Error message "Error unable to read data from file"

from GalCiv3 Forums

During startup of game there are 2 exact error messagea that say "Error unable to read data from file", with the options to continue, copy to clipboard, skip, and quit.  The game either does not save the settings I prefer, or the settings go back to default settings every time I play the game.

Thank you 

galciv iii support
8,954 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Sorry to hear you are having trouble.

Please try the following

'Disk write error' or cannot save game or settings

Often this is the result of the game not having permissions to write to your \Documents\MyGames folder.  Try disabling your AV app and trying agin.

If that fails, try disabling 'Windows Controlled Folder Access' or whitelisting the game there:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/allow-an-app-to-access-controlled-folders-b5b6627a-b008-2ca2-7931-7e51e912b034 

Thank you for your patience and patronage.

Reply #2 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

I disabled my AV app, and whitlisted the game in my firewall settings.  The problems is same and continues. 

Star Control: Origins
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Have you also whitelisted it with Controlled Folder Access as described in the link?

Also, is your Documents folder locally or kept on a cloud service?

Reply #4 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

I solved the issue.  No error message, and the settings are saving.  I disabled my onedrive from backing up the my games folder, then reinstalled the game, that seemed to do the job.  I have another question.  At the stardock launcher there is a button called settings and an option for edit file settings, when i select edit file settings and error message comes up "cannot find the c:\users\owner\documents\my games\GalCiv3\Prefs.ini file Do you want to create a new file?"  what should I do?

 

Thank you I appreciate your assistance 

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Check if that file was created by following the folder path. I suspect that it was and something is blocking the launcher from opening it.

You can just open the file directly with a text editor and modify it. Also, most of the settings in Prefs.ini can be changed in-game.

Reply #6 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Quoting Trin4311, reply 4

At the stardock launcher there is a button called settings and an option for edit file settings, when i select edit file settings and error message comes up "cannot find the c:\users\owner\documents\my games\GalCiv3\Prefs.ini file Do you want to create a new file?"  what should I do?

You should never click on that option again.  It is completely useless.

Notice the GalCiv3 in the path.  That was the location used for your data when GalCiv3 was first released.  When Crusade was released, the location was changed to GC3Crusade, but the path attached to the button was not updated.

I used the button a lot in the original GalCiv3, then had problems getting my changes to work.  I finally found that the location was changed to GC3Crusade after I updated to Crusade when it was released.  I filed a bug report about it in a support ticket in August, 2017 (Ticket #XPZ-741-80191 in case anyone at Stardock is interested) and got the reply that they were aware of it and would fix it.  It's been 5 years, and it still hasn't been fixed.  It probably never will be.

You are getting the error message about not finding the file because you don't have a GalCiv3 directory, probably because you never had the original release of GalCiv3.