What folders do I need to save when I do a completely fresh game install?

[Blitzen]

I am still having problems in nearly all maps during campaigns ( see this post,)

and its driving me crazy.I've tried "checking local files " & " uninstall & re-install with Steam but to no avail. I get a screen freeze whether using Mods on or off.I'm now thinking of doing a completely fresh install by wiping the slate clean so to speak, but obviously I'd like to keep all the usual suspects ( controls, records ,mods, missions , campaigns, inputs , items in Graphics like skins & planes etc ,)to put into the brand new Steam re-install.Can someone provide a list of what I shouldn't forget to keep?

 

[JGr2/J5_Baeumer]

Probably by no means a complete list.  I'd wait and see what a few others suggest who have done this, but here is what I recall when I've reinstalled.  Be sure to read through this entirely before starting to uninstall or reinstall!

Right now though, make a copy of the .../data folder and put it on your desktop and rename it backup_data.  

First, and I apologize as I'm sure you likely already know this, but for the benefit of anyone else, it is really important to uninstall the game using a good uninstaller like Revo uninstaller https://www.revouninstaller.com/.  Its imperative that ALL of the game is uninstalled and leaves no shortcuts or remnants.  Its not enough to simply delete the game folder.  Even if you use the "uninstall" function of your operating system, bits and pieces of any program you uninstall remain, in root directories etc.   A quality reinstaller is worth it.  Revo is one of the few apps I've purchased it is so good and easy and gives me confidence I'm deleting deeply in the system but only the things I intend to delete.  I do multiple passes from safest mode and then move deeper and deeper with each pass till I'm confident there is nothing left.  Don't simply start out running an uninstaller at the deepest level.  Get used to how it works first.

Make sure the uninstaller does not try to uninstall/delete your backup copy of the .../data folder on your desktop.  Renaming your copy to backup_data will help but you will need to carefully review the list of files the uninstaller will be wanting to delete, and make sure its not deleted your renamed desktop/backup_data folder!   Uncheck the box next to this folder if it comes up on the list to be deleted.

Also very important is to remember to reboot at least once (I like to do it two or three times) in succession after you are done uninstalling and before you redownload the game to clear out any caches still hanging around etc.

Reinstall the game and then copy/paste your startup.cfg file and start the game and see what else you saved that you might want to start selectively reinstalling.  Important at this point is to reinstall one folder at a time, with the game off.  Restart the game and look around.  Be prepared to remove a folder or file you just reinstalled if something is off.  By only working one folder at a time, if something goes haywire, you know what you changed and can go back one step.  Always copy the new install of a version of a folder or file you are replacing and put it on your desktop for easy reinsertion to undo what you installed.

Here are the list of files I would go after.  Again, I may have forgotten something, but frankly, you have to be prepared to lose something in this process.  I have reinstalled using the files I list below, and been minimally inconvenienced.  If you do lose something regarding your control setup etc, a week or month later it won't matter as you'll have worked through rebuilding that configuration.  The only exception might be a campaign or career you may have been playing, if you don't back up that properly. 

Also please note that I really only fly FC so if there are folders not listed here important only to WWII or TC , my apologies.   I'm also not sure about addon campaigns you purchase etc.  I've listed the campaign folder for instance, which should be where your records for that are stored, but I don't know that for certain.  Of course you will still have access to any content you have purchased when you log in to your account following the reinstall. 
 

To make it easy, just copy to desktop your entire .../data folder to desktop and rename it to backup_data folder. 

 

Below are the folders and files that will be of interest to you after you reinstall the game.  I would reinstall in this order, one at a time.
 

.../data/startup.cfg file contains all your in game settings. You'll definitely not want to overlook this one.

.../data/input/...contents of this folder might come in handy; might have your game setting control mapping

.../data/career folder
.../data/campaign folder
.../data/graphics/planes folder includes custom textures (this is where textures actually seem to live)
.../data/graphics/textures folder unsure what this actually contains but it can't hurt to backup that for possible use if you lose something in this process.
.../data/graphics/skins folder contains your HSD and other sourced custom skins
.../data/graphics/vehicles folder
.../data/tracks/.... contains all your folders of saved tracks.

.../data/flightlogs folder
...screenshots folder if those are important to you.

 

When I've done reinstalls, the startup.cfg and paints folders were all I recall were REALLY important to avoid a lot of hassle with the startup.cfg being the most important.  With HSD its not the end of the world unless you also have skin layer textures that have been added to some of the paints.  e.g. the  
 

 

 

[Blitzen]

Many thanks for this extensive advice!!! I followed it to the letter and simply eliminated ( after saving the whole Steam install. )I tried the “Revoulinstaller” but I couldn’t get it to track down the Steam folder in my E: drive. I haven’t had the chance to check out the new fresh install. I have a feeling my whole problem might stem from some ago conflict with Mods so I’ll go very slowly putting some of them back in.

Thanks again!

[JimTM]

On 1/15/2022 at 11:11 AM, J5_Baeumer said:

...

To make it easy, just copy to desktop your entire .../data folder to desktop and rename it to backup_data folder. 

 

Below are the folders and files that will be of interest to you after you reinstall the game.  I would reinstall in this order, one at a time.
 

.../data/startup.cfg file contains all your in game settings. You'll definitely not want to overlook this one.

.../data/input/...contents of this folder might come in handy; might have your game setting control mapping

.../data/career folder
.../data/campaign folder
.../data/graphics/planes folder includes custom textures (this is where textures actually seem to live)
.../data/graphics/textures folder unsure what this actually contains but it can't hurt to backup that for possible use if you lose something in this process.
.../data/graphics/skins folder contains your HSD and other sourced custom skins
.../data/graphics/vehicles folder
.../data/tracks/.... contains all your folders of saved tracks.

.../data/flightlogs folder
...screenshots folder if those are important to you.

 

When I've done reinstalls, the startup.cfg and paints folders were all I recall were REALLY important to avoid a lot of hassle with the startup.cfg being the most important.  With HSD its not the end of the world unless you also have skin layer textures that have been added to some of the paints.  e.g. the  
 

 

 

 

You could add:

.../data/Missions folder  - For your single player missions

.../data/Template folder - If you use the mission editor and you saved template groups - mine are saved in a subfolder so they are separate from the default templates

 

Edited January 18, 2022 by JimTM

[Blitzen]

I don't use the template folder, but I have got quite a few updated missions to transfer over...thanks!

[JimTM]

You're welcome Blitzen.

[Blitzen]

I think we can marked this case SOLVED!

Of course it did take a drastic operation to save this patient that involved first killing him completely , then slowly bringing him back to life and assembling new & used parts into the new form, but I think we can all find the results worth the procedure, can't we?