Stooner Posted January 20, 2021 Posted January 20, 2021 Hello! Sorry if this has been answered but as of now I haven't found enough info to be confident I'll do it right. I'm preparing to re-install Windows and wondering what I need to do with DCS to keep all my "stuff"? So far I've read that you need to de-activate modules, backup both main (I'm running OB) and saved games folders. Once I've got the new windows up and running I download and install a new copy of DCS OB. Once that's done I over right the folders with my old, backed up folders?
Raisuli Posted January 20, 2021 Posted January 20, 2021 saved games is the big one. I don't think you need to de-activate the modules, but I've heard it's better to log out before you blow the old copy away.
Rudel_chw Posted January 20, 2021 Posted January 20, 2021 (edited) 3 hours ago, Stooner said: I'm preparing to re-install Windows and wondering what I need to do with DCS to keep all my "stuff"? So far I've read that you need to de-activate modules, backup both main (I'm running OB) and saved games folders. Once I've got the new windows up and running I download and install a new copy of DCS OB. Once that's done I over right the folders with my old, backed up folders? 1) No need to deactivate Modules. That was the practice 2 years ago but nowadays ED moved to key-less protection and that gets rid of the whole activation/deactivation mess. 2) Why download a new copy of DCS? ED has provided a wonderful tool: "DCS_Updater.exe Repair", that I wish every large game had. Basically this tool compares your DCS program folder with the official installation, and if any file is missing or altered in any way, it will download a new copy of the file. As the DCS can be quite a large install (mine is 281 GB) it is obviously much faster to do a Repair than to download all the files again AND IT GIVES THE EXACT SAME RESULT. 3) What you do need to backup (and later restore) is your DCS settings folder, located at /Saved Games/DCS/ or /Saved Games/DCS.openbeta/ ... as the Repair tool does not touch it and will not save it for you. Also, backup any Windows shortcuts that you may have to start DCS, to restore them after your Windows re-install. 4) If you are using Off-Line mode, then deactivate that Mode and log-off before reinstalling Windows. Edited January 20, 2021 by Rudel_chw 1 For work: iMac mid-2010 of 27" - Core i7 870 - 6 GB DDR3 1333 MHz - ATI HD5670 - SSD 256 GB - HDD 2 TB - macOS High Sierra For Gaming: 34" Monitor - Ryzen 3600 - 32 GB DDR4 2400 - nVidia RTX2080 - SSD 1.25 TB - HDD 10 TB - Win10 Pro - TM HOTAS Cougar Mobile: iPad Pro 12.9" of 256 GB
Stooner Posted January 20, 2021 Author Posted January 20, 2021 21 minutes ago, Rudel_chw said: 1) No need to deactivate Modules. That was the practice 2 years ago but nowadays ED moved to key-less protection and that gets rid of the whole activation/deactivation mess. 2) Why download a new copy of DCS? ED has provided a wonderful tool: "DCS_Updater.exe Repair", that I wish every large game had. Basically this tool compares your DCS program folder with the official installation, and if any file is missing or altered in any way, it will download a new copy of the file. As the DCS can be quite a large install (mine is 281 GB) it is obviously much faster to do a Repair than to download all the files again AND IT GIVES THE EXACT SAME RESULT. 3) What you do need to backup (and later restore) is your DCS settings folder, located at /Saved Games/DCS/ or /Saved Games/DCS.openbeta/ ... as the Repair tool does not touch it and will not save it for you. Also, backup any Windows shortcuts that you may have to start DCS, to restore them after your Windows re-install. 4) If you are using Off-Line mode, then deactivate that Mode and log-off before reinstalling Windows. Thanks for the info Rudel_chw! So, it sounds like to avoid a complete download/re-install, before I toast windows I copy or move the main folder on the C drive to an external and then "restore" it once I have the new windows up and running (along with the saved games DCS folder). From there I run the updater.exe repair and should be good to go?
Rudel_chw Posted January 20, 2021 Posted January 20, 2021 Yes, that’s correct For work: iMac mid-2010 of 27" - Core i7 870 - 6 GB DDR3 1333 MHz - ATI HD5670 - SSD 256 GB - HDD 2 TB - macOS High Sierra For Gaming: 34" Monitor - Ryzen 3600 - 32 GB DDR4 2400 - nVidia RTX2080 - SSD 1.25 TB - HDD 10 TB - Win10 Pro - TM HOTAS Cougar Mobile: iPad Pro 12.9" of 256 GB
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