Guide: Uninstall Battletech Cleanly [Often fixes issues]

[Edmon]

This guide will help you to uninstall BattleTech cleanly if you have issues or have mods which have not uninstalled properly or have broken since v1.1. This method has been known to fix issues even if you've not modded (but have had issues since v1.1.).

One does not simply Right Click > Uninstall BattleTech.

Always try cleanly uninstalling and reinstalling if you are having technical issues, especially if you started with an early/beta version of BattleTech.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yufxeroffuc

Please note that is has become the case that some registery entries need removing as part of the clean uninstall process. This should be done after the process described in the video above but before you re-install the game:

Here is a video for making the regedit changes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8504otPbO5U

Some Extra Notes:

> You may also find data in the following location on windows 10:
C:\Users\<UserName>\AppData\LocalLow\Harebrained Schemes\

> Another way of getting into AppData in Windows Explorer is to click on View up the top, and tick the box "view hidden items".

> This is the exact regedit location if you can't clearly see it in the video:
Navigate to 'Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Harebrained Schemes\BATTLETECH'. Now delete the 'CachedSettings_h2706256392’ key

Note this is potentially dangerous, ask for help if you are not confident in this and/or follow the video guide every carefully!

> Here are equivalent file system locations for GoG users:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\USER_ID\637090\
is
C:/Users/USER_ID/AppData/Local/GOG.com/Galaxy/Applications/50593543263669699/

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\BATTLETECH\
is
C:\Program Files (x86)\GOG Galaxy\Games\BATTLETECH\

C:\Users\%username%\AppData\LocalLow\Harebrained Schemes\BATTLETECH\ is the same for Steam and GoG versions.

Special thanks to AndrewT and MrBigT for his support in adding these extra details.

[Thomas]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Edmon:

Początkowo opublikowane przez Thomas:

I followed the steps and I can't find the HBS folder in AppData.

If it doesn't exist in:
*\AppData\Local\
*\AppData\Roaming\
*\AppData\LocalLow\

Then skip this step.

That you much, it was LocalLow.

[Van_el]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Edmon:

A method that has worked for nearly everyone is to switch to the old version Beta, load the game, close it and then switch back again (opt out of beta).

Why this works, no idea.

This is fixing problems for people who have never modded. If you are having an issue, give this a try.

I also got confirmation this works for the GoG Galaxy version as well.

Does it matter which beta?

[Herr Schmidt]

Thank you for the guide Edmon.

[Edmon]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Van_el:

Początkowo opublikowane przez Edmon:

A method that has worked for nearly everyone is to switch to the old version Beta, load the game, close it and then switch back again (opt out of beta).

Why this works, no idea.

This is fixing problems for people who have never modded. If you are having an issue, give this a try.

I also got confirmation this works for the GoG Galaxy version as well.

Does it matter which beta?

Use the latest one, the "abilities beta"

[Whitesong]

Game will now start... and then hangs at loading the save. This is NOT an improvement. Please FIX this

[Edmon]

Początkowo opublikowane przez scsom84:

Game will now start... and then hangs at loading the save. This is NOT an improvement. Please FIX this

Did you mod your game? Hanging at the save is often a sign of this. If you modded your game, you'll have to do a proper clean uninstall (losing your save) to play the latest version.

[Whitesong]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Edmon:

Początkowo opublikowane przez scsom84:

Game will now start... and then hangs at loading the save. This is NOT an improvement. Please FIX this

Did you mod your game? Hanging at the save is often a sign of this. If you modded your game, you'll have to do a proper clean uninstall (losing your save) to play the latest version.

No, this is an unmodded version of the game. It gets to the load game section, and on telling it to continue from that point, it WILL NOT load anything. The CONTINUE option freezes the program. The LOAD old game option freezes the program.
I have done an uninstall/reinstall via steam, but I can not find my registries to do a full - deep clean - hold a prayer service and scrub my hard drive lose all my saved games and start over from zero reinstall. NOR SHOULD I HAVE TO.

Please fix this DLC so it is actually playable.

[Edmon]

Początkowo opublikowane przez scsom84:

Początkowo opublikowane przez Edmon:

Did you mod your game? Hanging at the save is often a sign of this. If you modded your game, you'll have to do a proper clean uninstall (losing your save) to play the latest version.

No, this is an unmodded version of the game. It gets to the load game section, and on telling it to continue from that point, it WILL NOT load anything. The CONTINUE option freezes the program. The LOAD old game option freezes the program.
I have done an uninstall/reinstall via steam, but I can not find my registries to do a full - deep clean - hold a prayer service and scrub my hard drive lose all my saved games and start over from zero reinstall. NOR SHOULD I HAVE TO.

Please fix this DLC so it is actually playable.

I am just a fan, so I can't "fix the DLC". It sounds to me like you have an old savegame that is the problem and/or has become corrupted somehow.

If you follow the step to delete the steam folder containing the savegame and start a new campaign, you'll likely be fine.

[testamentcelo]

Początkowo opublikowane przez scsom84:

Początkowo opublikowane przez Edmon:

Did you mod your game? Hanging at the save is often a sign of this. If you modded your game, you'll have to do a proper clean uninstall (losing your save) to play the latest version.

No, this is an unmodded version of the game. It gets to the load game section, and on telling it to continue from that point, it WILL NOT load anything. The CONTINUE option freezes the program. The LOAD old game option freezes the program.
I have done an uninstall/reinstall via steam, but I can not find my registries to do a full - deep clean - hold a prayer service and scrub my hard drive lose all my saved games and start over from zero reinstall. NOR SHOULD I HAVE TO.

Please fix this DLC so it is actually playable.

Just a simple uninstall via steam will NOT delete everything associated with BT. Please, watch those two youtube videos. They are decently short (although not quick to the point) and will help you return to a COMPLETELY CLEAN install.

Yeah sure, uninstall via steam, but you also need to find your BT folder, delete the entire BT folder (I'm sure you can find this easily). If you can't find it just right click Battletech, go to properties, local files, browse local files. Once inside, go back just one folder and delete the entire BT folder. Then go to your appdata locallow (this is a hidden folder), if you can't find it enable viewing hidden folders. Don't know what OS you run, but since I run Windows 10, just open up any folder, click the tab view near the top, then click options, then select change folder and search options. Then go to the appdata\locallow, find Harebrained Schemes, DELETE that. For registry, go to start, run, "regedit" (don't include quotes), find Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Harebrained Schemes\BATTLETECH, DELETE that.

Only then can you begin to reinstall via steam. It's a pain in the a$$, but yeah it's a lesson learned.
***SIDE NOTE*** It also helps if you also check your output_log.txt file, open it up with any text editor like Notepad or similar. Scroll down to the bottom of the log file and start reading where the errors began bottom to top. You'll see what is causing the hangups, infinite loading screens etc. etc. Basically, whatever version was previous and whatever you USED TO HAVE, .json edits, version manifest is different, metadatabase, registry or ANYTHING is different compared to the newest version (1.3.x), the game WILL NOT WORK.

Sorry, but blaming a fan (Edmon) for a game not working is toxic to BT community. I'm glad Battletech, MechWarrior Online and the likes have come to fruition instead of a simple tabletop. It doesn't build a better community for the games to have sequels, updates, patches, etc. if all people do is just b!tch about it. Battletech never would've happened without backers either since it was a kickstarter with what, a 50k budget(the initial kickstart maybe I can't remember)? Yeah sure, the devs used a cheap engine, Unity, it is heavy on the processor and it's basically code on code on code, it leaks memory and all that stuff, but not everything is their fault. You got to do some work on your end too. It is officially stated that they do not support mods, so basically it's a use at your own risk (mod or not). Sorry, not trying to sound too much of an a$$, but just hope the top section helped a little bit. But literally wiping everything trace of BT is really only the solution.
***SIDE NOTE***

[6Taylor4]

no no no, i'm not gonna do that for you; you have to produce a product that will cleanly install and uninstall. I'm the buyer, not the FIXER!

[ossied]

After patch i can go into miss , play as normal but as soon as i fire anyn mechs weapons ,game freezes i run vanilar battletech , Only happened after update , am being told spend money or no access to actual gameplay.
Look at my hrs and tell me i am going ot have to reinstall and loose all that in case its a save game bug not been corrected or created bye devs .
Fix the game , thier still bugs from public release that have not been fixed yet here comes a money grab flashpoint.
Bugs are , removing heart sinks,Jjets,weapons etc to or from a mech to storage or removal bin at bottom of screen resulting having t either redo oit or in my case having to resart game.
The above mentioned crash.
Loading time are hoorendous never played agame where you spend more time watching a loading screen than actual in game play.
Good thing you lot don`t manufacture safety life saving safety equipement.

[Edmon]

Początkowo opublikowane przez 6Taylor4:

no no no, i'm not gonna do that for you; you have to produce a product that will cleanly install and uninstall. I'm the buyer, not the FIXER!

I am not a developer nor do I work for HBS or Paradox...

This is advice from a fan that may get your game working, if there are problems.

Also to all those posting here, please also post your specifications, the game does not run well on 8GB of ram, so if you don't have at least 16GB, this may be your problem.

[ossied]

Początkowo opublikowane przez icarus_falling669:

So let me get this straight, I have to do a clean uninstall and fix registry issues due to my mistakes of PURCHASING your new DLC? I don't think so, this is what the return option is for when it comes to Steam games. Good luck with your obviouisly extensive programming problems, but don't expect me to finance them. Let me know when you release a FINISHED WORKING product.

Well siad mate, i have had ot save once agoian beacause reparing a m,ech is apperaently not aloud noe if oyu dont spend cash on thier updates , i run a vanilla battletechb , no mods no dlc, when the vanilla game wont run witrh out bugs stil in the software from release they will not get any money from me and i expect to get at least the whole map unlocked for haviong to put up with this very poor excuse for stable software.

No diffirent than ubisoft, bethesda , EA , ♥♥♥♥ thae actual game jsut get the money and run liek f.
Even the scum blokes are ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ on thier customers
Well done valve an allowing this ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ to go on

[juliejayne]

Początkowo opublikowane przez ossied:

Początkowo opublikowane przez icarus_falling669:

So let me get this straight, I have to do a clean uninstall and fix registry issues due to my mistakes of PURCHASING your new DLC? I don't think so, this is what the return option is for when it comes to Steam games. Good luck with your obviouisly extensive programming problems, but don't expect me to finance them. Let me know when you release a FINISHED WORKING product.

Well siad mate, i have had ot save once agoian beacause reparing a m,ech is apperaently not aloud noe if oyu dont spend cash on thier updates , i run a vanilla battletechb , no mods no dlc, when the vanilla game wont run witrh out bugs stil in the software from release they will not get any money from me and i expect to get at least the whole map unlocked for haviong to put up with this very poor excuse for stable software.

No diffirent than ubisoft, bethesda , EA , ♥♥♥♥ thae actual game jsut get the money and run liek f.
Even the scum blokes are ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ on thier customers
Well done valve an allowing this ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ to go on

Fully agree. And Support even blames Steam for having a poor dowloader that corrupts files. I am amzed that Valve allow them to impune their reputation in that way...

[ThunderWolf]

Am I under the impression that this is still a problem? For christ's sake, as a day one issue I could understand, but this has been out for over six months; they have put out a full DLC that costs half the price of the game. This problem should have been solved almost instantly. HBS is a great studio and blameing steam's downloader even though GOG has the same issue, is completely beneath them. This is the equvalent of "my dog ate my homework" and is stupid. Before HBS charges us for any more DLC, I want them to fix the uninstall problems, fix the bugs and ctd crashes and give us the game they promised us.