Losing your hard-earned progress in ARK: Survival Evolved due to a server crash during a transfer is incredibly frustrating. Many players have reported instances where an Ark Server Crashed On Transfer And Deleted Player Data, leading to significant setbacks. While the dread of seeing your character and inventory vanish is real, understanding the potential causes and exploring possible solutions can offer a glimmer of hope. This guide delves into why this issue occurs and what steps you can take to mitigate or even recover from such data loss.
Understanding the “Outgoing Reliable Buffer Overflow” Error in ARK
Although the immediate issue is data loss after a crash, the underlying problem often stems from an error message known as “Outgoing reliable buffer overflow.” This cryptic message points to a core game limitation: ARK caps the amount of RAM allocated to player files. This limitation is hard-coded into the game to prevent individual players from overloading official servers with excessive data.
While this RAM cap is intended to maintain server stability, it can backfire when players accumulate substantial in-game assets. When you attempt to transfer servers, the game needs to load and transfer your player data. If this data exceeds the allocated RAM limit, it can trigger the “Outgoing reliable buffer overflow” error, leading to server crashes and, in the worst cases, the deletion or corruption of player data.
Common Causes of Data Loss During Server Transfer Crashes
Several factors can contribute to your ark server crashed on transfer and deleted player data scenario. Often, it boils down to your player data exceeding the server’s capacity during the transfer process. Here are the most common culprits:
1. Overloaded Character Data: Engrams and Inventory
One primary reason for data overload is having a character with a vast number of learned engrams and a heavily packed inventory. This issue is particularly prevalent among admin players who often unlock hidden engrams and possess admin-only items. The sheer volume of engram data combined with inventory items can push your player file size beyond the RAM limit when transferring.
If you suspect this is the cause, a simple initial step is to use a Mindwipe Tonic. This item resets your engrams, allowing you to selectively relearn them. Additionally, ensure you purge unnecessary items from your inventory before attempting a server transfer. Being mindful of the number of engrams you learn and keeping your inventory lean can prevent this issue.
2. Inventory Overload During Transfer Scenarios
Even if your personal inventory seems manageable, problems can arise when you are interacting with large inventories during a transfer. This can occur in several situations:
- Large-Scale Storage Mods: Mods that expand storage capacity can lead to massive inventories. Attempting to transfer with a character accessing or carrying items from these mods can overload the data transfer.
- High Weight Limit Dinos: Dinosaurs with exceptionally high weight limits, filled to capacity, can also contribute to data overload. Transferring while riding or having such a dino in tow increases the data being processed.
- Slot-Capped Inventories: ARK has a visual limit of showing only 300 items in an inventory at a time. However, the actual inventory can hold far more. If your inventory (or that of a dino you’re interacting with) is slot-capped or close to it, transferring can trigger the error.
Similar to the previous cause, using a Mindwipe Tonic and reducing inventory bloat are crucial first steps. If you use expanded storage mods, consider their impact on transfer stability. Carefully manage the inventories of both your character and any accompanying dinosaurs before initiating a server transfer.
3. Corrupted Player File
Sometimes, the issue isn’t about exceeding data limits but rather about the integrity of your player file itself. Over time, player files in ARK, like any digital data, can become corrupted. This corruption can be exacerbated by server crashes or other in-game anomalies. A corrupted player file can become bloated and unstable, making server transfers problematic and increasing the likelihood of data loss.
If using a Mindwipe Tonic and inventory management doesn’t resolve the issue, file corruption might be the culprit. In unfortunate cases like this, you may need to consider purging your survivor and starting a new character at level 1. While losing progress is disheartening, it might be the only way to resolve persistent transfer issues caused by a corrupted player file.
Recovering Lost Data and Preventing Future Issues
Recovering data lost due to an ark server crash on transfer and deleted player data can be challenging, but not always impossible.
- Server Backups: If you play on a private server, check if the server administrators maintain regular backups. Restoring from a recent backup is often the most effective way to recover lost player data. Contact your server admin immediately to inquire about backup availability.
- Wildcard Support (Limited): For official servers or persistent issues on unofficial servers, reporting the bug to Wildcard support is advisable. While they are aware of the “Outgoing reliable buffer overflow” issue and the hard-coded RAM cap, highlighting the frequency and impact of data loss during transfers can reinforce the need for potential improvements or fixes in future updates. However, direct data recovery from Wildcard support is generally unlikely.
Preventive Measures for Future Transfers:
- Regular Inventory Purges: Periodically clear out unnecessary items from your inventory and storage.
- Mindful Engram Learning: Avoid learning every single engram, especially if you don’t actively use them all.
- Cautious Mod Usage: Be aware of the potential impact of storage-expanding mods on server transfers.
- Pre-Transfer Data Management: Before transferring, ensure your inventory is as light as possible, and avoid transferring with heavily loaded dinos or while accessing large storage inventories.
- Server Stability Awareness: If you frequently experience server instability, data loss during transfers is more likely. Choose stable servers and transfer during off-peak hours if possible.
Experiencing an ark server crash on transfer and deleted player data is a significant setback for any ARK player. By understanding the underlying causes, particularly the “Outgoing reliable buffer overflow” error and its triggers, you can take proactive steps to minimize the risk of data loss and manage your player data effectively. While data recovery isn’t always guaranteed, especially without server backups, preventative measures and awareness of these issues can significantly improve your ARK experience and safeguard your progress.
