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If you already know what savegame files are and just want instructions on how to download and install them, you can skip right to the instructions.

What are savegame files?

Every time you save your game while playing Tomb Raider, a file is created containing all the information about your game so far—Lara's location, health status, inventory, items found and used, enemies killed, etc. These files are named "savegame" with a number extension (e.g., savegame.0, savegame.1, etc.) and stored on your hard drive. There is one savegame file for each "slot" on the Save/Load Game screen.

Tomb Raider savegame files are coded so that the game program can "read" them. When you reload an earlier save, your computer interprets the savegame file and restores Lara and her world to the way it was when you saved.

Computer users can manipulate these files outside of game play using savegame editors. We can also trade saves with other players just as we would share text files, pictures or other documents—by saving the files on a disk, sending them as email attachments or placing them on a web server to be downloaded.

What are .zip files?

All the PC savegame files on this site come in .zip files. A .zip file (also called a .zip archive) is like a digital "envelope" containing other files. Using .zip archives lets me group savegame files together in one convenient "package," such as a group of saves for a given game level. Also, since the data in .zip files is compressed, the files are smaller and download more quickly.

How do I get the savegame files out of the .zip file?

To open a .zip archive, you'll need either Windows ME/XP or an archive utility.

Windows ME and XP have the built-in capability to open .zip archives. If you're using Windows ME or XP, you can just double-click the .zip folder's icon to open it. Now continue with the instructions in the next section.

If you don't have either of these versions of Windows, you'll need an archive utility, such as WinZip®, PKZIP, StuffIt, etc. Archive utilities are programs designed to handle archive files. That is, they can open the "envelope" and remove the files inside so you can use them.

Opinions vary as to the best archive utility. I prefer WinZip® because it loads quickly and is easy to use. WinZip is available in software stores, or you can download a free evaluation copy from the developer's web site, www.winzip.com. If you like the program, you can then register it online. If you have any trouble downloading or installing the WinZip program, please check the help/support sections of the WinZip web site.

The instructions here are based on Windows ME/XP or WinZip. If you're using another program, refer to its help file if you have any problems.

Once you have downloaded and installed WinZip®, continue with the instructions below.

What about Macintosh files?

This page pertains mostly to PC saves, though the procedures are similar for both operating systems.

Can Windows users install savegames made on a Macintosh and vice-versa?

No. Unfortunately, Mac savegame files and Windows savegame files are mutually incompatible.

All of the following should be done when the Tomb Raider game is not running.

Part 1 - Downloading the .zip file:

1. Open the attachment on the e-mail I sent you.
   
   
2. A dialog box will pop up asking if you want to run/open the file or save it on your computer. Windows 95/98 users should choose the "Save to disk" option then click "OK." Windows ME/XP users should click the "Save" button.
   
   
3. Another dialog box will pop up asking where on your computer you would like to save the downloaded file. It doesn't matter where you save it, but I'd recommend saving it in a location that's easy to remember—perhaps on the desktop, in My Documents or My Download Files, etc. (You might even create a new folder called "Tomb Raider Saves," the name of the level, or something like that.) Choose the location you want and click the "Save" button to start downloading the file.
   
   
4. A new box will pop up showing the progress of the download. You may need to click a button to close the box when the download is completed.
   
   

Part 2 - Backing up your existing saves:

If you have been saving your game as you play, you will already have some savegame files in your game directory. Before you use the saves you downloaded, you will probably want to back up your own savegame files (i.e., move them into a new folder or save them on a disk).

It's also a good idea to do this every few days while playing in case you accidentally save in a bad spot—like when Lara is about to die. Then if you need to, you can restore your earlier saves.

For Tomb Raider 2 through 5:

1. On your Windows Desktop, double click the My Computer icon to open it.
   
   
2. Double click the icon for your hard drive (usually C: but it may have another letter designation). This should display a list of all the directories on your hard drive.
   
   
3. Double click the "Program Files" folder to open it. Inside you should see folders for various programs you've installed.
   
   
4. Double click the "Core Design" folder to open it. Inside you should see a folder for each of the Tomb Raider games you have installed. The exception is Tomb Raider 1 (see below).
   
   
5. Double click the folder for the game you want. Inside the game folder you should see a number of files, including any savegame files you have made. These have names like "savegame.0," "savegame.1," "savegame.2," etc.
   
   
6. Create a new folder for your savegames. Call it whatever you want. (I like to keep a separate folder for each level's saves, so I use the level name as the name of the folder.)
   
   
7. Copy or move your savegame files into the new folder. If you COPY the files, the saves will still be available when you play the game. If you MOVE the files, the game program will not be able to find them in the new location, so you won't be able to load them unless you copy or move them back to the game folder.
   
   

For Tomb Raider and Tomb Raider Gold:

1. On your Windows Desktop, double click the My Computer icon to open it.
   
   
2. Double click the icon for your hard drive [usually labeled something like "(C:) Local Disk" but may have a different name or letter designation]. Doing this should display a list of all the directories on your hard drive.
   
   
3. Double click the "Tombraid" folder to open it. Inside the Tombraid folder you should see a number of files, including any savegame files you have made. These have names like "savegame.0," "savegame.1," "savegame.2," etc., for Tomb Raider saves.
   
   

        Now follow steps 6 and 7 above.

Having trouble? If you can't find the Tomb Raider game directory by following these instructions, if you have found the savegame files but don't see the number extensions (.0, .1, .2, etc.), or if you have trouble with the slightly different format of the Angel of Darkness saves, please refer to the Troubleshooting section below for help.

Part 3 - Extracting the downloaded savegame files:

The next steps differ slightly depending on whether you're using Windows ME/XP or WinZip (see "What are .zip files?" and "How do I get the savegame files out of the .zip file?," above). If you're using another archive utility, refer to that program's help file if you're not sure what to do.

VERY IMPORTANT: If you haven't already backed up your own saves (as explained in Part 2, above), you should definitely do that before continuing. Otherwise, you may accidentally erase your own saves.

Using Windows ME/XP:

1. Locate the .zip file you downloaded earlier.
   
   
2. Double click its icon to open the file.
   
   
3. Double click the readme text file (if there is one) to open it. This document gives details about each of the saves.
   
   
4. Open the game program directory on your hard drive. (Part 2, steps 1 through 5, above, explain how to do this.)
   
   
5. Select the savegame file(s) you want and drag them out of the .zip file and into the game program folder. Windows may ask if you want to replace your existing savegame file(s) with the new files. Click OK but only if you have backed up your saves or don't care if they're erased forever.
   
   

Using WinZip®:

1. Locate the .zip file you downloaded earlier.
   
   
2. Double click the savegame .zip file to open it. (If the WinZip program doesn't automatically start and open the file, then you will need to use one of the alternate methods in the next two paragraphs.)
   
   OR
   
   Right click the icon for the savegame .zip file you want to open. Choose "Open With" and then choose "WinZip" from the list of programs.
   
   OR
   
   Start the WinZip program. If the program opens showing the WinZip Wizard interface, click the "WinZip Classic" button. Click the "Open" icon (or choose "Open Archive" from the "File" menu). Browse to the .zip file you want to open and click the "Open" button.
   
   WinZip should now display a list of the files inside the .zip archive.
   
   
3. Double click the readme text file (if there is one) to open it. This document gives details about each of the saves.
   
   
4. Open the game program directory on your hard drive. (Part 2, steps 1 through 5, above, explains how to do this.)
   
   
5. Select the savegame file(s) you want and drag them out of the .zip file and into the game program folder.
   If you already have savegame files with the same number extensions, Windows will ask if you want to replace your existing files with the new files. Click "OK" but only if you have backed up your saves or don't care if they're erased forever.
   
   

NOTE: In step 5, you can also drag the savegame files out of the .zip file to another location, such as your Desktop, a new folder, etc. But before you can load them, you'll need to copy or move them into the game program directory.

Part 4 – Loading the downloaded savegame files:

Now that you've completed all of the steps above, your downloaded saves should be in the game program directory. Close all of the windows and files you've opened. Insert your game CD and start playing the game as usual.

At the main menu, choose 'Load Game' to bring up your list of saved games. The downloaded saves should now be on that list. Select the save you want and press Enter (or Action) to load it, just as you would do to load your own saved game.

If you've done everything as described and the savegames won't load, first check out the Troubleshooting section. There are a few common problems that may be addressed there. If you don't find the answer you need, feel free to email me for help.

I double clicked the savegame file and the game won't load. Or, I opened the savegame file with Notepad and it looks like gibberish. What am I doing wrong?

Savegame files are written by the game program and can only be read by the game program (or a savegame editor or hex editor. . . but those are topics for another page). Loading a savegame file by clicking its icon won't work. Instead, you need to move the savegame file into your game program directory, play the game, and load it from the Load Game screen—the same way you load your own saves while playing. Follow the step-by-step instructions above if you aren't sure how to do this.

I followed the instructions but I can't find the Tomb Raider game directory on my computer where you said it would be.

These instructions are based on the "default" installation path—where the program would be installed if you didn't specify a different location when you first set up the game. If you specifically chose a different location, then that is where the savegame files will be.

If you can't remember where you installed the program then you will need to search your computer to find it. Click on the Windows Start Menu and choose "Find" or "Search." Then enter the name of the program in the box under "Named" or "Find files or folders named."

Windows program files usually have an '.exe' extension. The program files for each Tomb Raider game are:

       TR1 - tomb.exe
       TR1 Gold (Unfinished Business) - tombub.exe
       TR2 - tomb2.exe
       TR2 Gold (Golden Mask) - tr2gold.exe
       TR3 - tomb3.exe
       TR3 Gold (Lost Artifact) - tr3gold.exe
       TR4 (Last Revelation) - tomb4.exe
       TR5 (Chronicles) - PCTomb5.exe

You can also search for "Core Design," "savegame," or even "tomb" but the search may turn up other files with those names.

If you are able to find a file with the correct name but it has no .exe extension, you may need to adjust the way your files are displayed. See the next question for directions.

Once you have found the game program file, follow the instructions using the location of the game directory on your system. Things should work smoothly.

I found the savegame files in the game directory, but I don't see any number extensions (.0, .1, .2, etc.).

This is easily fixed. You just need to adjust the way your files are displayed.

Windows 95/98 users should click "View" in the toolbar at the top of the window and select "Folder Options" from drop-down menu. Click the "View" tab. Uncheck the box labeled "Hide file extensions for known file types." (In Windows 98 this is one of the options in the box labeled "Advanced Settings".) Then click "OK."

Windows ME and XP users should click "Tools" in the toolbar at the top of the window and select "Folder Options" from drop-down menu. Click the "View" tab. Uncheck the box labeled "Hide file extensions for known file types" in the box labeled "Advanced Settings." Then click "OK."

Angel of Darkness is set up differently. What do I do?

The mechanics for installing Angel of Darkness saves is exactly the same as for the other games, with the following exceptions: The savegame files have names like 0.TRAODSG, 1.TRAODSG, A.TRAODSG, etc. (You can still access only 15 saves at a time.) The directory where the savegame files are stored is Program Files/Eidos Interactive/TRAOD/SaveGame. Place the un-zipped TRAODSG files here.

I followed all your instructions to the letter, but when I try to load the savegame I just downloaded, the game crashes.

The most common reason for this is that the saves you downloaded were made with a patched (updated) version of the game, while you're running the original, unpatched installation (or vice-versa). This is an issue with the 3dfx patched version of Tomb Raider 1, certain levels of Tomb Raider 3, and all levels of TR4 (Last Revelation).

(NOTE: Some of my saves described as "patched" refer to hacked saves where Lara is repositioned in an otherwise inaccessible spot, or where inventory items are added. This should not affect whether or not a save will load. If you're not sure which kind of "patch" I'm talking about, feel free to ask.)

I've decided I want my old saves back. How do I restore them?

If you followed these instructions, you should have backed up your original saves in a separate folder from the game program. (See Part 2 - Backing up your existing saves, above.) To restore them follow these steps:

1. Locate the folder in which you placed your original savegame files.
   
   
2. Copy or move the savegame files from that folder into the game directory. (If you have trouble finding the game directory, follow the instructions in Part 2, steps 1 through 5, above.)
   
   
3. If you have other savegame files with the same number extensions in the game folder, Windows will ask if you want to replace the existing files with the new files. Click "OK."
   
   
4. Now play the game as usual and your saves should be on the Load Game screen.
   
   

If you didn't back up your old saves as recommended, and they were overwritten by the downloaded saves, then there's no way to get them back. Sorry.

If your questions weren't answered on this page, or if you have suggestions for how to improve this savegame 'walkthrough,' please feel free to email.

This page © 2003 Stellalune. All rights reserved. You are welcome to link to this page but do not copy it. To give me your feedback, send e-mail to claireguimond@hotamil.com. WinZip® is a registered trademark of WinZip Computing, Inc. PKZIP is copyright © 2001-2002 PKWARE, Inc. StuffIt Expander(TM) is copyright © 2002 Aladdin Systems, Inc. All Rights Reserved.