IL-2 Newbie Guide - Printable Version

IL-2 Newbie Guide - Printable Version

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IL-2 Newbie Guide - Fireskull - 07.08.2010

IL-2 Sturmovik 1946 combat flight simulation - Basic Guide

Anyone who needs the path from stock IL-2 Sturmovik 1946 to installing a mod pack to the information for optimizing IL-2 for best image and smooth operation...

IL-2 Newbie Guide

I will send you in the right direction. Smile

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The first stage is downloading and installing IL-2 Sturmovik 1946 and all the stock IL-2 patches. Remember to point the patches at the main IL-2 folder. Further instructions are here:
IL-2 Patch Central - Both individual patches and all in one download are available.
viewtopic.php?f=96&t=31580

Important: Choose how far you patch IL-2 Sturmovik 1946 by what your goals are. For adding mods, you would patch IL-2 according to the requirements of the modding system which you want to use. For example, each mod pack needs IL-2 to be patched to a certain level.

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A BUNCH OF USEFUL INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR IL-2 MODDING...

IL-2 related downloads - Every download that has to do with IL-2, including graphics card drivers for example, needs to be handled correctly to ensure that it works well. On occassion, an IL-2 user will think that something is wrong with IL-2 or the hardware when it was actually a corrupt download which they installed.

Handling any download, including graphics related:

1) Read the instructions in the website thread where you got the download links.

2) Download the file or folder while you read the instructions.

3) After the download is complete, scan the download against malware before you open it.

4) Open the download in a program which can test it for corrupt files, using a program such as WinRar, or make a hash count using a program which can do that to make sure of no corruption of files. Some of these programs which can test for corrupt files are free or have a free trial period, such as WinRar. Many hash count programs are also free.

5) Examin the READ-ME file from the download for further instructions.

Online Squadrons
Missions, campaigns, and HyperLobby (program is free) joint operations are enjoyed by thousands of pilots in hundreds, if not thousands, of IL-2 online squadrons. The missions can be public or private with several squadrons in combat at a time. They fly fighters, bombers, and fighter/bombers. Many of them join with or against several other squadrons in live combat with upto 60, 90, or 120 pilots fighting online at the same time!

I personally have flown in HyperLobby missions with over 50 live pilots and in private servers with near 90 pilots. Wow! Let me tell you, it feels like a real war with that many live pilots.

Computer performance for online IL-2 is almost always good and often better than flying in offline missions.

Online squadrons can give you the one on one help that you need for any technical questions. They'll get you set to fly in online combat!

Many squadrons use a program called TeamSpeak (program is free) to talk as a squadron through the computers. It is similar to real cockpit radio when the squadmates use combat radio protocol. Most squadrons do not require you to use TeamSpeak, but it is nice.

TIP: The squadron which you join will likely enjoy a mod pack. Get the mod pack which they use.

Community Generated Squadron List
Here is where we keep a list of many online squadrons. Each name is a link to a squadron website.
viewtopic.php?f=107&t=24405

Important advice: I strongly urge all IL-2 users to have at least two copies of IL-2, perhaps three.

Online, "untouched" copy of IL-2 and a separate copy of IL-2 for collecting mods is what I highly recommend.

What version of IL-2 to get...
I recommend getting both the digital download version of IL-2 Sturmovik 1946 and also ordering the DVD version. That way you will have a physical backup in the form of the DVD. I have them both. My digital download version of IL-2 was from Direct2Drive, but there are other companies who sell it such as Ubisoft. Go with a major online company to be on the safe side.

Ubisoft: (See Game Info and Downloads) http://www.ubi.com/US/Games/Info.aspx?p ... ad&dcId=63

Direct2Drive / GameFly: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=33192
http://www.direct2drive.com/staticpage. ... transition

The STEAM and XFire versions of IL-2 Sturmovik 1946 are easy to get but are difficult to setup for modding if you are new to this.

Disk versions are inexpensive from sources such as Amazon. (Be sure to get the 1946 version.)

Stock Installation... Install IL-2 Sturmovik 1946 from the DVD or the download version (such as Direct2Drive IL-2 Sturmovik 1946 4.08 or Ubisoft IL-2 Sturmovik 1946 4.08) outside Program Files. My IL-2 was made a major folder in the same line as Windows, Users, PerfLogs, or any other of the largest folders. Your IL-2 will run better and you will not get conflicts which are typical of having IL-2 in Program Files. Some programs used by IL-2 mod fans are best installed outside Program Files, as well. Make copies of stock IL-2 and every download.

Caution: Use the installer/uninstaller to remove a any program, particulary in Program Files, and do not delete the program folder or files to remove it. Deleting a program or file part of it in Program Files may not allow you to reinstall the program. Use the installer/uninstaller in this situation.

IMPORTANT: The patches (add-ons) must be installed in the order indicated by these instructions. If something goes wrong, then you probably should restart the installing of patches. Having copies of each download part will save you much time from a need to redownload patches. If you get a loading error of IL-2, then you either have corrupt files which should have been tested before intalling them, or you missed a step in the process, such as installing things in the wrong order. I give you the step by step order of intallation here.

Install IL-2 Sturmovik 1946 into an operating system Administrator User Account or run it as an administrator in a Standard User Account.

Install IL-2 Sturmovik 1946 outside Program Files. You should do this first. If you already have IL-2 Sturmovik 1946 installed in Program Files, then you can make a copy of it to your disk drive. The copy will run and you can fly in it. The copy of IL-2 can have a shortcut if you make one from the IL2.exe file in the main directory of IL-2 files and folders. (Right click IL2.exe to open the window with shortcut option in its list) You should change the name of the main IL-2 folder to describe what it is for the future: Example: "IL-2 1946 with HSFX 6.0" (or Histomod, UP, and so forth) The settings in the original installation of IL-2 will transfer and be in the copy of IL-2. Some people have it in their main drive, a partition made by them, or in an external drive. IL-2 runs fine in any of these. For example, copy to C: Drive and make it a major folder in that drive. Did you know that a disk partition is considered a folder? You can point the installer at the partition or you can copy IL-2 in another location direct to the disk. It can be made a major folder in the way that Windows and Users are. You might need to run IL-2 in Compatibility Mode for Windows XP Service Pack 2 if you have an operating system later than Windows XP. See the thread called IL-2 Patch Central for more detailed explanations: viewtopic.php?f=96&t=31580

If you want to add mods or a mod pack to your IL-2, then this is the course of action:

IL-2 Sturmovik 1946 4.07m DVD: (In this order...)
IL-2 Sturmovik 1946 4.07m DVD + 4.08m add-on patch + 4.09m add-on patch + other patches added in order if you need them + mod pack of your choice + future add-ons of that mod pack + other mods that are compatible with that mod pack

-------------------------OR-----------------------------------

IL-2 Sturmovik 1946 4.08m digital download version: (In this order...)
IL-2 Sturmovik 1946 4.08m digital download version + special patch for digital download version 4.08m to be able to add mods with no conflict + 4.09m + other patches added in order if you need them + mod pack of your choice + mod pack add-ons + mods which are compatible with your mod pack

Important: You may add mods without using a mod pack, but you will need to get information from the creator of the mod as to what patched version of IL-2 is needed.

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Patch for the Digital Download version of IL-2 Sturmovik 1946 4.08m
(It is not needed for the DVD version of IL-2)

Only IL-2 users who have the digital download version of IL-2 Sturmovik 1946 4.08m will need this patch to add mods, which will ensure that every mod functions. (I wrote this to be sure that it is clear in your mind)

IMPORTANT: The Patch for the digital download version is installed into the digital download of IL-2 Sturmovik 1946 4.08m before you add anything else.

Digital Download 4.08m Special Patch - For the Digital Download (Direct2Drive and other download sources of IL-2 Sturmovik 1946)

Install the following patch right into your digital download version of IL-2 Sturmovik 1946 4.08m. Aim the installer at the main IL-2 folder.

You can get it here:

Direct Link to the special patch for the digital download 1946:
http://www.mediafire.com/?sx1y4s0bb5edkas

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IL-2 Patch Central - 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.101, 4.11, 4.11.1

Links to downloads of all the important patches that one might need:
viewtopic.php?f=29&t=31580&p=351302#p351302

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4.08m Required The patch called 4.08m (installs into IL-2 Sturmovik 4.07m DVD version) is needed for all mods. (An alternative is to get the digital download version called IL-2 Sturmovik 1946 4.08m and add the patch for the digital download IL-2 which is given before this. Direct2Drive is a popular website for getting IL-2 Sturmovik 1946 4.08m. I do not recommend the STEAM or the XFire versions of IL-2 as a base for adding mods, as far as the beginner is concerned.)

CAUTION: This is an official IL-2 Sturmovik 1946 4.08m patch which is needed for all mods. Do not confuse this official 4.08m patch with the special patch for digital download version of 4.08m.

4.08m patch - Point the installing at the main IL-2 Sturmovik 1946 folder... If asked to overwrite, say Yes To ALL
http://patches.ubi.com/il2_1946/il2_1946_408m.exe ( Some versions of IL-2 come with 4.08, making the 4.08 patch not needed. )

(...Then...For digital download versions of IL-2 Sturmovik 1946, the special patch for digital download versions would come next, right now - not needed for the DVD version of IL-2.)

All Other Patches As you need them for mods or online combat, intall all the other patches in order. See the IL-2 Patch Cental thread for links and important options for patching.

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Adding Mods... - Having patched to the required stock IL-2 patch for the mods which you want, you would go to the mod stage here.

CAUTION: Different Major Mod Packs generally can not be mixed and matched. Stand alone mods sometimes are only compatible with a certain patch of IL-2. In both cases, check with the creators of the mods for compatibility.

Here is a list of most of the major mod packs and add-ons...

HSFX 7.0 Mod Pack

Download and Instructions Thread:
http://www.242sqn.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3770

(Note: Stock IL-2 Sturmovik 1946 V4.08 must be patched to the correct version of IL-2 which is compatible with HSFX 7.0 before the mod pack is installed into it.)

Newest Version - A large mod pack designed for online but great for offline too. World War II is the main focus of ever expanding HSFX. Most mods ever made for IL-2 Sturmovik 1946 V 4.08 or later may be successfully added to this mod pack, if not already included in the mod pack. See the HSFX Forum for more detailed information on how to add mods to HSFX here: viewforum.php?f=106

Warning: Do not mix and match different versions of a mod pack or different mod packs if you want to have everything working correctly and your mods not overwritten by another installation.

HSFX, beginning with 4.1 and later versions, combines the mods of the Unified Installer 1.1, 1.2, and beta 1.2.5 of All Aircraft Arcade website (no longer exists), HSFX of the 242nd squad, and much content of modders from Special Aircraft Service, UltraPack, and other modders. This includes many mod aircraft, sounds, effects, maps, and much more - really a lot of mod work. Hundreds of modders gave many thousands of hours of mod work to contribute to this. The flight models of aircraft included in HSFX which so many appreciated are continued in the latest mod pack. I'm sure that you will enjoy it.

The JSGME Mods Enabler has an interface where you see what mods are available, active, or not active. You may activate or deactivate mods this way.

HSFX 6.0

Our Forum:
viewtopic.php?f=106&t=33680
viewforum.php?f=106
Direct Support:
http://www.242sqn.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3179

HSFX 6.0.1 "Bug-fix" Patch
viewtopic.php?f=106&t=33751&p=365015#p365015

HSFX Auto Updater Patch
viewtopic.php?f=106&t=33801

HistoMod For All Users: Getting your game Running with HistoMod
A popular mod pack with high quality. The HistoMod team features quality instead of the largest size, but growing steadily with a lot of features. It is beautiful.
viewtopic.php?f=171&t=33668

Note: If you do not have the pre-release version, then ignore the instructions about handling the pre-release version with the new version. In other words, if this is the situation for you then yours is a fresh install and you will simply go through the downloading and installation.

viewtopic.php?f=171&t=33668

Free IL2 Modding Forum They are focused on expanding IL-2 modding into new areas with their mods, really leading edge in many respects.

Our forum: viewforum.php?f=189

UltraPack
UP 3.0 RC4 - A very large mod pack with a convenient system for managing mods. There is a way to use it for online flying. Automatic update insures that the user quickly gets things which are released. If size matters, then this mod pack might be for you. The pack has quality, too.

Our forum: viewforum.php?f=71
UP: http://ultrapack.il2war.com/index.php

All of these have been used by many people and I feel that you could enjoy any one of them.

IL-2 Guide My IL-2 and computer guide is very useful to prepare your computer, get ready for a mod pack, and make IL-2 look good and run smooth.

IL-2 Guide for Computers, Benchmarking, Optimizing, Tweaking
viewtopic.php?f=30&t=22314

Tweaking IL-2 After you get the basics in place, then take a look at Sticky topics at the top of the IL-2 Technical Help and PC Technical Help forums. I highly recommend the topics below:

A)... ATI owners might need Catalyst 10.7 or 10.9 which is reported by IL-2 fans to fix ATI driver defects:
viewtopic.php?f=30&t=29207

B)... Make IL-2 run in the correct processing core of your system and each program have its own core assignment for maximum efficiency and smooth IL-2 image frame rates:
viewtopic.php?f=30&t=29178

C)... Advanced tweaking of IL-2 involves the conf.ini file, which is covered in somewhat detailed fashion here:
viewtopic.php?f=29&t=29185

Adding Mods to a Mod Pack with JSGME Mod Enabler

CAUTION: Keep copies of your previous mods that you want, because any mod pack can overwrite some of the things which you have installed.

>>> Some mods can overwrite parts or all of previous installed mods which you want to keep! There are ways around this. As always, keep copies of everything that you don't want to lose. Read the instructions and info sections...

Above all else, follow the instructions for adding mods to your mod pack in the READ ME files of the mod pack and the mod itself. Get help when in doubt after reading.

Adding Mods to the JSGME Mods Enabler

Both the HSFX mod packs and the UltraPack 2.0 mod packs allow the adding of more mods with the JSGME Mods Enabler. Here is a guide on how to add mods to the JSGME:
viewtopic.php?f=106&t=28228

As a reminder, look at the READ-ME files of your mod pack for further instructions.

Feel free to ask for help in the appropriate forum of our community website.

IL-2 Major Modding Community Websites

All Aircraft Simulations Remember our website Big Grin

1) Free IL2 Modding Forum

Our Forum: viewforum.php?f=189

2) HistoMod

Our Forum: viewforum.php?f=171
http://histomodforum.forumactif.net/

3) HSFX - 242nd Squadron

Our Forum: viewtopic.php?f=106&t=31515&start=0

viewforum.php?f=106
http://www.242sqn.com/phpBB2/index.php

4) M4T - Mission4Today http://mission4today.com/

5) UP - UltraPack

Our Forum: viewforum.php?f=71
http://ultrapack.il2war.com/

Honorable Mention - emerging IL-2 contributors who do much for their size:

IL-2 Avia Skins - skins specialists who do some other mods
http://aviaskins.com/ (Over 400 skins!)

Full Mission Builder Tutorials - by Flying Nutcase - the best guide to mission building that I know
http://www.il2-fullmissionbuilder.com/

Axis & Allies Paintworks They do nice skins and other things.
http://www.axis-and-allies-paintworks.com/news.php

Fallen Angels Squadron
http://www.fallenangelssquadron.com/

Last but not least, remember Mr. Search!

:lol:

Enjoy the huge collection of mods! Big Grin

Fireskull

Re: IL-2 Newbie Guide - Fireskull - 16.08.2010

I made some additions and improvements to the Newbie Guide here. Smile

Re: IL-2 Newbie Guide - Guest - 18.08.2010

Hey fireskull how so you know if you have 4.07 DVD ?

Re: IL-2 Newbie Guide - skyomish - 18.08.2010

NavyHawk Wrote:Hey fireskull how so you know if you have 4.07 DVD ?

After you load the game - Start said game then look in the lower left
hand side as it is loading it will say the version - from disk it IS 4.07m

Re: IL-2 Newbie Guide - Guest - 18.08.2010

Are all of the discs of il2 4.07?

Re: IL-2 Newbie Guide - KG64_Cnopicilin - 18.08.2010

NavyHawk Wrote:Are all of the discs of il2 4.07?

At least all Il-2 1946 discs are, and there are no mods to other Il-2s than the 1946.

Re: IL-2 Newbie Guide - 8FS_Bulau - 18.08.2010

NavyHawk Wrote:Are all of the discs of il2 4.07?

There were some disks, sold in USA, that were 4.08m

Re: IL-2 Newbie Guide - Guest - 18.08.2010

Does that mean that you can just download a mod pack? Oh and the newbie guide is awsome!!!

Re: IL-2 Newbie Guide - Fireskull - 18.08.2010

NavyHawk Wrote:Does that mean that you can just download a mod pack? Oh and the newbie guide is awsome!!!

NavyHawk,

It's not quite that simple. One must follow the instructions, as given in my Newbie Guide. :wink:

Re: IL-2 Newbie Guide - Fireskull - 14.10.2010

This IL-2 Newbie Guide has been updated today with clarifications.

After IL-2 Sturmovik 1946 V4.10 is released and the following mod packs for it, then this will be updated at that time.

Fireskull Smile

Re: IL-2 Newbie Guide - casicasi - 05.11.2010

My first post, and it's to say "Thank you for the time you've put in this guide".
Now I've got a lot to read.... Smile

Re: IL-2 Newbie Guide - Fireskull - 06.11.2010

casicasi Wrote:My first post, and it's to say "Thank you for the time you've put in this guide".
Now I've got a lot to read....

Casicasi, Welcome to our community website. Smile

If you have any questions, then feel free to ask - or comment.

Fireskull Smile

Re: IL-2 Newbie Guide - Fireskull - 04.04.2011

Hi,

Recent HSFX 5.01 hotfix for the latest HSFX 5.0 mod pack is included here.

I added a section for the IL-2 Patch Central to get offical IL-2 patches.

Smile

Fireskull

Re: IL-2 Newbie Guide - BF109boy - 26.07.2011

forgive but it isn't updated

Re: IL-2 Newbie Guide - Fireskull - 27.07.2011

BF109boy Wrote:forgive but it isn't updated

Hi,

An update will be a big reworking of this guide to get things in the correct order and downsize other things. Sorry, but I simply do not have the time right now to do it but I will get to it as soon as I can.

The biggest thing that one should know is that UltraPack 3.0 is out there with automatic update function like the last release of UP. It's got a ton of stuff so look into it.

Fireskull