Hi. I've recently taken to using FSAutoStart to close a number of background programmes before it launches fs9 (mostly disk and programme monitoring software). Not sure I'm going to notice a huge difference in performance as I don't have much in the way of memory-hogging utilities loaded on my FS machine.....Just wondered though whether there would be any adavntage - or more to the point, disadvantage, with getting FSA to shut down explorer.exe too? FS9 doesn't need explorer in any way when it's running, does it? I'd gain 20MB+ of memory - though with some 700MB of free memory usually showing before I start up flight simulator, maybe I don't need to be using FSAutoStart at all. (I already have most if not all of the services I don't need switched off in any case).Comments welcome!Thanks, as ever,Martin

No expert, but it's not only a question of memory and frame rates but also of smoothness - if all those programs are doing things in the background, they can cause stutters in the fastest display.I believe you can shut down Windows Explorer without difficulty.

"I believe you can shut down Windows Explorer without difficulty."Yep, I always shut down Windows Explorer (using FSAutostart, of course) for a sim session.Greg

I shut it down during flying yesterday, and everything was fine. FSAutoStart doesn't bring it back again though when you exit FS. (I have the option set to stop and restart). The cmd screen for autostart shows the last line as 'waiting for application to close' or words to that effect - even though FS9 has closed. I have to reopen explorer using task manager. Is that the same for you or do I have a glitch?M.

Definately a glitch somewhere. Mine is set to stop and restart in the "Programs" screen of FSAutostart.Greg

I'll test it out a bit more - post a query on the FSA forum if I can't get it sorted out. (Might try reinstalling FSA too).M. :-)

>>flight simulator, maybe I don't need to be using FSAutoStart>at all. (I already have most if not all of the services I>don't need switched off in any case).After giving FSAutoStart a fair shake I decided it didn't do enough for me - I saw no practical difference. So I stopped using it.Michael J.WinXP-Home SP2,AMD64 3500+,Abit AV8,Radeon X800Pro,36GB Raptor,1GB PC3200,Audigy 2http://www.precisionmanuals.com/images/forum/747400.jpghttp://www.hifisim.com/images/asv_beta_member.jpg

Sorted out the problem and it all works OK, but not sure that it really is giving me any real benefits. I have a fairly 'lean' machine to start with ...M.

i have a question about stop and restart , does that mean after you shut down FS9 that all of the programs will restart automaticly, or do you have to restart your com.or if you use the stop only button you have to restart your com.Thanks.......Robert

FS AutoStart will restart the program(s) and service(s) that you've designated as Stop & Restart after FS9 has closed down.

thanks for the reply, if i may ask you another question, do i have to start FS auto start before i start the FS9 or is this automactic.im sure there is , do i need to go into configure to do this.Thanks.....Robert