Update is 200GB (!), but only 150GB free space is left

[Mik75]

Hi there. 

I haven't updated my install in 3-4 months (many modules are installed), and yesterday, I wanted to update it to the most recent version. My sim SSD has around 157GB of free space left. But the installer tells me, that it is unable to download the update (almost 200GB) due to insufficient space. 

So, what are my options here?

Thx a lot in advance. 

Edited October 14, 2024 by Mik75

[MAXsenna]

Hi there. 
I haven't updated my install in 3-4 months (many modules are installed), and yesterday, I wanted to update it to the most recent version. My sim SSD has around 157GB of free space left. But the installer tells me, that it is unable to download the update (almost 200GB) due to insufficient space. 
So, what are my options here?
Thx a lot in advance. 

Do you have any additional drives? If yes, you can with symlinks through Windows trick move the _download folder to another disk.
If not. Install maps. Update, then install maps one by one.
I have every map and module, and my installation is 900+ GB.
Cheers!

Sent from my SM-A536B using Tapatalk

[rob10]

4 minutes ago, MAXsenna said:

Do you have any additional drives? If yes, you can with symlinks through Windows trick move the _download folder to another disk.
If not. Install maps. Update, then install maps one by one.
I have every map and module, and my installation is 900+ GB.
Cheers!

Sent from my SM-A536B using Tapatalk
 

I think you mean "UNinstall maps", then update and reinstall maps one by one.

[Mik75]

2 minutes ago, MAXsenna said:

Do you have any additional drives? If yes, you can with symlinks through Windows trick move the _download folder to another disk.
If not. Install maps. Update, then install maps one by one.
I have every map and module, and my installation is 900+ GB.
Cheers!

Sent from my SM-A536B using Tapatalk
 

Wow. That's really huge. My install should be half the size I guess. 

My other drive in the PC is equally full with racing sims, only 170GB left. So I guess I'll have to uninstall things that I rarely use and give it another go. 

Thanks a lot for your help. 

[The_Nephilim]

11 minutes ago, Mik75 said:

Hi there. 

I haven't updated my install in 3-4 months (many modules are installed), and yesterday, I wanted to update it to the most recent version. My sim SSD has around 157GB of free space left. But the installer tells me, that it is unable to download the update (almost 200GB) due to insufficient space. 

So, what are my options here?

Thx a lot in advance. 

 

delete some planes or terrains or get a bigger SSD GB wise..

[Mik75]

Just now, The_Nephilim said:

delete some planes or terrains or get a bigger SSD GB wise..

I'll buy a new system next year anyways. So probably, I'll try uninstalling things.

Thx a lot for your input. 

[rob10]

Just now, Mik75 said:

Wow. That's really huge. My install should be half the size I guess. 

My other drive in the PC is equally full with racing sims, only 170GB left. So I guess I'll have to uninstall things that I rarely use and give it another go. 

Thanks a lot for your help. 

The good news is that while it needs 200GB to update, it won't actually take that much more space since it will mostly be replacing existing files.  It will definitely grow, just not that much.  It downloads and unpacks the whole thing before it actually starts replacing old files and deleting the update files which is why it may need 200 GB to update.

[Mik75]

Just now, rob10 said:

The good news is that while it needs 200GB to update, it won't actually take that much more space since it will mostly be replacing existing files.  It will definitely grow, just not that much.  It downloads and unpacks the whole thing before it actually starts replacing old files and deleting the update files which is why it may need 200 GB to update.

Yeah, I've noticed that with previous updates. But this time, it definitely wins the record with 200GB...

[MAXsenna]

I think you mean "UNinstall maps", then update and reinstall maps one by one.

Bloody autocorrect! Yes, you are right!

Sent from my SM-A536B using Tapatalk

[The_Nephilim]

10 minutes ago, Mik75 said:

I'll buy a new system next year anyways. So probably, I'll try uninstalling things.

Thx a lot for your input. 

yes not many options here really. but if you trim what you really dont use it might help until next year.. wish I had a better solution for you.. 

[Mik75]

1 minute ago, The_Nephilim said:

yes not many options here really. but if you trim what you really dont use it might help until next year.. wish I had a better solution for you.. 

Thanks a lot. 

I was really quite shocked. But I guess we can be very happy, that DCS is patching our sim so actively... The prices of good SSDs are pretty low nowadays. But I have only two M.2 slots on my current mainboard. So upgrading is not that easy...

[MAXsenna]

Thanks a lot. 
I was really quite shocked. But I guess we can be very happy, that DCS is patching our sim so actively... The prices of good SSDs are pretty low nowadays. But I have only two M.2 slots on my current mainboard. So upgrading is not that easy...

An option could be a cheap USB M.2 dongle, and clone the second drive to it, and then replace.
It's also very easy to move DCS, as it's sort of portable. Just move it over to the new drive, and run the repair. This should fix the registry, which I believe is only needed for 3rd part apps. And I noticed something when I last did a repair. It did have check box for shortcuts. Can't remember seeing that one before, hence I've never tried it.
Cheers!

Sent from my SM-A536B using Tapatalk

[Mik75]

Just now, MAXsenna said:

An option could be a cheap USB M.2 dongle, and clone the second drive to it, and then replace.
It's also very easy to move DCS, as it's sort of portable. Just move it over to the new drive, and run the repair. This should fix the registry, which I believe is only needed for 3rd part apps. And I noticed something when I last did a repair. It did have check box for shortcuts. Can't remember seeing that one before, hence I've never tried it.
Cheers!

Sent from my SM-A536B using Tapatalk
 

Wow. That sounds very doable. Never heard of USB M.2 dongles. Definitely going to have a look at that option. 

Thx a ton. 

[Mik75]

Hey guys,

 

I've uninstalled the Falklands map, which gave me 85GB of SSD space. I've used this map quite seldomly, so it was the easiest way to gain some space. The update shrunk down to 147GB after the uninstallation, and it's downloading now.

[crazyeddie]

There was a time not long ago when we got very regular smaller downloads - now all we get are HUGE downloads that take hours and you have to delete maps or something to make space for it - this is not the way to do it guys !!

[Rudel_chw]

13 minutes ago, crazyeddie said:

There was a time not long ago when we got very regular smaller downloads - now all we get are HUGE downloads that take hours and you have to delete maps or something to make space for it - this is not the way to do it guys !!

I actually prefer the updates distanced from one another, the current one update per month is ideal in my opinion .. having the game stable for a whole month is really positive for my way of playing the game … having to have a big enough storage drive is a worthwhile tradeoff in my opinion.

[rob10]

1 hour ago, crazyeddie said:

There was a time not long ago when we got very regular smaller downloads - now all we get are HUGE downloads that take hours and you have to delete maps or something to make space for it - this is not the way to do it guys !!

Realize that the big difference in the more recent updates is that the recent ones have had a lot of map updates, and map updates tend to be MUCH bigger than just core/aircraft modules.  I'll be very happy to get back to smaller updates (my internet sucks so these patches are a 24 hour download for me) but I really like what the map updates have done, so I won't say stop doing them.

[crazyeddie]

I appreciate the argument about long periods of stability, but some of us live in very rural areas with poor internet speeds so these huge downloads can take a whole day.  I have decent rig but poor internet so for this one I'm half way through and it will finish some time during the night, I wont be losing any sleep over it but i still preferred the more frequent smaller downloads. 

I had to dump some maps and some aircraft foe the last big one (not a big issue for me) so this time I had to delete all of the saved updates in the core game, that released enough to get this one to download - if it keeps on like this we are going to need 2tb drives just for the game. Personally I use my PC for many other things so I pity guys who cant afford larger drives etc etc. 

[Kanelbolle]

What you can do to avoid the temporary files fill the drive under the update is to make a symlink for the temp folder to a different drive or USB device:

https://forum.dcs.world/topic/181400-guide-how-to-make-dcs-download-updates-on-a-separate-drive/