0) Uninstall the game and delete the game registry keys after uninstall if
they are still there
1) run a reg clean program, and defrag
2) install SH4 vanilla
3) verify
3a) if it needs to download more files, wait until you get a popup then
re-verify
4) restart
5) defrag
6) reg clean
7) test game without changing game settings
8) install UBM
9) repeat 3-7
10) Install mods one at a time
11) test after each mod is enabled without changing game settings
12) repeat 10-11 until all mods are in and tested.
That is the procedure I have been using for a clean install. and even after re-verifing the files everything will check out 100%, updates get turned back off, but then after 2 game plays the proverbial sh*t hits the fan and files start disappearing. Why are the files disappearing and where are they going? That is the issue I can't seem to solve. I am working at it as we speak. Updates keep turning themselves back on too...even after I turn them off after the verification.

Regards
Sh4 Fan

You need to verify files on Vanilla only. Once you get the files verified all OK then turn off updates for SH4 and then for SH4 Uboats add on.

Both need to be turned off before applying mods.

I heard other stories about Steam automatically turning updates back on from other people. I've not had it happen to me yet though.

Steam turns on updates for me and the game starts crashing and progressively worse files are replaced. is there any way to just turn them off permanently?

Thanks

Sh4 fan