[SAS~CirX]

Hi Guys. I have been a long time fan and user here, but this is my first post.

I have used the mod activator 5.2, and it works fine for me, all mods I downloaded work well.
But today I wanted to for the first time try to add some new planes to the sim, from this site. I tried both the beaufighter and the Me410. As instructed I followed the instructions to the letter, downloading and installing the wrapper and also the ac installer ( 3.3)

But then, after installing the new planes, I look for them in the sim (quick mission builder) and they are not there.

Also, when installing ac installer (I tried versions 3 through 3.3), it never asked me what mod activator I am using, like it says in the instructions "Please all make sure you download & install this
it will ask you for your Sound Mod version or wether you use Mod Activator ".

It just ask the directory, then I press install, it runs and then a sort of dos prompt comes up, and when that is done I exit it. The mod activator did the same on it's install, but it seems to work OK.

Also in instructions on installing the new plane mods, they say it will ask me about listing stuff alphabetically, ect. but again it asks nothing.

I am stumped. I have been at this all day, and to be honest, if I was a girl, I would be in tears already :o) I can usually search and google my way out of most pc problems, but on this I am just lost.

Please advise.

As I said, I have tried other mods, like cocpit skins, and like new fw Uhu cockpit, and they work fine. All I cant do is add NEW planes. I am driving myself batty here. I am sure I am missing something stupid. I have tried a clean install and update to 4.08m and everything. no joy.

[SAS~CirX]

OK, I think I have it sorted, but its a bit convaluted. I will try to explain here, so if anyone else has this issue, this may help.

I think the problem is on the pc side. some conflicting or interfering software, not alowing the installations to go smoothly.

Anyway, here is what you do:
1) Install mod activator and wrapper as normal.
2) Install AC installer into another folder somewhare, so you can look at the contents in peace. You will see a lot of files, and the start making sense if you recall that it will follow a different installation for whatever mod activator or version of sound pack you have, or universal installer. So in my case I have the mod pack. So I basically went into the "modact" folder, and copied and pasted the "files" folder inside it, into my IL 2 game directory.

Thats it for AC installer, dono if it helps.

3) Then, do the same when installing a new plane, unsip or install into a temorary folder somewhere else, so you can see the files in isolation. Just copy over the ..._RU type folders into the game directory, and the paintschemes and mods folder also.
4) then you will see a folder called " AIR_INI". Inside it is a folder called "com". Go put this in the STD folder . Inside it evetualy you will find air.ini. And everytime you add a new plane to the game, you have to find its air ini example, provided in the install files, and paste it into this air.ini file. and then you should be good to go!

Sound like a bunch, but I am glad I figured it out. I think I am basically completely circumventing ac installer, but thats ok. at least now I can get some sleep.

BTW, the Me410 cockpit is AWESOME!

[SAS~CirX]

I have, since all the above, done a fresh windows xp install , and a fresh game install, and now all the installers and stuff works like a charm.

My explanation abuve works, but really is very rough and is only a stopgap. If you are experienceing difficulties with using the mod activator and ac isntallers, and a clean IL2 install does not solve it, the problem is in your windows services and registry, and really, you should think of the joys of starting afresh, and just go for it :o)

PS. I still dont use auto installs for aircrafts, but since I learned the hard way how to install them, this is no problem, and I dont have to deal with the silly alphabetical order of planes created by the auto installers....so it all has a good ending!