I think I did something bad :( Any suggestions?

[SD39er]

I changed the names of some of my locomotive files in my "trains" folder and now i get this "Error reading train database file" spacifically for the locomotives that i name changed. Now I cant even get into the game or the editor to try and fix things without thi error comming up and kicking me out.

Can anyone help me or did i just ruin my favorite game?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions. I'm really bummed!

[NW_611]

OK, first things first: This is not a terminal sort of error; it can be fixed.

Next, figure out what changes you made, and revert them where possible.

You don't need to be in-game to do this; just putter around with Windows Explorer and make the reversions from there. Reinstallation is not necessary at this point, assuming you can fix what you did.

When you say, "changed the names of some of my locomotive files", whaddya mean?

[SD39er]

I'm not the best with pc's yet so i wouldnt know how to get into the windows explorer or where to start. if you give me an ida or example i should be able to do it though. what i did in the trains file where all of the locos and cars are stored is change a few names so i can recognize them better when i go to make a consist. Example: Columbus Locomotive Works has some PRR and Conrail SD9's I downloaded. Well in the trains file they are listed as CLW_SD9_PRR and CLW_SD9_CR etc. I changed them to SD9PRR and SD9CR etc. i only did this to about 4 locomotives before i noticed the error. I even erased a couple of these locos from the trains file thinking that would fix it but soon after a few tries it would not let me back into the editor or game. The files obviously are able to be clicked on and name change so i didnt think it would harm anything.
Thanks for any help. I dont know what to do right now.

[SD39er]

Oh P.S. reinstalling the game didnt fix it either. I'm kinda thinking it's in my hard drive maybe?

[NW_611]

Absent further facts not in evidence at this point in time, your computer's hard drive is fine and is not contributing to the troubles that you are having. Similarly, reinstallation is not going to help you---what reinstallation fixes is not what's causing your problem.

In the case of the CLW SD9s, here's what appears to be happening:
Mr. Lashley's fine products install a consist file or two for each locomotive. Those consist files are stored in \TRAINS\CONSISTS\. When the game loads, it looks at those consist files and then looks at \TRAINS\TRAINSET\ to see if the locomotives and railcars referenced in all consist files are present.

If they are not, then the kind of errors you're seeing are generated. MSTS is very, very picky about this. If a consist file calls for ..\CLW_SD9_PRR\CLW_CR_SD9_6906.eng, then it had better be in that place, with that exact name. The errors you're seeing is because you've renamed the directories where *.eng files are stored, and thus broken the consist files.

Open Windows Explorer and navigate to wherever you installed MSTS, probably C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Train Simulator. Then, go into TRAINS\CONSISTS, where you need to delete all the .con files starting with "CLW". That should be approximately nine files, named things like CLW CR SD9 6906.con and so forth.

Go back up one level in the directory and go to TRAINS\TRAINSET\ where you will need to delete the CLW_SD9_PRR directory.

Having done these two things, you should be closer to fixing your installation. You'll still need to fix whatever directories and/or files you renamed. In the future, do not casually rename things unless you are absolutely certain you can deal with the consequences. The game engine doesn't care about your convenience, so learn the way it works. You can adapt, it can't.

Also, I strongly suggest you look at using ConBuilder, either the light or professional version, available from conbuilder.3dtrains.com; this program will help you manage consists and correct errors where they arise.

If you need any additional help, please continue to post in this thread, and don't panic. What you've done is reversible and/or easily repairable.

[SD39er]

I fixed it!! Your right, the names need to stay the way they are stored origionally. I went into the programs and settings part of my pc and deleted the CLW. The just happend to be X-ed in there also so i figured that might be a problem. I uninstalled them and those errors were gone. Then I move to my recycle bin where the las few i changed i had deleted. I simply restored them and by this time it actually let me into the editor where i opened trainsets and cganged the names back. I'm lucky the error actually stated the origional names!

Thanks for all of your help! I really appreciate it. Now i can get back to my consists! I swear this game has got to be a friggin virtual narcotic cause i'm so addicted!