Howdy, all,I just joined here, and this is my first posting. I don't even know if this is the right forum for this. If it isn't, then somebody just direct me to the right forum. I'm having trouble installing FS 2004 on my Compaq Evo notebook. First I tried the Express install, the recommended one. But then I could never get past the opening screen after clicking on the icon on my desktop. It just froze there with the hourglass sign, so I had to shut it down. Then I uninstalled it. Then I tried the smaller Custom install. I got the same result. It won't run. It freezes again at the opening screen.I have a Pentium IV on this mother and plenty of hard disk space, so that's not the problem. I don't get it. Does anyone have an idea what I can do? I'm already getting virtual flight withdrawal pains.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?...kb;en-us;310353http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?...Ben-us%3B245063http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?...kb;en-us;303032If the URL isn't total underlined, copy and paste the entire line in your Internet Browser's Address field.W. Sieffert

Thanks, Sieffert, but still no joy. I tried all that, the clean boot, updating drivers, adjusting the video card, everything Microsoft said to do. Maybe my copy of the Simulator package is damaged. This sucks big time.

Do you have Norton Antivirus installed on your computer? If so, it may be the culprit. The clean boot should have eliminated the antivirus program from starting but one never knows.I would try installing FS2004 on another computer to see if you have the same problems before determining that the CDs are corrupted.W. Sieffert

Good news, Sieffert: It's working now. Do you know what I had to do? Create a new user account on this notebook. I found that suggestion way down among the other ideas on one of those Microsoft Support documents. I'd already tried all the others.Yes, I have Norton Antivirus, but I knew how to do the clean boot so it wouldn't interfere.So anyway, as they say, all's well that ends well. And thanks to the host for moving this thread to it's proper forum. dedeye

What Windows OS are you using, 98/ME/XPPro/XPHome? I never saw that suggestion and don't understand why that should work unless you were on an account without Administrator privileges.I note some XPHome users have had no Administrator privileges on their normal user account. The only way to give them privileges was to load Windows in the Safe Mode, which is the administrator account, then open control panel, user accounts, and give the normal user administrator privileges. Reboot to the normal user account and all is well for that user.Glad you got it sorted!!! Now for the real fun of fine tuning!!!W. Sieffert

I have XP Pro. I don't know why that worked, either, but I'm glad it did. I just finished flying a Piper Cub. The user account I created did come with Administrator privileges, too.

When I was beta testing fs2004, I found you must install fs2004 in an administrator's account plus you must run fs2004 once in the admin account before you try using it in a User account without admin privileges.If you only install fs2004 in the admin account and try to use fs2004 in a User account without admin privileges, it will stop because fs2004 isn't totally setup yet, i.e., the scenery hasn't be unpacked, installed, and cataloged in the various scenery.cfg and scenery.dat files.Having WinXP Pro is sometimes a pain with older programs that don't register properly for use with multiple users.W. Sieffert