Unable to start DCS

So I've been following this game since it was announced and then being awesome as he is, a friend of mine got it for me today. The thing is, I can't get it to start up. I've looked at a lot of the recent "HALP CRASH ON STARTUP" threads, but I can't figure out why my game is being wierd. I start up the game from the desktop, music starts playing, and a window appears, but there is no image in the window, just my desktop. I've seen people say it crashes at that moment, but it just sits there, not working. I just updated my Nvidia drivers, uninstalled the only codecs I could find (DIVx) restarted a few times, though I've not restarted since the DIVx uninstall. Shall I post my system specs?

All ye grommits shall always declare yer manifesto or risk walking the plank. P&B will have nothing of mutiny I say :pirate:

Describing how she floats will also help, savy!?

YARR I Be... uh, Something, I'm more of a submariner than a pirate :P

X2 nVidia 8800GT SLI latest driver

Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 2.66 GhZ

4GB of RAM, (can't remember what type)

Latest DirectX

32 bit Windows Vista

I don't know my motherboard, I'm a bit slow right now but I could probably find out if I wasn't as tired.

Do you have anything in yout error.log or errors.log, in the Temp directory within the blackshark folder?

I do, two of them that are 1 KB each, I'll just post their contents.

Error running Config/autoexec.cfg: cannot open Config/autoexec.cfg: No such file or directory

6/10/2009 18:27 V808201900

and

6/10/2009 18:27

Seeing as it apparently lacks an autoexec.cfg, does that mean I have an incomplete install? I reinstalled once, so could it be a bad download?

No, autexec errors usually turn up when there's a driver problem of some sort.

Do you use any of these:

Microsoft Sidewinder Mouse

Saitek g15 Keyboard

X52 HOTAS

If yes on the first - swap it. It has incompatibilities with DirectInput.

If the last, there's some threads around about some issues that are easy to fix. I have very little experience of that though.

There's uncommonly little in those files though, there's usually more references after an autoexec error.

Will have to think on this one, I woke up too recently to use my brain atm. :(

I have none of the above, which deepens the mystery now. o_o

- Tried to disable SLI mode? Not sure, but I think I spotted someone else having SLI issues at some stage.

- Have you rebooted by now? (After the DiVx uninstall)

- Any more data you can pull related to the crashes in the Event Log; Applications?

I have rebooted since the uninstall.... It COULD be the SLI, but I'm a bit wary of that, what ramifications does that entail? I use this computer 99% of the time anyone is on it, but it isn't really mine, I've just hijacked it :lol: I'd not want to do something that could be harmful if I do it wrong.

Edit: I don't have any extra info on errors and such, I have two other files in my temp folder, "NewInputStart" and "obj_arrays" but those may be irrelevant. My friend suggested to turn off antivirus, and I have, no luck. I tried turning off Xfire, as it works ingame, I thought it may cause something, no luck either.

I searched a bit about SLI - some have problems with SLI in DCS:BS

http://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=647033&postcount=4

http://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=602954&postcount=14

EDIT: http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=42221

Others claim it works just fine: http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=41877&highlight=dcs+sli

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=35815&highlight=sli

I'm no sure whats most correct in your case - but you might want to try to study it just in case it's a factor with your setup. :)

The other files in temp there, I dont think they are relevant.

XFire? Sorry, I dont know it. Someone else may have some info about the effects of it though :)

I checked those links and fiddled with the default nVidia SLI stuff, and saw the link for the EVGA enhancement, I just installed it and I'm about to restart, here's to hoping it works.

Well, poo. I downloaded the enhancement, fiddled with it some more while trying the game at different steps, still nothing. And now it shows a game called "merchants of Brooklyn" with the icon for the DCS launcher. I've never played merchants of brooklyn.... <____________<

Either a patch or Nvidia figuring it out seems like the solution... I'm going to go torpedo something in Silent Hunter now.

Well, Icons shouldnt change for no reason, but they might if some of the below is true:

1. Either you have a virus.

2. You have crosslinked files / bad indexes - run from command prompt: CHKDSK C: /F

If it prompts to dismount / schedule on nect reboot - do so - and reboot.

(But be sure you got rid of any virus first if thats the case).

3. You have a corrupt user profile - need to log in with a new user, test with it - and/or rename your old user profile and relog back with the old user - and retry.

4. Some / all of the above - and need to reinstall the game as well.

5. Some other software made your computer do some weird stuff, but the problem is gone again after the next reboot. (Seen some Diskutils eg. TreeSize Pro do stuff like that).

Do a virus scan from www.antivirus.com (housecall online, free) - and run the disk check.