Civ III Complete and Windows 7

[RNeuman]

Take 2 support in Europe referred me here. I have something of a problem. I've recently upgraded to Win 7 (still running WinXP in dual-boot and this problem doesn't show up there) and have installed Civ III Complete. It runs just fine, however the "Saves" file is NOT showing up where it should (c:\Program Files\Firaxis games\CivilizationIII complete\...). The saves are put somewhere; I want to find out where so that I can short-cut the file to the d/top and then manage it. It definitely is not in the first or second levels of the Civilization III Complete folder. I've set "Folder Options" to display hidden files. Any, and all, suggestions are welcome.

[Tech Ian]

ours are @: Program Files > Firaxis Games > Civilization III Complete > Conquests > Saves

Off the top of my head I would have said either Documents > My Games or AppData > Roaming > Firaxis games etc etc

[RNeuman]

Hey, Ian... Yeah, normally that's where they go for me to in WinXP. Win7?? That's where I looked (naturally) and they weren't there (at least not that they're displaying). I've just tried the other suggestions and can't find 'em, at least not yet. I'm pretty sure I've seen those folder names (My Games, AppData, etc.) but not sure where. It's also possible that my machine's f**ked up too. Had a m/board quit on me (blown capacitors); tried replacing the board with another one like it (same make/model) and that was fubar, so went with a new m/board, processor, and ram. I still have some bugs (occasional freezes, i.e.8 crashes, and bsod's) that come up, so maybe the install. I don't know...

[Tech Ian]

Shouldn't affect the location of a user file's folder though.

Can you name the files on this version? I forget, but if you can, just do a search through Windows for one of the file names, and then right-click on it and select 'show in folder' or 'show in windows explorer' or 'open file location'...

[RNeuman]

I believe that I've tried that already. I usually save my games-in-progress in the format "Germanic Tribes, <year#> A.D./B.C." I've tried searching on Germanic Tribes, and is a specific .SAV file (Germanic Tribes, 390 A.D.) and two other "files" in something like a date format; actually they're of type Registration Entries. When you say "...name the files on this version", what do you mean? Or did I hit it already?

[Tech Ian]

Yeah that was what I was getting at - I couldn't remember if the names were editable...

Are you able to right-click on it in the Search results?

[RNeuman]

Yes. Seems to be a standard right-click menu

[Tech Ian]

right-click on it and select 'show in folder' or 'show in windows explorer' or 'open file location'...

[gpordie]

I have the same situation - I cannot locate the files to delete them. I have tried to follow through step by step but for instance i have no file named (Firaxis) I do have one that says Atari. I was able to locate some of the saved files and delete them last week by clicking on show hidden files but not all of them I still have 20-30 games showing in my game when i click on load game. If I click on computer > C drive - I have program Files listed > click on it and nothing relevant shows in there, Program files (x86) listed and click it - and Atari > click it > and Civ 3 Complete > I see a Saves file > Auto > Conquests AuoSave 345BC and 350BC and thats it

[Tech Ian]

In the 'Search programs and files' box and the bottom of the Start menu you should just be able to enter the first few letters of the filename and in the list there they should be displayed, and you can right-click on do 'show in explorer' or 'open file location'

[gpordie]

Thanks for the quick response Ian but when i do that it just pulls up Civilopedia

[Tech Ian]

Can you rename the files within the game?

(Sorry I haven't played it in forever and only have a few minutes left today)

[gpordie]

All be danged figured it out
Computer > (C) > Program Files(x86) > Atari > Civilization 3 > Conquests > Saves > Auto - and there they were. Someone give Ian a raise. Thanks

[gpordie]

Okay just went back and retraced my steps to show somebody how I did it step by step and this time it took me back to where it shows Conquest Autosaves only and the 2 or3 files I kept are not showing now but it worked I swear cuz the other 30 are zapped. Has to be the most frustrating thing ever created. I bought Civ 5 - sure hope it isnt like this - now my only problem with it is I cant get it to load up on my laptop but one problem at a time.

[Tech Ian]

(Even if it is not the right place - it may be that the laptop in question does not have the required graphical capability...? )

For 3, there is only really one place that the files can be, and that is in the Documents/My Games area. Some games have the user files within the appdata directory, but a game as old as this most certainly should not.

The files will not be hidden (although turning on 'Show hidden files and folders' may be a good idea, just incase) and the filename's will be exactly as displayed with the load/save menu of the game.

[Ian_B]

I've recently upgraded to Win 7... and... the "Saves" file is NOT showing up where it should (c:\Program Files\Firaxis games\CivilizationIII complete\...). The saves are put somewhere; I want to find out where... Any, and all, suggestions are welcome.

In Windows 7, the Civ3 saves are VERY well hidden. You'll have to look in: "Local Disk ({drive letter} \ Users \ {user name} \ AppData \ Local \ VirtualStore \ Program Files (x86) \ Firaxis Games \ Civilization III Complete \ Conquest \ Saves \" (actual path has no quotes nor spaces around the backslashes). Once you're there, just pick out the "*.SAV" files; note that "\AppData" is a hidden folder. Note also that the Civ3 "\Saves" folder is not removed by an uninstall, so if anything there becomes corrupted, as happened to me, you'll need to perform minor surgery to get rid of it; a normal uninstall/reinstall won't be enough.

[Miceal]

But is it possible to play civ3 on an win7???
because it says by Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete/ Windows® 2000/XP (only)
im a big fan of this game but i have win7 now and want to play that game!!!!!

[saksingj]

Yes it is possible, civ3 plays on win7 perfectly fine. About user saves, you need to go to C:\Program Files (x86)\Infogrames Interactive\Civilization III\Conquests\Saves and klick ont he "Compatibility files" button on Explorer menu to see and manage them.