Didn't get a clean install?

Robert952

My intents and desires were to get to a completely clean install of Studio and all support files.  (Overdue to clean up my directories and runtimes anyway.)  You’d think I would have learned how to do all this as long as I have been using Studio.  

I especially wanted to get rid of all the empty user folders in the lost and found folder. (At least I assume they are user created.) I am thinking that is not possible.

I followed Padone’s method, all steps including clean up of registry.   (Thanks, Padone)

https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/28348/squeaky-clean-uninstall-of-daz-is-it-possible

Also deleted the CMS (via WIN 10 programs and features) and the DIM.  

I reinstalled.   I adjusted the location pointers as I wanted.  .  From there installed Studio (64-bit), PostgreSQL, default resources and scene builder.  (No Content.)  This should be a bare-bones clean install with no content pointers.  At least I assumed so.  (All the 'standard' scripts, light presets etc are in the content folder I pointed out for DIM.)

But I still see a ‘gazillion’ folders in lost and found.  I assume they are ‘user folders’ since they all have the letter u in the icon...Can't confirm nor deny if they were all created by me at some point in time.  

It appears I did not get a 100% complete delete of the content pointers and management files. 

What did I miss?  How can I delete all the user folders (there’s no files or content shown) in the Lost and Found in one operation? 

Also, when I look at the Scripts utilities folder - and others (for example Move scripts)  I see an exclamation point inside a ‘postage stamp’ frame.  Is that Normal?  It's not like an orphaned object.  Maybe there's not icon for such?  (Exlamation marks in a triangle usually is a warning in my 'normal' world.)

Thanks in advance for any input and assistance.

Richard Haseltine

You didn't reimport metadata? That would have brought back the categories from any previously exported user data.

Exclamation mark inside a frame just means missing or no thumbnail - for a lot of utility scripts it's the latter, and harmless. it's the excalamation in the lower left corner that means missing content file.

Robert952

Richard Haseltine said:

You didn't reimport metadata? That would have brought back the categories from any previously exported user data.

Exclamation mark inside a frame just means missing or no thumbnail - for a lot of utility scripts it's the latter, and harmless. it's the excalamation in the lower left corner that means missing content file.

No.  At least not intentionally.  I only scanned known directories which were newly created and empty prior to installation and follow the target locations in the DIM.  

I did not export metadata prior to uninstall/deletion.  I have not imported metadata.  I have not updated metadata under the "Connect" command listing at the top of the window (where 'File  Edit  etc shows up).  I was hoping that the reinstall would be a blank slate.  (Where is this metadata stored on my hard drives?)

Apparently I either missed something in the delete/uninstall or I still don't understand who things are supposed to work.

Maybe the answer to these questions might help me understand how to manage my situation and get to where I want to be.  .

Can I delete the Default folder under Category and completely start over on categories?  Does that screw up the 'real default' locations for stuff I install?  

This would solve all the problems I think. But what risk to damaging other things?  

The listing are just pointers, they don't effect the actual files, correct?  (I recall something to that effect from a tutorial... but now can't find which one.) 

The listing in Products reflects what is in my Product Library, correct?  If I install via DAZ Connect, it shows as suhc here?

Why does DIM show (since it's the only thing installed) Default Resources as installed, but not in the Product listing?

If I wanted to get anal about icons and thumbnails, how do I find where they are supposed to be?  Example:  There's icons under Shader Presets/Defaults for dzGlossy, dxGlossyMetal, dzSkin etc. but not dzDefault.  Where would the icon/thumbnail show up?

Do I need to install using only one method such as DIM or DAZ Connect?   I like being able to scan the Product for installed stuff and at least find it that way.  Do maybe DIM isn't the better way.  (I really don't want to go down the path of manually installing everything.  I have enough non-DAZ stuff  I also have to manage.) 

I have DIM set up so that applications default to the C: drive; content goes to my E: drive.  If I use via the Content Directory Manager point to the same E: Drive location for DAZ Connect, will everything go to the E:drive including applications?

Apologies for the details and noobness (and even randomness of points).  You'd think I would have gotten a handle on this as many years as I have been using Studio.  But I seem to have a real mental block on these aspects.

And thanks in advance for the assistance.  

 

Richard Haseltine

Had you actually removed the database - C:/Users/YOU/AppData/Roaming/Daz 3d/cms/ContentCluster - or only the PostgreSQL application?

Yes, you can now "delete" the vendor Categories in default - and if necessary restore them via an option in Edit>Preferences>Content. Because they are present but hidden product/metadata updates won't restore them (as they would with genuinely deleted categories in older versions of DS).

The categories are in the database, I'm not sure if that's what you mean by pointrs or not.

Products reflects what has been installed viz DIM or Connect 9and yes, you can mix methods - you may have to as Connect doesn't yet support ExP figues like Victoria 4) along with any manually created products or products created by importing metadata from third-party content.

Content will go to E: using your set-up, but applications to C:.

Robert952

Thanks for the quick reply.

Interesting.  Per Padone's instructions, I searched the C: drive for DAZ and deleted everything that came up.  I just repeated that search and the ContentCluster sub-directory doesn't show up.  With that little experiment done, I'd have a shadow of doubt that specific subdirectory went away.  (...Roaming\DAZ 3D\dson... shows but not ...Roaming\DAZ 3D\cms...)

I would bet that is where the 'flags' (not sure what else to call them except flags or pointers) might be.  

I can do the delete - reinstall and specifically hit that folder.  This time I will look at the folders and stuff before installing the default content.  Would be interesting to know what's included with that installer. 

Thanks again for your assistance and these tips.

Robert952

Well...I did the delete.  The cms folder in the Users...Roaming did empty when I deleted the PostgreSQL app.  So, that was probably clean previously too.  (I deleted the folder anyway.)

With only Studio and PostgreSQL loaded, I launched Studio. Default Categories were there and the Lost and Found seemed to have even more.  

Long story short, I could delete any folder that had reference(s) to any specific model(s).  I'd relaunch Studio and those folders would come back but empty.  It appears there are a set of default categories... shouldn't be a surprise... definition of default.  And, though manually, I cleaned up the categories.  But it was quicker than a item by item delete.  

I still do not understand where Studio picked up the information on those older items.  I will just chock it up to a mystery of the universe that, like string theory, I will never understand.    

On to a careful, slow and deliberate content installation and creation of my own Categories structure.  I am particularly interested in what the "Default Resources" instal adds.  I couldn't see any real difference from that aspect.

Again, thanks for your assistance and patience. 

 

Learning3D

Had the same problem. Content Database Maintenance -> Reset Database helped after doing all mentioned steps above.