DCS Crash To Desktop While VPN Service is On Affects SP and MP

[GeoS72]

After the mid-March (17 Mar), I started to experience a CTD moments before DCS would load into a mission. This affects single player and multiplayer missions. See the attached DCS crash log.

This occurs when using my VPN service; which rhymes with BoardVPN. When VPN is ON, the game would crash during the "Export Start" phase of the loading screen (Single Player or Multiplayer).

Part of the problem rests with a script in my Export.lua file. Specifically, the game crashes to desktop when the Export.lua file tries to run the script: "dofile(wwtlfs.writedir()..'Scripts/wwt/wwtExport.lua')".

That script is for my WinWing/SimAppPro HOTAS setup. When I remark out that line, DCS does not crash, even when the VPN is on.

Other observations:
1. DCS-SRS and DCS-TheWay applications will not work when the VPN service is on. This is true even when the SimAppPro script is disabled. When the VPN is off, then SRS and TheWay applications work as advertised.
2. The VPN software had an update and the same with Windows 11 during this time. All my video and audio drivers are current too.
3. I contacted both VPN provider and WinWing to troubleshoot this problem.
4. DCS would encounter CTD even before the Mar 19 and Mar 26 updates (DCS 2.9.14.8222 and DCS 2.9.14.8394, respectively).
5. Before 17 March, DCS would run normally when my VPN was on or off.

I have 2 workarounds but I would like to find the cause and potentially fix this problem so I may continue to use my VPN service.
1. Remark out the WinWing code in the Export.lua file.
2. Turn off the VPN while playing DCS.

Has anyone else experienced this issue?

dcs.log-20250401-010302.zip

[silverdevil]

7 hours ago, GeoS72 said:

Has anyone else experienced this issue?

hello. there is another post about this. unfortunately whether there is a solution is muddy.

 

[GeoS72]

@silverdevil, thanks for the link. I will read through it and also reference it when dealing with NordVPN reps.

I'd also like to point out that I have split tunneling enabled for the DCS.exe file in the \bin and \bin-mt folders. Split tunneling is also applied to SRS and TheWay too.

Edited April 1 by GeoS72
Added split tunneling note.

[GeoS72]

When I ran my DCS.log file in the ED Discord Log Analyzer, it provided this bit of information in the Errors Tab:

(edCore): setClipboardText + 0x3B3
(edCore): Lua::CheckedLoader::loadFile + 0x4F1
(edCore): Lua::CheckedLoader::tryLoadFile + 0x9
(DCS): SW + 0x59C5F3
(DCS): SW + 0x45AA94

I have no idea what this means.

[sleighzy]

2 hours ago, GeoS72 said:

When I ran my DCS.log file in the ED Discord Log Analyzer, it provided this bit of information in the Errors Tab:

(edCore): setClipboardText + 0x3B3
(edCore): Lua::CheckedLoader::loadFile + 0x4F1
(edCore): Lua::CheckedLoader::tryLoadFile + 0x9
(DCS): SW + 0x59C5F3
(DCS): SW + 0x45AA94

I have no idea what this means.

As silverdevil has already pointed out part of that sounds like the NordVPN issue.

The DCS log analyzer however also said there was a memory issue, not sure if you noticed that in there. (which seems to match part of your log further up that stack trace which was not displayed in the log analyzer). Can you also follow that advice.

Memory Timing Issues

• Remove any overclocking (XMP) from your RAM.

[GeoS72]

@sleighzy,

I removed XMP from my BIOS settings. Thanks for the tip!

I provided a myriad of info to NordVPN and I am waiting for a tech to get back with me. I also had a chat with a WinWing technician. He suspects the port number was closed by the VPN. The port number in particular is 16537. However, that does not explain why SRS and TheWay are also blocked.

Break, break:

Any moderators, you may merge this thread with the thread provided by silverdevil in the 2nd post.