Unexpected file format help.

[Ricket426]

I was able to fix the situation with the file errors already but this has happened multiple times in the past few DAYS. My computer hasn't crashed at all during these events so I don't understand why it keeps doing this.

Every time I save I do:

>Save

>Close Project

>Close Program

Does anyone know what I'm doing wrong or how to prevent this? I can't keep restarting my project every day I attempt to open it...

 

[Zoltor]

I don't know why the error is happening(it sounds like a corrupted file problem), but why are you closing project(you don't even need to use the close program command) just X out of the program.

 

[Ricket426]

I don't know why the error is happening(it sounds like a corrupted file problem), but why are you closing project(you don't even need to use the close program command) just X out of the program.

I only do that because the first time it happened I didn't close the project and I x'd out and it told me "unexpected file format." 

I mainly just do it as a safety measure just in case but it doesn't seem to help...

Should I just not close the project? Could that be the issue?

 

[Zoltor]

I only do that because the first time it happened I didn't close the project and I x'd out and it told me "unexpected file format." 

I mainly just do it as a safety measure just in case but it doesn't seem to help...

Should I just not close the project? Could that be the issue?

Yea I'm pretty sure one of the Hard coded RPG Maker files is corrupted or something.

You may want to try redownloading Ace, and manually move your project files into the new Ace you DLed.

 

[Ricket426]

Yea I'm pretty sure one of the Hard coded RPG Maker files is corrupted or something.

You may want to try redownloading Ace, and manually move your project files into the new Ace you DLed.

I'll try that and see if it helps. Thanks.

 

[Andar]

it might not neccessarily be the program itself.


Whenever files on the computer got corrupted, there are usually four possible reasons:


1) computer crash - the computer crashed while the file was being written


2) background program conflict - some form of background program (like virus scanner or computer optimizer) tried to modify the file when the original program tried to save it (you need to find the second program and set it to ignore RM-Files)


3) damaged program - if the saving program has been damaged, it might write wrong data (reinstalling usually corrects this)


4) HDD-damage - if the HDD is near the end of it's life cycle or there is damage on the HDD surface, the SMART-Functions of the HDD will replace the damaged sector with a hidden reserve sector. Depending on the type of damage, the data might already have been lost when the HDD-Repair kicks in.


If this happens several times, you need to find the cause of the problem. I suggest using a checkdrive program to test the SMART-Status of your HDD first, because that is the only error that can cause more problems in the future. If SMART-Status dropped below 80% you need to exchange your HDD fast, before you loose more data.