Noluck

I had to do a re-install 2.7.x trying to fix the "second mission crash" issue I have been battling, along with many others. I wanted to restore my saved load-outs to my system. Can't find the load-out file(s), even thought this is the first time I've tried to restore them. Older threads had information on them, but I can assume here even experienced people are saying they are now removed? I guess I have to pull up mission editor and start all over again? If you folks find them, or can point to a way to restore previous versions I'd appreciate it. Thanks. ---

[ 05.25.21 : EDIT ] I increased my page file to 32,678, re-booted, re-checked the page file setting in advance system properties and behold, no more crashes. Ran 6 SP Instant Action (IA) and 6 Multiplayer (MP) missions in a row, and not one crash. DCS loads quicker also. Before that, it would crash the second time on every mission load. Worked for me, at least for now. System spec's are in my signature. --- Read through the post, wow! So... here's my input for today anyway. After 2 days of intermittent lockups and crashes running a mission, SP or MP here is what I did this morning. Did everything except a complete deletion and re-install to clean DCS up without having to download the whole thing again, at least for now. This morning I ran DCS again, just to double check... it was still crashing late last night. I figured to just try to run it again. 1) again deleted "../user/<name>/Saved Games/DCS..." 2) run DCS then exit. DCS re-created the above directory 3) run DCS second time, loaded Instant Action(IA)->F/A-18C->Nevada->ready on the ramp (always my 'test' SP) and flew fine, no issues then exit. 4) Then MP->selected a server (one I fly a lot)->F/A=18C and hit FLY. The mission looked like it was done loading, after usual load time the screen was showing "mission load done" and then nothing, it just hung there. Task Manager showed no CPU time for DCS. Killed the process. After seeing what I observed below (13.), I should have waited a lot longer I believe. Too late now. So I start over (I'll try to be brief but I'm a retired OCD sim engineer). Again, all I wanted to do was to make sure the DCS install was as clean and as close to re-install as close as possible. Of note, I mainly fly the Hornet and that's the only AC I tested. My System Spec's: in my signature Current DCS version: 2.7.1.6430 (latest beta as this morning) Current Nvidia Driver version: 466.11 I also use a (R) in a line when I actually run a program, it's an old doc habit that makes it easier for me to see what I RAN program wise. I did also do the "pause" thing as mentioned when exiting any running DCS flights. CLEANUP DCS 1. insure NO mods in the actual ../DCS World/ folders. Only thing I had in there really was a "default.cfg" for the Hornet joystick I made 2. re-named "../user/<your name>/Saved Games/DCS..." to "DCS_Backup" 3. (R) ran "DCS_Updater clean" 4. (R) ran "DCS_Updater repair", I had every box checked 5. (R) reset Nvidia 3D settings to factory default using the "Nvidia desktop control panel" (I thought... why hell not?) 6. once again deleted "../Saved Games/DCS" (I had already re-named it, see above. DON'T delete it until your back it up or re-name!) 7. checked and noticed the "../<your name>/App Data/Local/DCS" folder was still empty (I emptied it last night) 8. (R) run and exit DCS to re-create a new "../Saved Games/DCS..." 9. setup my controls/HOTAS for the F/A-18C by copying my config files (using OvGME) I also copied my HOTAS ..diff.lua files so all I had to was to just load them RUN DCS 10. (R) run DCS. "Options->Controls". HOTAS=test good to go 11. Main Menu->Instant Action->F/A-18C->NTTR->Ready on the ramp, flew fine, exit mission (got 80fps-90!, that's a record for my rig) 12. Main Screen->Multiplayer(MP) 13. now when I went to the MP menu screen, I thought here we go again... while it was performing the usual sever listing update, the menu stopped updating and appeared to be locked up. To note, the default music was playing and mouse were working so I figured DCS was just busy. After about 5 minutes it's still hung, however this time around I took a break and left the room for a while. When I came back, it had finished updating the server list (no spinning arrow). Selected and joined the same mission I have had issues with and after a while finally put me in the cockpit. Flew and all good, exit to main menu 14. Main Menu->Instant Action-F/A->18C->Caucus->Free Flight. Flew and all good, exit to main menu 15. quit DCS RE-RUN DCS I then repeated steps 10 to 13 above. When I was once again at the MP Menu, it was taking a LONG time to update the server list. I did see the mission I wanted to fly, I selected it and waited some more. After some time it came up with FLY and I pressed it. Mission started to load and then the dreaded "DCS has crashed" box appeared. Damn... Must have something to do with finding over 7,000 servers at last check? Maybe try and let the server list completely finish updating like I did last time? Don't think it could be a mod, config or other issue at this point? Just don't know anymore. Wonder if that's an actual bug or something else?, not sure now. Hope this info helps some on here, I thought it was fixed. I'll update later if when I get the time after more test. I'm really done with DCS for now... got things to do today. Cheers, and good luck! ---

QUIT FILLING UP THIS SERIOUS ISSUE WITH THIS BULLCRAP post like this! Common guy's... seriously! I don't have time to scroll though all this BS!. Grow the heck up and contribute something useful. Thank you! Great scott...

Received my order No. 5014 in central Florida US a while back. Just now getting some time to install. Looks like a nice kit. I will re-post edit when I get done. Thanks very much. Cheers... ---

This is a REAL problem. It depends on the display (monitor) setup you have. I have 3 1920x1080 monitors. I use the 1 screen option in the main menu. If I set the screen resolution to 1920x1080 or course I get the actual view on only the center display. At this setting the HUD is tack sharp and look like the real thing. Now if I keep the same 1 screen option and ONLY increase the screen resolution to 5760x1080 to enable the view on all 3 displays, the HUD looks like the OP's, thick and blurry. I have reported this multiple times, for me it is repeatable and very aggravating. Try my setup mentioned above, 3 individual displays (monitors) with the above settings. This is a real issue for some of us with our type of display setup. PLEASE try and duplicate. The HUD does really looks bad folks. I'll try and get some screen captures to share, not at home right now. ---

I suggest that ED writes a function/program to backup *all* user data into an archive that is related to their own modified and personal files for their DCS setup, joystick, controllers etc.. Of course, only official files, config's etc. That way you can re-install your DCS setup by running the 'archive manager'. Sort of like performing a Winblows restore point or user backup. Just a thought. ---

Why is the very off topic post on here? This is a *news* thread...

This would be a great map if it were not for the very POOR light rendering. Can't see the city lights at all like mentioned until you are on top of it. For that large a city the place should be lit up and seen miles away. More importantly, you cannot see the airport's either! That makes trying to VFR an airport impossible, no rotating beacons either. Can't navigate if you can't see it. At least put some simple light points out there, don't need fully detailed '3D' directional runway lights and all. Take a look at Xplane 11, THAT is how it's done folks. ---

Thanks for that NATOPS reference, very much appreciated. Hopefully ED puts this into the manual, or Chucks guide. ---

L-MAV OP's is also broken here after last update. Same steps as I have been doing in the past. Hold Weapon Release Button (WR) down no longer fires the laser like it used to. Use the [Trigger] mode, hold down the trigger then press WR the MAV will lock and launch.

Alex, Glad to see that progress you are making. The design and system is looking great! Meant to ask you a question a while back, curious to where did you get that throttle assembly? Is that an off-the-shelf (COTS) or your own design? Keep up the good work. Sent you a PM. ---

Another F/A-18 cockpit information thread... and another dead end. Sometimes I wish I needed an F-16, plans all over the place. ---

Good thread. I used to design and build F/A-18 simulators for the military and I'm very used to the real thing. Good writeup and job here. I wish I still had that box of switches that were left over from the projects. The TM throttle grips are a joke though. If I can find my real pair of actual Hornet throttle grips I'm going to try and install them. Keep up the good work, I'll be doing mine after a while. ---

I simply mapped the Laser Target Designator/Ranger switch to the TM WH HOTAS Throttle [FLOW R] switch using the default DCS mapping/binding of "LTD/R Switch - ARM" in the Controls Menu. I did not have any luck with the so called "special for joystick" mapping. You can use any 2 postion toggle you would like. The actual switch in the real Hornet is magnetically held in the upper ARM position (after all parameters are set as mentioned before, A/G mode, FLIR mode, etc). All I do to ARM the LTD is to flip that switch up and then down and that will ARM the Laser. The switch function/logic will then go back to the "SAFE position" automatically when the time comes after weapon release, etc. Just repeat flipping that switch up and then down, functionality it will not be an issue. Exact same thing for the [APU-START] switch. ---

Insert foot in mouth... After all these months of DCS, I should have experimented with all view controls. This one escaped me though as I assumed 'View Slow' was View Slow. Very much appreciated, thank you so much! Cheers and kudos from across the pond to you man! ---

I will try again to re-post here, Why are the so called 'View Slow' keys on the number keypad so sensitive? Especially in any pause mode. Just barely tap the key and the view jumps/jerks to another view very quickly sometimes over 90 degrees! Does not in any way slew smoothly, so why is it called 'view slow' then? The standard keypad 8, 6, 2, 4 keys. For us folks that do not have TrackIR or VR yet this is the only thing we have to slew our views. It's VERY hard to control as I use a 4-way hat on my Warthog stick to do this. It's WAY too sensitive! Xplane 11 has great view controls that are very smooth, why not in DCS. Is there a .lua file or something I can change to fix this view sensitivity? I posted this a while back, why is there NO RESPONSE from ED on this? Directly affects my situational awareness. Is there another type of view control/mapping that might work for me? It's almost a game killer on my end. F/A-18C, any map : 2.5.6.52437 : has been like this for quite a while. ---

Same here. You can also over-steer while taking off, veer off the runway and flip... and boom.

Would be no shadow in a hangar I believe? The blue cast is only on the aircraft itself in exterior view. Floor pan's and interior of cockpit should be also darkened. Very strange indeed. I'm going to do some more testing, however something is not right. ---

I did another test, all using NTTR which again is my main training area for now. One image is sitting on the ramp by Instant Action->F/A-18C->NTTR->Ready On The Ramp. Sun is out and behind the aircraft and there is the 'glow' inside the cockpit. You would think the floor pan area would be dark... The other is very early in the morning, the sun has not risen yet, flying in NTTR around 'Area 51'. However, you can see the floor pans and other area's I think again should be dark? Attached also are my current System Settings. Read my signature for system setup. The previous post I made as mentioned was in a darkened hangar, the inside cockpit 'glowed' blueish and so did the external view. I can update my video drivers and try that, why that would make a diff I don't really know. Very strange indeed. Thanks for any help. ---

First, thank you very much for the reply. I'm still training in the Hornet, the only map I currently use is NTTR and all SP/training locally. I do however join a server now and then, that is where those images were taken. I did delete the mentioned folders, fxo and metashaders2 in Saved Games. The issue still occurs. I will do some more testing and get back with you on it. Anything else you can think of, let me know. I really would appreciate any help. ---

Has anyone else been seeing this blueish tinted 'glow' even inside a hangar in a fairly dark cockpit? Floor pans and almost all horizontal surfaces. Also the external F2 view show's the whole Hornet with this strange tint while sitting in a semi-darkened (non-sun lit) hangar. It's actually been occurring for a while for me and prior to the last few updates. Maybe delete the shader folders and re-run? Currently running 2.5.6.54046 ---

That's interesting. I'm fairly new at MP, so I'm not sure what you are asking? It would be interesting that in MP a host setting would affect the F/A-18C's actual displays, it would make no sense, really. As mentioned, the DAY and NGT on the MPCD no longer functions, brightness stay's the same no matter the 'mode'. If you can explain, I will check it further, learn host settings and report back. Best regards ---

Display readability for the DDI's and the MFCD was fixed as far as I know in the latest stable 2.5.6.52437 release. Currently I am running 2.5.6.53756 OB. Very nice, the DDI's look close to the real thing now without all of that finger print greenish layer removed. Contrast now works as mentioned and the displays look great, even the MPCD is upgraded. It was a very welcomed upgrade from previous. Hat's off to the and big thanks to the ED F/A-18C developers for that. However, now I find that nice and improved readability and controls works great in SP training and missions. I logged onto a MP mission and I could hardly read the displays even with brightness and contrast turned all the way up. The displays are very dim and hard to read. Also to mention, the MPCD DAY and NGT rocker no longer functions as in SP. Day and night modes stay the same. SYM sill functions. Going to do some more testing tonight. So, there is definitely a bug or something that changes display brightness and operation between SP and MP? Again, SP and local missions were fine. Here are a few images with SP Nevada->ready on the ramp and airborne, then some images during MP on the ramp and then in the clouds. Again, I barely could read the displays. Images from left to right : 1 ready on the ramp NTTR; 2 In flight NTTR; 3 ready on the ramp MP; 4 in flight during the MP mission. Regards ---

Really do appreciate the comments for those of us just starting out in DCS. However comparing to or saying you need TrackIR or VR does not really help here on the original OP's subject. Believe me I know the difference, so no comparison in this thread is needed. I would, and probably the OP, would love to have TrackIR or equivalent or better yet even VR if I/we had the money. One of these day, look forward to it. Thanks ---

This is a great thread. I'm in the same boat, training and already spent my $ on mods and a WH Stick and Throttle (got lucky on that!) for now. I've been messing around with trying to get 'something' to work until I can afford a head tracker. Seeing the other methods here and being a hacker for life I will try some other options. Thanks for the info. For now, I have mapped the 'spare' 4 way on the WH Stick. The one left of the Sensor Control 4-way, just under the Weapon Release (red) Button : Up = View Up Slow (NUM 8 ) RT = View Right Slow (NUM 6) DN = View Down Slow (NUM 2) LT = View Left Slow (NUM 4) Then added a modifier using the Left Control Key, easier to reach the key while hand is next to the throttle : LCTL + UP = View Zoom In Slow (NUM + key) LCTL + RT = View Center (NUM 5 key) LCTL + DN = View Zoom Out Slow (NUM / key) LCTL + LT = Cockpit View (F1 key) For now this sort of works for me to do the basic panning and looking around. I came from old school sim's, we only had POV 'hats' for the view controls, seems like forever. Far from perfect though. Definitely looking at the other options listed here. The cockpit camera control, never thought about that, thank you. Of NOTE : the so called 'View Slow' keys are REAL JUMPY and difficult to control, especially in a pause mode. A quick press and the view jumps too many degrees making it a real PITA to View 'Slow'. It should be called View 'Jumpy'. Mentioned this several times as a bug, no response from ED. Maybe too few of us use this daily? ---