Procedures for CoD Software Updates

As has been the case with every sim release that I've experienced - there seems to be a lot of folks having difficulty realizing optimimum performance on their systems. Many are downloading and installing beta patches and don't seem understand the configuration nuances of beta patch as opposed to official patch releases.

As we all know, simulations - particularly in their early life - can be very sensitive to system configuration. CoD is no exception. I have experienced no issues with any of the beta and release patches by adhering to following procedures - after learning of a new update or testing a beta patch.

Step 1: Determine if the new update is a beta or official release. Official releases are automatically distributed by Steam - beta patches are manually installed from an archive file. The main issue here is that beta updates are handled manually and automatic updates must be disabled so that Steam (who knows nothing of the beta) doesn't "fix" your beta when it compares your local beta files to the master file structure on the SteamCloud server.

Step 2: Backup all config files in the /Documents/1C SoftClub/1l-2 sturmovik cliffs of dover/ directory. This includes control assignments saved and named by the user. If you skip this step and your keybindings are lost - then don't complain.

Step 3: Delete the contents of folder /Documents/1C SoftClub/1l-2 sturmovik cliffs of dover/cache. I leave the folder intact and delete all the contents inside.

Step 4: For beta install go to step 6. For Steam delivered Official release, open Steam - Select "Library" - right click on Il-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover and select "Properties". Go to the "UPDATES" Tab. Ensure that "Always keep this game up to date" is selected in the Automatic updates section AND that "Enable Steam Cloud syncronization for Il-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover" is checked.

Step 5: Go to the "LOCAL FILES" Tab. Select "Verify Integrity of Game Cache". This will run for a bit and compare all your local files to the server files fixing any incompatibilities. This step is essential if you've installed any of the beta patches between release. The purpose here is to return the file structure and integrity of your "Beta" to the offical release state.

Step 6: For beta install - open Steam - Select "Library" - right click on Il-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover and select "Properties". Go to the "UPDATES" Tab. Ensure that "Do not automatically update this game" is selected in the Automatic updates section AND that "Enable Steam Cloud syncronization for Il-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover" is UNCHECKED (OFF). Otherwise Steam will update and overwrite your beta files - and you'll be back at offical release version.

Step 7: For beta - follow the instructions to download and unpack the beta archive distrubtion into your root game directory (Program Files X86 path).

Step 8: Ensure that you've closely read the beta or offical release notes.

Step 9: Ensure that your Video drivers are up to date.

Hope this helps.

S!

Gunny