Center Map Won't Re-Download + Failed to Install Mod Map Issue

[Considerate Lover]

Center Map Won't Re-Download

I was dealing with a mod map fail but think I eventually solved it (see below for those dealing with a similar issue). Once that got figured out I kept getting this error upon trying to load into the server I play on:

Assertion failed: Ar != NULL [File:F:\SVN_Ark\Engine\Source\Runtime\CoreUObject\Private\Serialization\BulkData.cpp] [Line: 1154]
Attempted to load bulk data from an invalid filename 'C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/ARK/ShooterGame/Content/Mods/TheCenter/Assets/Textures/Foliage_Atlas_Billboards.uasset'

I uninstalled the DLC and attempted to re-download it, only for it to stall part way through with this lovely message: Missing File Privileges

The file privilege issue is similar to what I was dealing with for the mod map fail but I am not sure where to go from here. Do I need to go into safe mode and delete an existing file before re-downloading it? If so, where is it? For some reason I cannot get network access while in safe mode so I cannot re-download it that way. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

Failed to Install Mod Map Issue (Solved I think)

So I had been dealing with issues since Friday when the server I play on added Structures Plus. I have used S+ on previous servers without issue but as soon as this server added it I could no longer get into it (was still able to access non-modded servers). After many many hours of research, help from friends, trial / error and drinking, here is a guide to what finally worked:

1. Try to narrow down the specific mod that is causing the issue. There is likely a corrupted file associated with that mod that needs to be deleted. If you can't find it, you may need to delete all the mod files.
   
   
2. Once / if you have figured out which mod is causing the issue, you need to figure out the file number. Go to Steam / Community / Workshop / ARK / Hover Over "Your Files" / Select Subscribed Files. Click on the on the mod and you should find a Mod ID in the description.
   
   
3. While in your subscribed items, click unsubscribe to the mod giving you the issue. If you don't know, just unsubscribe to every ARK mod you have.
   
   
4. Find and delete the mod folders on your computer (there were two for S+). The file number will be the same as the Mod ID. First location: Program Files\Stream\SteamApps\Common\ARK\ShooterGame\Content\Mods. Second location: Program Files\Steam\steamapps\workshop\content\346110.
   
   
5. If you are like me, your computer may tell you that you do not have permission to delete those files. Don't ♥♥♥♥ around with the file permissions, you will go insane. Just restart your computer in safe mode and delete the files there.
   
   
6. Delete all files in your recycle bin (not sure if this is necessary but it's what I did).
   
   
7. Restart your computer in normal mode, fire up ARK and you should be good to go (unless you are dealing with the same issue I outline above, in which case we can drink together).

I have been waiting to get online and tranq my friend in the genitals for 3 days! Someone help me!

UPDATE: I uninstalled the Center and then deleted all the files while in safe mode. While re-installing the Center I kept getting a MISSING FILE PRIVILEGES message and the download / install wouldn't finish. I uninstalled all mods, deleted all files (while in safe mode) and then uninstalled the entire game. Once I reinstalled the game, the Center seemed to work along with all the relevant mods.

I still can't access the server I am on due to a MOD MISMATCH. As Smittah79 pointed out, this is likely due to the server having outdated mods which they need to update. Hoping that will finally solve the issue as I was able to log onto other servers with similar mods. I sincerely appreciate all the help that has been provided!

[Considerate Lover]

To give some additional background on these adventures, here are things I had done while trying to address the mod map issue:

• Verified Game Cache
  
• Attempted to delete mod files but could not due to file privileges. Screwed around with those for far too long before just going into Safe Mode and deleting them there.
  
• Unsubscribed and resubscribed to mods.
  
• Deleted and reinstalled all mods (this was before I figured out S+ was also in a second location). Didn't work until I deleted the second file so this is likely where the corrupt file was.
  
• Uninstalled and reinstalled ARK....twice.
  
• Checked hard drive for any errors.

[Lawless]

Might be a long shot but have you tried to switch your download region?

Top left of steam window, Click - Steam - Settings - downloads - download region.

Mine is currently london - cause i live in london. but i noticed when other games stalled on me changing to manchester worked to fix it. mabey it works for you :) good luck

[Considerate Lover]

Thanks for the suggestion! I will definitely try this and anything else provided by you kind souls.

[Zubby]

I think (after making sure The Center is unchecked under ARK DLCs) rebooting into Safe Mode, opening C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\ARK\ShooterGame\Content\Mods and deleting the folder "TheCenter" should hopefully let you reinstall The Center properly once you're back in normal mode. Best of luck! ^.^

[Considerate Lover]

Thanks Zubber. Now that you have helped guide me to the folder, I should be able to do the safe mode trick. I posted this same issue and Reddit and this was suggested:

With the Center Map not downloading, I manually created a Folder called 'TheCenter' in the Mods folder, and had steam Verify the game files. It started downloading the Center map then.

I am hopeful that one of these solutions work. Thanks for taking the time to reply!

[Oncedark]

@smittah79 that is a completely different error. Nothing to do with server/client compatibility.

You are thinking of "mod mismatch error". or "mod version mismatch" or something like that.

[Zubby]

Moobs - Any time! Just returning the favor. c:

Smittah - That wasn't the case at all when I was having the problem.. Manually deleting then reinstalling the problem files was the only thing that fixed the error both times it appeared, and the last time it happened I couldn't join any ARK server at all. While I'm not saying that can't also cause the error, it certainly isn't the only thing that causes it.

[Considerate Lover]

Originally posted by Smittah79:

uhmm... mod map error means that the server has an older version of a mod than you. The issue is on the servers side, it needs to be updated and restarted.

That's interesting. I should have a better idea once I get the Center functioning again and try to log back into the server. If it happens again, obviously it must be what you are referring to. Thanks for the reply!

[Zubby]

Originally posted by Smittah79:

I've been playing this game for a while now. That error message is server side. With what you describe would mean the problem would just keep coming back. Resolution is to go through each of the mods on the server, and see which one is either out of date or if one had been pulled.

If it were server-side, then why would that same error message appear on every server I tried to join before manually deleting everything while my friend who downloaded the mods at the same time as I did the first time had no trouble whatsoever? Honest question, because that really makes no sense to me when the issues pointed to it being client-side. Judging by the results of countless google searches to fix it over the past few weeks, the error can be caused by both a server-side issue, or a client-side issue. It doesn't seem to be exclusive to either.

[thegodsend]

Originally posted by Moobs:

If you are like me, your computer may tell you that you do not have permission to delete those files. Don't ♥♥♥♥ around with the file permissions, you will go insane. Just restart your computer in safe mode and delete the files there.[/b]

Right click > Properties > Security > Edit > Add > (Enter user or "Everyone") > check all the allow boxes > done.

Really not hard at all.

[Zubby]

Originally posted by Smittah79:

Try singleplayer first... see if it loads. If you get the error then go into the workshop and un-subscribe from all mods. If you delete them, steam will just download them again. Let the server you join sub the mods.

Already had tried that before I wiped out the files with no luck, unsubscribing hasn't done anything, and I usually have the server sub the mods. The issue was fixed by manually deleting ARK and all workshop items in Safe Mode, so now I know what to do if it happens a third time, short of reinstalling Steam itself again. Thank you for the suggestion, though. c:

[Considerate Lover]

Originally posted by thegodsend:

Originally posted by Moobs:

If you are like me, your computer may tell you that you do not have permission to delete those files. Don't ♥♥♥♥ around with the file permissions, you will go insane. Just restart your computer in safe mode and delete the files there.[/b]

Right click > Properties > Security > Edit > Add > (Enter user or "Everyone") > check all the allow boxes > done.

Really not hard at all.

That was attempted multiple times by both myself and a more computer savvy friend without any luck.

[Considerate Lover]

Originally posted by Smittah79:

Originally posted by Zubberwolf:

Moobs - Any time! Just returning the favor. c:

Smittah - That wasn't the case at all when I was having the problem.. Manually deleting then reinstalling the problem files was the only thing that fixed the error both times it appeared, and the last time it happened I couldn't join any ARK server at all. While I'm not saying that can't also cause the error, it certainly isn't the only thing that causes it.

I've been playing this game for a while now. That error message is server side. With what you describe would mean the problem would just keep coming back. Resolution is to go through each of the mods on the server, and see which one is either out of date or if one had been pulled.

So I was able to get the Center working again by uninstalling, deleting all existing Center files (in safe mode) and then reinstalling. I even seemed to be able to get all the mods downloaded as I was able to access a SE server with more or less the same mods I use on the server I usually play on. Now of course I get the Mod Mismatch error on my server, which based on your message requires the admins to reinstall / update the mods. I've messaged them so hopefully that will be done today. Definitely seems like I have run into multiple different issues but it feels like there is light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks for your help!