How do I backup my character and savegames in Fallout 3?

Son of Imoen · Wed, 14th Dec '11, 8:34pm

Before my computer needed to have Windows reïnstalled when my motherboard broke down, I had Fallout 3 installed and just finished the tutorial, arriving in the Wasteland. But I couldn't find any savegame- or character-files I could copy-paste to another drive beforing re-installing Windows.

I want to start over again now, but want to make backups, just in case, like I do with all my games.

What files do I need to copy to a backup folder to be able to restore a Fallout-game after reinstalling?

henkie · Wed, 14th Dec '11, 8:47pm

I was going to say they were in \Fallout\DATA\SAVEGAMES, but then I noticed the 3 behind Fallout.

I'm pretty sure Oblivion saved the savegames somewhere in the My Documents folder, so that's where I'd start to look. Don't remember exactly where, and I don't have Oblivion installed at the moment so can't check right now.

I do have some backed up saves for Oblivion, though. They have the extension .ess, so you could try to search your My Documents for that (or the drive where you have Windows installed in total if you can't find it there).

Son of Imoen · Thu, 15th Dec '11, 1:42am

Yes, I found them. They're in My Documents/My Games/Fallout 3. I was mistaken about the reason I didn't have any savegames. I didn't have any from half a year ago when I got a new motherboard and reinstalled Windows, not because I couldn't find them (that was my reasoning in my first post, at the moment I reinstalled the game). Once it was reinstalled, seeing how easy it is to find, it dawned to me my reason for not backing up the saves must have been I didn't feel like continuing.

Back then (about the same time last year), I liked the opening of the game, but combat was hard, or so I thought: I escaped from the Vault with hardly any ammo left, I was wounded and had nothing to heal me with, and was staring out into a large Wasteland void of recognizable features.

But now I started again, it doesn't seem too dazzling anymore. For one, I did open more lockers and got several medical healing kits (can't remember the name right now), somewhere around 200 bullets in all (150 for the pistol, 50 for the BB gun). And I found out when you exit, there is a quest note telling you where to go to first and a quest marker placed on the map. So I feel more confident now.

Thanks for your help, I think I'll like this game.

Wed, 14th Dec '11, 8:34pm	#1
Son of Imoen Gems: 4/31 Latest gem: Sunstone Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 78 Like: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post vBActivity - Stats XP: 341 Level: 6 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 74.66% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 2.94% Monthly Activity 2.76% Achievements	How do I backup my character and savegames in Fallout 3? Before my computer needed to have Windows reïnstalled when my motherboard broke down, I had Fallout 3 installed and just finished the tutorial, arriving in the Wasteland. But I couldn't find any savegame- or character-files I could copy-paste to another drive beforing re-installing Windows. I want to start over again now, but want to make backups, just in case, like I do with all my games. What files do I need to copy to a backup folder to be able to restore a Fallout-game after reinstalling?

Wed, 14th Dec '11, 8:47pm	#2
henkie SPS Account Holder Hammertime Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 1,146 Like: 2 Liked 15 Times in 15 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 2,704 Level: 16 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 95.84% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 2.94% Monthly Activity 11.6% Achievements Awards	I was going to say they were in \Fallout\DATA\SAVEGAMES, but then I noticed the 3 behind Fallout. I'm pretty sure Oblivion saved the savegames somewhere in the My Documents folder, so that's where I'd start to look. Don't remember exactly where, and I don't have Oblivion installed at the moment so can't check right now. I do have some backed up saves for Oblivion, though. They have the extension .ess, so you could try to search your My Documents for that (or the drive where you have Windows installed in total if you can't find it there).
	__________________ “The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it.”

		Sorcerer's Place Home \| Chatrooms \| BoM Rules & FAQ Sorcerer's Place Stores: Games, Books, DVDs, Merchandise (buying via these links & our affiliated stores below helps support the site - thanks!)
Have you liked us yet?

Thu, 15th Dec '11, 1:42am	#3
Son of Imoen Gems: 4/31 Latest gem: Sunstone Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 78 Like: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post vBActivity - Stats XP: 341 Level: 6 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 74.66% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 2.94% Monthly Activity 2.76% Achievements	Yes, I found them. They're in My Documents/My Games/Fallout 3. I was mistaken about the reason I didn't have any savegames. I didn't have any from half a year ago when I got a new motherboard and reinstalled Windows, not because I couldn't find them (that was my reasoning in my first post, at the moment I reinstalled the game). Once it was reinstalled, seeing how easy it is to find, it dawned to me my reason for not backing up the saves must have been I didn't feel like continuing. Back then (about the same time last year), I liked the opening of the game, but combat was hard, or so I thought: I escaped from the Vault with hardly any ammo left, I was wounded and had nothing to heal me with, and was staring out into a large Wasteland void of recognizable features. But now I started again, it doesn't seem too dazzling anymore. For one, I did open more lockers and got several medical healing kits (can't remember the name right now), somewhere around 200 bullets in all (150 for the pistol, 50 for the BB gun). And I found out when you exit, there is a quest note telling you where to go to first and a quest marker placed on the map. So I feel more confident now. Thanks for your help, I think I'll like this game.