Help! EU3 Complete 3.2 save file crash

[Crispy Wings]

Hello, I'm having this problem that's makes enjoying this game impossible. The problem is that after a certain amount of in-game time of any game starting in the Grand Campign, loading a save game will inevitably resulting a crash to desktop after a couple of in-game days with only a message of "EU3 has encountered an error and must close." For 3 games straight, the in-game time this happens is shortly after the protestant reformation, and a sudden mass die-off of my military generals. Sometimes, loading a previous, slightly older save file will allow me to play, but eventually all saves will crash.

My EU3 Complete verison 3.2 has a check sum of JCSR, which from forum surfing I take is incorrect. Deleting map cache and restarting will result in a random check sum each time. And re-downloading and re-installing via steam after a full delete will result in the same old check sum of JCSR. Immediately valdiating the game after a download will give me the message of "5-7 game files unable to validate and must be re-downloaded" message.

I'm using windows xp service pack 3 and other than crash-to-desktop after a save file load, I have no other trouble playing this game. But this problem makes all my months of playing eventually fruitless and give me a huge sense of wasting of my time. It is very bizzare to find a game with this type of save/load crash but given it's 100% chance of occurance I take it is a bug. Can anyone help?

[Crispy Wings]

The problem turn out to be the infamous colonist bug. I found the help I needed on the paradox's official tech support forum. Thanks everyone who thought out to help.

[LaVacaMorada]

I'm having a similar problem. However, I can't even access the official tech support forums without registering the game, and my key doesn't even fit in the space provided. Can anyone help?

[Mike17032]

I seem to be having the same problem, and it doesn't even matter what save file I open up. I crash on the 3rd day.

Someone have the fix?

[Mike17032]

OK I think I found the answer. You have to open your save file in a text editor (make a copy first!) and delete all occurrences of "colony_construction" in it. But you have to delete more than just that word, you have to take out the entire colony construction entry for EVERY colony (even AI players). If you can't figure it out by looking at it, let me know and I can try and explain more.

Then to make up for the lost colonies, I altered my colonist count back to 5 and maxed my stability as a bonus.

[gamer_x]

I'm having a similar problem. However, I can't even access the official tech support forums without registering the game, and my key doesn't even fit in the space provided. Can anyone help?

You have to register on the field for EU3 COMPLETE if you have that version instead of just EU3.

[LaVacaMorada]

You have to register on the field for EU3 COMPLETE if you have that version instead of just EU3.
Neither EU3 nor EU3 Complete has enough spaces for my CD key.

[gamer_x]

Neither EU3 nor EU3 Complete has enough spaces for my CD key.

I could register mine without any problems. If you have a Steam key like this: aaaaa-bbbbb-ccccc-ddddd-eeeee, you need to enter it like this: aaaa-abbb-bbcc-cccd-dddd-eeee and just skip the very last character. If that is the case, then this hint is probably also written there, just below the fields. In my case they don't show anymore because i've already registered.

[LaVacaMorada]

I could register mine without any problems. If you have a Steam key like this: aaaaa-bbbbb-ccccc-ddddd-eeeee, you need to enter it like this: aaaa-abbb-bbcc-cccd-dddd-eeee and just skip the very last character. If that is the case, then this hint is probably also written there, just below the fields. In my case they don't show anymore because i've already registered.
I already tried that, and it didn't work. I figured out what was wrong, though. Apparently, if I log on to Steam using a Mac, I get a CD key with too many characters, but if I log on using a PC, I get a correct CD key.

Now I have a different problem. When I save games on a PC, I can find them just fine, but I can't find the ones that I save on a Mac. I searched my hard drive and I can't find my saved games. I can't even find a folder called Europa Universalis III, only a shortcut to open the game on Steam.

[gamer_x]

I already tried that, and it didn't work. I figured out what was wrong, though. Apparently, if I log on to Steam using a Mac, I get a CD key with too many characters, but if I log on using a PC, I get a correct CD key.

Now I have a different problem. When I save games on a PC, I can find them just fine, but I can't find the ones that I save on a Mac. I searched my hard drive and I can't find my saved games. I can't even find a folder called Europa Universalis III, only a shortcut to open the game on Steam.

Have you searched hidden files ?

[LaVacaMorada]

I managed to find it. I don't know if it was technically hidden (I'm not very experienced with Macs), but it was somewhere where it didn't come up in a search. Thanks for the help.