FSX Locks on Long Flights

[Guest TonyPiech]

I'm running FSX Sp1 with VISTA Ultimate on my Dell XPS710 that has 4GB DDR2 SDRAM and get a computer lock when running FSX on long flights, e.g., Orlando to Honolulu in a stock FSX 747. I'm flying from Orlando, and get a lock or freeze when over Texas about a quarter away on the flight. It happened to me twice, I was planning to save the flight when arriving on the West Coast, but never got to that point. Now I'm wondering if I can fly across the USA (NY to CA) without getting the same result. I don't get a CTD, I get a freeze. I'm in the cockpit, hearing the sound of the engines, but getting no movement. I can't get out of the the screen that I'm in, none of the top-line menu selections are active, none of the clickable guages function. I perform a Control-Alt-Delte and receive a status that FSX is not responding. All I can do is close FSX within the Task Manager. I got 4 Gig of RAM, you'd think that's enough, what's my problem???I'm going to try a flight from Orlando to LA in a 737 to see if I get a similar result.

[Guest TonyPiech]

Well I can't make it from Orlando to LAX so I adjusted to Albuquerque, NM. So I'm 50 miles from ALB starting to descend in my stock 737 and it happens again with a freeze or lock in the cockpit just like my post above in the 747. What do you gotta do to complete a flight, keep it under 500 miles???

[Guest svb]

Tony,Have similar problems.The flight should not be long however.Flying a few flights with intermediate stops give the same result after a while.Everything stops, sound continues and through task manager it shows that the system is not responding.Happens mainly in spot view and when a switch is used.Also on a (brand new) dell machine 4 Gb Ram quadcore with 8800 GTX card.If someone has advice or tips, I would be very happyBest regards,SVB

[PhilTaylor 45]

You have the Vista patch for the issue with the OS making an extra copy of graphics memory?You tried dialing down settings?

[nigelgrant 4]

Can you post your hardware, that may give some clues. Have you checked the characteristics of you PSU, see my various entries below regarding this.NigelVancouver

[Guest TonyPiech]

Phil & Nigel,Here's my setup: Dell XPS710 2.4G Intel Core2 Quad ProcessorVISTA Ultimate OS4 Gig RAMNVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTX [Display adapter]I believe that I've installed the Vista patch for the issue with the OS making an extra copy of graphics memory. Listed below are my VISTA Microsoft HotFixes, I believe that one of these is the graphics memory patch. If it's not listed give me a link to the one I should install. KB905866 on 09/12/07 (details...) KB925902 on 07/02/07 (details...) KB927084 on 07/02/07 (details...) KB928089 on 07/02/07 (details...) KB928135 on 07/02/07 (details...) KB928190 on 07/02/07 (details...) KB928253 on 07/02/07 (details...) KB929011 on 07/02/07 (details...) KB929123 on 07/11/07 (details...) KB929399 on 07/02/07 (details...) KB929577 on 07/02/07 (details...) KB929615 on 07/02/07 (details...) KB929685 on 07/02/07 (details...) KB929735 on 07/02/07 (details...) KB929761 on 07/02/07 (details...) KB929762 on 07/02/07 (details...) KB929763 on 07/02/07 (details...) KB929777 on 07/02/07 (details...) KB929909 on 07/02/07 (details...) KB929913 on 07/02/07 (details...) KB929916 on 07/11/07 (details...) KB930163 on 07/02/07 (details...) KB930178 on 07/02/07 (details...) KB930568 on 07/02/07 (details...) KB930857 on 07/02/07 (details...) KB930979 on 07/02/07 (details...) KB931099 on 07/02/07 (details...) KB931174 on 07/02/07 (details...) KB931213 on 07/11/07 (details...) KB931573 on 07/02/07 (details...) KB931621 on 07/02/07 (details...) KB931836 on 07/11/07 (details...) KB932094 on 07/02/07 (details...) KB932142 on 07/02/07 (details...) KB932246 on 07/02/07 (details...) KB932309 on 07/02/07 (details...) KB932471 on 07/11/07 (details...) KB932818 on 07/02/07 (details...) KB933360 on 08/30/07 (details...) KB933566 on 07/11/07 (details...) KB933579 on 08/16/07 (details...) KB933928 on 07/11/07 (details...) KB935280 on 07/11/07 (details...) KB935652 on 07/11/07 (details...) KB935807 on 07/11/07 (details...) KB936021 on 08/16/07 (details...) KB936357 on 07/11/07 (details...) KB936782 on 08/16/07 (details...) KB936824 on 07/11/07 (details...) KB936825 on 07/11/07 (details...) KB937143 on 08/16/07 (details...) KB938123 on 08/16/07 (details...) KB938127 on 08/16/07 (details...) KB938194 on 08/30/07 (details...) KB938952 on 08/30/07 (details...) KB938979 on 08/30/07 (details...) KB939159 on 08/30/07 (details...) KB940105 on 09/07/07 (details...)

[PhilTaylor 45]

KB940105 on 09/07/07 (details...) is the shadow memory bug fix.Making sure you have removed all other apps and reduced running services to a minimum, reducing settings, and/or trying the /3G switch ( as outlined in threads on avsim ) are the only other suggestions I have.

[Guest TonyPiech]

Phil,Thanks for the response, can't seem to find the thread on the "3G Switch"; can you provide a link to it. Do I still perform the 3G Switch even though the KB940105 hotfix is already installed on my computer?

[Guest flightgamer]

Well, Vista, for the most part, is not a largely charted medium at this time, alot of possibilities to this problem, but im gonna give you my FS9 Windows XP answer...Usually, when you get a CTD on a long flight, it is a RAM issue. There are many fixes to this, more memory is the most common and obvious solution. The solution i use it to make my FS in Windowed mode and minimize it while cruising, then maximize it to check some systems, then minimize it, go watch some TV, come back in 15 minutes later, etc etc etc, and this gives me at least a surprising 2-3 hours more flying time than if i had it in full screen and up all the time (also, when your FS is in windowed mode, it is 90% less likely to crash than if you click the 'desktop' button on your keyboard)Good Luck