SOLVED - Native OpenXR no longer working (needed to update OpenXR Toolkit to latest version)

[Eclipse]

* EDIT 2/21/2023 - SOLVED - needed to update OpenXR Toolkit to latest version, 1.2.4 *

Hi all, 

After having DCS crash on multiple attempts to host or join a server, I started troubleshooting.  I determined that OpenXR is no longer working, most likely due to the last round of Windows updates that came through over the last couple days. 

**edit** I also updated to the latest Nvidia drivers sometime this week, when they released. 

OpenXR still works with OpenComposite, and SteamVR still works fine, but DCS crashes while loading the mission every time if I use native OpenXR with my shortcut.  I had been using native ever since it was announced, so my shortcut is not the issue.  I also repaired DCS (open beta), I use no mods and have none installed, and I of course restarted my system, to no avail.  After successfully loading into a mission with SteamVR, I tried native OPenXR again, and it crashed.  I then tried OpenComposite and successfully loaded in, then tried native OpenXR again and it crashed.  

I run Windows 11, and I can provide any other information if any is needed.  Good luck, and thanks as always for all the hard work!

Edited February 21, 2023 by Eclipse
solved, detail on resolution

[Mars Exulte]

Obligatory disable auto updates and only update periodically when you're certain it won't break anything. Your computer will not get hacked or killded if you delay an update.

[speed-of-heat]

I am on the latest version of windows 11 and it works fine (both native and open composite)But I can't replicate your problem with my set up and settings.

You might want to add some detail, like which mission is failing or the dcs.log  file or the mission track or your headset or ...  your signature file is likely out of date as i don't think you are really using a GTX 970...

Edited February 18, 2023 by speed-of-heat

[Eclipse]

7 hours ago, Mars Exulte said:

Obligatory disable auto updates and only update periodically when you're certain it won't break anything. Your computer will not get hacked or killded if you delay an update.

If I waited until I was certain it wouldn't break anything, I would never be able to update.  It isn't possible to be certain without having a test system with everything I use duplicated on it, and a lot of time to spend testing, which is obviously not worth it.

5 hours ago, speed-of-heat said:

I am on the latest version of windows 11 and it works fine (both native and open composite)But I can't replicate your problem with my set up and settings.

You might want to add some detail, like which mission is failing or the dcs.log  file or the mission track or your headset or ...  your signature file is likely out of date as i don't think you are really using a GTX 970...

 

Ha!  Yes my signature is out of date, a 2070 Super and an HP Reverb G2 version 2 these days.  I tried more than one mission to rule out the mission being the problem.  I was first trying to host a Liberation mission for a small group, which was crashing.  I then tried one of the multiplayer servers on my favorites list, which also crashed, ruling out the Liberation mission as the problem.  

[speed-of-heat]

3 minutes ago, Eclipse said:

If I waited until I was certain it wouldn't break anything, I would never be able to update.  It isn't possible to be certain without having a test system with everything I use duplicated on it, and a lot of time to spend testing, which is obviously not worth it.

Ha!  Yes my signature is out of date, a 2070 Super and an HP Reverb G2 version 2 these days.  I tried more than one mission to rule out the mission being the problem.  I was first trying to host a Liberation mission for a small group, which was crashing.  I then tried one of the multiplayer servers on my favorites list, which also crashed, ruling out the Liberation mission as the problem.  

adding the logs and the track might help someone, figure out what's going on ...

[Eclipse]

1 minute ago, speed-of-heat said:

adding the logs and the track might help someone, figure out what's going on ...

I can add a log when I'm at my PC, I'm on a tablet at the moment.  Where would I find that?  As for a track file - I don't see how there would be one, since DCS was crashing as I was loading in to a mission, not during it.  I'll check to see if anything was generated and attach it if there is one.

Thanks for the suggestions.  Also, my signature is now no longer years out of date 

[speed-of-heat]

\Saved Games\DCS.openbeta\Logs

[Eclipse]

I've attached the log files and track file generated just now while using the native OpenXR shortcut to load join a server, which crashed during mission load.  

Thanks again

dcs.log DCS-SRS-GameGUI.log DCS-SRS-InGameRadio.log Through_The_Inferno_NTTR_v2.1.6-20230218-100509.trk

[speed-of-heat]

So i get as script error and then, which if i OK through it then hangs but does  not CTD then the mission loads  ... i cant see anything obvious I will try an NTTR mission in case it is that  

 

wait a minute you seem to be loading the HAWK?!!?!  I'd remove all mods ... 

Edited February 18, 2023 by speed-of-heat

[Eclipse]

I do not have any mods, I have never installed any. I always prefer as lean an installation as possible. The only additional tools I use or have ever used are SRS, Tacview, a kneeboard generator tool, and the Liberation campaign generator. No actual DCS mods like aircraft or terrain texture mods. 

[speed-of-heat]

so the track loads, there is  script error, it does not ctd,

[Eclipse]

31 minutes ago, speed-of-heat said:

so the track loads, there is  script error, it does not ctd,

To be more specific, then, while attempting to load a mission the loading screen freezes, then the "DCS has stopped responding" window comes up, and I have to close it.  I've tested with loading a Liberation mission that I am hosting, and at least 3 different multiplayer servers, all with the same result.  SteamVR and OpenComposite work fine, native OpenXR stops responding (crashes).  I had been using native OpenXR for weeks with no issue.  Windows updates and the latest Nvidia drivers were the only changes made.  

Edited February 18, 2023 by Eclipse

[speed-of-heat]

I'm running the latest updates from Windows and the latest nvidia drivers. It does take a godawful time to load but it does load.

[Eclipse]

Usually for me it's less than 30 seconds from the time I click to host or join a server.  Only one of the people I fly with has a significantly longer load time, and fairly often he will crash/freeze/stop responding and have to try a second time, and the second time always works for him.  It's weird.

To rule out it "just taking forever to load" I sat here on another native OpenXR attempt just now and used a stopwatch.  After being frozen for a solid 10 minutes I clicked the mouse a couple times, and as usual I got the "DCS has stopped responding" window and closed DCS.  I then joined the same server using OpenComposite, and it was 32 seconds from hitting the join button to getting to the role selection screen.

Hope all this helps whoever might look into this.  I'll try native again after either a Windows, Nvidia, or DCS Open Beta update.  Until then I'll use OpenComposite.

Thanks for taking the time to try to help!

[Mars Exulte]

5 hours ago, Eclipse said:

If I waited until I was certain it wouldn't break anything, I would never be able to update.  It isn't possible to be certain without having a test system with everything I use duplicated on it, and a lot of time to spend testing, which is obviously not worth it.

 No, that's an unrealistic approach and obviously not what I meant. The way I do it is block auto updates (plenty of utilities available to do so) and monitor the relevant forums. If an update causes problems, it will typically provoke a lot of tears. Doesn't matter if it's Windows, DCS, or GPU drivers. It was just a general advice since you initially mentioned ''Windows updates'' and ''the last few days'' implying you allow it to update whenever it's available, which is, generally speaking, unwise. If you think it's pointless and impossible to do it in a reasonable fashion, can't help you.

[WipeUout]

41 minutes ago, Eclipse said:

I'll try native again after either a Windows, Nvidia, or DCS Open Beta update. 

Have you tried to revert to your previous nvidia driver to see if the problem is still there?  Try to do a clean install using DDU (google "display driver uninstaller").

[Eclipse]

4 hours ago, Mars Exulte said:

... and monitor the relevant forums. 

Yeah, I don't have the time or desire to scour the internet for days every time an update for something releases in case I might catch an issue. I'd rather just deal with an issue if it comes up.

Thanks for trying to help, though. 

4 hours ago, WipeUout said:

Have you tried to revert to your previous nvidia driver to see if the problem is still there?  Try to do a clean install using DDU (google "display driver uninstaller").

I thought earlier about trying a rollback on the driver, but since OpenComposite still works and I see no difference performance-wise I don't know if I will. Thanks for the tip on the utility to use. 

[Mars Exulte]

6 hours ago, Eclipse said:

Yeah, I don't have the time or desire to scour the internet for days every time an update for something releases in case I might catch an issue. I'd rather just deal with an issue if it comes up.

Thanks for trying to help, though. 

 More along the lines of ''don't fix it if it ain't broke'' unless there's specifically something in the update you want. I don't scour anything, I just rarely update without cause. Maybe 1-2 times a year, 3 tops. For example, because of you, I now know not to let Windows or Nvidia update for a while until it's been determined whether or not this is a problem and a follow up patch provided In the meantime my computer continues to run perfectly fine.

[edmuss]

Possible long shot....

You say you've run open composite since running native openxr, have you subsequently reset openxr toolkit to default and the set it up again when switching back to native?

With the native switches active, try setting toolkit to safe mode, starting DCS and resetting options to default from the in-game menu. Close DCS, disable safe mode and fire up DCS again.

[Eclipse]

I do have the OpenXR Toolkit installed, but everything is set to default. I tinkered with a few things but never saw anything improved both visually and in performance, there was always too much of a tradeoff. So I reverted everything back to default and have tried any more tinkering with it since probably 2 updates ago. 

Also, I was able to switch from OpenComposite to native OpenXR before without issue, I didn't have to reset anything. And with this issue, I now launch using OpenComposite without a problem, without resetting anything. 

Maybe I've misunderstood the point of what you suggested, but I don't see how it would apply to my situation. Thanks, though! 

[Tomcat388th]

I have been fighting this for awhile resetting the toolkit helped me for a bit but it started to hang up again in MP hit the fly button and that is as far as i would get. The final fix for me was a slow repair again with removing any extra files box checked..   I backed up my dcs saved games folder and moved it to another folder then deleted the original so DCS could build a new one. For me I believe it vaicom and voice attack getting corrupted with something in my save games folder.  I loaded everything back up and I could repeat my problem. Now I'm just running voice attack along with srs and the open xr toolkit. Everything is running really nice now. All my troubles started after this last update I rarely had a problem  unless it was self-induced.  

[Eclipse]

Your problem is different than mine - I never get to the Fly button. DCS stops responding part of the way through loading the mission.  I'm just glad OpenComposite still works. If I try rolling back the GPU driver or anything else I'll post the result in case it helps anyone else. Likewise if I try native OpenXR after a system or DCS update and find that it works again. 

Glad you got your issue sorted out! 

Edited February 19, 2023 by Eclipse

[edmuss]

Have you actually tried doing what I suggested? As in trigger a complete restore defaults settings from safe mode.

There is some oddity in the interaction between toolkit and the two versions of DCS.exe (openvr and openxr) that causes the toolkit to lock up when loading a mission. Quick and easy test is simply to set toolkit to safe mode or disabled it and see if it loads as expected.

[Eclipse]

On 2/19/2023 at 2:45 PM, edmuss said:

... Quick and easy test is simply to set toolkit to safe mode or disabled it and see if it loads as expected.

I just attempted and it's still no good.  I started DCS with the OpenXR Toolkit in safe mode, reset to default settings in the Toolkit menu, closed DCS, disabled safe mode, restarted DCS and attempted to join a server.  DCS still stopped responding while loading the mission.

Thanks again for trying to help

[edmuss]

Quick sanity check, you do have the latest version of toolkit installed?  I think it's 1.2.4 off the top of my head.  Might be worth while uninstalling and reinstalling it again to make sure that something hasn't been left behind that shouldn't have