When I start the sim (in safe or normal mode) I see the Installation Manager error message: You are missing packages that are essential to run Microsoft Flight Simulator.  Please update the application and try again.

This is a Steam installation and Steam has verified the integrity of the folders and files.  I use ProcMon64 to watch the sim read all it's file from the Steam library. 

Many, hundreds, of the Packages folders, e.g. Asobo-Aircraft-208b-grand-caravan-ex are missing their ContentInfo folder and their manifest.json file.  Thus, the sim will not start and there is no option on the Installation Manager error to do anything but QUIT.

How do I fix this problem?  I can't get to an update screen.

Steam tells me the sim's file integrity is good and a Steam repair doesn't find anything to repair.

 

I’ve been getting this message since SU15 update. So far the only fix I found was to delete a folder such as fs-base-history and launch the sim. This will prompt a download, you accept it. On the main screen it will say you need to install essential packages, choose install later. Then you can start a flight. However you need to do this every time you launch msfs

Quit MSFS. Delete fs-base-history. Boot the game. Install what is lacking right then instead of later.

16 hours ago, Fielder said:

Quit MSFS. Delete fs-base-history. Boot the game. Install what is lacking right then instead of later.

I cannot find any fs-base-history - I do find many other fs-base folders but not history

3 hours ago, TacomaSailor said:

I cannot find any fs-base-history - I do find many other fs-base folders but not history

/Packages/Official/Steam, it’s in there. If you got it from MS Store then the location is different

28 minutes ago, fgiraudo said:

/Packages/Official/Steam, it’s in there. If you got it from MS Store then the location is different

I cannot find it!  Just did an update of the entire packages system and still do not find it

Edited June 2, 20242 yr by TacomaSailor

Then I don’t know. I believe the folder you delete is not that important, the point is to trigger the download once you launch the sim. So perhaps you can try deleting any of the other folders (ie: moving somewhere else in case you need it again) and see if that works.

I did try deleting a folder to force a new download and it did cause Installation Manger to do the download.  

But, then the sim would go into an endless loop trying to read files out of:

I:...\Packages\pc-fs-base-bigfiles\FONT\ENGLISH.DPC    PATH NOT FOUND    
I:...\Packages\Official\Steam\fs-base\scenery\Global\Asobo_Props\TEXTURE\TAXI_SIGN_SYMBOL.PNG.DDS    SUCCESS    

I finally gave up and did a Steam Uninstall / Reinstall and now the sim works perfectly.

The entire Steam process took less than five minutes to complete.  After it was done - everything in the sim is just a before the uninstall.

And... I still have NO fs-base-history folder