Just when you think all is well and stable ..... BAM!

 

I can't start FS9. I get an error that the computer is "Out of Memory", then it gives an error about FS9.exe and memory location (See attachments). I was flying just fine 2 days ago and have never had this problem. I have not added ANYTHING since. I did nothing regarding my PC.

 

I have loaded two ghost images of my PC (4 days ago/8 days ago) which were created when "all was fine". I still can't load FS9 and get the same errors. I'm old, been running FS9 since it first came out, and I'm at a loss. This doesn't look good, but can anyone help?

 

Glenn

How much disk space do you have left on that drive, and on drive C?

How much disk space do you have left on that drive, and on drive C?

 

90.9 GB - Sim is running on "C" drive as well.

I occasionally get the "out of Memory" problem if I try to start the Flight Sim after I have been browsing the 'Net, etc, etc..for hours and hours...

 

I then shut down the computer...which clears all the trash out of Memory...wait a while...and then re-boot the computer, , allowing me to start the Sim with a fresh memory!

 

Its always advisable to re-boot the computer before loading the Sim and joining Multiplayer, to prevent errors during the Session!

 

Paul....FS 2004...FS Nav... B) ...!

Hi Glenn, bit of a predictament when you can't start your beloved FS9.

 

After backing up delete both cfg and default flight files.

Take a note of the size allocated to virtual memory then change it to allow Windows control.

(Sometimes corruptions occur for no apparent reason so these changes will often allow FS9 to at least open)

 

Reboot

 

Try to open FS9 ... if unsuccessful report back.

Best of luck.

Hi Glenn, bit of a predictament when you can't start your beloved FS9.

 

After backing up delete both cfg and default flight files.

Take a note of the size allocated to virtual memory then change it to allow Windows control.

(Sometimes corruptions occur for no apparent reason so these changes will often allow FS9 to at least open)

 

Reboot

 

Try to open FS9 ... if unsuccessful report back.

Best of luck.

 

Thanks for taking the time to give me some advice. Well, I did everything exactly as you requested but it still bombs. It won't rebuild FS9.cfg. It shows 0 bytes after the errors come and the sim shuts down.

 

I never had this problem before. All other problems were cleared up if I loaded a new Norton Ghost image of the disk that was saved when "all was well". That sorta leads me to believe that I have a hardware problem, but I sure wouldn't know what. All other programs run just fine with no errors.

 

After many years of simming (since FS98), this just might be the one straw that broke the camel's back. Might just have to find a new love if this critter doesn't get corrected.

Glenn

Hi Glenn

 

My memory is failing me, but many moons ago I was playing with either road/water/grass or shore textures and messed something up. If memory serves correct, I saved a texture as DXT format, changing it from colorkey format. That said, I was blown away to the fact that FS2004 could not even load, and I believe I had the same error as you (out of memory).

 

Not sure what OS you're running (XP/Vista/Win7)?

 

But maybe try this: Rename your current texture folders: (World and main Texture)

Paths as seen using Windows XP:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Flight Simulator 9\Scenery\World\texture

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Flight Simulator 9\Texture

 

Then restore both these texture folders from your CD's.

See what happens.

 

Just a shot in the dark, good Luck

 

RJ

 

PS: As I get older, I too am starting to get OOM's. Sad thing is, the OOM's are in my head, not my PC.

You may want to check this thread out it may give you a clue as to whats happening, if not continue to search google for that same exact error http://www.tek-tips....cfm?qid=1283989

 

Also if you can post you pcspecs so we can better determine where your problem may be originating from

Don't know if it's the same cause of your problem, but like Fozzer mentioned, more RAM will gradually be eaten up by various applications the longer you're using the computer - browsing the web and such, even after you've closed those apps. Usually I put my computer into sleep mode for a few minutes before simming and that clears out the unnecessary RAM usage. If that doesn't clear it (though it usually does) I just do a restart.

 

For reference, press CTRL-Alt-Del and see how much memory is being used up, compared with how much is being used up, say, right after you've restarted your computer, and you'll see what I mean.

but it still bombs

 

Glenn Have you tried using a 'restore point' prior to when FS9 started misbehaving?

 

That sorta leads me to believe that I have a hardware problem

If that were so other programs would surely be affected.

Have you 'imaged' onto a different hard drive?

You say you have not added anything but do any of your programs/utilities have auto update capability set?

Far fetched I realise but make sure your FS9 exe is not set to read only.

 

As 3Green has advised try renaming folders and copy replacements over from your CD's. Time consuming, however you might be able to track down the source of corruption/problem that way.

 

In hindsight might be worthwhile to run checkdisk too, just to repair any HD issues.

 

Might just have to find a new love if this critter doesn't get corrected.

Don't give up the ship just yet. :unsure:

If you are running Windows XP, which from your screen shots it appears that you are.

 

Another thing you can quickly check to verify that your RAM is in proper working order. Right click "My Computer", then "properties", look at the General tab for Computer and note the amount of RAM stated and whether that correctly matches what you know you have installed. You might have a bad 'stick' of RAM - just a thought. Another possible cause could be a corrupted virtual memory as laid out on your HD. To remove that possibility; Right click "My Computer", then "properties", Advanced tab - performance section - Settings, You will see "Performance settings" click on the "Advanced" tab at the bottom you will see 'virtual memory', click on "change", on the window that opens make a note of all of the settings and numbers as shown. Next put a bullet in the "No paging file" and click on "Set", close everything and restart your computer. Once you are rebooted, return to the virtual memory - change page and restore the previously noted settings and numbers, click on set and exit. Reboot. Once rebooted you will have a clean and uncorrupted page file (if indeed that was the problem). If these two suggestions don't help then I would look at the FS9.exe or a registry problem as being the source of the problem. The reason I conclude this is that the very first thing FS9 would attempt to do upon start up is rebuild the FS9.cfg file and you have written that the text file is created but 0 text is being written to it so FS9 is failing before it ever gets far enough to read any other files. Appliance in Post #10 above suggested running Chk disk - +1, good idea and can't hurt.

 

I hope this is of some help.

 

Regards,

Mel

First of all, thanks to EVERYONE who has posted with suggestions to this problem. It's a great community to belong to as I'm sure you all can understand how it is to lose your favorite hobby. I haven't tried ALL suggestions yet, but I'll attempt to keep everyone updated as I go.

 

First, I am running WinXP, 32-bit. I have checked Belarc Adviser and it is showing 4 GB of memory installed (two sticks of 2GB). Checking my system properties shows 2.99 GB RAM with Physical Address Extension (I installed patch many moons ago).

 

I have run chkdsk with no errors . I eliminated virtual memory / rebooted / restored virtual memory / rebooted but that didn't solve the problem. I have not tried restoring from a previous restore point as I went back 4 days and 12 days by loading previously saved disk images saved on separate drives. I even used images saved on multiple drives (one internal. one external) to no avail. THAT is what really confuses me, as it rewrites the entire disk from a previous state, yet the same problem occurs no matter what date I go back to. I always back up whenever FS9 is in great working shape, usually after a confirmation flight. This technique has saved my rear many times whenever something went haywire in FS9, but it has failed this time.

 

FS9.exe has been checked and confirmed as NOT read only. I am going to take some time to rename the texture folders and copy from the original disks today. just haven't had the time (or heart) to attempt it yet. I'll let everyone know how that turns out. I'd rather spend time playing detective than trying to delete and start all over again, trying to recover years of work. As 3Green stated, I'm getting a lot more OOM's in the head lately, and I'm not sure I'm up to the task of an entire rebuild anymore.

 

Glenn

We all hope you can get things back up, I know how it feels to lose your favorite hobby. I have no suggestions to offer, but I do offer my good wishes to your sim! B)

Here's the latest, and I'm afraid it's still bad news.

 

I cleaned out the registry using CCleaner - no luck. I then replaced the FS9 texture folder and scenery/world/texture folders from the original disks- no luck. I then double-checked I was still running FS9.1 as I figured that something might have reverted it to 9.0. I then checked to insure that I still had the 3GB switch installed (boot.ini & FS9.exe modifications). I also attempted to install prior recovery points but that proved fruitless also.

 

Oddly, FS9 is not using all that much memory before it bombs (see attachments). Please feel free to respond if you can think of any other tidbit which might turn this around. I'm going to step away from the problem for awhile in order to regroup. Thanks again for all the support I've received thus far.

 

Glenn

I would think (this could be a longshot, just a thought) that maybe FS9 runs into a huge memory usage spike for a few milliseconds and that causes the problem. Just an idea.