Prepar3D Troubleshooting Video Tutorials

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Introduction 

Mini YouTube Tutorials for Prepar3D v3 & v4 

I will Add to this list as time goes on 

 

INDEX

1)  Malformed XML file error (default scenario is corrupt) 

2)  Visualization only mode error

3)  Turning Off Default AI Aircraft Traffic 

4)  Prepar3D v4 New Client updating feature (Not deactivating the License) 

5)  Prepar3D v4  "Delete generated files"

6)  Black Clouds Corrupt ShadersHLSL folder

7)  "Prepar3D v4 Content requires Prepar3D v4 to be Installed"  Error

8   Scenery.cfg error   "Prepar3D requires at least one each of the following to run:" 

9)   How to repair a Corrupt User Interface (UI) 

10)  Installing Tongass Fjords x for Prepar3D 

11)  How to add an FSX Key in the Registry Editor and point it to your Prepar3D folder

12)  How to Download and Install Prepar3D  

13)  How to Uninstall and Deactivate Prepar3D v4  (A Complete Uninstall)

14)  How to fix the error message   "MSVCP140.dll, VCRuntime140.dll, concrt140.dll is missing from your Computer"

15)  How to fix the error message   "MFReadWrite.dll MFPlat.dll is missing from your Computer"

16)  How to fix the error message   "Prepar3D CANNOT run without a valid SCENERY.CFG"   (Prepar3D v2, v3 and v4)

17)  How to fix Error message  "D3Dcompiler_43.dll \ D3DX9_43.DLL Is Missing Or Not Found" 

18)  How to update Prepar3D v4 using the update component Installers,  Client, Content and Scenery

19)  How to Deactivate the Prepar3D License From Your Operating System

20)  Prepar3D v4 will Not launch, Stuck on loading (Removing all 5 generated folders)

21)  How to locate the  Prepar3D.cfg File  (Config file)

22)  How to locate the Shaders folder

23)  How to locate the Scenery.cfg file, Simobjects.cfg file & the Terrain.cfg file

24)  Error message  "api.dll was not found reinstalling the program may fix this problem"

25)  Error message  "Living World Settings In LWcfg.xml are Invalid"

26)  Prepar3D Refreshing the Graphics (Organic Tweak)

27)  FTX Orbx Scenery, Prepar3D, Stuck on loading, Wont Launch 

28)  FTX Central, How to Uninstall and Reinstall 

Note: To find the files outlined in the Tutorials,  Insure the box is Ticked for  Show hidden files, folders and drives in File Explorer Options

 

 

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1)  Malformed XML file error  (default scenario is corrupt) 

This Is due to a corrupt Prepar3D_Default.fxml file,  You can fix this by following these steps..........

Locate and Delete these 2 generated files below,  They will generate again when you launch Prepar3D.  Note: This will have no bad effect on any 3rd Party Software (Add On's) or settings  

Prepar3D_Default.fxml and Prepar3D_Default.wx 

Location: Local Disk (C:) ► Users ► you ► AppData ► Local ► Lockheed Martin ► Prepar3D v3 \ v4 

Launch Prepar3D and test

 

 

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2)  Visualization only mode error 

Mostly Visualization mode error can be caused by either a corrupt simobjects.cfg or a corrupt VehicleFavorites.xml file 

Both of these files are generated files and will generate again when you delete them,  The VehicleFavorites.xml file will generate again when you save a favourite vehicle  

 

Try this first.....

Right Click and delete the VehicleFavorites.xml file

Location: Local Disk (C:) ► Users ► You ► AppData ► Roaming ► Lockheed Martin ► Prepar3D v3 -  VehicleFavorites.xml

Launch Prepar3D and test 

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Try this next..... 

Right Click and delete the simobjects.cfg file

Location: Local Disk (C:) ►ProgramData ► Lockheed Martin ► Prepar3D v3 -  simobjects.cfg

Launch Prepar3D and test 

Below is a Video bringing you through the steps 

 

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3)  Turning Off Default AI Aircraft Traffic 

Navigate to the below location,  Right Click on trafficAircraft.bgl  Click Rename  Remove the bgl and add old to the the end,  make sure you don't delete the Full Spot .   Save it 

Location  ►  Prepar3D v3 \ v4  ► Scenery  ► World  ► scenery

 

Below is a Video bringing you through the steps 

 

 

 

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4) Prepar3D v4 New Client updating feature (Not deactivating the License) 

For future reference we can now update Prepar3D v4 to a more recent version with a Client update and Not need to deactivate the v4 License.  You will be prompted an Option to  "Deactivate the Prepar3D v4 license or Not"  during the Client Uninstall,  This will allow users to quickly update from version to version without needing to deactivate and activate there license again

Below is a Video bringing you through the steps 

 

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5) Prepar3D v4  "Delete generated files"

Delete generated files is a file located in your core Prepar3D v4 folder,  By double left clicking on this file it will remove (delete) the generated content from the 3  Prepar3D v4 folders in the Roaming , Local and Programdata path.  This will bring Prepar3D v4 back to a default state,  Note: This action will also temporarily disable your 3rd Party Software (Add On's) 

Below is a Video bringing you through the steps 

 

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6) Black Clouds Corrupt ShadersHLSL folder

Black clouds is due to a Corrupt ShadersHLSL folder,  Follow these steps, In this order to repair this 

(1) Navigate to your Prepar3D v3 \ v4 Core Install Location and Delete your ShadersHLSL folder 

(2) Navigate to your Prepar3D v3 \ v4 download folder,  Right Click on Install_Client.msi and Click Repair  This will give you a Default (New) ShadersHLSL folder again

(3) Delete your Shaders folder, When you Launch Prepar3D v3 this folder will Generate again  

      Location:   Local Disk (C:) ► Users ► You ► AppData ► Local ► Lockheed Martin ► Prepar3D v3 \ v4 ► Shaders

Launch Prepar3D and test for white clouds 

 

Below is a Video bringing you through the steps 

 

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7)  "Prepar3D v4 Content requires Prepar3D v4 to be Installed"  Error

The error as seen above is something you may experience during the Install process of Prepar3D v4 

The error happens shortly after you run the Setup_Prepar3D.exe 

 

Follow the steps below to repair this............   

A)  Install the Client by right clicking on Install_Client.msi and click Install

B)  Then Immediately uninstall the Client through the Control Panel  "Programs and features"

C)  Finally run the Setup_Prepar3D.exe Installer again and hopefully you will get the desired result of a successful Install 

 

I have outlined the steps in the Video below 

 

 

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8)   Scenery.cfg error   "Prepar3D requires at least one each of the following to run:" 

 

A Step by Step video guide to repair the error as seen below on launching Prepar3D

 

 

This error is due to a corrupt Scenery.cfg file.  You can resolve this by simply deleting your Scenery.cfg file and then launching Prepar3D,   Your Scenery.cfg file will generate again as default

I have also Included some additional Information in the video description regarding the Scenery.cfg location and adding your Scenery Add On's back again after this process  

 

 

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9)  How to repair a Corrupt User Interface (UI) 

A quick Tutorial on how to repair a corrupt Oversized User Interface (UI) for Prepar3D 

 

This is due to a corrupt UISettings.xml file located below. 

Local Disk (C:) ► Users ► You ► AppData ► Roaming ► Lockheed Martin ► Prepar3D - UISettings.xml

To repair this you would simply delete this file and it will generate again as default when you launch Prepar3D 

 

I have also Included additional Information in the first pinned post of the comments 

 

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10)  Installing Tongass Fjords x for Prepar3D 

Tongass Fjords X is Not Officially compatible with Prepar3D but we can get it up and running with some Small adjustments.

In this Tutorial I Manually create an FSX Path in my Registry Editor and point it to my Prepar3D location, by doing this the Tongass Installer will Install all the required Tongass file to the correct locations in the Core Prepar3D folder.

I also move the Terrain.cfg file from the ProgramData location and into my Core Prepar3D folder for the Install process only, by doing this the Tongass Installer will configure the terrain.cfg file. After the Install has completed I then move it back to the ProgramData location.

 

Note:  For  Additional Hints, Tips and Troubleshooting Videos Installing Tongass Fjords X Please see This Link and Scroll down a bit 

 

 

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11)  How to add an FSX Key in the Registry Editor and point it to your Prepar3D folder

A Tutorial to show you How to Create a Fake (dummy) FSX Path to Prepar3D in the Registry Editor.

Please Note: It is recommended to only Install Compatible Add On's for Prepar3D. The steps outlined in the Video are for folks who understand this and would like to push on regardless.

This will Not work with all FSX Add On's and will need to be taken on a Case by Case basis. 

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We can do this 2 ways,  Manually and also using the FSX Registry Utility by TweakFS 

 

Manually adding the FSX Key to the Registry Editor 

 

 

 

Using the FSX Registry Utility by TweakFS to add the FSX key to the Registry Editor 

 

 

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12)  How to Download and Install Prepar3D  

 

A short Video Tutorial to show the 5 Basic Steps to help you Download and Install Prepar3D Successfully.  

 

 

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13) How to Uninstall and Deactivate Prepar3D v4 (A Complete Uninstall)

A Video Tutorial to show you the steps to Uninstall and Deactivate Prepar3D v4 from your computer

Note: This process is a Complete Uninstall and will remove all Prepar3D files, folders and will disable your 3rd party Add Ons.

 

 

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14)  How to fix the error message   "MSVCP140.dll, VCRuntime140.dll, concrt140.dll is missing from your Computer"

 

 

 

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15)  How to fix the error message   "MFReadWrite.dll MFPlat.dll is missing from your Computer"