a post from any user on vista who described that such problems are caused by the shadow copy

I 'm still on winxp and can't imitate it. But i installed gtasa on my girlfriends pc who have win7. I installed a mod and then i restored the mod, everything worked fine,

Install dir is c:\Games\Grand Theft Auto San Andreas

I also had a look about the virtual store, at C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Virtual Store and found only a file of microsoft outlook

A special function of win7 gives access to restore a backup copy and only if you use the RESTORE function, does it change files on your drive.

 

Would be nice if you could answer some questions as summery

your system is win Vista, right?

 

-what's the path of shodow copy?

 

-when or in which case does windows create the shadow copy?

 

-when or in which case does windows apply the shadow copy?

does it belong to the install dir of gtasa?

 

-how to disable that windows apply the shadow copy?

May be this would help you

 

 

I 'm still on winxp and can't imitate it. But i installed gtasa on my girlfriends pc who have win7. I installed a mod and then i restored the mod, everything worked fine,

 

I m also using Windows XP Still now because it is better then other OSBut that feature can be imitated in Windows XP but you need to do it manually..You can either use System restore program presnt in the System tools But believe me that woudn't be perfect copy

But I prefer doing it by a recoverer batch program...

 

@OT: Thanks for sharing your experience..