I have downloaded a lot of addon freeware airports and somewhere along the line I guess that I picked up a virus because every time I try and use the autopilot on ANY aircraft the plne nose dives into the ground. It doesn't matter whether payware or freeware. I tried a complete reload of FS9 no luck. I EVEN tried complete uninstall and installation of the copy of FSX I have and IT does the same thing. Any ideas from ANYONE????? WHAT HAPPENED? I have run registry repair PC Medkit and my CA virus Scan. It removed two JAVA viruses but that did not make any difference at all. I hesitate to run FSX/FS9 Repair from Flight One because I don't have any Flight One software on here. Is it ok to still run? Need Help. I have been running FS9 since 2005 and never had this problem before. A reinstallation always fixed problems before.

I have downloaded a lot of addon freeware airports and somewhere along the line I guess that I picked up a virus because every time I try and use the autopilot on ANY aircraft the plne nose dives into the ground. It doesn't matter whether payware or freeware. I tried a complete reload of FS9 no luck. I EVEN tried complete uninstall and installation of the copy of FSX I have and IT does the same thing. Any ideas from ANYONE????? WHAT HAPPENED? I have run registry repair PC Medkit and my CA virus Scan. It removed two JAVA viruses but that did not make any difference at all. I hesitate to run FSX/FS9 Repair from Flight One because I don't have any Flight One software on here. Is it ok to still run? Need Help. I have been running FS9 since 2005 and never had this problem before. A reinstallation always fixed problems before.

The Registry Repair utility from Flight 1 simply allows you to enter the correct path to your FSX or FS9 exe files into the registry - it has nothing to do with any Flight 1 software you may or may not have.I will leave it up to others to respond to your other issues.

I have downloaded a lot of addon freeware airports and somewhere along the line I guess that I picked up a virus because every time I try and use the autopilot on ANY aircraft the plne nose dives into the ground. It doesn't matter whether payware or freeware. I tried a complete reload of FS9 no luck. I EVEN tried complete uninstall and installation of the copy of FSX I have and IT does the same thing. Any ideas from ANYONE????? WHAT HAPPENED? I have run registry repair PC Medkit and my CA virus Scan. It removed two JAVA viruses but that did not make any difference at all. I hesitate to run FSX/FS9 Repair from Flight One because I don't have any Flight One software on here. Is it ok to still run? Need Help. I have been running FS9 since 2005 and never had this problem before. A reinstallation always fixed problems before.

1) Ever tried engaging the autopilot without using the pitch channel? (Alt Hold/select/VS etc)2) Notice any unusual pitch trim movements after the autopilot is engaged?

Judging by your description I doubt it is a virus. Do any other programs you have behave strangely? My first thought is that you may be failing to have a altitude "selected" in the altitude window on the aircraft panel. Meaning that, if say you are at a airport whose elevation is 1500 ft and you depart and reach an altitude of 3000 ft and if the altitude in the altitude selected window still reads 00000 when you engage the autopilot then the plane will descend / dive automatically to 00000 ft. Try presetting the altitude to say 8000 ft and see if the problem still occurs. I know this sounds obvious, but you did not say whether or not you had preselected a altitude, so I thought I would mention it. I hope this might help.Best regards,Mel

Thank you to everyone for the immediate replies. No other programs have any problems, just FS9 and FSX. It doesn't matter what pitch/trim OR altitude is entered. In fact, I fly 737's and the pitch was in the proper range. You can totally fly the aircraft in every other respect, any aircraft until either CMD on the 737 or AP in other aircraft is pushed. I tried last night to delete every keyboard and joystick entry deemed unnecessary. Tried one more time and the same result. Aircraft dives to the earth. If I turn off AP before I crash I can recover and fly. Any more ideas, I am out of them, again thanks. I need a real FS9 GURU or even one of MS's FS programmers I think to get out of this one.

fly the plane then make a screenshot when it dives.Maybe we spot something you miss.

Hi.It does sound a bit like you have the 'engage autopilot' command mapped to another control. You mentioned deleting every unnecessary keyboard and joystick entry.Have you tried engaging the autopilot by using a switch on the panel instead of a keyboard or button command? That will at least eliminate button or key mapping.Regards,D

I actually was NOT using any button commands. I thought like you did that perhaps there WAS some wrong interaction. I properly un installed FS9 and I have just finished following MS's FS9 FAQ suggestion carefully and edited the XP registry of any and all entries relating to FS9, FSX and any scenery mfr's that were in there. I have to go to town to CVS but when I return I am going to reload FS9 and try and fly a default aircraft to see if that did the trick. If not I don't know what else to do. Thank you everyone for your continued help. If that DID the trick then you will know what to do. I will post the MS FS9 instruction of how to CAREFULLY edit the registry from their FAQ website for anyone who has a similar if not autopilot problem that cannot be resolved any other way. Again, thanks.

I actually was NOT using any button commands. I thought like you did that perhaps there WAS some wrong interaction. I properly un installed FS9 and I have just finished following MS's FS9 FAQ suggestion carefully and edited the XP registry of any and all entries relating to FS9, FSX and any scenery mfr's that were in there. I have to go to town to CVS but when I return I am going to reload FS9 and try and fly a default aircraft to see if that did the trick. If not I don't know what else to do. Thank you everyone for your continued help. If that DID the trick then you will know what to do. I will post the MS FS9 instruction of how to CAREFULLY edit the registry from their FAQ website for anyone who has a similar if not autopilot problem that cannot be resolved any other way. Again, thanks.

Autopilot oddities in FS9 usually don't come from viruses or broken registry entries. They usually come from controller misconfiguration, interference from other addons (Airsimmer was one) or user error (wrong altitude selected) etc.What addons are you using?

Have yor checked your FSUIPC ? I downloaded an add on a few months back that uninstalled it for some reason.

NOTHING WORKS!!! I have no add-ons just a bare default installation of FS9. FSUIPC is not installed at this time. I am using Saitek Yoke and Rudder Pedals and GoFlight TQ6 Throttle Quadrant. None of the buttons are assigned to Autopilot. I have NOT tried disconnecting the hardware yet. I am going to try and disconnect the Throttle Quadrant and attach toe one that comes with the yoke to see if that makes any dif. Thanks guys for trying.

Guess what? The GoFlight TQ6 is the culprit. Attached the throttle quadrant that comes with the Saitek Yoke and it works perfectly with the Cessna 172 so I am sure that every other a/c is fine too because it didn't make any difference. I will call up GoFlight tomorrow during the day. I have talked with them before and they are fantastic customer service...support 100% what they sell. This is in NO WAY a criticism of their products which I have had for two years with virtually no problems at all and the one I did have they fixed with me on the phone. In the meantime, I am relieved that I found the problem. Again, thank you for all your help and suggestions.

Thank you to everyone for the immediate replies. No other programs have any problems, just FS9 and FSX. It doesn't matter what pitch/trim OR altitude is entered. In fact, I fly 737's and the pitch was in the proper range. You can totally fly the aircraft in every other respect, any aircraft until either CMD on the 737 or AP in other aircraft is pushed. I tried last night to delete every keyboard and joystick entry deemed unnecessary. Tried one more time and the same result. Aircraft dives to the earth. If I turn off AP before I crash I can recover and fly. Any more ideas, I am out of them, again thanks. I need a real FS9 GURU or even one of MS's FS programmers I think to get out of this one.

Recalibrate your joystick.

If all else fails, try rebuilding your FS9.cfg. That usually does the trick

I'm happy that you found the problem and have a fix for it.Regards,Mel