When I start the sim (in safe or normal mode) I see the Installation Manager error message: You are missing packages that are essential to run Microsoft Flight Simulator. Please update the application and try again.
This is a Steam installation and Steam has verified the integrity of the folders and files. I use ProcMon64 to watch the sim read all it’s file from the Steam library.
Many, hundreds, of the Packages folders, e.g. Asobo-Aircraft-208b-grand-caravan-ex are missing their ContentInfo folder and their manifest.json file. Thus, the sim will not start and there is no option on the Installation Manager error to do anything but QUIT.
How do I fix this problem? I can’t get to an update screen.
Steam tells me the sim’s file integrity is good and a Steam repair doesn’t find anything to repair.
If you can identify which packages are missing the files, you can delete them from your install.
Once the sim starts it will run the Update Manager and will prompt you to install fresh copies of the deleted packages.
So, for example delete the entire Asobo-Aircraft-208b-grand-caravan-ex directory and it will redownload it.
Yes - I’ve tried that but there are hundreds more - it is proving difficult to find them all
The sim installs in two parts:
- The executable – what you download from Steam
- The Standard, Deluxe and/or Premium content – what is installed via the sim itself via the Update Manager
It sounds like the issue you face is with the latter – the Standard, Deluxe and/or Premium content installed via the sim itself. If that data is somehow missing needed files, then your best bet is to redownload it all via the sim, so worst case delete all the packages.
What I’d like to understand is why these needed files have gone missing. Do you have some sort of anti-virus program or some such that has identified .json files as unsafe and moved/deleted them?
When did this issue arise?
I am in the process of downloading the content.
Earlier on Friday, May 31, I had used the system extensively while testing frame gen and DX11 / DX12. The sim had shutdown normally. The missing packages problem began when I started the sim running again. The entire MSFS steam installation is on drive I - a dedicated SSD.
I then discovered that the InstalledPackagesPath in UserCfg had changes to point at a C:.…Roaming\Microsoft Flight Simulator…
I do not understand how that happened. I verified in Steam that it was pointing at the correct folders on Drive I. But, more research showed ContentInfo and manifest.json were missing from over 300 folder or files on Drive I:
Now, today, I just downloaded most of the files with missing bits using Installation Manager after I manually deleted all the folders/files with missing bits.
The install seemed to work perfectly and populated the proper folders in the Drive I Steam Installation. BUT…I again found a complete MSFS Steam folder structure on Drive C with every folder being empty of any files. And, I found a UserCfg on Drive C that pointed at Drive I.
I had carefully deleted all MSFS folders on Drive C before the update. Somehow, somewhere - either Steam of MSFS is very confused about their home location.
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I have this same exact problem, and have had it for over three years now. MS Store purchase. I’ll reinstall, and the sim will run fine for about a week to 10 days, then out of nowhere, NO Json files in my “Official” folder. The only way I can enjoy this program, is to re-install every 10 days… for the past 3 1/2 years. No help from MS. I don’t even own a virus protection program on on my PC . I even re-installed, and left it alone without launching it for 10 days, and still I checked the “Official” folder only to see no Json, or Manifest files once again. My only hope is that the 2024 version will be different. I’ve lost all hope for this trash on my PC.
Personal Comments and Observations
Please be aware that the Topic Author invoked an Integrity Check that is known to remove the sim or render it to a point of unusability.
Unlike other Steam games where the “Integrity Check” does exactly that - the Steam Client runs the installed program list against a known good manifest, then pulls files from the install library to repair the program, MSFS has only one Integrity Check function - and that requires the MS Installer - the program everyone sees at the beginning of the sim’s initialization/start.
So please be aware that for Steam, do not verify MSFS files through the Steam Client.
The above situation does not apply if you bought the sim through MS-Store or Gamepass.
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