Couldn't write autogen.cfg

[temple]

I'm getting this error message all the time.

What I probably did wrong:  I had some files that wouldn't defrag in my C:\Documents and Settings\User\Application Data\Tremulous\base directory.  So I deleted a lot of stuff in that folder because it was like old maps and stuff not in my installation version of the same directory.  I didn't delete everything, but my maps and past demos/screenshots were erased.

Now I'm getting the 'Couldn't write autogen.cfg' error and my screenshots and demos are not saving to my hard drive.   I recreated those directories in the C:\Documents and Settings\User\Application Data\Tremulous\base directory.

Any suggestions?

[temple]

I've reinstalled Tremulous a bunch of times and now I find that I can't record demos when I install the TJW backport of Tremulous.exe in order for GUIDS to work.

Any suggestions?

[The Reverend]

I used to get this error a lot for me it happened when I was changing my CFGs a lot trying to find my best settings.  Check to see if your autogen.cfg file is set to "read only".  Right click on the file click properties check to see is read only is checked.  If it is then uncheck that box.

[The Reverend]

Oh and since you deleted a bunch of stuff in that folder you may have deleted something important to tjw's guid.  All basic trem servers save stuff in your tremulous folder.  Most mods and tjw's save stuff in C:\Documents and Settings\User\Application Data\Tremulous\.

Check to see if you still have these files in that folder:
tjw-vms-872M-3.pk3
qkey
autogen.cfg (if you deleted this just copy and paste from your other trem directory)

[digitalghost1]

I wanted to post to this forum because it's in Google's index for the Tremulous error message couldn't write to autogen.cfg

Got this message after installing Tremulous from the Ubuntu Repositories and even after downloading a .deb file and installing that way.

By running the game as root, the autogen.cfg file was able to create itself.

In Ubuntu you can run nautilus as root by doing an ALT+F2 then type
gksudo nautilus  
Enter your admin password and then if you have a 'short cut' to your Tremulous game on the desk top navigate to your home directory on the root of the File System then your home folder and then your desktop folder - Click Tremulous from there and run it.

Once your in and you change your nickname in the game or any settings and then apply it in the Options > System section it will now write the autogen.cfg without a problem.

Now if you run it once like this you can run it the next time the normal way, you don't have to go through these steps again.

This was the only error I was seeing on my install of Tremulous from the Ubuntu Repositorys (Go into Synaptic and search for 'Tremuous' to install), so this may not cure your problem if you see more errors or you can't even run the game.

I like Windows so this was easiest way for me. I'm sure a Linux Guru is going to laugh at this but I'm new to Linux and found this to be pretty easy. And above all else it worked.

Happy Hunting.  

[Caveman]

By running the game as root, the autogen.cfg file was able to create itself.

NEVER EVER DO THAT.

[next_ghost]

...

Delete autogen.cfg and make sure your C:\Documents and Settings\User\Application Data\Tremulous\base is not read-only. Also make sure its really the first directory searched by Tremulous for files (Tremulous prints the list of searched paths into console on startup).

[benmachine]

NEVER EVER DO THAT.

I've heard this advice before (and followed it) but never the reason why. What's the problem?

[next_ghost]

NEVER EVER DO THAT.

I've heard this advice before (and followed it) but never the reason why. What's the problem?

Root has access to all files on the computer. Program running under root which is not chrooted or something has exactly the same privileges. Now throw in one small security hole and a cracker. Got the point? :evil: