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How to import save data

By gordonfreeman01

When attempting to copy over somebody else's save (e.g. when sharing the level progress data with someone), the profile data gets corrupted forcing a game restart, here's how to fix that.

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Created by

gordonfreeman01
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Category: Modding or Configuration

Languages: English

Posted

2 Jan, 2016 @ 9:53am

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Guide Index

Overview

Introduction

Procedure

Comments

Introduction

When sharing/importing a FEAR 3 savegame from somebody else's profile (e.g. if you want the level progress data without going through the whole campaign), simply copying the save files won't work. Here's how to fix it.

Procedure

Ensure you have all the save files from the profile you want to copy from. FEAR3 saves are located in:
<Steam installation directory>\userdata\<Numbers representing your Steam ID>\21100\local

In this folder you will find several files:
a. FEAR3<number>.dsSave where <number> is 0 and/or 1 - This is your level progress save (where you are in a level), however it does not contain the overall unlocks, scores, etc
b. User.profile <--- THIS is what you want to get back pronto, it has unlocks, scores, most settings, etc
c. VARIANTS.VAR - A file that remains the same for everyone by the looks of it
Download a hex editor, I recommend the small and free one called XVI32 (which I am using here), available at http://www.chmaas.handshake.de/
To import the save you will need to first create a working save for FEAR 3, so launch the game at least once, then enter a level (e.g. the first level) until a point where you take control of Point Man/Fettel (that's where it will create the save). Once you take control you can completely exit the game normally.
Here comes the main part:
NOTE: MAKE BACKUPS OF BOTH SAVES BEFORE PROCEEDING

a. Launch your hex editor and open the freshly created User.profile from the previous step - we'll call it target save from now
b. Open another window of your hex editor and open the User.profile of the save you are importing - we'll call it source save from now
c. In the window with the source save, in the pane on the right hand side, you will notice the word "Assault" near the top. Highlight the block immediately after the t then press CTRL+B to mark it, then further down you will notice "|ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ", highlight the block immediately BEFORE the | then press CTRL+B to mark it. It will look like in the screenshot below (I've censored my own data with rectangles below), the marked section is in red.

d. In the window with the marks (the one with the source save) go to the Edit menu -> Clipboard -> Copy as hex string
e. In the window with the target save, highlight the block immediately after the t once again but DO NOT mark it this time.
f. Now in the same window as step e., click on Edit -> Overwrite string, paste the string you copied in step d. (make sure the window is set to "Hex String"), then click OK.
g. Save the modified file
Now you can take this modified file and overwrite the User.profile in the game's save directory. Also, copy over the FEAR3<number>.dsSave save files from the source save and overwrite the existing files in the target directory.
When you launch the game you should have the video playing in the menu being much further advanced than the one before (the room has more drawings), the scores should match the ones from the source save and the rank will also change. This will not restore insane difficulty (unlocked for finishing the game) though. Just one final step left for that.
To restore insane difficulty, either replay the last level or if you have a save in the final battle, resume game then skip the credits.
Voila, rebuilt profile, enjoy!

10 Comments

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gordonfreeman01 [author] 5 Sep, 2020 @ 1:00pm

Thanks to everyone adding information to the thread :)

PrdiChlp [SK] 5 Sep, 2020 @ 4:03am

THANK YOU WERY MUCH ♥
It worked.
For people that do not see ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ just try fo find "05 FF FF FF FF" in left window. The 05 is | that was mentioned above.
Goal is to replace your actual string whit a new one.
I pestonally deleted all betwen "Assault" and "|" and then pasted string tht I copyed from betwen "Assault" and "|" from downloaded save.

zachjd 16 Jul, 2019 @ 7:26pm

I figured it out, I see you want the whole thing highlighted. Looked like you were highlighting two separate areas because of the red censored part. It's working so I'm giving this guide a thumbs up. Thanks.

zachjd 16 Jul, 2019 @ 7:15pm

Guide instructions are confusing on what exactly you're marking. There is also no | before ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ.

gordonfreeman01 [author] 2 Mar, 2019 @ 7:21am

Welcome :)

Vince 26 Feb, 2019 @ 10:40pm

It works, thank you!

gordonfreeman01 [author] 10 Feb, 2018 @ 12:10am

Welcome and to answer your question, I wonder about that myself. A weird decision by the devs to lock saves to the profile like that.

Deaththunder 9 Feb, 2018 @ 12:57pm

thanks for help mate, why has this to be such pain in the ass?

Cortland 5 Jul, 2017 @ 1:44am

Ok so after many attempts. You have to ctrl+b from after the word 'assault' the block after the 't' as he said, and ctrl+b at the block before 'y' but not before the first three 'y's but the one before the 5 or 6 'y's. Hope I'm not confusing you guys.

TZODnmr2K5 26 Oct, 2016 @ 11:55am

I'd like to punch these as$hole devs in the jaw with a fv<kin' cinderblock for making us jump through so many hoops JUST to backup a save for a game we PAID for!

Thanks for the info!

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