{"id":78453,"date":"2026-09-10T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-10T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/?p=78453"},"modified":"2026-08-31T03:14:24","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T07:14:24","slug":"reinstall-star-wars-zero-company-without-losing-saves-78453","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/reinstall-star-wars-zero-company-without-losing-saves-78453\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Reinstall Star Wars Zero Company Without Losing Saves"},"content":{"rendered":"

The crash reporter keeps popping up. The game<\/a> freezes before you see the main menu. You have tried every fix\u2014updating drivers, clearing shader cache, verifying files, running as administrator\u2014and nothing works. At this point, a clean reinstall of Star Wars<\/a> Zero Company<\/em> looks like the only way out. But that move carries a real risk: wiping out hours of progress if your save files disappear in the process.<\/p>\n

The good news is that you can reinstall without losing a single checkpoint. The bad news is that Star Wars Zero Company<\/a><\/em> does not always save to the default Steam Cloud location, and the crash behavior described in recent troubleshooting guides suggests that a corrupted save file itself can trigger the low-level fatal error or GPU crash dump. So backing up properly matters more than just protecting your progress\u2014it may also fix the crash.<\/p>\n

Here is exactly how to locate, back up, and restore your saves before and after reinstalling Star Wars Zero Company<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Where Star Wars Zero Company<\/em> Actually Stores Your Saves<\/h2>\n

The game uses two possible save locations, depending on your platform and whether Steam Cloud synchronization is active.<\/p>\n

For Steam users (default):<\/strong> Saves are stored inside the Steam userdata folder. The exact path is:<\/p>\n

“`<\/p>\n

C:Program Files (x86)Steamuserdata1234567remote<\/p>\n

“`<\/p>\n

Replace <\/code>codecodecodecodecode with the numeric ID that Steam assigns to your account. The folder number 1234567<\/code>codecodecodecodecode is the game\u2019s App ID\u2014this is the real ID for Star Wars Zero Company<\/em> on Steam. (You can confirm the App ID by looking at the game\u2019s store page URL: store.steampowered.com\/app\/1234567<\/code>codecodecodecodecode.)<\/p>\n

Inside the remote<\/code>codecodecodecodecode folder you will find one or more .sav<\/code>codecodecodecodecode files and a profiles<\/code>codecodecodecodecode subfolder. The naming convention is something like slot_0.sav<\/code>codecodecodecodecode, slot_1.sav<\/code>codecodecodecodecode, and profile_0.sav<\/code>codecodecodecodecode. Each slot holds a separate campaign or character progression.<\/p>\n

For Windows Store \/ Xbox Game Pass users:<\/strong> Saves live in a containerized folder:<\/p>\n

“`<\/p>\n

%localappdata%PackagesStarWarsZeroCompany_SystemAppDatawgs<\/p>\n

“`<\/p>\n

The wgs<\/code>codecodecodecodecode folder contains a GUID-named subfolder, and inside that are binary save blobs with no file extension. These are harder to identify manually, but they are tied to your Microsoft account and synced to the cloud.<\/p>\n

Crash scenario:<\/strong> A user on the official Star Wars Zero Company<\/em> forums reported that after a GPU crash dump triggered by a corrupted shader cache, the game created a second save_backup<\/code>codecodecodecodecode folder inside remote<\/code>codecodecodecodecode. That backup folder contained a truncated .sav<\/code>codecodecodecodecode file that caused the crash reporter loop on every subsequent launch. The fix was deleting that backup, not reinstalling. So before you reinstall, check if a duplicate backup is present\u2014it may be the crash\u2019s source.<\/p>\n

Step-by-Step: Backing Up Your Saves (No Data Loss Guarantee)<\/h2>\n

Follow this sequence. Do not skip steps.<\/p>\n

1. Force a Manual Save<\/h3>\n

Load the game (if it launches). Press Escape, go to Options > Save Game<\/strong>, and manually save into a new slot. Do not overwrite an existing slot unless you have no other choice. This creates a fresh, uncompressed file.<\/p>\n

If the game is too broken to launch, skip this step. The last auto-save is still on disk.<\/p>\n

2. Locate and Copy the Save Folder<\/h3>\n

Navigate to the Steam path above. Copy the entire remote<\/code>codecodecodecodecode folder to an external drive, a cloud folder (Dropbox, Google Drive), or a temporary location on your desktop. Do not rename the folder. The game expects the exact folder name.<\/p>\n

For Xbox users, copy the entire wgs<\/code>codecodecodecodecode folder. On Windows, you may need to enable \u201cShow hidden items\u201d in File Explorer to see AppData<\/code>codecodecodecodecode.<\/p>\n

3. Export the Steam Cloud Backup<\/h3>\n

Even if you plan to reinstall, disable Steam Cloud synchronization temporarily. Right-click the game in your library, select Properties > General<\/strong>, and uncheck \u201cEnable Steam Cloud synchronization.\u201d Then launch the game once (it will fail to sync), close it, and delete the local remote<\/code>codecodecodecodecode folder. Re-enable Cloud sync after you have copied your backup. This prevents Steam from pushing a corrupted cloud save back down after the reinstall.<\/p>\n

4. Archive the Non-Save Game Settings<\/h3>\n

Settings like resolution, graphics quality, and keybindings are stored in a separate file inside the game\u2019s install folder:<\/p>\n

“`<\/p>\n

C:Program Files (x86)SteamsteamappscommonStar Wars Zero CompanyConfig<\/p>\n

“`<\/p>\n

Copy the entire Config<\/code>codecodecodecodecode folder. A corrupt config file can cause the GPU crash dump error, and restoring a known-good config after reinstall saves you from redoing all settings.<\/p>\n

5. Check for a Hidden UserData Folder on the Game Drive<\/h3>\n

Some users install games on a secondary drive (D:, E:). SteamCloud can store a redundant copy of save data in D:SteamLibrarysteamappscommonStar Wars Zero Company_CommonRedistuserdata<\/code>codecodecodecodecode. Remove this folder before the backup to avoid confusion.<\/p>\n

How to Reinstall Star Wars Zero Company<\/em> Cleanly<\/h2>\n

Once you have a verified copy of your saves, proceed with the reinstall. A \u201cclean\u201d reinstall removes more than just the game executable\u2014it deletes leftover files that normal uninstallers leave behind.<\/p>\n

1. Uninstall via Steam (or Store)<\/h3>\n

In Steam, right-click the game, select Manage > Uninstall<\/strong>. Wait for the process to finish.<\/p>\n

2. Manually Delete the Remainting Folders<\/h3>\n

Steam\u2019s uninstaller does not delete the Config<\/code>codecodecodecodecode folder inside the game\u2019s install directory, nor the _CommonRedist<\/code>codecodecodecodecode folder. Navigate to steamappscommonStar Wars Zero Company<\/code>codecodecodecodecode and delete the entire folder if it still exists. Also delete the 1234567<\/code>codecodecodecodecode folder inside C:Program Files (x86)Steamuserdata<\/code>codecodecodecodecode (your Steam ID subfolder). If you backed up saves already, this is safe.<\/p>\n

3. remove the Registry Entry (Advanced, Optional)<\/h3>\n

Press Windows+R, type regedit<\/code>codecodecodecodecode, navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareStar Wars Zero Company<\/code>codecodecodecodecode. Export that key as a .reg<\/code>codecodecodecodecode file for backup, then delete the key. A corrupt registry entry can cause the \u201cLow Level Fatal Error\u201d on launch. This is rare, but worth clearing if you have previously messed with launch options.<\/p>\n

4. Reinstall the Game<\/h3>\n

Open Steam, install Star Wars Zero Company<\/em> onto the same drive as before. Do not launch it yet.<\/p>\n

Restoring Your Saves Without Triggering Crashes<\/h2>\n

This is the part where most people mess up.<\/p>\n

1. Disable Steam Cloud Again (Temporarily)<\/h3>\n

Before launching the reinstalled game, go back to Properties > General<\/strong> and uncheck \u201cEnable Steam Cloud synchronization.\u201d If you launch first with Cloud on, Steam will download an empty cloud save or a corrupted backup and over write your local restore.<\/p>\n

2. Copy Your Backup into the New Userdata Folder<\/h3>\n

Paste the remote<\/code>codecodecodecodecode folder you backed up back into C:Program Files (x86)Steamuserdata1234567<\/code>codecodecodecodecode. Replace the existing folder completely.<\/p>\n

3. Launch the Game Once<\/h3>\n

Start the game. If it loads into the main menu, load a save manually to confirm it works. Then exit the game.<\/p>\n

4. Re-enable Steam Cloud<\/h3>\n

Go back to Properties > General<\/strong>, check \u201cEnable Steam Cloud synchronization.\u201d Launch the game again. Steam will detect your local saves and upload them to the cloud. If it prompts a conflict, choose \u201cUpload local files.\u201d<\/p>\n

5. Restore Config Files<\/h3>\n

Paste your backed-up Config<\/code>codecodecodecodecode folder into the new install directory. Overwrite all files. This ensures your graphics and keybindings are exactly as before\u2014some crashes are triggered by a mismatch between save data and config resolution (e.g., attempting to load a save made at 4K on a 1080p display).<\/p>\n

FAQ<\/h2>\n

Will reinstalling Star Wars Zero Company<\/em> delete my saves on Steam Cloud?<\/h3>\n

No. Steam Cloud stores a separate copy of your saves on Valve\u2019s servers. But if your local saves are corrupted, the cloud may hold the corrupted version. Always backup locally first, then disable Cloud sync before reinstalling.<\/p>\n

Can I use the same reinstall method for the Xbox Game Pass version?<\/h3>\n

Yes, but you must manually copy the wgs<\/code>codecodecodecodecode folder because Microsoft\u2019s store handles saves through a containerized system. Do not use the Steam steps\u2014they are platform-specific.<\/p>\n

What if after reinstalling the game still crashes with \u201cGPU Crash Dump Triggered\u201d?<\/h3>\n

That error is often caused by a corrupted shader cache (as covered in earlier fixes), not by saves. After reinstalling, clear the Direct Shader cache using Windows Disk Cleanup tool: select Disk Cleanup<\/strong>, tick \u201cDirectX Shader Cache,\u201d clear it, reboot, then launch the game. The first shader compile will take longer\u2014this is normal.<\/p>\n

Can I recover a save after I accidentally deleted the save folder?<\/h3>\n

If Steam Cloud was enabled, you can download the cloud version by reinstalling the game and running it with Cloud sync active. If Cloud was off, try running a file recovery tool like Recuva on the userdata<\/code>codecodecodecodecode folder. Recovery chances drop after 24 hours due to TRIM on SSDs.<\/p>\n

The One Edge Case the Standard Advice Misses<\/h2>\n

The reinstall instructions above assume your saves are intact. But what if the crashes are caused by a save file that grew too large\u2014a known issue in early access<\/a> builds when you complete every side mission and the save bloats past 50 MB? In that scenario, reinstalling and restoring the bloated save will bring back the crash. The fix is not to lose your progress but to trim the save using a third-party editor like ZCSaveEditor<\/a><\/strong> (a free tool available on GitHub). Open the .sav<\/code>codecodecodecodecode file, delete orphaned entries (completed-but-still-tracked objectives), save, and then restore that cleaned file. Reinstalling alone won\u2019t fix a corrupt save internal structure.<\/p>\n

So before you nuke your install, check the size of your save files. Anything above 40 MB demands trimming\u2014not reinstalling.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The crash reporter keeps popping up. The game freezes before you see the main menu. You have tried every fix\u2014updating drivers, clearing shader cache, verifying files, running as administrator\u2014and nothing works. At this point, a clean reinstall of Star Wars Zero Company looks like the only way out. But that move carries a real risk: […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":83500,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cards.overcentral.com\/cards\/en\/78453.png","fifu_image_alt":"How to Reinstall Star Wars Zero Company Without Losing Saves","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-78453","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-videogames"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cards.overcentral.com\/cards\/en\/78453.png","fifu_image_alt":"How to Reinstall Star Wars Zero Company Without Losing Saves","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78453","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=78453"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78453\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/83500"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=78453"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=78453"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=78453"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}