NGX causing Freezes

[Ben/Air 0]

Dear PMDG,

 

About a week ago, a problem starting to appear from nowhere, where FSX-SE would suddenly freeze. I've done many checks to see what may cause this freeze and if it really is the NGX. First thing I checked was the Event Viewer. Every time I fly the NGX, it will freeze. The timing will change but it is 95% certain that it will freeze. So each time I check event viewer, nothing was logged about FSX. Then I tried flying with other aircraft such as the B777 and the Aerosoft A320. I never had any problems with both aircraft. Also I checked many forums on what may be the issue and people recommended to turn off "auto-Save" in FSUIPC. I checked my settings and I never had it on. People also said it may be ENB but I never had a issue before and I will not give it up that easily. I never changed anything in FSX before and after the freezing started. I've tried clean installs and repairs for the NGX but neither worked. Then I checked for updates and the Operations Center told me I was up to date. So I did a lot to see what may be the case and so I would like to report this issue now. I've been trying to fix this issue for weeks now (I didn't change FSX in any way really) so I did try for myself first. Right now I will do one more test and that is without the HUD entry within the dll.xml file because one thing I changed and it was minor, and that was putting in the information to activate the HUD for the NGX because it didn't work before. The HUD afterwards worked but it may be the cause of the freezing. I'll do a flight to see if the HUD really is the issue and I'll report back but help is appreciated as soon as possible.

 

Thanks

 

Ben 

[Ben/Air 0]

Well I just tested to see if the HUD is the issue to freezing and it isn't. FSX-SE just froze again so the problem is still active.

[downscc 1,327]

Never seen a report of the HUD module causing a freeze.... now to the problem at hand: Explain your freeze.  Is computer locked up or just FSX locked up?  Does FSX start working again after 5-10 min? How long have you let it sit in a frozen state?  Check your core activity and compare the frozen state to the normal running state... does it look the same?

[Ben/Air 0]

Well, I have done all of that and my Cores are running fine and aren't huffing and puffing. The freeze is just FSX-SE and not my computer and the freeze won't resolve itself. 

[downscc 1,327]

Well, I have done all of that and my Cores are running fine and aren't huffing and puffing. The freeze is just FSX-SE and not my computer and the freeze won't resolve itself. 

I wasn't clear. Normally all cores are loaded but during a freeze they will become unloaded and just idle. Also, "won't resolve itself" could mean that the freeze lasts longer than 10-20 min so my original attempt to help you has not helped. 

 

Usually the FSX appHang does resolve itself. If this happens try adjusting your affinity mask setting. If it is not resolving itself then you could have a component problem... if you are overclocking adjust that to see if symptoms change.

[Ben/Air 0]

I have Affinity Mask set to 14 and overclocking isn't possible on laptops. At least that's what I heard and so that shows I didn't overclock it. Like I said, it recently started to happen and maybe its due to the NGX update. Again, I went through the event viewer and nothing was logged about FSX so I have a feeling its the driver. Today I tested again and the screen, when in windowed mode, is able to minimize. When the screen is maximized on the computer and you then double click on the top bar, the window becomes smaller and that is when the Graphics driver kicks in to load the re sized textures, I tried doing that today, and I got a freeze again. But only on the NGX so I have a feeling it is a graphics issue but why now? That is the question I want to know. So what I did is try to uninstall and re-install all Simconnects. It still didn't work so I don't know what to say. All my drivers are up to date and set to run FSX-SE in maximum performance. 

[downscc 1,327]

 

 

Again, I went through the event viewer and nothing was logged about FSX so I have a feeling its the driver.

 

I think you are on the right track, but normally what happens is FSX is waiting on the video driver and it waits and waits... and that will cause an appHang event message when you terminate FSX.

 

Maybe the latest driver is part of the problem.  Try rolling back to a previous version.  I havent' used ATI graphics in several years so cannot help you here but maybe the AVSIM CTD forum has some some help: http://www.avsim.com/forum/262-crash-to-desktop-ctd-forum/

[Ben/Air 0]

The thing is that I never had to update the graphics driver when the error started to occur which means that it just started happening. Right now I'm looking at the Graphics Control Panel to check a few things and test some more hopefully finding a cure. I'll share whatever I try and if it works. 

[Ben/Air 0]

Alright, well everything I thought may be the cause, isn't. Such as changing the Graphics settings to minimum quality and maximum performance and , rolling back a version,. Changing the settings that effect the GPU to either off or lower setting and a few other minor things that didn't work. It starts freezing even if I just click on the top bar. I hope you know what I mean with that. When FSX is in windowed mode, the bar on the top. Just by clicking it, FSX freezes. The I've done the same to the Aerosoft Airbus X and PMDG 777 and no freezing whatsoever. I hate to admit, the NGX is the cause I can't explain how.

[downscc 1,327]

 

 

When FSX is in windowed mode, the bar on the top. Just by clicking it, FSX freezes.

 

That sounds familiar, although not as an indication of a NGX bug. I recommend you visit the AVSIM crash forum I referenced for you earlier.

[ALF1 15]

Just a question: have you tweaked your fsx config in any way ? if so, what entries ?

[Ben/Air 0]

Hello all, after frustration and lots of testing, I have come to the conclusion that I am  99% sure it is FSUIPC causing the issue.

Yes, my FSX.cfg is tweaked but I tried building a new one already and nothing worked.

I have tried updating my drivers for my ATI, Intel HD 4000 and Realtek Sound Package. At first, that seemed to work but temporarily. 

Then I checked to see if it truly is the NGX ONLY causing the issue. It turned out to be the case. 

I've read many things about the config file and its tweaks but that wasn't my problem. 

I went into Event Viewer to see if anything was logged and nothing was. 

I tried reinstalling the NGX and after it still didn't work, I tried to repair it. That seemed to work at first but again temporarily. 

Then I went into Steam to check my FSX build and it did fix around 540 files that were "corupted". I suggest doing this but for me it wasn't the winner. 

I read many,many posts of other problems until I came across one thing. It was to take the DLL.xml file and EXE.xml file and place them out of the folder. I found that FSX wouldn't freeze anymore which means something wasn't working nicely with the NGX. I started by placing only the EXE.xml file back and nothing froze still. Then I placed the DLL.xml file back and FSX froze again. After, I started, one by one, to get rid of some entry's and I've found that FSUIPC, once gone, let the NGX run freeze free. The issue is, How do I fix it? Well, sorry to disappoint,but at this time I do not know and I am still researching some things about FSUIPC but I did try one thing and that was to reinstall it. It didn't work for me but I still recommend people to try it. As I test, I encourage people with similar issues to try all the things I did to see what your problem is.Thanks and hope to find the cure soon.

 

Ben

[Ben/Air 0]

Well, I tried everything I have described and come to the conclusion that it isn't fixed completely. It doesn't happen when in "Full Screen" mode. So my FSX-SE doesn't freeze unless in windowed-mode and it does let me fly. I dislike "Full Screen" mode so I will see if anything else can be done but as a side project. Thanks anyways.

[downscc 1,327]

Did you change video drivers? If not, either install the latest or roll back to the previous.

[Ben/Air 0]

Yes, I've tried everything already and I can probably say that I read every forum about CTD and Freezes three times. 

I am not inexperienced so I know quite well what I am doing. That is why I came to the conclusion before. I've tested many scenarios and done things that others used to fix similar issues. I also tried optimizing my Laptop and reducing my Settings to the point of it being totally zeroed out.