I currently own A-10C and Black Shark 1 (not Black Shark 2) and wish to move to DCS World 1.2.0 and the assocaited 1.2.0 modules. I saw the install instructions on the ED forums that stated:
1- Uninstall all previous DCS products prior to versions 1.2.0 (which means I would uninstall A-10C and BS1 from my computer)
2- To be safe, delete \Saved Games\DCS files
3- Install DCS World 1.2.0
4- Install each new DCS module (1.2.0 or latest Beta version)

I have been reading posts but this is getting quite confusing. What is the best way to get from Black Shark 1 to the new DCS 1.2.0 Black Shark module? Do I have to upgrade to BS2 and then uninstall both BS1 and BS2 (as per instructions above) and then install the new DCS 1.2.0 Black Shark module? Is there a way directly from BS1 to DCS 1.2.0 Black Shark module somehow?

If someone could be specfic I would greatly appreacite it.

Best way (I think) is as follows:

Buy BS2 upgrade. Make sure that you purchase it using the account you already have, if you have one. Don't bother installing it.
Uninstall DCSA10 & DCSBS1, dont unregister them.
Install BS1 either from your disk or from your download.
Play BS1 once all the way through to a mission.
Install DCS world.
Install DCSA10 1.2
Install DCSBS2 1.2

Done

buy it, save the key as a text.

download DCSWorld and all the modules.
Install the modules and use the Key's you already have from buying BS 2 Upgrade/A-10C.

If I understand this correctly. This would be what you need to do:
Purchase the BS2 upgrade module(if you havent purchased the BS2 upgrade yet)
Install DCS World 1.2
Then Install each module as required.

Once you launch a mission you will be asked for your serial key.

After this you can delete BS1. You might be able to delete it before all of the world stuff but I would leave it in case the BS2 needs to check for BS1.


There is no need to install BS1 or BS2 before world. Once you buy a module all you need to do is have world and said module installed. Its that easy!

Note: I do not own BS2. However as long as you purchased the BS2 upgrade module you should be good to go.

Here's What I'd Do.

Buy BS2 Update, Update BS1 to BS2, Register it with the Key.

Download DCS World Installer

Download A-10C Module

Download BS2 Module

Install DCS World

Install A-10C Module

Install BS2 Module




If you leave A-10C and BS2 Standalone's Installed and Install DCS World and the Modules, Then you shouldnt have to re-enter any Key's, at least I didnt.



I have DCS A-10C 1.1.1.1, I bought on a steam sale a while back,

Kept the key, downloaded the Installers from DCS's site instead of using steam's.

Installed, used the steam key to register.


When DCS World Came out of Beta, I Installed DCS World, Then DCS A-10 Module, I left DCS A-10C 1.1.1.1 Installed, and I can run them separately.

After Installing the Module for A-10C, DCS World Showed I had Access to A-10C Module, I havent had to enter a serial key once yet in DCS World, as the A-10C key is already in the registry.

Thanks very much,

So is the following correct? From the good advice provided it sounds like the simplest verion.

On the E-shop page of the DCS site there is an item called:

"DCS: Black Shark 2 Upgrade 1.2.0" - It's $19.99 and moves you from BS1 to BS2 but has nothing to do with DCS World. I do not need to install this because I will be provided a text key by email(?) and that is all I need when I install the new 1.2.0 DCS World BS Module.

On the Downloads>>Module page of the DCS site there is an item called:

"DCS: Black Shark 2 1.2.0". This is free (given that I have text key provided when I bought my BS2 upgrade listed above) and this is the module I download and install after I have received my text key and after I have installed DCS World. When I run it I enter the key I got from my upgrade purchase.

On the Downloads>>Module page of the DCS site there is an item called:

"DCS: Black Shark 2 Upgrade 1.2.0". This is free and is the module that works with DCS World. I am guessing it is an upgrade for people who already have BS2 for DCS World and want to get the new version. Therefore I do not need this at all.


It sounds like I can uninstall BS1 either before or after I do this all - but to be safe do it after.

I believe you just have to buy and download the Upgrade 1.2 off the module page. I think the upgrade is to go from bs1 to bs2 and the bs2 without the upgrade is if you never owned bs1. Make sense?

Ricob,

If you're trying to get Black Shark 2, you would download only one of two items: Black Shark 2 full or Black Shark 2 upgrade. If you already have DCS Black Shark 1, you can buy the upgrade, otherwise you'll need the full version (or buy BS1 then buy the upgrade). The E-Shop sells you the keys, the Download page is where you download the installation packages.

v1.2 of Black Shark 2 is a DCS World module. You will need to have DCS World (which is free to download and install, no key required) installed before installing Black Shark v1.2 (upgrade or full version).

If you go the BS2 upgrade route, you can uninstall Black Shark 1 after you install BS2.

So, BS2 Upgrade path:

1) Have BS1 installed and activated on your PC.
2) Purchase the BS2 Upgrade key from the E-shop (always buy all your products from the same Digital Combat Simulator login account)
3) Download the DCS World module.
4) Download BS2 Upgrade module v1.2 from the Downloads page.
5) Install DCS World.
6) Install BS2 Upgrade.
7) Start DCS World and go to Multiplayer.
8) Log in using the same login info as your Digital Combat Simulator login. (This binds that serial number to that login).
9) Uninstall BS1 (if you wish).

The Full version path is the same except you don't have to do step 1 or 9 and steps 2, 4, and 6 would be the BS2 full version.

Steps 7 and 8 are option and you can do steps 1-4 in any order you want to, but you have to have DCS World installed before you install any DCS module.

Thanks again for the info and steps, appreciated.

EinsteinEP, you mentioned that I should "always buy all your products from the same Digital Combat Simulator login account". I bought my original BS1 as a boxed product and my A-10 as a Steam product. If I get the BS2 key from the E-shop that should not matter, right?

Yes, Ricob, that should be fine.

Have you played either BS1 or A-10C multiplayer? If so, when you logged into the ED Masterserver, did you use the same log in info? If not, you may get an "Invalid Serial Number" error that just means those serial numbers are bound to different accounts. Check this link to fix it: http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/3606485/Serial_Number_Management_or_Ho.html#Post3606485