Missing Content

[steams]

After finally getting a new computer, I wanted to install my copy of trainz on it (TRS2004, no service packs added). However though it lets me install it on my computer, none of the content is there. Eg: No engines, no Senarios, no routes.
I don't want to have to start all over again, as that'd mean I'd not be able to see or use any of my custom routes I've made, and some I've been working on bit by bit for over 5 years!
So I guess my question is twofold: What's going on with my edition of trainz, and is there any way to transfer custom content between computers outside of the Download Station?

 

[Retro00064]

After finally getting a new computer, I wanted to install my copy of trainz on it (TRS2004, no service packs added). However though it lets me install it on my computer, none of the content is there. Eg: No engines, no Senarios, no routes.
I don't want to have to start all over again, as that'd mean I'd not be able to see or use any of my custom routes I've made, and some I've been working on bit by bit for over 5 years!
So I guess my question is twofold: What's going on with my edition of trainz, and is there any way to transfer custom content between computers outside of the Download Station?

Do you mean that there is NO content at all, not even the built-in content? If so, then you should re-install Traizn, and be careful not to disturb the installer at all while it is installing (as that can cause that).

If you mean that only the custom content is gone, then make sure that the content is in the right folder structure. To be even more specific, if you mean that none of your downloaded custom content is there, then try deleting the world_cache_Dispatcher.chump file in your TRS2004\Cache folder.

Also, I see no reason why you should not upgrade to TRS2004 SP4. TRS2004 SP4 is very stable, and you will most probably be getting a lot more benefit out of installing it than if you do not. That is the Trainz version that I use.

Regards.

 

[cascaderailroad]

EDIT: Handed over to a knowlegable TRS2004 professional

 

[Retro00064]

I don't know about TRS2004 ... but In TRS2006 Deleting the new installation Local file, assets.tdx, assets.bku-(if it exists in cache) and sending the copy of your old PC old Local file dropping that old Local file directly into your new computers new installation of Auran/TRS2006 file ... then shut down Trainz ... restart and let the CMP rebuild the Trainz Asset Database.

Is this process similar in TRS2004 ? ? ?

Nope. TRS2004 is a wonderland, with no CMP, no asset database, all of the content being immediately available in the nice World\Custom and World\Dispatcher\Downloads folders, all DLS dowloading must be done on the TRS2004 DLS, and not in any silly computer program like CMP, etc. All of that was gone in Trainz the moment that TRS2006 was released. :'(

In TRS2004, none of the assets in the World\Custom folder (the folder that your own content, as well as some downloaded content that did not come as a CDP file, etc.) are cached, as far as I know. The config.txt files (I doubt much more than that) of the assets in the World\Dispatcher\downloads folder (where the assets that come in .CDP files are installed) are cached in to the world_cache_Dispatcher.chump file in the TRS2004\Cache folder. Any time that you change an asset in that folder (usually only if it is the config.txt file, but it is probaby best to do this anyway), you should delete the world_cache_Dispatcher.chump file, so that Trainz will re-cache the assets in the World\Dispatcher\downloads folder, thus detecting your changes.

Regards.

 

[steams]

Well you're right about that there's no built in content, but I don't think I intrupted the installer in any way. When uninstalling it, (as I've tried re-installing it before) I used the add/remove programs and ran it that way. Could that've left anything that told the installer that the content was already there?

And with regards to SP4, on the old machine, it had that running, but it had gone via the previoud SPs too. I couln't find any of the older ones, so would I need SPs 1-3 installed before I install SP4?

(And thanks for the fast reply! I haven't posted on the forums ever since they changed over from the old ones!(Yeah I kinda missed the train on that one...))

 

[Retro00064]

Well you're right about that there's no built in content, but I don't think I intrupted the installer in any way. When uninstalling it, (as I've tried re-installing it before) I used the add/remove programs and ran it that way. Could that've left anything that told the installer that the content was already there?

And with regards to SP4, on the old machine, it had that running, but it had gone via the previoud SPs too. I couln't find any of the older ones, so would I need SPs 1-3 installed before I install SP4?

(And thanks for the fast reply! I haven't posted on the forums ever since they changed over from the old ones!(Yeah I kinda missed the train on that one...))

No built-in content = you need to re-install. You can still keep the custom content, as that will not corrupt the install, but you should still wait until it is installed before copying the custom content in. Disturbing the installer also means just dragging the installer window around to look at the train picture background. I did that with one of my early installations of UTC, and all of the content was gone, but it was kind enough to say that I needed to re-install it.

As for SP4, go here and follow all of the directions on that page: http://www.auran.com/TRS2004/sp4_download_f.php. I do not know if any of those links for the service pack downloads work, but you will have to try them out yourself, as I do not know your build number. I would recommend that you install SP4 before you install your custom content.

Here on the modern Trainz forums, you get to select the train-car that you want for your avatar. It is not assigned to you automatically based on your post count any more. Click on the "User CP" button on the left end of the small toolbar near the top of this page to go and edit your forum account to select an avatar.

Regards.

 

[steams]

Taking the advice to re-install Trainz, and not to mess around with the installer in any way (even moving the screen) I did so, (I had no other programs running and the only intruption was an explorer window opening when I inserted disk 2) and it said it had installed sucessfully. However the problem is still there.
There is no routes, no engines, (I can still create a new route, but only with the basic tools (Topography etc.)), no textures nor tracks nor trains or consists.

Just looking around the files (Program Files > Auran > TRS2004), I tried running "ContentFoundry.exe" but it gave me an error message saying that trainz is not installed on this machine. Content Dispatcher works though. Inside the Engines folder, I found what appers to be a folder for each of the built in Locos, but inside them were only the config text files.
All re-running the installer does (with the program still installed) is prompt me if I want to completly "remove the selected application and all of it's components"
Currently I still have TRS2004 installed (build 668 version 2.0), though oddly enough Windows didn't tell me a new program had been installed upon me opening the (classic) start menu. (Though that could just be Vista being Vista.)

These are a few theories of my own about the issue:
1) Un-installing the program through Add/Remove programs dosen't work (as that is what I've done in the past.) So I may need to find a different way to uninstall Trainz.
2) To prevent piracy, I know there is a limit on how many times I can leagally install trainz. (I noticied a clause in the End User Licence Agreement that said I wasn't allowed x amount of times, but it didn't say it would prevent it.)
3) Perhaps some other remnant from another time is stopping the built in content from being installed (as I'm pretty sure the built in content is not there)
4) There's more than enough storage space on the computer so that can't be it.
5) After most of it's life on a different computer at a different (not so far away) location, Trainz has decided it doesn't want to move, so it has decided to be mean. (Not likely, but it did go from operating on Windows XP to Windows Vista)

 

[R701Rusty]

G'day there.
It's usually advisable to use a registry cleaner program after un-installing to remove all traces of the old install and then start all over again. A popular registry cleaner program is "CCleaner" and this is available from most freeware sites. You obviously can only improve your chances of getting it right by trying this method so hope this helps?

Cheers
Russell.

 

[Retro00064]

Taking the advice to re-install Trainz, and not to mess around with the installer in any way (even moving the screen) I did so, (I had no other programs running and the only intruption was an explorer window opening when I inserted disk 2) and it said it had installed sucessfully. However the problem is still there.
There is no routes, no engines, (I can still create a new route, but only with the basic tools (Topography etc.)), no textures nor tracks nor trains or consists.

Just looking around the files (Program Files > Auran > TRS2004), I tried running "ContentFoundry.exe" but it gave me an error message saying that trainz is not installed on this machine. Content Dispatcher works though. Inside the Engines folder, I found what appers to be a folder for each of the built in Locos, but inside them were only the config text files.
All re-running the installer does (with the program still installed) is prompt me if I want to completly "remove the selected application and all of it's components"
Currently I still have TRS2004 installed (build 668 version 2.0), though oddly enough Windows didn't tell me a new program had been installed upon me opening the (classic) start menu. (Though that could just be Vista being Vista.)

These are a few theories of my own about the issue:
1) Un-installing the program through Add/Remove programs dosen't work (as that is what I've done in the past.) So I may need to find a different way to uninstall Trainz.
2) To prevent piracy, I know there is a limit on how many times I can leagally install trainz. (I noticied a clause in the End User Licence Agreement that said I wasn't allowed x amount of times, but it didn't say it would prevent it.)
3) Perhaps some other remnant from another time is stopping the built in content from being installed (as I'm pretty sure the built in content is not there)
4) There's more than enough storage space on the computer so that can't be it.
5) After most of it's life on a different computer at a different (not so far away) location, Trainz has decided it doesn't want to move, so it has decided to be mean. (Not likely, but it did go from operating on Windows XP to Windows Vista)

I have one suggestion: Reinstall Trainz, but do not let the installer run automatically due to the Autorun on the disk when installing it again. Instead, go in to the Start menu, choose Computer, find your TRS2004 disk in the resulting window, and right-click it and select "Explore". Then, find the installer program (which will likely be called setup.exe), and right-click it and select "Run as Administrator". That may very well clear up the mess.

As a side suggestion, do not install Trainz in the default "C:\Program Files\Auran\TRS2004" location this time. Instead, tell it to install outside the Program Files folder, say, in C:\Auran\TRS2004.

Regards.

 

[steams]

Well, at long last (and to the eternal delight of my little brother) TRS2004 is back online! After no luck with running the installer (Setup.exe) directly from the disk, I found a version of CCleaner and uninstalled it through there, then after fiddling around (safely) with the things that CCleaner can do, I tried installing it again, -but this time installing it onto the desktop- and it worked!! (So I think that part of the issue was that there was a file saying things were there when they weren't, which was resolved by either CCleaner doing it's thing or by installing it in a different part, putting Trainz out of reach (file name wise) of the bad file.)
And after finding all the old service packs, I've now installed Service Pack 4 and my custom content is working too*. Thank you everyone for your help and advice, and should I have any more problems, I know where to go!


*Well... not all of the extra kuids were transferred with my routes, so I'll have to hit the download station later and see what I can find. ...that is after I get a ticket... (general muttering about no warning, unfairness, the irony of the situation etc...) I'll take another look through the old computer to see if there's anything I missed...