Author Topic: V13 won't quit updating. Overwrites saves etc.  (Read 984 times)

I started Blockland with v12 first. It updated RTB v 3.2 before the v13 update and then restarted. I opened up blockland and did the v12 to v13 update and it updated fully and closed the window blockland was playing in. I opened up blockland a minute after and the updater went on again. My version as still 12. Apparently the auto-updater was out for me and didn't work because I had gone through the same song and dance after I tried updating 3 times. I went to the main Blockland site and installed v13 directly. NOTE: I backed up everything, saves add-ons, events, you name it. When I ran it, I had absolutely nothing. None of my saves, add-ons or JVS content.

Someone know what is going on? Help would be nice.

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What operating system are you using?

Where did you install blockland?

What operating system are you using?

Where did you install blockland?

Windows Vista

C:/ProgramFiles/Blockland

I'm going to back up my stuff before installing v13...

I'm going to back up my stuff before installing v13...

Make copies.

Backing up didn't work for me, sadly.

Badspot

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In vista, with UAC enabled, when a program in the program files directory tries to write a file, the file write is redirected to the "virtual store" which is buried somewhere in your user directory.  When the patch runs and tries to overwrite the files in programfiles/blockland, vista redirects it to write to the virtual store, so it basically doesn't update.  

Similarly, all of your save files are actually stored in the virtual store, instead of in your Blockland folder where the game thinks it put them.  Compounding the problem is the fact that the various virtual store folders are sorted in part by a hash of the executable.  So if you manually install Blocklandv13 over into your C:\Program Files\Blockland folder, the executable will change and thus the corresponding virtual store folder will change.  Blockland looks in the saves folder for your saves and gets redirected to a new virtual store folder with nothing in it.  

The whole thing is a stupid half-baked "security" idea that was poorly executed by microsoft.  

Solution:

  • Install Blockland v13 to C:\Blockland
  • Dig around in your virtual store and find your saves, copy them to your C:\Blockland\saves folder appropriately
  • Remove Blockland from c:\Program files


On a quick note, never, ever put anything into Program files.
Anything thats put into those folders will be sent into an abyss of windows and you wont ever get it again.

I have XP, and my Blockland is the fifth in Program files, so its easy to find :D

I have XP, and my Blockland is the fifth in Program files, so its easy to find :D
Same - same.

Vista, but I disabled UAC after being fed up with it questioning me wether I was absolutely positively totally entirely really really certainly undisputibly wholly fully conclusively sure that I wanted to run notepad. It seemed completely useless, so I disabled it as soon as I figured out how. No regrets.

That aside, I think Blockland should detect and warn the user if they have UAC on and it's loving up their game. Maybe have it try to create a file then check to see if the file got put in the right place.

Badspot

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Maybe have it try to create a file then check to see if the file got put in the right place.

The problem is that the file reads and writes are handled and redirected by the operating system.  You cannot actually tell where you are writing the files. 

The problem is that the file reads and writes are handled and redirected by the operating system.  You cannot actually tell where you are writing the files. 
But if file reading is redirected, why are the saves absent? Or does it discriminate on wether to redirect based on why you are trying to read it?

For anyone who needs to know, your Virtual Store is located in C:\Users\(your name)\AppData\Local\VirtualStore.

Inside that should be a Program Files folder, and then you would navigate to your Blockland saves directory like you normally would. Your saves should be there.

But if file reading is redirected, why are the saves absent? Or does it discriminate on wether to redirect based on why you are trying to read it?
Simple solution:
Stop worrying about it and just stick it in C:\Blockland.