Hello - I am having an issue I have never had before. I have now tried five times in a row to open MSFS, and each time it crashes before I get to the main screen. I use the addon linker and disabled all of my addons, and still it crashes. I have rebooted twice and still it crashes. This is very puzzling. Has anyone had this issue and if so, how did you resolve it? Thanks in advance!

Cheers, Pete

Try signing out and back in to both xBox and the Microsoft sites.

Is it crashing when it's loading, and the screen goes to black for a few seconds first?

Then it could have something to do with encryption of your file system. It could be because of a Windows update or similar. 

7 minutes ago, Republic3D said:

and the screen goes to black for a few seconds first?

My MSFS always goes black for a few seconds when starting.....

It goes black in the beginning but then becomes the normal loading screen. At about half way it closes down. Dum question, but if I bought from steam, where do I go to log out of Xbox?

Cheers, Pete

I figured out where to log out of Xbox. Then I ran any remaining Windows updates, but the same thing keeps happening. This is really a problem. I never had this issue before and now I can't run the program at all. It's always something. Is there a way to reset anything?

Cheers, Pete

21 minutes ago, PilotPete99 said:

It goes black in the beginning but then becomes the normal loading screen. At about half way it closes down. Dum question, but if I bought from steam, where do I go to log out of Xbox?

Cheers, Pete

Not sure then if that (Xbox) is a factor so wait for others to pitch in.  My MSFS is from the MS Store.  I have seen others with start up issues sign out and back in for success.  But not aware of from what platform they purchased.

Just now, fppilot said:

Not sure then if that (Xbox) is a factor so wait for others to pitch in.  My MSFS is from the MS Store.  I have seen others with start up issues sign out and back in for success.  But not aware of from what platform they purchased.

I actually just went to the MSFS Forum and it appears I am not the only one with this issue. Hopefully a solution will be found soon.

Cheers, Pete

Check out this discussion:

https://forums.flightsimulator.com/t/steam-version-will-not-start/348014/5

Maybe if you restore msfs?

1 minute ago, Todd2 said:

Maybe if you restore msfs?

How would I do that?
 

Cheers, Pete

18 minutes ago, PilotPete99 said:

How would I do that?
 

Cheers, Pete

Pete,
I was having different issues back before SU5 so I did the reset routine.  It was akin to a full reinstall (took 3 hours) but did nothing to first purge my system of MSFS and did not cure my issues.  I highly recommend you pursue less extensive avenues first.  MSFS/Steam credentials (sign in, etc), Windows update rollback. Video driver rollback.  Video driver update, etc.  Did your issue in any way coincide with the most recent simulator update?

My issues developed well before SU5 so prior to SU5 I fully uninstalled, including tracking down and eliminating left over fragments.  Then I waited out the issues that surfaced after SU5 until the hotfixes were out.  Then I did a new virgin reinstall.  I have read of others that had difficult getting the sim to start and most were able to resolve the issue without going through all of what I did.

I got all sorts of wild recommendations, including totally reformatting my storage disks and reinstalling Windows itself.  My computer is not at all dedicated to just MSFS so I threw that recommendation away immediately.  Try simple first and wade in slowly.  Make search engines and sound reasoning your best friends.

Edited August 19, 20214 yr by fppilot

Agreed, with MSFS a reinstall or restore is tempting when frustrated but should be last option.

I would start by disconnecting all USB controllers and devices and temporarily disabling any other optional software you run like FSUICP, Process lasso, Logitech plugins, LittleNavMap etc etc .

Edited August 19, 20214 yr by Glenn Fitzpatrick

4 minutes ago, Glenn Fitzpatrick said:

Agreed, with MSFS a reinstall or restore is tempting when frustrated but should be last option.

I would start by disconnecting all USB controllers and devices and temporarily disabling any other optional software you run like FSUICP, Process lasso, Logitech plugins, LittleNavMap etc etc .

And clear out any Community folder addons.  Act as if you are on a first date with a special someone!

Edited August 19, 20214 yr by fppilot

Thanks for the suggestions. This issue is brand new, only since the most recent MSFS update. I will try some of these suggestions tomorrow and see if I find success. It is frustrating when these types off issues arise and we all have to then spend a lot of time troubleshooting. Hopefully over time these issues become few and far between.

Cheers, Pete