This is how to fix grey screen (loading maps)

NINJAHOBNOB was how I found this out. But not a lot of people probably saw this. So I though I would make a new thread.
Please read the thread before asking questions.
I don't know what forum section to put this in. Move it if you need to.

Take a look at what I highlighted. The file name is different than the folder it's in.
That's what's causing the grey screen and the map not loading. This may also happen if there is no preview image. (If it is supposed to have one.)

rename the ".mis" file and the "_preview" to the name of the folder it's in.
In this case I will rename "lagseca.mis" to "Laguna_Seca.mis" and "lagseca_prievew" to "Laguna_Seca_preview".


I hope this helped! Please provide screenshots if you have any questions.

DON'T RENAME THE FOLDER unless you want to change the path of everything.
you don't want to.

 

Re: This is how to fix grey screen

Going to try out! Thanks a lot!

 

Re: This is how to fix grey screen

For the most part this works great, but I've ran into a couple of maps that I just can't get working.

They have a couple things in common:
1) A bunch of ML files??
2) The map name in game is completely different than the map file names and folder name
3) They have terrain files that do not have the map name attached to them or multiple forest files that are numbered

Any thoughts?

Update:

I've managed to get "BigAirport" to load by renaming the folder and map files to "Island_International_Airport" as it shows in game. However, it fails to load a whole bunch of stuff and the game simply drops me into an ocean. The preview image is still broken too.

Update2: Exact same issue with "Alaskan_Airport".

 

Re: This is how to fix grey screen

I got "BigAirport" to work without any changes. but I need to fix a black texture and no texture for the roads. Can you send me a link Alaskan airport?

For number 2 You can change the map name by going into one of the folders, There is a map creation thread you can look for and he shows you. None of my maps so far have the same name in the folder and the game.
-----EDIT-----
For some reason I can't fix the black textures like I usually do.

 

Re: This is how to fix grey screen

Properly read the first post please. He said rename 2 files, not every file. That is where you are getting the ocean thing from, as well as the errors.

 

Re: This is how to fix grey screen

I edited the first post to make that more clear.

 

Re: This is how to fix grey screen

Ah, cunning plan mate!
Akron-Motor-Speedway-(Oval-Circuit)
By default, but with the exception of the in game name, the files mentioned and folders are named correctly for both maps. They just won't load.

Alaskan-Paradise-(Re-Released-9-13-BUG-FIXED)




Originals:

 

Re: This is how to fix grey screen

They are loading fine for me Akron and Alaska loading perfectly. Did you try re-installing the maps?

 

Thank you! This fixed Straightline Track for me

 

Re: This is how to fix grey screen

cant get arkon to work and have tried reinstall

 

Re: This is how to fix grey screen

Did you you clear the existence in these two places?
\Documents\BeamNG.drive\cache.0.3.8.0\levels
\Documents\BeamNG.drive\levels

 

Anyone tried Amsy-Island? If you want to load it you also get grey screen although all important files are named correctly. Any suggestions?

 

I'n not getting a grey screen. But it loads for a while and crashes for me. I haven't changed any files.

 

Hmm okay....that´s strange. How did you install the map?

 

\Documents\BeamNG.drive\mods\levels
You have to create the levels folder.

 

Hmm but it is also possible to let the files in the archive or am I wrong?

 

The devs want you to put them what I described above.

 

Thank you Nivracer, it worked.
But i had to re-arrange the structure because of the "level" folder missing...

original: Laguna_Seca.zip\Laguna_Seca\files...
working: Laguna_Seca.zip\levels\Laguna_Seca\files...

 

You are not supposed to have 2 folders like you have. You take the last "Laguna_Seca" file and put it \mods\levels\mapname\(files for map). You can see how I have it on the screenshots on the opening post. But if it works for you and you like it better can do it like that.
Glad it helped!

 

Yes, it works like this also. Just to be sure, i found that all of these locations & folder structures work (cashes cleared between attempts):

1. C:\Program Files\beamng.drive-0.3.8.3\content\levels\Laguna_Seca\...
2. C:\Program Files\beamng.drive-0.3.8.3\content\levels\Laguna_Seca.zip\levels\Laguna_Seca\...
3. C:\Program Files\beamng.drive-0.3.8.3\content\Laguna_Seca.zip\levels\Laguna_Seca\...
4. C:\Users\user...\Documents\BeamNG.drive\levels\Laguna_Seca\...
5. C:\Users\user...\Documents\BeamNG.drive\levels\Laguna_Seca.zip\levels\Laguna_Seca\...
6. C:\Users\user...\Documents\BeamNG.drive\mods\levels\Laguna_Seca\...
7. C:\Users\user...\Documents\BeamNG.drive\mods\levels\Laguna_Seca.zip\levels\Laguna_Seca\...
8. C:\Users\user...\Documents\BeamNG.drive\mods\Laguna_Seca.zip\levels\Laguna_Seca\...

Most of them maybe should not be used, for example the path "C:\Users\user...\Documents\BeamNG.drive\levels\" i think is used for caching purposes.
So as Nivracer and beamng-wiki suggests, the path "C:\Users\user...\Documents\BeamNG.drive\mods\" should be used in any of the three variations (6, 7, 8).

The key point is that in all three locations, the final map folder* (containing the map files) should be inside a "level" folder**, regardless of being inside a ".zip" file***.
The same rules apply to "vehicles".
Since the ".zip" method doesn't take longer to load, i would prefer it for reduced hard drive space.

* which as you pointed out, the name of it must not be changed
** i just saw you have already mention that
*** which you can rename to whatever you want

Thank you again Nivracer, your help is appreciated.