solved DCS Keeps crashing on me on the loading screen when I start the game.

[ContraStorm]

This started happening to me right after the last patch. I even removed all my mods and also repaired the game, and the game keeps crashing exactly at the same time. I have sent about 20 crash reports already.

[sleighzy]

Drop a DCS log file here after a crash has occurred. Will be C:\Users\username\Saved Games\DCS\Logs\dcs.log   ... may just be a text document named "dcs" if your Windows is hiding file extensions).

Run the Windows DxDiag tool as well, save the report, and drop that here too.

[casserole]

This also happened to me today on 28th december.

The game loads correctly but crashes 10 seconds after the home screen appears, no matter what. I played the day the 2.9.11.4686 was released to try it out and had no crash. Then I didn't play until today, but today I had nothing but crashes. Note that nothing was changed on my PC since the patch. I tried a repair but to no avail.

Here are the log files:

DCS logs.zip

[casserole]

Also, I took out different mods in the "Saved Games - DCS.openbeta - Mods" Folder to no avail either.

[Nicodcs69]

Hi,

I experienced the same issue since yesterday.

At first a otal restart of the pc was enough and i could fly some hours without any problem at all...

And this morning it comes again, the load up seems to be fine i got the menu screen with Irak screensaver, but after 5 seconds or when i try to select a menu option it freeze, and crashes.

I made a repair, a clean up from the launcher, i deleted my mods folder in users,clean my  windows registre, check that windows is updated, delete the Nvidia APP...what else?

 

thanks in advace if you can bring me some appreciated support.

 

cheers 

 

N.

 

here is my log

dcs.log

DxDiag.txt

Edited December 29, 2024 by Nicodcs69

[aceviper]

Rename saved games folder to dcs.old or something.

The game will build a new saved games folder on start.

Mine is a whopping 140 gb. Mainly skins,mods and missions.

If this eliminates the crashes its something in there causing it.

Start  by adding the config folder from the .old folder and go from there.

 

Edited December 29, 2024 by aceviper
*

[Nicodcs69]

Txs for your help,

i did rename my dcs user folder in DCS.old but when i launch the game it prompts me that message : The DCS Options.lua file cannot be found.

Then i did another repair and it rebuilded my dcs folder and i could run it again!!

Now i'm searching the guilty file, not easy to do...

So...i could make a flight in default settings , bind my sticks for the F4...fine...

I decided to upscale a bit the graphics by activating the vertical synch. and full screen...and guess what? 

crash again...new repair new loggin, new launch desactivate the full screen and vertical synchr...guess what, crash again...

Thanks

Edited December 29, 2024 by Nicodcs69

[Saul]

Hello,

I have had permanent crashes since the update.
After many emails with the support, a solution was apparently found.
A big thank you to the support team.

in the bios of my Asus Z690-e in AI-Tweaker XMP set to “Auto” 

At the moment everything is running smoothly, unfortunately my RAM is now only running at 4000mhz, previously 6000mhz.

I hope they are working on it.

Maybe this will help someone

Regards
Saul

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

[aceviper]

21 hours ago, Nicodcs69 said:

Txs for your help,

i did rename my dcs user folder in DCS.old but when i launch the game it prompts me that message : The DCS Options.lua file cannot be found.

Then i did another repair and it rebuilded my dcs folder and i could run it again!!

Now i'm searching the guilty file, not easy to do...

So...i could make a flight in default settings , bind my sticks for the F4...fine...

I decided to upscale a bit the graphics by activating the vertical synch. and full screen...and guess what? 

crash again...new repair new loggin, new launch desactivate the full screen and vertical synchr...guess what, crash again...

Thanks

So enabling vertical sync crashes the game.

Do a clean update of graphics driver.

Or cap your framerate at the monitors refresh rate and leave vertical sync unchecked.

[casserole]

Having time today to investigate these freezes.

Here is what I found so far:

When I rename the DCS.openbeta folder in Saved Games, the game is ok, I can fly any aircraft in instant missions or multiplayer servers. But once I restart the game, with the settings still at default (also V sync is disabled by default), it freezes after 10 seconds no matter what. In the Task Manager one can see the game is suspended. In the Saved Games/DCS.openbeta folder, a launcher.sqlite3 file remains as well as a logbook.db file (probably could not be wiped out due to the instant freeze).

I thought an instant it was hardware or windows 10 related, but how explain the fact that I can play the game with a virgin Saved Game/DCS.openbeta folder then.

Maybe there is a corruption taking place during shutdown.

Again find some more logs and pictures :

 

During the game:

 

After first flight with virgin Saved Games Folder:

 

Task Manager after freeze:

 

Logs after first play with virgin Saved Games Folder.zip After Restart from a virgin Saved Games.zip

Edited December 30, 2024 by casserole

[aceviper]

Preload 150000...you look light on memory!

Half that and try again

Edited December 30, 2024 by aceviper

[sleighzy]

@casserole Definitely drop the preload radius to 60000 as mentioned by @aceviper.

In addition to this because your RAM is only 32Gb you should add a custom page file. Add a custom page with Initial and Max values of 32768. This must be on your fastest SSD, and remove any existing ones (there is a currently a tiny system managed one in use). Click Set, Apply, and restart your PC.

Additional tuning tips from the DCS log analyser:

• Set Preload Radius to max. 60000.
• Set Water to Medium or Low.
• Enable Full Screen mode.
• Consider using TAA instead of MSAA.

Edited December 30, 2024 by sleighzy

[sleighzy]

@casserole The difference between those two logs is significant. The first play after virgin saved games contains no mods, however the restart one does. In addition to this the preload radius goes from 150000 to 90300. Are you sure you aren't doing something between those two actions?

These are all your custom mods that it is trying to use after the restart:

WW2 V1 German Rocket Launcher V1.3,UH-60L,Civil Aircraft Mod,DCS-SRS,VNAO_T45,ESCA-8ECV

Edited December 30, 2024 by sleighzy

[casserole]

Thanks guys for your replies,

Here are some results of my investigations:

First of all, I went back to version 2.9.10.4160, no change. The freeze returned with no mods.

Then I made a fresh install of DCS World, with only the basic layout, no modules, no mods, it showed the build number 2.9.11.4686. No change: The game froze after the second start. Note that on the first start after install the game went well, I could play with the free TF-51 on instant missions and on multiplayer servers as long as I wanted. No stutters no interrupts all marvellously smooth at 100 to 120 FPS. (Same as before all happened). But as soon as I close the game and reenter afterwards, it stops 10 seconds after the homepage with the photo of the Caucasus mountains and the settings options appear. 10 seconds no more, no less. Tried also with windows defender disabled to no avail.

I set the preload radius to +/- 60500 and the other settings of @sleighzy, no change: freeze after the restart.

I even went for a repair of Windows with the Windows ISO by keeping the apps and documents: just the same freeze.

Here is my PC configuration:

Motherboard: MSI X670E Carbon Wifi, CPU: Ryzen 7 7800X3D, DRAM: G.Skill 32GB at CL30 6000MTs Trident Z NEO, Graphic Card: MSI GTX 1080 Ti Gaming 11G.

So that is where I am at the moment.  For good measure I include the DCS log with the basic fresh install, no modules except the free ones and no mods

Logs with a new Saved Games-DCS.zip

Edited December 30, 2024 by casserole

[rob10]

As a good starting point you really need to try bumping your pagefile as sleighzy suggested above.  You're currently 32GB RAM with a 4-5GB pagefile in that latest log so you're likely running out of memory.

[casserole]

@rob10 Ok will try that tomorrow. I am wondering though if that is the case, how come I can play for hours at first start after deleting the DCS folder in Saved Games?

[casserole]

Ok guys,

I think I have found the solution:  Remember that I mentioned the fact that deleting the Saved Games/DCS folder (formerly DCS.openbeta) allowed me to play once, but the second time I started the game it froze. So I started investigating that Saved Games/DCS folder in more detail. I wanted to know which subfolder in that DCS folder caused havoc by deleting one folder at a time until I found that the "ImagesShop" folder was the one that froze the game.

So now everytime, before I play, I have to delete that "ImagesShop" folder which contains the wallpaper images for the homepage as it is regenerated each time it is deleted. Tried it a dozen times now and everytime it works: no more freezes.

At least I can keep all my settings that way. Funny isn't it !

Although I am hoping ED is going to release an update that corrects it.

Edited December 31, 2024 by casserole

[Nicodcs69]

22 hours ago, aceviper said:

So enabling vertical sync crashes the game.

Do a clean update of graphics driver.

Or cap your framerate at the monitors refresh rate and leave vertical sync unchecked.

In fact not...i descovered that even if i don't touch anything the game will freezes at the next launch...

18 hours ago, casserole said:

Having time today to investigate these freezes.

Here is what I found so far:

When I rename the DCS.openbeta folder in Saved Games, the game is ok, I can fly any aircraft in instant missions or multiplayer servers. But once I restart the game, with the settings still at default (also V sync is disabled by default), it freezes after 10 seconds no matter what. In the Task Manager one can see the game is suspended. In the Saved Games/DCS.openbeta folder, a launcher.sqlite3 file remains as well as a logbook.db file (probably could not be wiped out due to the instant freeze).

I thought an instant it was hardware or windows 10 related, but how explain the fact that I can play the game with a virgin Saved Game/DCS.openbeta folder then.

Maybe there is a corruption taking place during shutdown.

Again find some more logs and pictures :

 

During the game:

 

After first flight with virgin Saved Games Folder:

 

Task Manager after freeze:

 

Logs after first play with virgin Saved Games Folder.zip 115.95 kB · 5 downloads After Restart from a virgin Saved Games.zip 8.99 kB · 3 downloads

Casserole, we have exactly the same issue apparently...

7 hours ago, casserole said:

Ok guys,

I think I have found the solution:  Remember that I mentioned the fact that deleting the Saved Games/DCS folder (formerly DCS.openbeta) allowed me to play once, but the second time I started the game it froze. So I started investigating that Saved Games/DCS folder in more detail. I wanted to know which subfolder in that DCS folder caused havoc by deleting one folder at a time until I found that the "ImagesShop" folder was the one that froze the game.

So now everytime, before I play, I have to delete that "ImagesShop" folder which contains the wallpaper images for the homepage as it is regenerated each time it is deleted. Tried it a dozen times now and everytime it works: no more freezes.

At least I can keep all my settings that way. Funny isn't it !

Although I am hoping ED is going to release an update that corrects it.

I will try that "Imageshope" trick at once!! thxs for your investigations!

[Nicodcs69]

15 minutes ago, Nicodcs69 said:

In fact not...i descovered that even if i don't touch anything the game will freezes at the next launch...

Casserole, we have exactly the same issue apparently...

I will try that "Imageshope" trick at once!! thxs for your investigations!

Well, this doesn,t work for me 

[casserole]

@Nicodcs69 Sorry to hear it didn't work for you. If I understand it correctly, the game works great for you too at the first start after a SavedGame/DCS folder delete, but then freezes as well as it cannot find the option.lua. This might suggest that the option.lua folder gets either corrupted or dismissed at the next start. There is an option.lua file in the Saved Games/DCS folder in "Config". Is it that one? Now should it disappear before the next start of the game, maybe you could save it before it disappears and so copy it again in that subfolder before restart. However if it stays in the folder and the game discards it saying it does not find it, it would be interesting to compare the good option.lua file with the discarded one. Hope I get myself understood.

Should this be the case for you, then maybe there is a problem with the checking function of the game at the opening: Me for the Imageshop folder, you for the option.lua file. But it seems to be very isolated which makes me think that maybe we are downloading the software from a corrupted server, or two differently corrupted servers. But this is a very wild guess. It's well over my pay grade.

@rob10 and @sleighzy I increased the pagingfile size as you suggested, but I got screen micro-interruptions (screen went black for a tiny fraction of a second each time) while at automatic management all is smooth and well, but thanks for opening my mind to that possibility.

 

[Shack]

Same as everyone else. Never had crash issues with DCS before. Anyone know about the EDCORE.DLL error I'm getting ?  I disabled my antivirus software as well just in case it's the culprit.

dcs.log-20250101-234804.zip

[sleighzy]

2 hours ago, Shack said:

Same as everyone else. Never had crash issues with DCS before. Anyone know about the EDCORE.DLL error I'm getting ?  I disabled my antivirus software as well just in case it's the culprit.

dcs.log-20250101-234804.zip 5.49 MB · 4 downloads

I've dropped your log into the DCS log analyser which had the below to say. Note, your issue may be unrelated, hard to say as other folk haven't provided crash zips and there is nothing conclusive in theirs.

Bluescreen

• Your system crashes with Bluescreens.
• Remove any overclocking.
• Run SFC and DISM to check your Windows.

Run the below as two seperate commands from a command prompt as administrator:

dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth

sfc /scannow

 

• Try running a slow repair of the game.
• Delete Saved Games\DCS\fxo and metashaders2 and try again.
• Next, delete %LOCALAPPDATA%\TEMP\DCS and try again.
• Next, try renaming Saved Games\DCS to DCS.old and try again.

Additional items (In Windows):

• Disable Game Mode
• Disable Hardware accelerated GPU scheduling
• Disable Core Isolation
• Disable Core Parking

Enable Full Screen mode in DCS.

[sleighzy]

On 1/1/2025 at 4:26 AM, casserole said:

@Nicodcs69 Sorry to hear it didn't work for you. If I understand it correctly, the game works great for you too at the first start after a SavedGame/DCS folder delete, but then freezes as well as it cannot find the option.lua. This might suggest that the option.lua folder gets either corrupted or dismissed at the next start. There is an option.lua file in the Saved Games/DCS folder in "Config". Is it that one? Now should it disappear before the next start of the game, maybe you could save it before it disappears and so copy it again in that subfolder before restart. However if it stays in the folder and the game discards it saying it does not find it, it would be interesting to compare the good option.lua file with the discarded one. Hope I get myself understood.

Should this be the case for you, then maybe there is a problem with the checking function of the game at the opening: Me for the Imageshop folder, you for the option.lua file. But it seems to be very isolated which makes me think that maybe we are downloading the software from a corrupted server, or two differently corrupted servers. But this is a very wild guess. It's well over my pay grade.

@rob10 and @sleighzy I increased the pagingfile size as you suggested, but I got screen micro-interruptions (screen went black for a tiny fraction of a second each time) while at automatic management all is smooth and well, but thanks for opening my mind to that possibility.

 

The increase of the page file definitely shouldn't cause any issues like that. Do you have any crash zip files in the same directory as where you found your logs (named something like "dcs.log-20241211-110598.zip")? Can you attach that here as well.

[casserole]

@sleighzy There is no crash file of that sort in the "Log" folder of DCS (I never had a real crash, only complete freezes or hangs), even when customizing the pagefile size. And as I said above, for me the game works now 100% again as long as I delete that "Imageshop" folder before each start of the game.

Edited January 2 by casserole

[sleighzy]

25 minutes ago, casserole said:

@sleighzy There is no crash file of that sort in the "Log" folder of DCS (I never had a real crash, only complete freezes or hangs), even when customizing the pagefile size. And as I said above, for me the game works now 100% again as long as I delete that "Imageshop" folder before each start of the game.

Yeah this is where using other people's posts and terminology for issues which can feel similar can cloud the water. This post, and your first comments, indicated that you also were getting crashes, not just an app hang. I haven't seen ImagesShop being the cause of a problem before so this must potentially be a symptom of something else.

I'd even try adding an exclusion to your antivirus software for your entire Saved Games\DCS folder. Your logs indicate that your Saved Games is on your P drive? Did you use the correct Windows method for changing the location of that system folder from the default C:\Users\username\Saved Games?

Edit: would likely have larger problems if you'd just moved the saved games without using the exact Windows process for it.

Edited January 2 by sleighzy