Index

1. What should I backup before re-installing?

2. Quick Patching Guide

3. Detailed installation and patching guide

4. So what's the difference/advantages of patching and having different versions of this game?

5. Common installation problems

6. Avoiding problems

7. Advanced installations

8. Patches for dialup

If you have any saved campaigns, paint schemes etc make a backup before patching or installing.

Suggested files to backup are:

• Missions Folder
• Paint Schemes Folder
• Users Folder
• You may want to convert your .TRK files to NTRK before upgrading.

It is NOT recommended you backup conf.ini or conf.bld.
Changes are made to conf.ini after each new game version. You can backup the joystick section of conf.ini.
 

If you have the original version of IL-2 Sturmovik, then you need:

• il2upgrade_1.1a.exe
• il2upgrade_1.2.exe
• il2upgrade_1.2ov.exe (optional)

If you have only Forgotten Battles, then you need:

• il2_fb_v1.0_to_v1.22.exe

If you have Ace Expansion pack, install it over any version of FB. Then you will need:

• il2_aep_v2.01.exe
• il2_aep_v2.04.exe

If you have Pacific Fighters and you want to install over FB+AEP (you need both), you can install over v2.0, 2.01 or 2.04. Then you will need:

• pf_v303m.exe (100 Mb; goes over v3.0m)
• pf_v401m.exe
• pf_v402m.exe
• pf_403m.exe
• pf_patch404m.exe (21.8MB)

If you have Pacific Fighters installed as a 'stand alone' sim, you will need:

• pf_v303.exe (100 Mb; goes over v3.0)
• pf_v401.exe
• pf_v402.exe
• pf_403.exe
• pf_patch404.exe (20.5MB)

By Skycat2

At release had 29 flyable types of Russian, German and American planes, 35 other types of aircraft, 6 campaigns, 150 single player missions. Patches add new flyable aircraft, missions and campaigns.

Forgotten Battles: (A re-release of IL-2 with more content)

1. New "Perfect" graphics settings introduced new water effects that look more realistic.
2. The He-111 became flyable and has a working bombsight. The Soviets got a flyable TB-3, a 1930s bomber. It also has a working bombsight.
3. A few 'Western' fighters were slipped in, including the P-47D (razorback and bubbletop), Hurricanes Mk.I and Mk.II, and P-40E/M.
4. The Me-262 became flyable, in addition to new variants of the Stuka.
5. Some new maps were added that are really very nice looking (Gulf of Finland, Hungary).
6. DGen, a 'dynamic' campaign generator, was introduced to replace the stock scripted campaigns.
7. Working searchlights and aerial balloons were added to the ground objects. Also, some Hungarian tanks.
8. Pilot figures were reworked, and now you can change faces/uniforms on them in offline modes. Every pilot in your squadron can be different.
9. Custom aircraft skins can now be used in offline modes.
10. Complex Engine Management was added.
11. Cockpit "distance from gunsight" views have more increments than in IL-2.
12. Normandy and Ardennes maps, plus an online Pacific map, were added in upgrade patches.
13. Flyable P-51D, Japanese A6M5 and "Ki-something" (Frank) fighters were added in upgrade patches.
14. AI B-17G, C-47, numerous U.S. vehicles, and several new ground objects were added in upgrade patches.

** FB gripe: Aircraft disappear after they land and park on the taxiway. (Fixed through Pacific Fighters).

Ace Expansion Pack -- only works with FB

1. Many new flyable planes, including Bf-110, He-162, Me-163, P-38J/L, P-51B, P-63, YP-80, and Spitfire Mk.V.
2. AEP adds the upgrade patch content of PF.
3. A K-11 'Ace Maker' lead computing gunsight was added for the YP-80 and a new P-51D variant.
4. V-1 rockets with launchers, flyable Fw-190 with Ju-88 "Mistel" flying bomb, and a "TB-3 as I-16 carrier" were added.
5. Several new Eastern Front dynamic campaigns and some new speech packs are added.
6. Flyable Spitfires Mk.IX and Soviet I-185 fighters are added in upgrade patches. AI B-25s added as well.
7. Online 'desert' map added in upgrade patch.
8. A major visual fix of AEP is that the Luftwaffe gunsight reticle's diameter is substantially increased.

Pacific Fighters

1. Biggest new feature is the working aircraft carriers.
2. PF can be 'merged' to FB+AEP, or installed as a separate 'standalone.'
3. 'Merged' PF reduces FB+AEP muzzle flash, tweaks smoke and water effects, and restores landed aircraft remaining on runway after parking.
4. 'Merged' install automatically adds AEP upgrade patch fixes to FB/AEP 2.0.
5. Flyable A-20 and B-25 are added, as well as Beaufighter, Spitfire VIII, Seafire, SBD, Wildcat, Corsair, and Hellcat. Several flyable Japanese planes including Val divebomber and Zeroes (Sorry, I'm not an expert on the Japanese types).
6. New aircraft features like adjustable seats, sliding canopies, and folding wings.
7. New maps include Pearl Harbor, Coral Sea, Tarawa, and Iwo Jima ... there are more ...
8. New ground objects include US LCTs, DUKWs, AMTRAKs, M5 Stuart tank, M8 Greyhound, mortar crew, Matilda tank, and other objects useful to FB/AEP maps.
9. "Standalone" PF also installs the flyable P-38s, P-40s, P-47s, P-51s, P-63, and Hurricane Mk.II.
10. Both install versions of PF include new AI B-17s, B-24, and B-29 in addition to the AI B-25s from the AEP upgrade patch.

Skycat
 

• IL-2 Sturmovik Patching Box Version 1.0 to 1.2 Final Version
• IL-2 Forgotten Battles Patch Box Version 1.0 to 1.22 Final
• IL-2 Forgotten Battles + Aces Expansion Pack 2.0 to 2.04 Final
• IL-2 Forgotten Battles + Aces Expansion Pack + Pacific Fighters Patch 3.00m to 4.04m Current - MERGED
• IL-2 Forgotten Battles Gold Pack 2.0 to 2.04 Final
• Pacific Fighters Standalone Installation 3.0 to 4.04 Current
• PE-2 Peshka Addon 4.05m
• Sturmoviks Over Manchuria Addon 4.06m
• IL-2 1946 Addon 4.07

The installation defaults to C:\Program Files\Ubi Soft\IL2 Sturmovik

Install patches in the following order:

•  
• il2upgrade_1.1a.exe
• il2upgrade_1.2.exe

Once the above files have been installed your installation is complete and up to date. 1.2 is the final version.

A further patch is available for supporting the addition of third party voice files. If you intend to use these install the following patch after patching to version 1.2:

il2upgrade_1.2ov.exe

Retail Version is 1.0. The game version may be found in the bottom left of the game startup screen.

The installation defaults to C:\Program Files\Ubi Soft\IL-2 Sturmovik Forgotten Battles

Only one patch is required:

• patch122_over10.exe

Once the above file has been installed your installation is complete and up to date. 1.22 is the final version.

Retail versions may be 2.0 or 2.01. The game version may be found in the bottom left of the game startup screen.
 

The installation defaults to C:\Program Files\Ubi Soft\IL-2 Sturmovik Forgotten Battles

Install patches in the following order

• patchil2_aep_201.exe
• aep_patch204.exe

Once the above files have been installed your installation is complete and up to date. 2.04 is the final version.

Retail Version is 3.0m

The merged installation defaults to C:\Program Files\Ubi Soft\IL-2 Sturmovik Forgotten Battles

Install patches in the following order

• pf_patch303m.exe If your version is 3.03m or 3.04m continue to next step
• pf_patch401m.exe If your version is 4.01m continue to next step
• pf_patch402m.exe If your version is 4.02m continue to next step
• pf_patch403m.exe If your version is 4.03m continue to next step
• pf_patch404m.exe

To patch the Gold pack without Pacific Fighters follow the same procedure outlined above under 'IL-2 Forgotten Battles + Aces Expansion Pack 2.0 to 2.04 Final'

Install patches in the following order

• pf_patch303.exe If your version is 3.03 or 3.04 continue to next step
• pf_patch401.exe If your version is 4.01 continue to next step
• pf_patch402.exe If your version is 4.02 continue to next step
• pf_patch403.exe If your version is 4.03 continue to next step
• pf_patch404.exe

Once the above files have been installed your installation is up to date. 4.04 is the final version of Pacific Fighters.

You can download PE-2 addon here

A guide to installing 4.05m is here

Details about Boonty can be found by reading installation Guides for the PE-2 Peshka Addon 4.05m and on these other pages:

• 4.05m Installation Guide
• Step by Step Guide to getting the Pe-2 Paid add-on Patch and removing the BoontyBox Program afterwards.
• Boonty Box Troubleshooting Guide

• Game won't load
• RTS DLL Error or "Cannot find CD - please insert the correct CD in drive"
• Installation of FB1.0 + the Aces Expansion Pack ; and the error "IL2 Forgotten Battles not installed"
• FB would not uninstall normally, and after manually removing the program, it stubbornly refused to reinstall.
• I've now 'successfully' patched BUT the ESC key no longer works - arrghh!
• "Error 1305. Error reading from the file E:\program files\Ubisoft\PacificFighters\fb_3do08p.SFS. Verify that the file exists and that you can access it."
• Graphics Corruption ie black water and other anomalies.

Avoiding Problems

To avoid problems when installing or patching please follow a few simple guidelines.

• Read The Manual
• Read the Readme File
• Always install from a CD/DVD ROM Drive NOT a CDRW or DVDRW Drive
• Only use one CD drive during installation
• Switch off/disable any CD cloning software
• For optimal performance ensure you defrag before installing

Advanced Installations

Installing Multiple versions of FB/AEP/PF

I have IL2 1.0, FB 1.22, FB/AEP 2.04, FB/AEP/PF 4.04m and PF 4.04 installed.

You can leave your IL2 Sturmovik installation alone. To install an earlier version of Sturmovik simply copy the folder from the CD to a new location on your drive and patch the new folder to the required version.

FB/AEP is a bit more difficult as the files are archived on the CD's. The procedure is:
Back up your Users, Missions & Skins folders, your conf.ini and any other files you've modified.
Uninstall FB/AEP/PF.
Install FB. Copy the entire game folder to another location and patch the copied version to the required FB version. Create a new desktop or start menu icon for this version & rename it appropriately.
Install AEP over the unpatched FB installation (it should find that install automatically). Copy the combined AEP/FB installation folder to a new location and patch the copied version to the required AEP version. Create a new desktop/start menu icon for this version & rename it appropriately.
Install PF over the unpatched FB/AEP installation.
If you want to have both 3.01 and 3.02b installed, copy your combined FB/AEP/PF installation to a new location. Patch one location to 3.01 and the other location to 3.01 + 3.02bm. Create a new desktop/start menu icon for the copied folder version and rename it appropriately.
Restore your backed up folders & files to your FB/AEP/PF installation. You may also want to copy applicable skins and missions from there to one of the earlier installs and you'll certainly want your key assignments, found in the Users/<pilot name> folder in the settings.ini file.

The key if you want to maintain previous versions is copy the old version to a new location before patching or upgrading the original install.

By Tully

Installation of FB1.0 + the Aces Expansion Pack ; and the error "IL2 Forgotten Battles not installed":

Make sure when you load FB1.0 *no need to add the patches by the way!*, that you utilize its AUTORUN function. This will set the appropriate "language" key in your FB1.0 installation. If you have AUTORUN capabilities turned off (either by choice or error) then just browse your cdrom drive in using your windows explorer and click on the cdrom drive. That should start the AUTORUN procedure.

Barring that, you may manually edit your registry to include the correct language by following this thread:
http://www.simhq.com/simhq3/sims/boards/bbs/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=98;t=007823#000000
You run regedit at your own risk. Try the process of using autorun off your fb 1.0 disk for starters to let it set the language appropriately to start with.
Once you've confirmed the language key is present and set appropriately, your AEP install will work properly. Your AEP should autorun appropriately based upon your language key being set properly now. Barring that, setup.exe will work now without the error as long as the key is properly set.

NOTE: The instructions linked above are for the US_ENGLISH version of FB1.0 and AEP. You will have to get with a co-located owner of FB1.0 and AEP to understand the registry entries for your language install!!

FB would not uninstall normally, and after manually removing the program, it stubbornly refused to reinstall.

FB uninstall/reinstall resolution from: http://forums.ubi.com/eve/ubb.x?a=tpc&s=400102&f=49310655&m=95610798

I got a lot of good feedback on this topic before when I was in deep trouble, so I thought I'd give something back!

Problem:
FB would not uninstall with the normal uninstall method, and after manually removing the program, it stubbornly refused to reinstall.

Resolution:
* remove the install folder manually
* remove HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Ubi Soft\IL-2 Sturmovik Forgotten Battles
* empty "%temp%" from the Run menu
* empty "%systemroot%\temp" from the Run menu
* removed all shortcuts

It still would not reinstall.

Here is the *****y bit. Set folder display otions to show hidden folders and files. In the Programs folder (XP), you will find a normally hidden "InstallShield Installation Information" folder. One of the subolders pertain to FB and is corrupt. To find out which - use Notepad and check the "Setup.ilg" files (do not save!!) for any text referring to FB. When you find the folder, NOTE THE NAME of the folder (in my case {8DF712DA-D325-4FD0-8DE8-E2D78FC3CDC3}, and delete the folder (or just move it somewhere else).

Then run Regedit and search it for the first part of the folder name - for example 8DF712DA. You will find two keys in the registered programs part of the registry that match this - makes sense. Delete these keys.

Set folder dsiplay options back to normal.

Now the re-install worked fine and I could make a fresh install of the 1.21 patch!

Phew - that was a sweat!

Fly carefully
/Jilli

Addendum from B16Enk:

Windows Installer CleanUp Utility is available at:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;290301

Quote:

The Windows Installer CleanUp Utility does:
Provide a dialog box where you can select one or more programs that were installed by Windows Installer. You select the programs on the Installed Products list in the Windows Installer CleanUp dialog box. After you make this selection, the utility removes only the Windows Installer configuration information that is related to those programs.
Remove the files and registry settings that make up the Windows Installer configuration information for programs that you select.

I've now 'successfully' patched BUT the ESC key no longer works - arrghh!

It's common that patching will cause the occasional corruption, no big deal. Confirm that this line is in your conf. If absent, add, close and save changes.

[HotKey gui]
Escape=activate

"Error 1305. Error reading from the file E:\program files\Ubisoft\PacificFighters\fb_3do08p.SFS. Verify that the file exists and that you can access it."

Possible memory error. Solution, check that RAM is securely seated. SimHQ link

Graphics Corruption ie black water and other anomalies.

This sometimes happens after an upgrade, adjust your settings in IL-2 setup, this should cure any problems

The latest version of Winrar is required to extract these archives. Utilities claiming to be winrar compatible may not work

Select patch from the list below and download each file into the same directory.
When download is complete click any one of the files to begin extracting the archive.
V4.02 and V4.04 patches are not included in this list as they are less than 40MB

Pacific Fighters Standalone Patches

Forgotten Battles/Aces Expansion/Pacific Fighters Merged Patches