Changing the save game folder

[Zombie69]

Sorry if this is the wrong forum. I thought you guys should know how to fix this easily...

How do you change the folder where games are to be saved? The game by default saves everything on drive C, which i find rather stupid as that drive, on a properly set up computer, should only include the operating system. Even though i installed the game on drive E, it still saves games on drive C. And there isn't even a place in the game options that lets you change the save folder.

The only way i could find to change this was in the CivilizationIV.ini file. It has something like this :

; Save Path - relative to working (Civ4) folder
FileName = 0

However, entering another value doesn't seem to have any effect.

Keep in mind that i need to save files on another drive, not just a subfolder of the normal folder used. Do i need to use a format like /../../../GoingBackUp/SaveFolder, and if so, how do i specify a new drive?

The game really should have been delivered in a way that you don't need to type code in a file just to save your games somewhere else...

 

[roylee]

Did you try to enter the full, new path name instead of 0. Just a guess

 

[Zombie69]

Of course. That's the first thing i tried.

"However, entering another value doesn't seem to have any effect."

 

[grumbler]

You could move the "My Documents" folder to another drive.

 

[Zombie69]

Good idea, except that after looking around, i have no idea how to do that. Also, even if Windows lets me do this, wouldn't i need to re-install the game for this to take effect?

 

[grumbler]

Good idea, except that after looking around, i have no idea how to do that.

Good question. It's usually one of the first things I do on a new system; problem is it have been at least two years since the last reinstall. Hmmm ...

Ah, ok:

1. open the my documents folder
2. right-click the icon in the upper left
3. choose properties
4. click on "Move"

Also, even if Windows lets me do this, wouldn't i need to re-install the game for this to take effect?

I would think not. I guess you could always try and if it does not work, just move the folder back to the old location.

 

[Infinit1]

Another way is to switch to the administrator and then go to the the System Properties, Advanced tab, User Profiles and then click on the Settings button in the square. In there you can move the profiles of anyone (except the admin because you are logged in as that) to any location. This doesn't just move the documents folder but everything in the Documents and settings folder for the specific user. So your Favorites and application settings go with your documents (very handy). This will delet anything in the folder of where you are moving it to so be careful. This is not the easiest way to do it, but it will be better in the end.

And I agree: C drive should only be for Windows!

 

[Zombie69]

Thanks a lot, this will help even outside the scope of this game. Actually, it will ONLY help outside the scope of this game, because someone already told me how to save games in another folder. I never save anything in My Documents, and still never will, but i applied your procedure anyway, just for when the stupid OS and/or programs decide to put stuff there without asking. Again, thanks a lot!

In case you want to know how to save games in another folder, it's in the FAQs thread of the technical support forum.

Oh, and here's what i find optimal for a Windows machine :

C: Windows
D: Swap file, constant size and its own drive = never fragmented, plus near the beginning of the HD (i.e. near the outside of the disk) = faster access.
E: Programs, on their own drive so that they don't corrupt OS and/or files
F: Data