Hi, .

I just downloaded and used FSX steam version. However after I load FSX, I get the start up screen. After selecting the aircraft i start the flight but I get a black screen instead. I had this on my DVD version of FSX as well. 

Any ideas why?

What aircraft?  Default?  Others too?  What airport scenery?  Default or an add-on.  Are you starting up in full screen or Windowed Mode?  The major clue is that it happens on FSX-Steam and with FSX (boxed).  A black screen could indicate you ran out of resources or you do not have a computer powerful enough to render the textures. 

Do you have DirectX Preview turned on?  You do that at the setup screen by clicking on Settings and then Customize...  Make sure DirectX Preview is enabled.  If you are trying to load an aircraft or scenery made for DX10 and DX10 Preview is disabled, then you may get a black screen.  Likewise, if you have DirectX Preview disabled and trying to load an add-on aircraft or scenery made for DirectX, you may get a black screen.  The default settings is with DirectX Preview disabled.

If that does not fix the issue, I would rename the FSX.cfg to FSX.off.  Rename the dll.xml to dll.off.  Start up FSX and a new FSX.cfg will be created.  Any modules you are having loaded will not load with the dll.xml disabled.  This is all explained on page 10 of the AVSIM CTD Guide, How to fix any crash, freeze, or black screens.  Link to the CTD Guide is in my signature.

 

Also, make sure DX10 Preview is enabled.  You may be loading only texture compatible with DX10.