"Invalid Database Version" after game apparently uninstalls itself?

cedwards · 12-05-2020, 01:16 AM

Bit of a strange amount of events occurred tonight that I'm not versed enough in the game to understand, but here goes:

In attempting to open the game (via Steam), I found the game uninstalled, which was peculiar as it is, but upon reinstall and attempting to open a file for a sim, an error message appeared with the message "Invalid Database Version". Now, as I can tell, no updated was downloaded, and when I checked my other saves they were fine.

Now, on the save itself, it is fairly old and is a download from another person. The file ran fine before this event.

I'm scratching my head on A. How this happened and B. How to fix the issue.

JeffR · 12-06-2020, 02:41 AM

The random uninstall is apparently a Steam issue. Steam's support page has an article about it (https://support.steampowered.com/kb_...8379-RYIP-2998), but it's not particularly helpful - it just tells you to reinstall and blames external hard drives, which may account for some of the problems - but I know from personal experience that using external HD's can't be the only cause, because I've had the problem with games on my regular drive.

The Invalid Database Version message usually means you're trying to use a save created with a newer version than the one you're using (not possible if you just reinstalled) or there's corruption in one or more save files. If you can upload it (instructions here), I'll have a look and see if it's fixable.

cedwards · 12-06-2020, 06:30 PM

I'll do it as soon as I can, thanks for the help.

cedwards · 12-06-2020, 11:59 PM

Apparently I don't have permission to put the files into the database. Would it work just as fine if I simply link the file?

JeffR · 12-07-2020, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cedwards

Apparently I don't have permission to put the files into the database. Would it work just as fine if I simply link the file?

Yeah, if you can put it on a file sharing site just send the link to me at jeff@ootpdevelopments.com.

cedwards · 12-07-2020, 09:35 PM

Sent through Drive. Hopefully everything you need is there.

JeffR · 12-09-2020, 07:38 AM

Still not sure why it's reporting that error, but there's an easy fix: create a new game, then copy the continents.dat file from that one into this save's folder, overwriting the continents.dat file that's there. That should fix the version problem and let you load it.

12-05-2020, 01:16 AM	#1
cedwards Bat Boy Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 6	"Invalid Database Version" after game apparently uninstalls itself? Bit of a strange amount of events occurred tonight that I'm not versed enough in the game to understand, but here goes: In attempting to open the game (via Steam), I found the game uninstalled, which was peculiar as it is, but upon reinstall and attempting to open a file for a sim, an error message appeared with the message "Invalid Database Version". Now, as I can tell, no updated was downloaded, and when I checked my other saves they were fine. Now, on the save itself, it is fairly old and is a download from another person. The file ran fine before this event. I'm scratching my head on A. How this happened and B. How to fix the issue.

12-06-2020, 02:41 AM	#2
JeffR FHM Producer Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Kelowna, BC Posts: 17,255	The random uninstall is apparently a Steam issue. Steam's support page has an article about it (https://support.steampowered.com/kb_...8379-RYIP-2998), but it's not particularly helpful - it just tells you to reinstall and blames external hard drives, which may account for some of the problems - but I know from personal experience that using external HD's can't be the only cause, because I've had the problem with games on my regular drive. The Invalid Database Version message usually means you're trying to use a save created with a newer version than the one you're using (not possible if you just reinstalled) or there's corruption in one or more save files. If you can upload it (instructions here), I'll have a look and see if it's fixable.

12-06-2020, 06:30 PM	#3
cedwards Bat Boy Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 6	I'll do it as soon as I can, thanks for the help.

12-06-2020, 11:59 PM	#4
cedwards Bat Boy Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 6	Apparently I don't have permission to put the files into the database. Would it work just as fine if I simply link the file?

12-07-2020, 09:35 PM	#6
cedwards Bat Boy Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 6	Sent through Drive. Hopefully everything you need is there.

12-09-2020, 07:38 AM	#7
JeffR FHM Producer Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Kelowna, BC Posts: 17,255	Still not sure why it's reporting that error, but there's an easy fix: create a new game, then copy the continents.dat file from that one into this save's folder, overwriting the continents.dat file that's there. That should fix the version problem and let you load it.