Is there a way to cleanup or repair savegames?

Question

We are having issues with crashes in Fallout: New Vegas on the PS3. We tried our savegames on another PS3 and encountered the same problems. Also, starting a new game on our PlayStation or loading the savegame of a friend does not have any crashes.

The savegame of my girlfriend does crash very often, at most in open areas. With my own savegame crashes are not that frequent but they happen.

Since we are very advanced it would be very sad if we had to restart from scratch, also we are frightened that this issue could occur again with any other savegame.

We also tried to delete Fallout and reinstall it along with all updates and DLCs, this did not help.

So my question is:
Is there any way to repair or fix up the savegames of the PS3 Version using a Linux or Windows PC? (Linux would be preferred, but Windows is also available.)

Asked by NobbZ

Answer

Fallout: New Vegas is notoriously buggy. As the game wears on, the chances of you encountering one or more crashing bugs becomes increasingly likely. The Fallout Wikia has a long list of things that you can try, but here's just a few of the most relevant ones:

• Turning the pip-boy radio off and leaving it off seems to help quite a bit. Try it if nothing else seems to help.
• Crashes often when you near completion of the game. Waiting 73 hours can fix this occasionally by resetting all cells except the one you are in.
• Crashes or very severe slowdowns are common when the player character reaches the top of a hill or ridge and the landscape and sky beyond become visible. (no known workaround)
• Equipping the sniper rifle may cause the game to slow down severely and most likely freeze. On the PS3 equipping the sniper rifle can cause the weapon hotkeys to stop functioning, and the game to crash shortly thereafter on attempts to sleep, save, enter a new area, or just walk around the map for a minute or so.
• Sometimes changing the color of the interface can cause the game to crash or lock up. Keeping the interface Amber may help in avoiding this. (On both the Pip-Boy and Hud)

As far as I know, there's no save file editors for Windows or Linux that can fix the cause of crashes in New Vegas. In fact, editing your save outside the game is probably more likely to cause you crashes in the future.

Answered by agent86

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What are ammo boxes for?

Question

I've started up New Vegas, and exploited the shop glitch to get some caps. (SO glad they didn't fix that bug.) So I got some decent weapons and ammo, but saw some things in the shop that I wasn't sure what they were for.

Under Miscellaneous (not ammo), there were ammo boxes. They had weight. (I'm not playing in Hardcore mode, maybe my next playthrough.) They weren't in the ammo section.

If I were to buy ammo boxes, what can I do with them? Can I use them somehow to give myself ammo?

Asked by John Rudy

Answer

Ammo Boxes are essentially a source of cheap bulk ammo. If you'll notice, each one mentions that it's a particular kind of ammunition. If you buy an Ammo Box, drop it on the ground, and then interact with it (Not sure if there's a smoother way to do this, but it's how I figured it out), you'll get a whole lot of ammunition. For reference, the box of Bulk Energy Cells sold by Chet in Goodsprings contains 100 cells. Unfortunately, being Bulk ammo, each one does 85% of normal damage. Good enough for cash-strapped Couriers, but far from ideal.

Also, be sure to distinguish Ammo Boxes from Ammo Cases - the latter are weightless, and are used in crafting for the production of new and specialty ammo.

Answered by LessPop_MoreFizz

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(GRA) Overkill * Challenge: What qualifies as an “Animal” for this challenge?

Question

I have the Gun Runners DLC for Fallout New Vegas and I am trying to complete one of the challenges that comes with the DLC, '(GRA) Overkill *':

Kill (20) Animals with any Fat Man or Fat Mines.

The problem is, I don't know what "Animals" means... I've tried shooting my Fat Man at a pack of Geckos. When I checked my challenge I didn't have any progress towards challenge completion (0/20). So then I tried to shoot a mini-nuke from my Fat Man at a pack of Bighorners. When I checked the challenge progress it still said 0/20.

What are considered as "Animals" for this challenge?

Asked by Weezle

Answer

According to Fallout Wiki:

Mutated animals do not count, only regular animals such as ravens, coyotes, and all types of dog, including NCR, Legion, and Fiend dogs.

Answered by Delf

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What can I do with the disassembled weapons shipment?

Question

I found the disassembled weapons shipment near some Fiends and it's valued at almost 5000. The problem is I can't sell it anywhere (it just doesn't show up in the list of items). What am I supposed to do with it?

Asked by Earlz

Answer

This is an objective of the quest How Little We Know.

Answered by LessPop_MoreFizz

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Hated with the Legion early in the game - Do i have to restart?

Question

Entered Nipton, met Vulpes, heard his speech. Decided that he had to die, so had Dynamite and the Cowboy Repeater make quick business of them.

Now I'm Level 6 and vilified with Caesar's Legion, which means that I get randomly stalked by Legion Assassins with exactly 0.00000% chance to survive. Tried planting mined or shooting at their guns, but at Level 6 it's simply not feasible to encounter them.

Do I really have to restart the game? I'm playing on the X360, so sadly no cheat console...

Asked by Michael Stum

Answer

You should be able to salvage this situation.

My suggestion? Get some backup. From Nipton, continue on to Novac ASAP and recruit Boone to watch your back - he'll go a long way to helping you survive Legion Assassins.

If you're still getting roasted every time they manage to catch you, make sure you're fighting smart: Melee weapons are better than guns for overcoming DT in the early game, and armor penetrating ammo, while not common, should be available a few rounds at a time from most vendors. Stick to the roads and watch your back, and follow the main quest as single mindedly as you can. Once you get to the Strip and meet Mr. House, you'll be able to clean your slate with the Legion and go from there.

Answered by LessPop_MoreFizz

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What is the shop glitch in Fallout 3 / New Vegas?

Question

Mentioned in this question: what-are-ammo-boxes-for

I honestly have never heard of this glitch...though I didn't spend much time going through FAQs or anything while I played through Fallout 3.

I debate trying it out when I pickup New Vegas...and am curious as to how one would do it.

Asked by espais

Answer

It's a glitch which allows you to -- under certain circumstances -- purchase weapons or armor from a shopkeeper, then sell them back for more than you paid for them, and to continuously loop that process, thereby giving you anything you want from the shop, as well as all the shopkeeper's caps, essentially for free.

This YouTube video demonstrates it on PC, and I've used it successfully in both Fallout 3 and Fallout New Vegas (already!). By the end of my last Fallout 3 run, I had over six figures in caps. Also, for a guy with less than an hour into New Vegas, I think I'm doing OK financially -- almost 800 caps.

The trick to it is having in your inventory a weapon or piece of clothing/armor which the shopkeeper sells, preferably at a lower repair value. Sell it to him, and commit the transaction. Buy it back and commit. Lather, rinse, repeat. It may take two or three repeats before you start buying it at its original value but selling it as 100% repaired.

Answered by John Rudy

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When should I read skill books in Fallout New Vegas?

Question

I was given a lot of books with skill names with a quest. When do I use them? And are any of them more than just short term perks?

Asked by KnotHeather

Answer

It depends if you talk about skill books or magazines.

Skill Books give you +1 permanent boost and should be used immediately,or you could save them until you get comprehension perk since it will give you additional point increase per book you read.

Skill Magazines give you tempoary +10 skill boost for 1 minute and should be saved in case you run in some trouble and need a higher skill like lock picking high lock,sneaking near crowded areas...Increased by +20 for 2 minutes with comprehension perk.

It is also good idea to have one magazine for every skill in you inventory since with the Voracious Reader perk you can copy Skill Magazines that are already in your inventory at a Workbench.

Answered by Arremer

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Do body armors have any effect on the head? Is it better to use hollow point ammunition when targetting a body-armored enemy's unarmored head?

Question

I'm just wondering if Fallout New Vegas is like Skyrim, where wearing an armor on one body part will protect other body parts (regardless if armor is worn on that body part).

In FNV, do body armors have any effect on the head? Will it be better to use hollow point ammunition (does more damage to unarmored opponents) on an enemy with body armor, but no helmet or head armor or other head apparel when targetting the head?

Asked by galacticninja

Answer

It's been a long time, but if I remember correctly, the armor you have is armor overall, but the Head gets a reduced amount from the armor based on a percentage, and headshots have a multiplier, I believe 2x damage.

So the Armor does help your head, but with a diminished effect. As for Hollowpoint rounds, I think that so long as you can see skin/flesh you're fine.

Answered by Aceofgods

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Both Fallout 3: Game of the Year and Fallout: New Vegas crash when I try to create a new game

Question

I have a problem with Fallout 3 GOTY and with Fallout : New Vegas, both Steam version. Fallout 3 GOTY crashes as soon as I try to create a New game, while Fallout : New Vegas crashes immediately after first video. No other messages than the generic Windows 'Application stops working' dialog.

I have tried many things:

• Check game steam cache
• Re-downloaded the whole game content two times(!)
• Set lowest/highest default settings
• Start in window/full screen mode
• Change different resolutions

I have no mods installed.

My config: AMD X3 720 - XFX ATI HD 4770 - 4 GB RAM - Windows 7 32-bit

UPDATE: I tried also the following things but STILL no result

• Updated drivers to latest 10.10 from ATI/AMD
• Re-installed DirectX
• Set Compatibility Mode to Fallout3.exe and FalloutLauncher.exe both Windows XP SP3 and Windows Vista SP2
• Changed Fallout3.exe and FalloutLauncher.exe to disable Visual Themes, Desktop Composition, DPI settings and Run as Administrator
• Game for Windows LIVE Disabler

more updates

• Disabled all 3rd parties services and aborted most of Windows processes
• Checked GPU BIOS version, is the last

FIRST BOUNTY Bounty ended without a working solution. Bounty points have been assigned to Oak, that suggested to install Windows XP in dual boot. Question remains open, because I would prefer playing it in Windows 7 in the future, if possible.

UPDATE I cannot believe it! I bought Fallout:New Vegas on Steam sales and SAME problem!

Asked by Drake

Answer

Yes, yes, yes! Due to the addition of the Fallout New Vegas issue, I was able to Google that and find this .dll, which proved to be helpful in solving the issue.

Just download the d3d9.dll linked here: Alternate D3D9 Fix for ATI.

Thanks a ton to the author of this .dll. I can confirm that it fixed the problem with both Fallout games and hope it can solve the same problem for other gamers too.

Now I can jump into the Fallout world again.

Answered by Drake

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I have killed all of the Brotherhood of Steel - what now?

Question

in FO:NV, i killed all of the Brotherhood of Steel in the Hidden Valley Bunker. I then went to Deathclaw Promontory and picked up the power armour. I try to wear it and it says i have to have Power Armour Training. I've heard that i can only get the training from the Brotherhood, what are my options?

Thanks

Asked by benhowdle89

Answer

The other remaining option for you to get the Power Armor Training is to do the For Auld Lang Syne quest given to you by Arcade Gannon. He's one of the possible followers and you can find him in the Old Mormon Fort.

To trigger the quest, you'll have to gain his trust or progress far enough or you can follow the quest line for the independent Vegas (Yes Man's quests) you can trigger it without gaining his trust.

Answered by Mavrik

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Is it possible to own a slave?

Question

As the question says, I'd like to know if it's possible to "buy" a slave and use it as companion (even if it's useless).

If not, is there any mod that implements this feature?

Asked by happy_emi

Answer

In Fallout 3 you could have some kind of slave; in New Vegas it isn't possible without mods.

This is the place where you can find the best mods. It changes so keep track since good mods really take a while to be developed. For now these are notable ones:

• Slavery simple
• Slavery expanded (more functionality than the first one)

Answered by Arremer

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Can your companions die?

Question

I've heard of some companions not leveling with the Courier, and being killed as a result. But every time my companions are beaten senseless, they end up merely unconscious.

Can companions die? If so, under what circumstances? Is this a "hardcore mode" thing?

Asked by John Rudy

Answer

Yes it's a hardcore feature, your companions CAN die to the enemies.

Not listed on the wiki but I've confirmed it while playing hardcore.

http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Fallout:_New_Vegas_companions

Answered by Viper_Sb

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Two retail versions of the same game

Question

I own Fallout New Vegas and have just bought the "utimate edition" of the same game.

I want to start playing ultimate edition, and gift the older game to my son. Is that going to give me problems with Steam, and if so, what should I do to avoid them?

Thanks

Asked by Morten

Answer

Strictly speaking, once you've tied the older game to your steam account you can't really give it away through Steam (as I am sure you know).

While I have no knowledge of the extent of Steam integration a retail version of New Vegas possesses, the following article claims that:

Steamworks is implemented in "as light and unobtrusive away possible," and it will be mandatory to play the upcoming Fallout. That said, you can install the game on as many systems as you want, and besides the initial activation, an Internet connection isn't required.

Assuming the above is true, you could install the game on your son's machine, activate it one time using your account and then he should be able to play without needing to connect to steam. Mind you, that just because further authentication isn't required, it doesn't necessarily mean that the game won't try to perform it anyway.

This is all assuming your son has his own machine, of course.

Also, as Juan Manuel pointed out in the comment to your question, sharing your steam games is prohibited as per their terms of service. Seeing how New Vegas simply relies on Steam for DRM and you are talking about retail copies this may not be the same case, but it's something else to consider.

Answered by Aubergine

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Can I store stuff at the Goodsprings Schoolhouse?

Question

It's still a bit early for me to have my own home in New Vegas, but at the same time I don't want to carry everything around all the time -- kind of puts a damper on how much loot you can bring back!

Is it safe to store my loot in the Goodsprings schoolhouse? Will it stay, or will it eventually disappear after x amount of in-game time or x number of save/load cycles?

Asked by John Rudy

Answer

In New Vegas, as in Fallout 3, if a container is marked 'respawn' the contents will be overwritten every 3 in-game days with whatever is the default for the container type. This is why it's generally unwise to leave anything you may want to save in a random container.

However all the containers in the Goodsprings Schoolhouse are not marked as respawning containers, so it should be safe to store any excess loot there.

Answered by Thrillho

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How much time does it take for a shop to restock caps?

Question

I admit that I'm used to Fallout 3, where stores restocked twice a week. In Fallout New Vegas, how long does it take for stores to restock -- particularly on caps? It feels like it's been at least a week since I woke up in Goodsprings, and the Goodsprings stores aren't restocking on the cap front. (Nor on equipment -- I'd settle for decent stuff to trade, to whittle down my inventory.)

How long must I wait?

Asked by John Rudy

Answer

The Vendors restock twice per week on Sunday and Wednesday. 72 and 96 hours respectively.

Answered by LessPop_MoreFizz

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How can I get La Longue Carabine from Corporal Sterling in Fallout NV?

Question

In Fallout New Vegas, I would like to get La Longue Carabine from Corporal Sterling, but am unsure how. I have very low sneak, and it doesn't even appear in his inventory to be stolen, is there any easy way to get this weapon that does not involve angering the NCR?

Asked by Maardvark

Answer

An alternative to killing him is to pickpocket the ammo he carries, then fast travel and come back.

When you return he will have the gun in his inventory available to be stolen.

Answered by JNK

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Where can you find a scoped rifle early on in New Vegas?

Question

This is my second play through of New Vegas and somehow I don't remember where I got the scoped guns I had before from. The only scoped gun I remember is a Guass Rifle which I only got because of the fight with the Brotherhood with Veronica. (which I probably only survived at the time because I had the Pulse Gun)

Where can you find a scoped rifle? Also, I keep checking stores such as Gun Runners but they never have a scope attachment(except for pistol scopes sometimes)

Asked by Earlz

Answer

Chances are you can pick up a (hunting rifle) scope at the 188 Trading Post on your way into Vegas (cheaper than Gun Runners anyway!) - according to the Fallout wikia page, there's not that many places to get one.

If the hunting rifle isn't your cup of tea, the laser rifle scope can be found at a variety of places - Novac, Crimson Caravan's camp, or the Silver Rush in Freeside (to name a few): Laser Rifle scope.

All of these locations are potentially visitable in your early game.

Also, this search result is invaluable if you are looking for scopes for anything that shoots.

Answered by Matthew Iselin

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How can I permanently disable the gore in Fallout New Vegas?

Question

The .ini file line that worked in Fallout 3 doesn't work in New Vegas. Or I should say, it sometimes works temporarily, but the game quickly removes that line from .ini file and the gore returns.

This is clearly possible, because the German version has gore disabled by default.

Asked by Bob Murphy

Answer

One option would be via a Mod. A quick scan of The New Vegas Nexus turns up Gore Tweaks, which promises to remove the more excessive dismemberment.

Alternately, if the .ini works intermittently, make sure you're editing the Steam/steamapps/common/fallout new vegas/Fallout_default.ini - When you launch the game from the launcher, it will reset any other settings to the values from that file. That may not fix it, as it's not a tweak I'm familiar with, but it's certainly worth a shot.

Answered by LessPop_MoreFizz

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Can you remove a weapon attachment?

Question

I recently put a scope on a 9mm pistol, but decided the scope was useless. Is there any way to take it off the gun? I would just find another pistol, but the pistol I have is currently in top condition.

Answer

According to The New Vegas Wiki:

Once a weapon mod is attached to a weapon it can not be removed and remains a permanent feature of that weapon, along with its added attribute. However, this could not always be a good thing. For example while an extended magazine is almost always beneficial, a scope on the other hand has pros and cons. It may increase maximum range, but makes it harder to use in close combat situations.

Sorry, it appears you're out of luck.

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Is there a peaceful solution to Primm?

Question

This may sound odd coming from the psychopath who slaughtered everyone in Fallout 3 and was concerned about whether or not cannibalism counted as food (not to mention what would happen if I engaged in it openly), but I've just restarted New Vegas with the intent of playing a character who never kills humans. I'm told it's possible to win the game this way, though it will be very challenging. (Perhaps moreso since this is the character for whom I chose hardcore mode.)

Is there a way to solve Primm's problems with convicts (and specifically, both get and solve My Kind of Town) without killing any humans?

Answer

Why wouldn't it be? The only spot where you may need to do any fighting at all is getting Beagle out of the hostage situation. But you can lockpick the door in the lobby and find a key on there that lets you sneak past all the convicts. Getting Mayers as a sheriff is dead easy - you just need some Powder Ganger outfit (you can try to steal one at the powder ganger outpost just south of Goodsprings). Otherwise you can pass Science check to repair Slim Primm or Convince Knight at Mojave outpost to send reinforcements. None of those options involve any fighting at all.

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