I can't get get SB to JOIN with FS2004. I am going exactly as the instructions say in the PRC. I get to step 12, I see the game and then hit JOIN. I either get a DIRECTPLAY SAMPLE error screen or it just hangs.I put a fresh OS and FS2004 on another partition. It worked on that ONCE, but never again. And the same thing happens on my laptop.BTW I reinstalled DirectX. I was getting the same DIRECTPLAY message with FS2002 and not at least that is fixed and I see see other aircraft.Karl H.P4 1.6 mHz256 RamRadeon 9600SE

Do you have a router or cable modem?Some have built in firewalls that you will need to open ports for Directplay to use. The setup doc you got from the PRC should list a few here is some more for you to look at.http://www.chocolatesoftware.com/sbrelay/help.html

I've seen some discussion on this and am hoping that's not it. It DID work once. I saw other players and everything.Karl H.P4 1.6 mHz256 RamRadeon 9600SE

What direct X version are you running?FS9 installes 9.0 or 9.0a and they both have bugs in directplay.You need to be on version 9.0b for this to work.on your start menu click RUN and enter dxdiag last line on the first tab will give you the version.I know that my copy of FS9 will try to install verion 9.0 even if I have a higher version already installed.