Howdy,
 
My girlfriend was having the same problem on my computer...
 
Assuming your friend knows to use the book on the end table in the corner of the living room of the apartment, but gets the "Save failed" error -- we found that it only saves properly when using my account log in. I'm the ***administrator***; so we figured that to save in this game (we have Windows XP, SP2) you MUST have administrative privelages...
 
Hope that helps.
-Michael

Thanks for the reply
 
Hee hee, he does not know how to save, once he learns how to save we'll see if he gets an error or not.
 
Can you save anywhere in the game at any time in the game, unless he has to use the book in the corner you were talking about, which means he has to be hame or wherever that is.
 
Thanks
Wicked

I'm not sure with Silent Hill 4, but I have played others in the series, and the 'save points' (notepads/journals etc.) are usually placed in specific and strategic points, but can be used infinitely.
 
System might have changed in the latest edition, so I can't be sure though x)

I read on the net somewhere that with SH4 you can save at any point in the game, but I dont have it so I wont know for sure.