First aid for a fairly complex installation that has problems

[SKYWARRIOR]

Hi, I am a Mac man and my PC knowledge is building with the use of DCS f18  which I am committed to with 3xDDI screens and all instrument panels from W Wing + Stick. I had an issue with my DDI screen set up which meant re loading Windows 11 and all things associated with it and thence Streamdeck which lead to many of the problems I have above. I got in a muddle with the scripts process and have created two  such folders in DCS plus even worse two User folder now !! I need a tech who is really versed in all of what we deal with to come in and sort out my system and am prepared to pay for the right person but dont want some well meaning tech that has no idea how lua file interact with our software. The PC is totally dedicated to DCS and no other work is on there including bank. finance or sensitive info so its there but not working properly. I can play the game and go Multiplayer so not all is lost but no Streamdeck. SRS, DC Realistic. DDI problems are now sorted and a strict procedure is in place if things are not quite right but if followed strictly all is quite stable in that dept with re-shade working on the DDI screens.

Can you recommend a couple of contacts that might help me please 

[silverdevil]

On 6/5/2025 at 6:56 AM, SKYWARRIOR said:

Hi, I am a Mac man and my PC knowledge is building with the use of DCS f18  which I am committed to with 3xDDI screens and all instrument panels from W Wing + Stick. I had an issue with my DDI screen set up which meant re loading Windows 11 and all things associated with it and thence Streamdeck which lead to many of the problems I have above. I got in a muddle with the scripts process and have created two  such folders in DCS plus even worse two User folder now !! I need a tech who is really versed in all of what we deal with to come in and sort out my system and am prepared to pay for the right person but dont want some well meaning tech that has no idea how lua file interact with our software. The PC is totally dedicated to DCS and no other work is on there including bank. finance or sensitive info so its there but not working properly. I can play the game and go Multiplayer so not all is lost but no Streamdeck. SRS, DC Realistic. DDI problems are now sorted and a strict procedure is in place if things are not quite right but if followed strictly all is quite stable in that dept with re-shade working on the DDI screens.

Can you recommend a couple of contacts that might help me please 

hello. sorry you are having issues. lets first upload your DCS.LOG. that will tell us the real folder locations. then we can whack the rest.

[SKYWARRIOR]

Hi, Thank you so much for your interest in my mess !!

I enclose the log 

Some screen shots of double export folders and some worrying duplications of folders. I hve two users it seems. The correct being 3491 and a second being DAVID BUTT ! 

Also my DCS game drive is D drive and there is not much on it ? There seems to be a lot more than usual on C drive .  I have three TB drives so space is not an issue. 

Are you sure you want to get involved ??? I hope so as I dont have a clue how to solve this lot. Fortunately I can still play on Multiplayer but without the ancillerires listed above and one day if left like this there will be a really bigger mess I suspect.

dcs.log

[silverdevil]

2 hours ago, SKYWARRIOR said:

Hi, Thank you so much for your interest in my mess !!

I enclose the log 

Some screen shots of double export folders and some worrying duplications of folders. I hve two users it seems. The correct being 3491 and a second being DAVID BUTT ! 

Also my DCS game drive is D drive and there is not much on it ? There seems to be a lot more than usual on C drive .  I have three TB drives so space is not an issue. 

Are you sure you want to get involved ??? I hope so as I dont have a clue how to solve this lot. Fortunately I can still play on Multiplayer but without the ancillerires listed above and one day if left like this there will be a really bigger mess I suspect.

hello again. this is your main install folder

2025-06-08 13:13:17.195 INFO    APP (Main): Command line: "C:\Program Files\Eagle Dynamics\DCS World\bin-mt\DCS.exe" --restarted

these 4 lines indicate where your saved games folder for DCS is located.

2025-06-08 13:13:39.680 INFO    DX11BACKEND (14356): DX11ShaderBinaries::loadCache c:/users/db349/saved games/dcs/fxo
2025-06-08 13:13:43.320 INFO    EDCORE (Main): Loaded C:/Users/db349/Saved Games/DCS/Mods/services/DCS-SRS/bin/srs.dll
2025-06-08 13:13:50.873 INFO    APP (Main): Loaded C:\Users\db349\Saved Games\DCS\Scripts\Hooks\DCS-SRS-hook.lua
2025-06-08 13:14:33.546 ALERT   EDCORE (Main): Can't execute Lua file C:\Users\db349\Saved Games\DCS\Scripts\Export.lua - no file 'C:\Users\db349\Saved Games\DCS\Scripts\DCS-ExportScript\ExportScript.lua'

looks like the last line is an LUA that is missing. you could post your export.lua found at C:\Users\db349\Saved Games\DCS\Scripts\Export.lua

PS: you shared the Export screenshot so you do not need to share it again.

Edited Sunday at 06:17 PM by silverdevil

[SKYWARRIOR]

Hi, The fact there is minimum data on my D drive the drive where  I had understood my main game and info was stored concerns me. Should I be right to be concerned ?

I am in Uk so my replies may be a little late or early depending where you are situated. What do you think is the best way forward to fix the malfunctions.

I have one basic question which I hope I do not have to do again and thats re install DCS. Should I have to do so I have many in fact most terrains and thats a lot of download time with my current speed. Hoping fo one GIG in the next month though. 

Question is it possible to download just the game and keep your existing terrain files which then become attached again in the future. Thus negating the long downloading of something you already have ?

[sleighzy]

10 hours ago, SKYWARRIOR said:

Hi, The fact there is minimum data on my D drive the drive where  I had understood my main game and info was stored concerns me. Should I be right to be concerned ?

I am in Uk so my replies may be a little late or early depending where you are situated. What do you think is the best way forward to fix the malfunctions.

I have one basic question which I hope I do not have to do again and thats re install DCS. Should I have to do so I have many in fact most terrains and thats a lot of download time with my current speed. Hoping fo one GIG in the next month though. 

Question is it possible to download just the game and keep your existing terrain files which then become attached again in the future. Thus negating the long downloading of something you already have ?

Mods and scripts don’t go into the main DCS game folder (they go in Saved Games) so you shouldn’t need to download the game all over again. A reinstall doesn’t touch Saved Games\DCS anyway so wouldn’t solve your problem.

You may be better off just renaming Saved Games\DCS to Saved Games\DCS.old (rename and not delete so you can get back your Config\Input folder from within there so you don’t lose your keybindings). DCS will create a new Saved Games\DCS folder, basically getting you back to default state without all the duplicates etc. You can then put the necessary export scripts where they should be.

Based on your log file DCS is running from C:\Program Files so doesn’t appear to be on your D drive anyway.

Edited Monday at 09:04 AM by sleighzy

[SKYWARRIOR]

Hi and thank you for the advice. I have a couple of questions and they may seem naive but its a knowledge thing yet to be mastered or understood.

1. When I rename the Saved games folder as suggested I presume the new one created will have a Config folder. Do I delete that and grab the old one and substitute it or is it not as easy as that. I do have backup of my settings for throttle/stick/ PO2 etc just in case and they reside on yet another TB disc with other items and I unplugged during normal usage so no mistakes !! can be made.

2. Is there any way you could help with a pre prepared file of the relevant export scripts and a tell me where to plant it so at least this is all working. I can then make a copy of this as a back up 

3. C drive is now running the whole thing then all but a few bits and pieces and I presume all terrain maps as well ? It still has some space left but not massive. Is it feasible to move anything to D drive or is that ..........!

I believe most of this muddle was caused by trying to initiate my Stremdeck set up and I got in a mess with the various levels and pathways. A good friend in the USA sent me a copy of his export script folder of course I used only items that did not refer to his setup  but it did not work and he did not understand why either so it must have been placed in the wrong pathway or is this not a feasible way to go. He had one folder with all export scripts. Should I send you a copy of this ?

I thank you for your help here anyway it is much appreciated. A lot of questions from a novice user I am afraid.

Edited Monday at 11:23 AM by SKYWARRIOR
grammar

[SKYWARRIOR]

[sleighzy]

On 6/9/2025 at 9:51 PM, SKYWARRIOR said:

Do I delete that and grab the old one and substitute it or is it not as easy as that.

Sorry on the delayed response, you've probably already got past this point. Yes, is as easy as that.

Can't really help with the scripts side of things, i.e. preparing one for you as my system is different and has a number of different entries. Based on your previous screenshots it looked like you had nested duplicate folders, which can sometimes happen when unzipping folders and then copying them. Just copy them from your renamed backup, but copy from the lower level of those so you don't get the complete nesting. The lines in the screenshot you posted of your exports.lua file gives a good indication of what the folder structure should look like for it to find those.

Yes, you can copy the DCS installation to your D drive, and then just update the shortcut you use to launch DCS to the new location for the exe file and folder path. Alternatively, after you've to the new location you can double-click the <new location>\bin\DCS.exe and within the launcher there is a Repair button. I believe this has an option for fixing up your shortcuts automatically (I haven't tested). 

 

Another thought to save you future time as well; once you get everything working again, before trying Streamdeck again, take a backup of that Scripts folder and exports.lua file. Go back through the Streamdeck setup, and you can always put back that Scripts folder backup and try again if you have problems.

I'd also hang onto that copy of the Config\Input folder, nothing worse than having to redo your bindings all over again should something happen days/weeks/months from now

[SKYWARRIOR]

Hi, Thank you for the replies they are appreciated.  I have not replied straight away because now I have a BIOS problem that has taken the supplier to analyze and re map a number of times without total success. Unless I remove/replace the power plug before boot up it goes to safe mode etc etc . It seems the power supply might be faulty and will be replaced tomorrow. I am learning quickly here !!! The unit is 6 months old and has enough power of processing and storage with graphics that astound.

I have renamed the DCS saved games folder and done that successfully. I can play and DCS Realistic is now working. Despite my attempts SRS, The WAY and Streamdeck fail to work even with new installs and better understanding of the lua placements they still fail, but I will persevere. 

The question as to moving DCS to D drive seems pointless as you can see and probably already know there is not much of it to move IF THIS CORRECT SHOWN IN  THE SHOTS ENCLOSED.  I am astonished at the fatness of my C drive !  Is it full of terrain maps although I cannot see them there and would like to know where they reside anyway as there may be an off load way of storing them ( to be loaded from a holding drive maybe but thats my imagination working overtime here).

So thank you for getting me this far and  any further advice would be welcome but the road ahead looks better now after your helpful intervention.

[silverdevil]

1 hour ago, SKYWARRIOR said:

Hi, Thank you for the replies they are appreciated.

hello. download this and install. run it on all your drives. it will give you a good look at all the folders and their sizes.

https://github.com/windirstat/windirstat/releases/download/release/v2.2.2/WinDirStat-x64.msi

now like i said earlier, c:/users/db349/saved games/dcs is your saved games location. this is where your inputs are. that's the folder you need to make a backup of.

this is where you should be running DCS.exe, C:\Program Files\Eagle Dynamics\DCS World\bin\

the folder bin-mt has been deprecated and will disappear someday.

[SKYWARRIOR]

Hi, Thank you for the information and advice. I am definitely on the way to recovering and getting things sorted. I will do all of the above and report back when I receive my replacement power module which will hopefully fix the BIOS issue which is the last thing needed at this moment. However I have learnt a lot testing that with the makers advice as well.

"Thank you" is a phrase I repeat again.

One day maybe I can also  help others but there is a long way to go for that yet 

[SKYWARRIOR]

So here is the finale :

New power supply fitted which appears to fix the bios start-up problem plus bios flashing as well. Time will tell.

All systems are working including now Streamdeck, SRS, DC Realistic and The Way . Yes I know there is a cartridge but this is  pre flight as far as I can see and its useful to be able to locate a waypoint on the hoof apart from the HMD and Mark point of course.

Finally just enquisitive as to where DCS stores the GIGabytes of terrains that I downloaded as apart from jpegs for the titles I cannot see them yet but your download may solve that as yet to be used 

Thank you again

 

[SKYWARRIOR]

SOLVED WITH GREAT HELPER !  THANK YOU