Suddenly experiencing random crashes in FS9

[ndflieger 54]

Hi all,I'm at my wit's end so I thought I'd post here and see if anyone might have some insight to my problem.Within the past 10 days or so, I've started to experience random crashes in FS9. There is no rhyme of reason to it. I'll be flying along and usually sometime between an hour and a half to two hours, the sim will crash. There is no warning/error message...I'm just dumped back to the desktop. However there have been occasions where I have flown a two hour flight without the CTD. I haven't added any scenery (using only the default) nor done anything to my system. I thought I had it cured when I figured out FS AutoStart wasn't shutting down the latest version of the free AVG anti-virus, but I've reconfigured FS AutoStart and I'm still getting the crashes. I mostly fly older props and turboprops...Rick Piper's aircraft. However that shouldn't be the problem as I'd flown them for hundreds of hours before this started happening. FS9 is the only application this is happening with. I can fly IL2 and it's addon's without any problem. I have an older computer, an AMD Athlon 2500+, 1 Gig RAM, xFx GeForce 6600 256MB card.One application I haven't shut down before simming is the ZoneLabs firewall, but I've had that for over a year and left it running while simming without any problems.If anyone has any ideas, I'd sure like to hear them!Regards,ScottKJMS (or thereabouts)

[Bob Scott 7,716]

If you haven't installed the FS 9.1 patch, it could be the old seasonal CTD that occurs during the change of seasons to/from winter.If you're using an external ATC program...or just have ATC turned off, it could be the dreaded atc.dll crash. If you have the full registered version of FSUIPC, that's fixed by placing the line RemoveATC=Yes in the FSUIPC.ini file.Otherwise, check you events log in Windows and see if there's a clue there.RegardsBob ScottATP IMEL Gulfstream II-III-IV-V L-300Santiago de Chile

[ndflieger 54]

Hi Bob,Thanks for the reply. I have the 9.1 patch installed...perhaps I'll re-install it and see if that helps. I'm not using any external ATC - nor do I have it turned off, and I do have the registered version of FSUIPC.I just downloaded a little utility called "File Monitor". I'll have that running next time I sim, and if I crash, hopefully the file causing the problem will be in the list.Regards,ScottKJMS (or thereabouts)

[Bob Scott 7,716]

Recommend also you run Memtest86+ and make sure you don't have a RAM problem located in the upper reaches of your address space. Also, heat buildup can cause this sort of thing...when's the last time you had a look inside and/or blew the dust out of the case?CheersBob ScottATP IMEL Gulfstream II-III-IV-V L-300Santiago de Chile

[ndflieger 54]

I'll do a search for the Memtest86+. You know, I was thinking the same thing about the case...I think it's been about 9 months since I was last in there and blew out the dust. I'll give that a shot too.Thanks,ScottKJMS (or thereabouts)

[Clutch Cargo 384]

When I hear the term "older computer" I would think harware issues... heat, memory, or your power suplly unit might be going on the blink. That's what I discovered after thinking it was a software issue.Then again, try to recount every change you have done to your software over the past two weeks? Addons?, tweaks. I even discovered a simple setup switch was thrown the wrong way which put my simming into havoc for weeks... just thinkin' out loud.Merry Christmas,ClutchProject 9Dragons

[ndflieger 54]

Just wanted to follow-up my post with the results.I think I've managed to cure my problem - and thanks alot for the replies!I did 2 things: I removed AutoTower (not sure if that was causing the problem or not), and I cleaned out the inside of my computer case. It had been about 9 months since I'd been in there....and it was ugly! There was a large piece of lint, sitting on top of my CPU's cooling fins, under the fan. I removed that with a pair of tweezers, and sucked the rest of the dust and cat hair (I have 2 indoor Tabbies) out of the case. I've flown a couple of long flights since then, without any problems.Happy New Year to all!ScottKJMS (or thereabouts)