Vista - Age of Empires 3 problem

**Anderzzon** · 07-06-2009

So, I've recently installed AoE3 on my computer and it works fine, I can start it and all that. Though then I ran into some trouble.

I can't make home cities! When I click the "create-button" it freezes for a while and then I come to the menu which is supposed to let you handle your cards and all that. Though there is no city chosen, and when I try to choose one the only option I can click is create new home city. I simply don't get it. One would assume that it's something wrong with the game, and yeah. Of course there is, but I tried reinstalling it and that didn't resolve the issue..! Then I installed AoE: Asian Dynasties thinking that a later update might have a fix, but nope. Problem remains.

This is really starting to get to me... I'm at a LAN and I'm the only Vista user you see, though I've had it installed on this computer before so...

Any help would be of great value.

/Anderzzon

**stoneys-nutz** · 07-10-2009

Try a clean install as admin, patch to the latest patch and give that a go, i have it on my Vista x64 system and it runs good.

**suprragirl** · 07-20-2009

Have you by any chance moved "my documents" to another location?

**Anderzzon** · 07-20-2009

Not since I had it installed the first time and then it worked so.. : / Also, I reinstalled it with admin thingie and that didn't change anything sadly.

/Anderzzon

**suprragirl** · 07-20-2009

Ahh, but you have moved your documents?

I had this trouble with vista and no amount of reinstalls with admin rights solved it. Where is your current location of Documents?
Possibly put it back to c:\ (original location) and then see if it can now save.

This drove me crazy... It wasn't until I upgraded to win 7 and it worked again... went to a friends place to lan and forgot my ext hard drive and the problem came back. I'm glad it happened tho because now I know what caused the issue.

Your ext drive hasn't magically given itself a new drive letter?
Anything that messes up the default save path causes this annoying issue.

I tried to tell ensemble/robot but basically their mods don't care/not interested... support they say... what support.
I also asked them what file the save path was in so it could be edited accordingly... no response, I didn't really expect one.

**Anderzzon** · 07-20-2009

Hmm since I have an entire other drive that I save my documents on the path there is simply "D:/Music or Movies" etc.

Is there a way to check the paths more accuratly?

/Anderzzon

**suprragirl** · 07-20-2009

I have no idea unfortunately. Maybe you could register on ensembles forums and tell them that maybe the save path is messed up and you need to check to make sure it's pointing to the right place and could they tell you what file you need to edit.

They probably won't answer tho :/

The only thing I can say to do really is to remember what the drive letter was when it was working and make sure that path is still there (which I suppose it isn't if it's not saving)

I'll see if I get a reply and let you know

**suprragirl** · 07-20-2009

Well... I just sent this to them.... I still don't expect a response tho

Quote:

As quoted on your site "actively engage both community sites below" I really have to disagree. The only staff member you have hired to work on Age of empires 3 can't barely reply to the forum and ignores posts on a daily basis. I think he needs a pay loss in order to appreciate that these games are what's paying him and he needs to step up support.

I've only recently gotten into age of empires and have read alot of forums and not many people hold any love whatsoever for the support I'm afraid to say.

I have posted many times on the forum and not no response to any of questions. Not even the easy one! The only way I managed to get a response was to make a need thread titled "Attn Robot Entertainment". Only then for this staff member to have the cheek to skim my post, assume what happened and retitle my thread and duly ignore it. Not acceptable.

On to the issue at hand. This issue is starting to become prominent. We need to know what file in the age directory has the save file path in it. The one that tells the game where to save. So when the game loses the directory we can just edit it to a new path accordingly.

Appreciate your time

Wow I just reread it, I think I need to slow my fingers down, they ain't typing what's in my head too good.. can't instead of can and need instead of new lol

**suprragirl** · 07-20-2009

I got this response from Robot.
I'm very impressed, under 20mins and I got a reply

Quote:

Age of Empires III is not supported on Windows 7 at this time, as well as changing the operating environment variables surrounding the save system. The easiest solution to your problem is to ensure that your documents and games folders are installed in their default locations, and that Age of Empires III is installed properly (a reinstall may be in order in your situation). Ensure you have the latest patches, which you can download from Ensemble Studios: Age of Empires III: Home.

The default path for Age3 save games on Vista is: C:\Users\USERNAME\Documents\My Games\Age of Empires 3. There is no user-editable file that can be changed that will effect this behavior.

So it looks like you're going to have to back up your save game, move your documents to it's default location, reinstall it and see if it now works.

Oh.. ignore the win 7 thing... they're just doing the assumption thing haha.

**Anderzzon** · 07-20-2009

Well I am planing a complete format anyways so it's for the best. Thansk for the help Supar.

And GL with the Win 7.

/Anderzzon

07-06-2009	#1 (permalink)
Anderzzon Vista Home Premium 32bit 5 posts	Age of Empires 3 problem So, I've recently installed AoE3 on my computer and it works fine, I can start it and all that. Though then I ran into some trouble. I can't make home cities! When I click the "create-button" it freezes for a while and then I come to the menu which is supposed to let you handle your cards and all that. Though there is no city chosen, and when I try to choose one the only option I can click is create new home city. I simply don't get it. One would assume that it's something wrong with the game, and yeah. Of course there is, but I tried reinstalling it and that didn't resolve the issue..! Then I installed AoE: Asian Dynasties thinking that a later update might have a fix, but nope. Problem remains. This is really starting to get to me... I'm at a LAN and I'm the only Vista user you see, though I've had it installed on this computer before so... Any help would be of great value. /Anderzzon
My System Specs

07-10-2009	#2 (permalink)
stoneys-nutz Vista Ultimate x64, SP2 1,432 posts	Re: Age of Empires 3 problem Try a clean install as admin, patch to the latest patch and give that a go, i have it on my Vista x64 system and it runs good.
My System Specs

07-20-2009	#3 (permalink)
suprragirl Win 7 32bit 7 posts	Re: Age of Empires 3 problem Have you by any chance moved "my documents" to another location?
My System Specs

07-20-2009	#4 (permalink)
Anderzzon Vista Home Premium 32bit 5 posts	Re: Age of Empires 3 problem Not since I had it installed the first time and then it worked so.. : / Also, I reinstalled it with admin thingie and that didn't change anything sadly. /Anderzzon
My System Specs

07-20-2009	#5 (permalink)
suprragirl Win 7 32bit 7 posts	Re: Age of Empires 3 problem Ahh, but you have moved your documents? I had this trouble with vista and no amount of reinstalls with admin rights solved it. Where is your current location of Documents? Possibly put it back to c:\ (original location) and then see if it can now save. This drove me crazy... It wasn't until I upgraded to win 7 and it worked again... went to a friends place to lan and forgot my ext hard drive and the problem came back. I'm glad it happened tho because now I know what caused the issue. Your ext drive hasn't magically given itself a new drive letter? Anything that messes up the default save path causes this annoying issue. I tried to tell ensemble/robot but basically their mods don't care/not interested... support they say... what support. I also asked them what file the save path was in so it could be edited accordingly... no response, I didn't really expect one.
My System Specs

07-20-2009	#6 (permalink)
Anderzzon Vista Home Premium 32bit 5 posts	Re: Age of Empires 3 problem Hmm since I have an entire other drive that I save my documents on the path there is simply "D:/Music or Movies" etc. Is there a way to check the paths more accuratly? /Anderzzon
My System Specs

07-20-2009	#7 (permalink)
suprragirl Win 7 32bit 7 posts	Re: Age of Empires 3 problem I have no idea unfortunately. Maybe you could register on ensembles forums and tell them that maybe the save path is messed up and you need to check to make sure it's pointing to the right place and could they tell you what file you need to edit. They probably won't answer tho :/ The only thing I can say to do really is to remember what the drive letter was when it was working and make sure that path is still there (which I suppose it isn't if it's not saving) I'll see if I get a reply and let you know
My System Specs

07-20-2009	#8 (permalink)
suprragirl Win 7 32bit 7 posts	Re: Age of Empires 3 problem Well... I just sent this to them.... I still don't expect a response tho Quote: As quoted on your site "actively engage both community sites below" I really have to disagree. The only staff member you have hired to work on Age of empires 3 can't barely reply to the forum and ignores posts on a daily basis. I think he needs a pay loss in order to appreciate that these games are what's paying him and he needs to step up support. I've only recently gotten into age of empires and have read alot of forums and not many people hold any love whatsoever for the support I'm afraid to say. I have posted many times on the forum and not no response to any of questions. Not even the easy one! The only way I managed to get a response was to make a need thread titled "Attn Robot Entertainment". Only then for this staff member to have the cheek to skim my post, assume what happened and retitle my thread and duly ignore it. Not acceptable. On to the issue at hand. This issue is starting to become prominent. We need to know what file in the age directory has the save file path in it. The one that tells the game where to save. So when the game loses the directory we can just edit it to a new path accordingly. Appreciate your time Wow I just reread it, I think I need to slow my fingers down, they ain't typing what's in my head too good.. can't instead of can and need instead of new lol
My System Specs

07-20-2009	#9 (permalink)
suprragirl Win 7 32bit 7 posts	Re: Age of Empires 3 problem I got this response from Robot. I'm very impressed, under 20mins and I got a reply Quote: Age of Empires III is not supported on Windows 7 at this time, as well as changing the operating environment variables surrounding the save system. The easiest solution to your problem is to ensure that your documents and games folders are installed in their default locations, and that Age of Empires III is installed properly (a reinstall may be in order in your situation). Ensure you have the latest patches, which you can download from Ensemble Studios: Age of Empires III: Home. The default path for Age3 save games on Vista is: C:\Users\USERNAME\Documents\My Games\Age of Empires 3. There is no user-editable file that can be changed that will effect this behavior. So it looks like you're going to have to back up your save game, move your documents to it's default location, reinstall it and see if it now works. Oh.. ignore the win 7 thing... they're just doing the assumption thing haha.
My System Specs

07-20-2009	#10 (permalink)
Anderzzon Vista Home Premium 32bit 5 posts	Re: Age of Empires 3 problem Well I am planing a complete format anyways so it's for the best. Thansk for the help Supar. And GL with the Win 7. /Anderzzon
My System Specs

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