A thought hit hit me what could cause the irregularity.

I am running Daz 4.15 and Genesis 8.1 is loaded on my system.

Tried several times to install current Daz and all ended in failure.

Smart Content is just a different way to organise (some of) the user-facing files (the ones that you see in the panes.) It shouldn't make a difference to the asset files, which are hidden from sight.

I really don't understand the issue here - the base figure is obviosuly installed correctly or it wouldn't load at all, the characters seem to be installed correctly or their textures would give errors on applying materials, and apparently the morphs load and work in some situations but not in others. This is really weird given the way fiels are grouped for installation and the way in which they are loaded. It might be useful tp post the fuil log, and also the full log from successfully loading a character in which the associated morphs do appear - if you zip them up and post them to soemthing like OneDrive or Google Drive or DropBox you should be able to post a link - but I am not sanguine about being able to figure anything out.

Correct me if wrong but 8.1 is not suposed to load on Daz 4.15.

Things are loading where Daz loads it.

Loaded Gen 3 this morning as a test and had few error messages but did not seem to load with or take morphs.

Thinking uninstalling Daz 4.15 and loading latest version.

Would prefer manual uninstall rather than trusting incoming version.

Correct me if wrong but Think it can be done without wiping out current loads.

Sorry, I'd missed your second post at the top of this page. Yes, 8.1 will work but will not pick up content for 8 so that is msot likely the issue. Using a character preset will load the correct base figure. I'm sorry I didn't think of that.

Ok I will abort this plan. Replaced G8 starter this morning and still had errors. 

Think I will remove Mei and Josie next and test.

Removed Mei and Josie but still cluttered. No Mei or teen Josie base  but plenty of others.

Gen 8.1 F loaded with lot of can't finds.

In the log (not finding target properties isn't necessaruily an issue) or pop-ups?

Cool. Working  on upload media. 

Something i have noticed that I think are different than before switching computers. 

When I switch gender based hair to opposite  the style shaping morphs do not work.

If you mean AutoFit are you sure they are morphs, which should carry over, not PoseControls for special bones (e.g. for tails) that will be lost in the conversion?

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nAvY9BicS7rOy2ZIyZIv_FSt0rn8dWuo/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ESKQffN20jwHmID2SJQD6rXvT_B8bKZC/view?usp=sharing

Let me know if this works please. 

What do those represent? it would help if they ended with loading the character - and I don't see the entries fro asset load, which identify the fules involved.

Sorry I will do it again. Although I did not load and then clear log so that should be present.

Do you mean opening daz ?

https://drive.google.com/file/d/11PQaYbacNkNJ1pXOfxOPalY6IeiY5Vco/view?usp=s

Loaded base g8f from smart

Loaded KR Frankie from Library

Tried to load Frankie morphs to base g8f (fail)

Loaded Arlene hair from smart

Loaded Pr Mia hair from library (object loads-no morphs adjustments or shape show in parameters) 

Loaded two clothing Items one on each character (objects load-fit to figure-will take mts however clothing poses contained in library fail to function.

I am doing my best to conform to conform to your Daz vernacular but find myself sorely taxed. As I age I enjoy this hobby but my circle of Geekness could care less about art so never bothered to learn it precisely.  I am a direct kind of person and this is an explanation and not an admonishment just so you understand. Very bad to bite the hand feeding you.

One potential issue the log shows i several nested content dirctories -

C:/Users/jackPC/Documents and within that C:/Users/jackPC/Documents/DAZ 3D/Studio/My Library and then C:/Users/jackPC/Documents/DAZ 3D/Studio/My Library/Documentation for Poser formats and :/Users/jackPC/Documents/DAZ 3D/Studio/My Daz Connect Library  for Daz Studio formats.

This has the potential to confuse the content system, and also means that you will see the asset files (e.g. /data/daz 3d/genesis 8/female/morphs/) and try loading the .dsf files from there - reading your last post I think you may be doing this but that isn't how morphs are loaded, Daz Studio scans the data folder (which should be hidden from the content panes) and loads everything in to create the sliders. If you can see the data folder in the Content Library then there is an issue with the instalaltion, and that may well be your problem (or at least part of it).

I will be checking this and get back.

I looked and only become more confused for a course of action. I looked at the definition of nested and my interpretation is intertwined . I have thought previously installed  content had to be somewhere.  There seems to be a couple shortcuts that lead to the same places or slightly different leading me to think multiple layers of install.

I can see data file folders and components possibly two different data folders.

Unless you have a better idea I am thinking nuke it all and reinstall.

If the big delete is to be used I would prefer suggestions as to how to construct the Daztime for the best result please.

Nested content directories are when you have a folder selected as a content directory and also a sub-folder of that folder selected. What you could try is merging them into one (e.g. the My Library one), for Windows taking everything out of the sub-folder and placing it in the one you are keeping; Windows will ask if you want to merge and you say yes, then make sure that you remove the no-longer-needed folders from the list of cotnent diectories. You do need to be aware that if a scene or preset was saved pointing to one of the nested content folders its paths may include the sub-folder, which will then cause an error on the clean installation - that can be fixed with a text editor but it is a potential issue to be aware of.

Seems easy enough so we shall try tonight.

This appears to have rectified the problem !  Laud and another Laurel on your head for your patience and technical expertise. Thank You.

Great, I'm sorry I didn't go through this sooner.