Well, I can tell ya it did NOTHING, NUDA, ZILCHO...In fact it made it worse! When I first got FS2004 installed on Win98SE, it didn't even want to execute to run! Seemed to do this every second time running it. Also the Catalyst 3.10 drivers were doing very strange things with my 9800 when loading up the sim or selecting aircraft, the screen would stretch and go into a rainbow of stretched out pixelated colors.. whooa..little too much for me!!The few times I did get it to run, I was hit with a 10fps decrease over WinXP. I now have XP reinstalled, and am trying a FAT32 system versus the NTFS I was using before, heck I'm willing to try anything. For some reason when I first installed FS9 back in July I had FAT32, and had no crashes, stupid stuff has happened since NTFS, but thats probably not the cause and I am just in hopes it will work.I'm really at a loss with everyone else on this one, its an unfortunate thing because the stupid thing has potential if we can get around these problems. The unfortunate thing is since its already 6 months in, and only a handful of SDKs released (most of which are no use to anyone) , I'm guessing there will be no patch, and they are already looking at stealing our money for 2006 (And I guarantee everyone here no matter what you say WILL buy 2006 when it comes out, and I think thats all little Billy Boy really cares about right now)Chris

Hello, "In fact it made it worse! When I first got FS2004 installed on Win98SE, it didn't even want to execute to run! " "Seemed to do this every second time running it. Also the Catalyst 3.10 drivers were doing very strange things with my 9800 when loading up the sim or selecting aircraft, the screen would stretch and go into a rainbow of stretched out pixelated colors.. whooa..little too much for me!!"It's not normal, system configurationThe few times I did get it to run, I was hit with a 10fps decrease over WinXP. I now have XP reinstalled, and am trying a FAT32 system versus the NTFS I was using before, heck I'm willing to try anything. For some reason when I first installed FS9 back in July I had FAT32, and had no crashes, stupid stuff has happened since NTFS, but thats probably not the cause and I am just in hopes it will work."It's not normal!, system configuration. Many do NOT know how to use computer configuration, people configure poorly their system without any knoweldge and are thinking they know how to do it, See your example before tons of problems, it's not installing windows like this and formating like that's: Conclusion PC computer is NOT for everyone or see someone else to help you for your issue. Before you complain about Fs 2004, start to configure your system correctly.BestEric

Wow Eric!Now that's a nice and helpful reply!Is this forum sponsored by microsoft or what?Accept the blaming as an understandable result of frustration and focus on the problems once for all!Many people out there have simply tried the impossible to make the sim work, and this is just not right.Not being able to use the sim is a tremendously irritating experience most of happy users don't seem to understand at all.Chris, as far as your post goes, you gave me another idea. FAT32 instead of NTFS: why not give it a try?Luca

Hmmm I got a BSc in Comp Sci before I switched to flying, don't mean to sound like like a know it all (cause I don't), but I think I know what I'm doing when it comes to configuring my system... I've been configuring/tweaking/ getting the most out of my system back from the PII 300 days. So essentially what your saying is EVERYONE else's problems are related to the way the computer is configured? Interesting theory but highly doubt thats the answer. I know there are alot of people that don't experience these crashes, or not on a regular basis, for those people I am happy for you and you are enjoying what you paid for.. unfortuneatly there are alot of us who can't enjoy the game to its full potential, and I don't think its because I'm not running BIOS version 1.XX, or driver XYZ.. that has nothing to do with anything when all my other games run perfectly fine (some of which are more intense on the system than FS2004)Chris

Chris, I use Windows xp with FAT 32, never had a problem and no CTD, give it a try, and even you told to us, since the NTFS format the problems have started.ThanksChris Willis[link:fsw.simflight.com/FSWMenuFsSim.html]Clouds And Addons For MsFs

>So essentially what your saying is EVERYONE else's problems>are related to the way the computer is configured? In a nutshell, yes. There are so many different variables involved in a computer. So many different types of hardware, hardware settings, drivers, driver settings, control panel settings and so on and so on. Can you post some system specs please.--qnh

Some of the people experiencing these CTDs etc have had FS since release late summer. In most cases it ran fine for months and then all of sudden problems arose. All other software runs fine, memory tests run fine etc etc. Unless they changed it, the PC config will not be the problem (unless something broke of course).For me the story is slightly different. I purchased FS at release, it ran fine until I upgraded my PC and then the CTDs started. Clean XP install, only FS on the HD, no addons whatsoever, dos based memtests show no errors, all drivers up to date, all other apps, games , software run fine. Just FS gives me the problems.I am now concentrating my efforts on LOMAC until I get bored and feel like trying to nail the problem with FS.Daz

With the rash of viruses and other nasties around in the last few months you would be surprised what gets through and what damage can be done to system files.In your case Daz I would suspect a hardware problem. What other games and/or applications are you running successfully? You must realise that trying to diagnose a fault through a forum is difficult. However I will reiterate my previous statement in that FS9 runs on other systems therefore there must be an incompatibilty or problem with your system. I'd love to help you but I need a lot more information.Mainboard manufacturer and modelChipsetBIOS version and settings (use setup defaults)CPURAM - amount, manufacturer and chipset - how many sticks.Power Supply - wattsNumber of fansTemperatures when starting FSVideo card, manufacturer and modelHard drive(s) - models, partition sizes, format (NTFS/FAT)CD-ROMs, other drivesExternal peripherals - joysticks, yokes, printers, modems etcOS version, Service Packs, Hot fixesServices runningVideo driverIs FS straight out of the box, no resolution changes, no controller changes etc?There are many other variables to consider but these will do for a start.--qnh

qnhOther programs I run successfully are:Call of DutyAge of MythologyLOMACX-PlanePure PinballI have 3 memory test programs:1. Memtest (runs in windows)2. DocMemory 2.2 (same as Memtest86 runs in dos of boot disk)3. BurnIn Test 3.2 (runs in windows)Program 1 detects memory errors (alot of them), programs 2 and 3 detect no memory errors at all (talk about adding to the confusion!).My system comprises:ASUS K8V Deluxe MBoard K8T800 ChipsetBios Version 1004 (not set to defaults but no overclocking/tweaking)AMD64 3200+1GB Twinmos PC3200 DDR Ram (2 x 512MB sticks slots 1+2)Q-TEC 400W PSU3 fans including CPUAsus Probe shows CPU at 40'C and MBoard at 32'CATI9700 Pro (not overclocked)Catalyst 3.10 Video DriverCreative Audigy Player (latest drivers)1 x Maxtor 6Y120P0 120GB 7200RPM (1 partition FAT 32)1 x Western Digital WD400EB 40GB (1 partition NTFS)1 x Pioneer A106 DVD Writer1 x Plextor 401240A CD Writer1 x Toshiba DVD-ROM DriveEpson Stylus Photo 870 PrinterSaitek X45 HOTASWindows XP Home SP1 all hot fixesFS installed on clean XP installThanks for trying to help. Like I said all other software seems fine, PC can run all day doing various stuff, just FS giving the problems.Daz

I think FS and DX9 together really tax the hardware - just an observation at this stage.Given that you have a clean install I would disconnect all peripherals, including the Saitek and then DVD drives.Delete your fs9.cfg and then start FS9. Try flying using the keyboard only for now. See if you have a CTD. If you do then check the event viewer for any messages.--qnh

Well Fs2004 on FAT32 XP seems to behaving a little nicer than normal, I'm still getting crashes but its now when I am closing out of the game. Hit the X button and I get one of the famous dll crashes... when I did file close though, it didn't do it... Weird...Chris

I also found this on the ASUS website - it may pay to check your boardI know IBM had a problem with some motherboards with bulging caps - these caused really weird problems."It has been discovered recently that the nine electrolytic capacitors CE18, CE19, CE20, CE21, CE22, CE25 , CE38, CE39, CE45 (see Figure1, used at power stabilization circuitry) may expand and fracture. This problem has been confirmed to result from quality control of RLZ 0333 capacitors, and proven to happen only on a small number of such capacitors which can be easily distinguished from the RLZ 0333 marking (see Figure 2) on them.If you need further support after finding RLZ 0333 capacitors at these nine locations, or experiencing symptom as described above on K8V Deluxe motherboards, please kindly contact your place of purchase, supplier, or the nearest ASUS service centre for immediate follow-up."here is the link for figure 2 http://www.asus.com.tw/support/faq/qanda.aspx?KB_ID=85257--qnh

Obviously, help desk/tech support is not on your resume is it??While a poorly configured system can be the root of many problems, you should learn a little tact.http://www.members.shaw.ca/madamo/boeingsig.jpg

Chris, Did you perform an upgrade or did you format and install clean? With your HD formatted as NTFS, do you have indexing services and compression enabled on your %system root% directory?I'm running WinXP on a Dell 8250 and have NEVER had a CTD that wasn't initiated by myself. It's obvious that something, somewhere on your system is not playing nicely with FS2K2.As it's been mentioned in a few threads already, could you post some additional info on your system and OS?Good luck!!Mikehttp://www.members.shaw.ca/madamo/boeingsig.jpg

Hey Mike,I've been pretty lucky tonight actually... but as I said in my last post been getting CTDs on closing the sim down now for some reason.The 98SE was an fdisk, format, install. I'm back to XP now in FAT32.Current system setup:ASUS P4S533/P4 2.4/512 Samsung 2700DDR/Sappire 9800 with 3.10 DriversMobo Bios current, all current ASUS drivers, XP Pro with all Critical updates, and USB patch installed.Stock FS9.cfg file for now.Its been pretty good lately like I said. Any possible changes are always welcome though.Chris