Do you backup DCS? (Poll & thread)

[Dangerzone]

A couple of months after when I first started getting into DCS I had a corrupt config. I then had to go through my bindings and try and remember what they were. After doing that again, I decided that backing up the Saved Games Configuration folder was a must in future.

Since then I've had to use this a hand full of times, but given the number of modules I now own - I'm extremely grateful that I had problems 'earlier on' when I only had a couple of modules.

Every few months it seems I come across someone who has a problem (reformatted PC without thinking to backup files first, corrupt drive, corrupt install/files, etc) and hear the pain from users that realise they have to 'start over' again with the mapping of their peripherals.

So I'm curious - am I one of the few that actually backup DCS's saved games directory or is this a common occurance. Stories of both regret and relief welcome.

[MAXsenna]

Backup and backup. I have mine on Onedrive, so I guess I can revert files. I've never had my Config corrupt though. Not one file in 6 years.

Sent from my MAR-LX1A using Tapatalk

[Ala13_ManOWar]

I backup saved games only, perhaps a couple settings I made by hand also (they're in the game backup file every patch anyway, two screens setting and so), and that's it. To me, it makes no sense backing up the whole install since it would be the same whole install you can get just reinstalling, I don't use that much mods nor I install the few I use on the main install file but saved games.

Sadly even backing up sometimes controls settings are useless, every time you make a new drivers install, even the very same drivers since years ago (some devices get no more updates, for instance) your device gets a new windows internal id and old backed up controls aren't recognized any more. Still worth the try, in the modern DCS gui you can easily load manually those saved controls (very old ones sometimes don't work) and that problem doesn't happen every time and every module, so…

[Rudel_chw]

7 hours ago, Dangerzone said:

So I'm curious - am I one of the few that actually backup DCS's saved games directory or is this a common occurance.

dont know if it is common or not, but For backup I have moved some DCS folders into OneDrive:

/Config/Input

/Config/Views

/MissionEditor

/Missions

/Liveries

/Kneeboard

/StaticTemplate

/Screenshots 

 

I also backup my user Mods library monthly, by copying it to a Network drive.

 

I also keep backup copies of DCS-related software, like my hotas, it’s profiles, head tracker, and utilities.

I don’t backup the DCS program itself, as a repair is more effective.

Edited October 17, 2022 by Rudel_chw

[Dangerzone]

11 hours ago, Ala13_ManOWar said:

Sadly even backing up sometimes controls settings are useless, every time you make a new drivers install, even the very same drivers since years ago (some devices get no more updates, for instance) your device gets a new windows internal id and old backed up controls aren't recognized any more. Still worth the try, in the modern DCS gui you can easily load manually those saved controls (very old ones sometimes don't work) and that problem doesn't happen every time and every module, so…

Even with this - there are ways I believe to get around having to manually re-do each manually. As you mentioned - choosing to import from file within DCS, or otherwise one thing I have done in the past is renamed the file to the new device ID has worked for me in the past too. (I know the latter is not recommended, but so far it has worked for me OK). And even if it doesn't work - manually importing is still waaay better than doing each one individually again. 

 

Edited October 17, 2022 by Dangerzone

[NahkaSukka]

I bought a new computer over a year ago, backed up my bindings, but they would not work with my new PC. They showed up correctly in the menu, but they just wouldn't work at all. So i had to rebind everything.

[samgau]

every night my computer do a backup 
sundays is a full one the rest is diffenrencial 

[LucShep]

To back up the Saved Games directory is important - all the settings and options (graphics, audio, game, controls, etc) are there, as are your custom missions and add-on mods.
If you have a bunch of modules, it can be a royal PITA to reconfigure all the controls. So, yep, "backup, backup, backup". 

I backup the install directory for particular reasons.
I mostly use DCS 2.56 (and not really the latest versions) which I've widely modified - probably months worth of continuous modifications.
Every version after that (since 2.7 got out) has been worse and worse performance wise, so losing this 2.56 version that I got would probably dictate retiring from DCS.

Edited October 29, 2022 by LucShep

[BitMaster]

#1 No Mercy from any Admin if you don't have a Backup !

#2 Make a Backup while you can !

 

 

[Rudel_chw]

On 10/22/2022 at 4:03 PM, NahkaSukka said:

They showed up correctly in the menu, but they just wouldn't work at all.

 

The Hotas bindings are stored on lua files that have the USB Id on their filename .. if you move them to another PC (or reinstall windows), you need to rename them to use the new USB Id.

Edited November 17, 2022 by Rudel_chw

[MiG21bisFishbedL]

Backing up DCS in its entirety sounds like a great excuse to build a RAID array.

[Dangerzone]

8 hours ago, MiG21bisFishbedL said:

Backing up DCS in its entirety sounds like a great excuse to build a RAID array.

Except RAID isn't a backup - it's a redundancy. 

[Dragon1-1]

Or it (well, RAID0) can be a way to increase contagious HDD space, which you're going to need because of how big DCS is.  

[Rudel_chw]

2 hours ago, Dragon1-1 said:

Or it (well, RAID0) can be a way to increase contagious HDD space, which you're going to need because of how big DCS is.  

It also increases the chance of failure, and DCS needs currently less than 0.5 TB, I’m sure you can easily find single SSD drives able to hold it.

[Dragon1-1]

If you have all the maps, and are making periodic backups, then you'll need a lot of room pretty soon.  Especially with all the upcoming maps.

Yes, RAID0 increases the chance of failure, but it's a minor concern when you have a pair of HDDs used for backup, each being spun up once per backup and otherwise untouched until you need a restore. The primary cause of HDD failure is mechanical wear, not age.

[MAXsenna]

Been running 4x Samsung EVO 840 Pros (512) in stripe since May 2013. Only reason I have the space for DCS. No issues, yet!
Backup doesn't concern me, well, I have an online copy of Saved Games. Windows is running on two identical disks in stripe as well.

Sent from my MAR-LX1A using Tapatalk

[BitMaster]

I used RAID-0 to combine a bunch of 256GB Samsung Pro's to a useful size for games only. If it crashed I wouldn't care with 1Gb/sec DL tbh.

For enterprise use, NO, you just DON'T do that !

 

My backup is a manifold of tiers, several external drives ( detached when not in use ) and 1 daily backup of my OS drive to Acronis Cloud.  Better safe than sorry.

[MiG21bisFishbedL]

On 11/21/2022 at 12:52 AM, Dragon1-1 said:

Or it (well, RAID0) can be a way to increase contagious HDD space, which you're going to need because of how big DCS is.  

Exactly!