A little guide today for those who experience problems with FM 2012 save files. From time to time I see messages: "My save doesn't load any more! Help!". Such FM gamers merely cannot continue playing their teams after the problem happens…

The solution is to backup save files!

I will just share my backup approach used for Q.P.R. story. It's quite simple and consists of 3 points:

- BAT script file

- Dropbox account

- Standard Windows Scheduler running the file

BAT script file

First of all, create a runnable script file that will make an archive with your save. My example of BAT file:

"C:\Program Files\7-Zip\7z.exe" a -t7z -pmypassword fm12.7z c:\dev\Single "C:\Users\Rayden\Documents\Sports Interactive\Football Manager 2012\games\Q.P.R story.fm" "C:\Users\Rayden\Documents\Sports Interactive\Football Manager 2012\tactics"

copy /y c:\dev\fm12.7z c:\Dropbox

del c:\dev\fm12.7z

As you see 3 commands are used here:

1. 7z.exe creates 7-Zip archive file with password='mypassword'. The resulting file contains my save game and tactics folder.

2. copy commands copies 7-Zip archive file to Dropbox folder uploading it to your Dropbox account.

3. del just removes created 7-Zip archive from your computer.

Dropbox account

Dropbox is a Web-based hosting service. It's very transparent in sense of file coping and synchronization. You may just copy a file to a Dropbox folder on your computer linked to your Dropbox account, and the file is uploaded to the web. Therefore you won't loose a FM12 save it even if your home machine is stolen and burnt

So you should just signup an account at Dropbox and link it to your folder installing client software. It's easy. Watch a video at Dropbox.com.

By the way, iCloud, Box.net and other alternative service can be used instead Dropbox.

Windows 7 Task Scheduler

You would get tired to run your BAT script manually. This is the reason why I recommend to setup its automatic daily start up by means of Windows 7 Task Scheduler.

Here are short guides that may help you in that:

- Schedule a task

- Where have the Scheduled Tasks gone to in Windows 7

Note for people having other operational systems:

Windows XP and Mac OS have also task schedulers. Just google with phraze "How to use task scheduler in Mac Os" or "How to use task scheduler in Windows XP".

I hope this guide will be really helpful for you!

True Football Manager