(UE5.4) GenerateProjectFiles ERROR: It looks like you're missing "some files" -> 2025

Ivan3z · February 12, 2025, 6:42am

I got an error when trying to compile the Engine (version 5.4)

The error message is very detailed and tells me exactly what I need to solve the problem (It’s sarcasm).

GenerateProjectFiles ERROR: It looks like you’re missing some files that are required in order to generate projects. Please check that you’ve downloaded and unpacked the engine source code, binaries, content and third-party dependencies before running this script.

I followed the steps in this video to install the dependencies.

Summary:
1 - I downloaded the source from GitHub in a ZIP
2 - Unzzip it here → C:\UnrealEngine-5.4
3 - Add the folder to Windows Defender exclusions (just in case)
4 - Installed python-3.13.2-amd64
5 - Check VS installation

6 - I also have all this installed

7 - I run “GenerateProjectFiles.bat” as administrator.

8 - And it gives me the most specific error in the universe.

Does anyone know what else I need to install?

Thank you so much!!

EDITED 1:

I found a noticeable difference between the number of files in the precompiled version and the uncompiled version.

Do I need to put something in there?
Or are those files generated when compiling?

Thank you so much!!

EDITED 2:

There are a lot of folders missing too…
Should those folders be there or not?

Maybe GitHub made a faulty ZIP?

Extrone · February 12, 2025, 7:22am

Did you run Setup.bat before running GenerateProjectFiles.bat ?

Open your source folder in Windows Explorer and run Setup.bat. This will download binary content for the engine, install prerequisites, and set up Unreal file associations.On Windows 8, a warning from SmartScreen may appear. Click More info, then Run anyway to continue.A clean download of the engine binaries is currently 18+ GiB, which may take some time to complete. Subsequent runs will be much faster, as they only download new and updated content.

Run GenerateProjectFiles.bat to create project files for the engine. It should take less than a minute to complete.

From Unreal Engine Github Readme → Getting up and running

Ivan3z · February 12, 2025, 7:24am

Hi @Extrone
Nope!!
The guy from the tutorial went straight to generating files…
I’ll try it!!
Thanks a lot!!

Maybe Epic should update this page too… It doesn’t say anything about “Setup.bat” here either.

3dRaven · February 12, 2025, 8:02am

All of the instructions are in the readme file in the downloaded folder.
It describes the process step by step. No need for a tutorial.

Don’t forget to setup the correct version of Windows SDK.

Ivan3z · February 12, 2025, 8:08am

I thought that only the key and the crack instructions were there!! LOL…

Ok… I’ll try that now…

Thank you so much @3dRaven

Ivan3z · February 12, 2025, 8:14am

Should the “saved” folder already exist?

Engine\Saved\UnrealBuildConfiguration.xml

Because it is not created by default… Even after running “Setup.bat”

3dRaven · February 12, 2025, 8:19am

it should be in

Your source install folder\UnrealEngine\Engine\Saved\UnrealBuildTool\

It’s probably created some time during the compile process. I got nearly through the whole compile before I got the “error C4756: overflow in constant arithmetic” message. By that time the folder already existed. But I had to create the file myself.

Ivan3z · February 12, 2025, 8:22am

Ok… It was created after running “GenerateProjectFiles.bat”

That’s the right path!!

Now to solve the SDK problem.

3dRaven · February 12, 2025, 8:25am

Normally you can get only dowload the latest version from microsoft. To get to an older version you will need to check their archive

Ivan3z · February 12, 2025, 8:28am

There is always something left to do… XD

3dRaven · February 12, 2025, 8:33am

Mine compiled successfully with 10.0.22621.0

Ivan3z · February 12, 2025, 8:35am

The version you gave me is not there. (10.0.22621.0)
These are the most similar.

Windows SDK for Windows 11 (10.0.26100.1742)
Windows SDK for Windows 11 (10.0.22621.2428)
Windows SDK for Windows 11 (10.0.22621.1778)
Windows SDK for Windows 11 (10.0.22621.755)

Which one do I take?
Do I have to write the exact number in the XML? right?

Ivan3z · February 12, 2025, 8:37am

Maybe it’s on another website… I’ll see if I can find it.

3dRaven · February 12, 2025, 8:44am

I downloaded the latest and 3 from the archive staring from the bottom. The folder’s aren’t as precise with the naming convention. Lazy Microsoft.

Windows SDK for Windows 11 (10.0.22621.1778)
Windows SDK for Windows 11 (10.0.22621.755)
Windows SDK for Windows 11 (10.0.22000.194)

It wil be one of them, the folder will show up in your devkit folder (I didn’t rename them they went to their default locations)

Ivan3z · February 12, 2025, 9:08am

C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10

Ok… it was the same one I had installed from the beginning.

Windows SDK for Windows 11 (10.0.22621.1778)
22621.1778.230511-2102.ni_release_svc_prod3_WindowsSDK.iso

It is the latest version of 2023

SDKManifest.xml

Ok… fingers crossed… the compilation begins

Ivan3z · February 12, 2025, 10:28am

it does works!!

Time to make a little downgrade!!

Thank you so much @3dRaven

3dRaven · February 12, 2025, 10:30am

Congrats on your first source compile

Ivan3z · February 12, 2025, 10:39am

All thanks to you!!

Ok, I think it’s time to start with the dedicated server.

Let’s see if there are any improvements regarding the listen server… Although I really want to have both. XD Let’s see how I do that…

It seems like the game never ends… I think I’ve refactored the entire code like three or four times.
Two years and from the outside everything seems the same. But inside everything changed.

Ok, let’s get to work!!