Can't get any of my Flight Sims to work

[Guest chapstik]

I am having a new problem. A few months ago I reformatted my HDD. I am using a Win XP, Athlon XP 1.6, 512 mgs DDR Ram, 5200 GForce 256DDR Ram video card.When my neighbour helped me reformat this thing, it ended up w/my files all being on my "E Drive" instead of the "C Drive". It didn't matter at the time, and I am not sure it matters now. I only mention it because I am having a new problem. NONE of my Flight Sims will work. I reloaded FS9 which was working great prior to the reformat. Now, when I go to run it, I get dumped out of Windows and a blue screen comes up w/white writing saying that I am have a stack dump, or some such. I have never seen this before. I tried loading FS2K, FS98, FU-III as well, and all are throwing the same error at me. However, I did install a Western Sim that my wife gave me for my birthday back in the summer, and it works fine. It seems to be just the Flt Sims. I have calibrated the stick, removed the stick and put in a USB Logitech Wingman, and tried it w/just the keyboard. Either way, I end up w/the Sim getting dumped and that blue screen popping up.Can the Flt Sims be so fussy as to NEED my Local Disk Drive to be "C", and not "E"? It seems unlikely, but I cannot think of anything else that is different. No new equipment, no new RAM, etc. I live in Northern Ontario and have been looking forward to a winter of flying my PC. I am at a loss as to what to do. I really do not want to reformat again if I can get around that. I cannot think of any software that I have running that would cause this. The only thing I don't turn off is Avast's VS, because I cannot figure out how. I had been using AVG prior to the reformat. Also, I am using Kerio's Firewall, but turn it off when using sims. Thoughts, help. A pat on the back. Empathy. Anyone?Chappy

[Bert Pieke 7,584]

Hmmm, does not sound like much fun...First of all, the sims do not care if they are installed on the C: drive or the E: drive. On my system, they are on the G: drive and work just fine.However, if you physically move an application from the C: drive to the E: drive and then try to run it, it will likely fail because the registry information still shows it as installed on C:.I believe you need to re-install these applications from scratch to make them work on a different drive. Alternately, there is an FS9 registry fix tool which you can try. Or you can use regedit, look for the FS9 entry and manually edit it, so it shows E: instead of C:. If you are comfortable editing the registry (back up first !) that may the fastest way..The FS9 fix tool is at http://www.flight1software.com/files/FS_Registry_Repair.exe

[Guest chapstik]

Thnx Bert for the qwik reply. No, I didn't move it from one drive to another. I only have the one Local Disk Drive, that being "E". So I didn't mess it up doing that. Also, I have installed FS2K, FU3, FS98 all one at a time (after removing using Control Panel) any previous installs. None of these work. I can't think of anything that may have happened during the reformat of this HDD that could have messed it up so that only Flt Sims won't work. Altho a friend said that when he was helping me he mat have changed the setting for the video card ie: AGP size. He is coming over today to take a look at it.I already downloaded that registry fix. I saw it in another post and thought maybe I could use it. But, since everything else on here is working so sweetly, I hate to mess it all up. I cannot for the life of me figure out the problem.I hope someone else in here has some ideas. Pls keep in mind that it is not just MSoft, but that the same thing happens w/Looking Glass as well.Chappy

[Bert Pieke 7,584]

You definitely have some systems problems...The first local disk drive is always C: and I cannot imagine why it would be E: on your system.As best I know, you can choose to rename logical disk drives in the properties settings...Is WinXP installed on E: as well?Have you re-installed FS9 after this re-format? and did the install program volunteer to install it on E:?Hope your friend has some systems smarts.. this must be very simple to fix if only you know what you are dealing with...Let us know how it goes!

[Guest martin842]

If this happened to me, I would concentrate on finding out how to rename E: as C:. This may well cure all your problems in one go.But I've no idea how to do that. I would search the Internet for how to reassign drive letters.Martin

[jfri 42]

>If this happened to me, I would concentrate on finding out>how to rename E: as C:. This may well cure all your problems>in one go.>>But I've no idea how to do that. I would search the InternetThis can be done from Win XP by selecting Start - Control Panel - Administration tools - Computer management - Disc Management here rightclick on the graphical disc representation to the right and select change unit designation

[Guest chapstik]

There is a way that is supposed to work in XP. But It doesn't.Quote from the Help File "You use Disk Management snap-in in Windows XP to perform disk-related tasks, such as creating partitions and volumes, formatting them, and assigning drive letters."I went there and followed the directions, up to, "Chamge drive letter", but it won't do it. I am not sure why they bother having a fix listed that doesn't work, unless they just like to get your hopes up for nada.Anyhow, that's the trick I assume your looking for. I removed and then reinstalled my video card today, to no avail. I was hoping they might work (Flt Sims) using the OB Video. Nope. Tho the game I have installed called "Outlaw" works fine. It is pretty heavy on the graphics. I would think it's maybe my gear doing something, but even if I try w/no gear and just use the keyboard, CRASH (PC, not plane).Chappy

[Guest Binkles]

I had a problem the other day where none of them were working and it was a memory module getting old and dodgy.Replaced with a new memory chip and she's all go again.Not sure if this would help, but just letting you know how I fixed mine.

[Bob Scott 7,719]

I think the C: versus E: drive issue is unrelated to this. I'm using one PC that has WinXP loaded on the D: drive...no problems. As long as there's a boot sector on the first partition, it doen's matter to the OS what drive letter is assigned. And if this actually were a problem, you wouldn't be able to load WinXP or any other programs, either.I think a memory problem sounds most likely. FS is the only program I use on my PC that uses the upper reaches of my 1GB of memory...so it would be logical that if I have some bad memory up high, it's only going to make itself evident when I load it up enough to use those high addresses.My recommendation: remove your RAM modules, make sure the contacts on both socket and module are clean, and replace them. Then run a memory test like Memtest86 through a few cycles. If you're still getting the errors after that, I'd consider reformatting and loading WinXP from scratch (in a more standard configuration).If none of that works, you're going to need some professional help to decipher what that stack dump is telling you.Good luck.Bob ScottATP IMEL Gulfstream II-III-IV-V L-300Santiago de Chile

[jfri 42]

>There is a way that is supposed to work in XP. But It>I went there and followed the directions, up to, "Chamge drive>letter", but it won't do it. I am not sure why they bother>having a fix listed that doesn't work, unless they just like>to get your hopes up for nada.>It do work for me. I have done this at several occasions.

[Guest chapstik]

I doubt this is the problem, but it won't hurt to check the dimms.I have a program named 3dMark2001 that checks for memory problems. I just ran it and no problems exist that it could find.Also, I tried loading and running FS98 and it caused the same error. I am not sure of the requirements for FS98, but I'm sure that it dowsn't need anywheres near what I have in memory. (512mgs DDR), plus 256mgs on the vidoe card. I would think FS98 would almost run on just the vid card. Smile.I dunno. It seems like reformatting my HDD is about the only choice left. Sigh.Thnx, however, and the answer is a good one. If reformatting doesn't work I am gunna build an ultralight out of snow, since I live in deep woods Ontario and unless I do an Icarus and head for the sun, it won't melt. I used to have a dogsled, but that's not the same is it. The sled crashed one night coming home from my neighbour's house. Methinx my dog must have been drunk. Hmmm... Chap

[Guest chapstik]

Somehow, during my last install of XP, I ended up w/E being my Local Drive. There is no "C" Drive at all. "D" is my CD, "A" is my 3.5, and "F" is my Zip Drive. So, all is normal, except "C" thinks it's an "E".Hmm... I had the same problem w/my grades in High School. Chap