DCS 2.5 doesn't even try to start

[HarryTheOwlcat]

When I try to launch DCS 2.5, it will momentarily show up in the task manager and then disappear. I have reinstalled the entire game multiple times and done multiple repairs, and I have also modified my saved games folder. Nothing has worked and I can't find anything else with a similar issue. It doesn't create any new folders, and all my drivers are up to date. It doesn't create a log.

 

All of my drivers are up to date, and my GPU (GTX 970m) is DX11/12 compatible.

 

Some specs:

 

Windows 10 Home

Intel Core i7-4710MQ

nvidia GTX 970m

[BIGNEWY]

Hi and welcome to the forum

 

please see my crash guide below

 

basically a cleanup and repair and renaming your dcs folder in saved games.

 

if you still have no joy attach your dcs.log so we can take a look ( guide in my signature below )

 

thanks

Edited March 30, 2018 by BIGNEWY

[BitMaster]

Seems like you are running a laptop.

 

make sure you have supported drivers for Audio and GPU installed.

 

Can you run any other demanding game on that machine ?

 

Running a DxDiag might help

[sslechta]

.....also make sure you are running with Admin rights.

[HarryTheOwlcat]

I've done multiple repairs/cleanups. I've reinstalled 3 times. I've modified the saved games folder. I've also already tried with admin rights. My laptop can run demanding games, it's been running DCS 1.5/2.2 fine and can run games like GTA 5 at max settings. It doesn't create a log when I start it or run from the "Run" inside the DCS install directory. I'll attach a dxdiag.

DxDiag.txt

[BIGNEWY]

Hi

 

please attach your dcs.log

 

I have a guide in my signature.

 

My guess would be your 970m is not being used and dcs is trying to use the Intel® HD Graphics 4600 which is not supported.

 

but to be sure I would need to see the dcs.log

 

thanks

[HarryTheOwlcat]

Hi

 

please attach your dcs.log

 

I have a guide in my signature.

 

My guess would be your 970m is not being used and dcs is trying to use the Intel® HD Graphics 4600 which is not supported.

 

but to be sure I would need to see the dcs.log

 

thanks

 

No, it's not using the integrated graphics, I've made sure to try to start it with my 970m. I've also already said it doesn't create a log or a new folder in Saved Games.

[BIGNEWY]

No, it's not using the integrated graphics, I've made sure to try to start it with my 970m. I've also already said it doesn't create a log or a new folder in Saved Games.

 

If it is not creating a log something is preventing it from starting.

 

Do you use any antivirus or security that maybe preventing it from starting?

 

Also ensure windows is up to date and you have this installed

 

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/download/details.aspx?id=48145

[BitMaster]

Can you launch any other demanding game, either DirectX or OpenGL,Vulkan, whatever ?

 

It really looks like something crucial stops DCS right at the start. Those things are limited.

 

GPU driver

Audio driver

MS Runtimes ( see link from BigNewy)

VirusScanners going nuts

 

those are the 4 highlights

[sslechta]

Firewall open for DCS?

[HarryTheOwlcat]

Can you launch any other demanding game, either DirectX or OpenGL,Vulkan, whatever ?

 

It really looks like something crucial stops DCS right at the start. Those things are limited.

 

GPU driver

Audio driver

MS Runtimes ( see link from BigNewy)

VirusScanners going nuts

 

those are the 4 highlights

 

Yes, these are all up to date. Still no luck. I've added exceptions to firewall too, and antivirus doesn't seem to be doing anything to it. And yes, my laptop can run stuff like GTA 5/War Thunder, even older versions of DCS just fine. Also I already had that redistributable.

[BitMaster]

Damn,

 

redoing it all then just for DCS is rather a "last resort" thing.

 

Still, I have seen lots of Antivirus things in my IT life, deinstall it and try again. There are not many drivers that have such a deep low level access to I/O then filter drivers for scanners.

It doesnt even need to block it completely to error out in many cases, holding it back too long for scanning can cause the issue too ( online signature verification etc.. )

 

Since your issue is rather unique, you need a different approach then " my game stutters".

[Havremonster]

Yes, these are all up to date. Still no luck. I've added exceptions to firewall too, and antivirus doesn't seem to be doing anything to it. And yes, my laptop can run stuff like GTA 5/War Thunder, even older versions of DCS just fine. Also I already had that redistributable.

 

How much free HD space do you have?

[cthulhu68]

No, it's not using the integrated graphics, I've made sure to try to start it with my 970m. I've also already said it doesn't create a log or a new folder in Saved Games.

Its clearly not using your 970m. Find a way to disable onboard graphics and enable 970.

[Wait4It]

My money is on the antivirus as well. If you want to be certain, just deinstall, even if only temporarily.

 

Else...

 

If you open taskmanager whilst starting dcs. Does it show the process or nothing at all?

 

Did you start the executable directly from the game folder in explorer?

 

Do you perhaps have multiple folders with DCS files? Try searching your drive for dcs.exe (believe thats the name)

 

Did you move or rename the folder with Dcs? Check if the registry entry for dcs points to the correct folder.

[HarryTheOwlcat]

My money is on the antivirus as well. If you want to be certain, just deinstall, even if only temporarily.

 

Else...

 

If you open taskmanager whilst starting dcs. Does it show the process or nothing at all?

 

Did you start the executable directly from the game folder in explorer?

 

Do you perhaps have multiple folders with DCS files? Try searching your drive for dcs.exe (believe thats the name)

 

Did you move or rename the folder with Dcs? Check if the registry entry for dcs points to the correct folder.

 

Removing antivirus didn't do anything, also taskmanager shows it peak up to 2gb ram and then suddenly die and go back to 0.1 mb and 0% cpu. It's definitely starting on my 970m.

 

Also, I already tried doing some registry edit to remove my activations, but that stuff hasn't been updated for years and I don't want to screw it all up.

[Wait4It]

Ok, so the process starts, but then terminates for some reason.

That's difficult to troubleshoot without inside information on what it's trying to do.

 

To be honest, the programmers should add some error messages on crash for what has failed. DCS does need some c++ runtimes.

 

You're not having multiple DCS folders and try to launch from an old 1.5 backup or something like that?

 

Can't really think of anything else, sorry.

[Havremonster]

Removing antivirus didn't do anything, also taskmanager shows it peak up to 2gb ram and then suddenly die and go back to 0.1 mb and 0% cpu. It's definitely starting on my 970m.

 

Also, I already tried doing some registry edit to remove my activations, but that stuff hasn't been updated for years and I don't want to screw it all up.

 

I ask again. How much free HD Space do you have? The reason why I ask is that I had the same problem two times, but with other games. I had to have the same free space as the game it self used before it would start.

Edited April 2, 2018 by Havremonster

[SWE-Timberwolf]

You haven’t modifyed any .lua files right? I tried to modify the countries.lua file and after that v.2.5 wolud not start and I had to repair the game. My game did exactly the same thing as you mention above.

[HarryTheOwlcat]

I ask again. How much free HD Space do you have? The reason why I ask is that I had the same problem two times, but with other games. I had to have the same free space as the game it self used before it would start.

 

I had 15gb or so free, and cleared it to 70gb, and the problem is still there.

 

I don't have any lua files modified, I've done a ton of repairs too.

[HarryTheOwlcat]

Okay I've got it to work; I had an old 1.5 install that I ran an update on, it worked just fine. Also tried Steam version of 2.5, it worked but my keys don't work on Steam. I don't know why my original 2.5 install didn't work.