CDK crash on startup

Community Technical Support CDK Problems & Advice
1

Does anyone know how to fix the War Thunder CDK error: failed to load TextStreamingFile = settings.blk?

I downloaded it into the game folder according to the instructions.

I have two War Thunder folders on different drives. It launches from one, but not from the other. However, the folder it launches from was cluttered with some mod, and in the CDK I only had vehicles from that mod.

I’ve already checked the integrity of the game files.

2

The fact that CDK launches from one War Thunder folder but not the other is the strongest clue. CDK tools need to use data from the same, matching game build and installation path; a second folder containing old mods or mixed files can produce missing or incompatible settings.blk/texture-streaming data.

I would do the following:

  1. Choose one clean, fully updated War Thunder installation as the canonical client.
  2. Install the current CDK directly into that exact game folder.
  3. Launch the CDK executable from that same folder—not from an older shortcut pointing to the other drive.
  4. Keep the modded installation separate and do not copy its settings.blk or content files into the clean client.
  5. Verify that both installations are not sharing shortcuts, working directories or stale CDK configuration.

There is also an existing Heavy Cavalry-era thread for this same error: [CDK] Fatal Error: failed to load texStreamingFile=settings.blk after Heavy Cavalry update

If the clean, matching installation still fails, add the CDK version, game build, full exception text and dump/log to that report. Since one folder already launches, reinstalling Windows or changing unrelated drivers would not be a proportionate next step.