MFS_AutoFPS works perfectly but never displays on monitor

[TacomaSailor 191]

This problem has been ongoing for several months.  I am currently using 0.4.2.11  The app works just as it should and modifies TLOD and OLOD as I wish.  However, I am not seeing the control/display box where one can change values.  I was seeing the box and experimenting with Expert Mode but now - no box of information.  

I start GPU-Z and then start MSFS_AutoFPS.  No sys tray icon appears and no AutoFPS display appears but Task Manager shows AutoFPS running.

The AutoFPS log shows everything working correctly.:

2024-05-07 16:21:49.684 [INF] [ App:InitLog                      ] MSFS2020_AutoFPS v0.4.2 started! Log Level: Debug Log File: ..\log\MSFS2020_AutoFPS.log 
2024-05-07 16:21:49.686 [INF] [ App:InitSystray                  ] Creating SysTray Icon ... 
2024-05-07 16:21:49.838 [INF] [ ServiceController:Run            ] Service starting ... 
2024-05-07 16:21:49.842 [INF] [ IPCManager:WaitForSimulator      ] Simulator started 
2024-05-07 16:21:49.871 [INF] [ MobiSimConnect:Connect           ] SimConnect Connection open 
2024-05-07 16:21:49.871 [INF] [ IPCManager:WaitForConnection     ] Connection not established - waiting 30s between Retries 
2024-05-07 16:21:49.984 [INF] [ MobiSimConnect:SimConnect_OnOpen ] SimConnect OnOpen received 
2024-05-07 16:21:55.273 [DBG] [ MobiSimConnect:SimConnect_Receiv ] Sending Ping to MobiFlight WASM Module 
2024-05-07 16:21:55.383 [INF] [ MobiSimConnect:SimConnect_OnClie ] MobiFlight WASM Ping acknowledged - opening Client Connection 
2024-05-07 16:21:55.489 [INF] [ MobiSimConnect:SimConnect_OnClie ] MobiFlight WASM Client Connection opened 
2024-05-07 16:22:05.159 [DBG] [ MemoryManager:GetActiveDXVersion ] Steam MSFS version detected - DX12 
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.2024-05-07 15:36:28.544 [INF] [ LODController:LODController      ] GPU-Z companion app running 
2024-05-07 15:36:28.544 [INF] [ LODController:LODController      ] GPU-Z GPU Load sensor found 
2024-05-07 15:36:28.545 [INF] [ ServiceController:ServiceLoop    ] Starting Service Loop 
2024-05-07 15:36:28.545 [INF] [ ServiceController:ServiceLoop    ] Normal startup detected. Getting default MSFS settings from MSFS. 
2024-05-07 15:36:28.564 [INF] [ ServiceController:ServiceLoop    ] Initial LODs PC 150 / 200 and VR 150 / 145 
2024-05-07 15:36:28.566 [INF] [ ServiceController:ServiceLoop    ] Initial cloud quality PC Ultra / VR High 
2024-05-07 15:36:28.567 [INF] [ ServiceController:ServiceLoop    ] Setting TLOD Min on ground 150 
2024-05-07 15:36:28.568 [INF] [ ServiceController:ServiceLoop    ] Setting OLOD @ Base on ground 150 
2024-05-07 15:36:49.852 [INF] [ LODController:UpdateVariables    ] FPS: 66 FGAct: True Pri: TLOD TLOD: 150 OLOD: 150 AGL: 4 FPM: -1 Clouds: Ultra GPU: 0% 
2024-05-07 15:38:16.977 [INF] [ LODController:UpdateVariables    ] FPS: 37 FGAct: True Pri: TLOD TLOD: 200 OLOD: 150 AGL: 3 FPM: -0 Clouds: Ultra GPU: 100% 
2024-05-07 15:38:27.117 [INF] [ LODController:UpdateVariables    ] FPS: 33 FGAct: True Pri: TLOD TLOD: 200 OLOD: 150 AGL: 3 FPM: -0 Clouds: High GPU: 72% 
2024-05-07 15:40:46.942 [INF] [ ServiceController:ServiceLoop    ] ServiceLoop ended 

This problem started after a CTD with the GPU failure message.  But, it has also occurred several times in the past and then resolved itself for no apparent reason.

What is causing the app to run and operate perfectly but not display any information on the screen?  
 

YES!  Removing and reinstalling fixes the problem - but what is causing it?

Edited May 7 by TacomaSailor

[Bobsk8 12,863]

17 minutes ago, TacomaSailor said:

This problem has been ongoing for several months.  I am currently using 0.4.2.11  The app works just as it should and modifies TLOD and OLOD as I wish.  However, I am not seeing the control/display box where one can change values.  I was seeing the box and experimenting with Expert Mode but now - no box of information.  

I start GPU-Z and then start MSFS_AutoFPS.  No sys tray icon appears and no AutoFPS display appears but Task Manager shows AutoFPS running.

The AutoFPS log shows everything working correctly.:

2024-05-07 16:21:49.684 [INF] [ App:InitLog                      ] MSFS2020_AutoFPS v0.4.2 started! Log Level: Debug Log File: ..\log\MSFS2020_AutoFPS.log 
2024-05-07 16:21:49.686 [INF] [ App:InitSystray                  ] Creating SysTray Icon ... 
2024-05-07 16:21:49.838 [INF] [ ServiceController:Run            ] Service starting ... 
2024-05-07 16:21:49.842 [INF] [ IPCManager:WaitForSimulator      ] Simulator started 
2024-05-07 16:21:49.871 [INF] [ MobiSimConnect:Connect           ] SimConnect Connection open 
2024-05-07 16:21:49.871 [INF] [ IPCManager:WaitForConnection     ] Connection not established - waiting 30s between Retries 
2024-05-07 16:21:49.984 [INF] [ MobiSimConnect:SimConnect_OnOpen ] SimConnect OnOpen received 
2024-05-07 16:21:55.273 [DBG] [ MobiSimConnect:SimConnect_Receiv ] Sending Ping to MobiFlight WASM Module 
2024-05-07 16:21:55.383 [INF] [ MobiSimConnect:SimConnect_OnClie ] MobiFlight WASM Ping acknowledged - opening Client Connection 
2024-05-07 16:21:55.489 [INF] [ MobiSimConnect:SimConnect_OnClie ] MobiFlight WASM Client Connection opened 
2024-05-07 16:22:05.159 [DBG] [ MemoryManager:GetActiveDXVersion ] Steam MSFS version detected - DX12 
.
.

.2024-05-07 15:36:28.544 [INF] [ LODController:LODController      ] GPU-Z companion app running 
2024-05-07 15:36:28.544 [INF] [ LODController:LODController      ] GPU-Z GPU Load sensor found 
2024-05-07 15:36:28.545 [INF] [ ServiceController:ServiceLoop    ] Starting Service Loop 
2024-05-07 15:36:28.545 [INF] [ ServiceController:ServiceLoop    ] Normal startup detected. Getting default MSFS settings from MSFS. 
2024-05-07 15:36:28.564 [INF] [ ServiceController:ServiceLoop    ] Initial LODs PC 150 / 200 and VR 150 / 145 
2024-05-07 15:36:28.566 [INF] [ ServiceController:ServiceLoop    ] Initial cloud quality PC Ultra / VR High 
2024-05-07 15:36:28.567 [INF] [ ServiceController:ServiceLoop    ] Setting TLOD Min on ground 150 
2024-05-07 15:36:28.568 [INF] [ ServiceController:ServiceLoop    ] Setting OLOD @ Base on ground 150 
2024-05-07 15:36:49.852 [INF] [ LODController:UpdateVariables    ] FPS: 66 FGAct: True Pri: TLOD TLOD: 150 OLOD: 150 AGL: 4 FPM: -1 Clouds: Ultra GPU: 0% 
2024-05-07 15:38:16.977 [INF] [ LODController:UpdateVariables    ] FPS: 37 FGAct: True Pri: TLOD TLOD: 200 OLOD: 150 AGL: 3 FPM: -0 Clouds: Ultra GPU: 100% 
2024-05-07 15:38:27.117 [INF] [ LODController:UpdateVariables    ] FPS: 33 FGAct: True Pri: TLOD TLOD: 200 OLOD: 150 AGL: 3 FPM: -0 Clouds: High GPU: 72% 
2024-05-07 15:40:46.942 [INF] [ ServiceController:ServiceLoop    ] ServiceLoop ended 

This problem started after a CTD with the GPU failure message.  But, it has also occurred several times in the past and then resolved itself for no apparent reason.

What is causing the app to run and operate perfectly but not display any information on the screen?  
 

YES!  Removing and reinstalling fixes the problem - but what is causing it?

Maybe your AV is causing a problem. 

[fppilot 4,398]

Have you tried using Alt+Tab to find it?  If so, check the box "On Top" to keep it in sight.  If you do that and find it. once you have it on top make sure you click back somewhere on MSFS to make it the active applicaiton in Windows.  If not you will disable Frame Generaton if you are also using it.

[TacomaSailor 191]

NO anti-virus running

ON TOP is checked

Alt+Tab does not show the app

BUT... I've now found that after a remove and reinstall  - the app behaves as expected and the control box appears on the display.  I can start and stop the app with no adverse effect. I find the app with Alt+Tab and Task Manager shows it running as an APP

Then - for no apparent reason - the next time the app starts it runs as a Windows BACKGROUND process and no display box shows, I cannot find the app with Alt+Tab and it does not exit when MSFS ends.  But - while running as a background process - it works PERFECTLY.

I can't find anything about why an app would run as a foreground process and then suddenly become a background process.

I do find lots of stuff about preventing apps from running in the background BUT, at least on my system, MSFS_AutoFPS is not installed as an app.  It does not show up in either START (system startup) or APPS.  And all the instructions to prevent an app running in the background depend on finding the app on the system which, does not happen here.

Edited May 7 by TacomaSailor

[TacomaSailor 191]

STRANGE NEW UPDATE

I have isolated the problem - after a fresh install MSFS_AutoFPS works perfectly and shows the appropriate data on the screen.  IF MSFS ends normally the MSFS_AutoFPS app (running as a foreground process) also ends normally and will start normally the next time I want to use it.

IF the sim ends abnormally for ANY reason (task manager: end task, CTD of any type, SysTray Icon:close window) the MSFS_AutoFPS app (running in the foreground) ends but then instantly restarts or is "moved" to the background by some function in Windows.

The same effect occurs if I stop MSFS_AutoFPS in any fashion when it is running as a foreground process.  It instantly becomes a background process and the result is as follows.

After being moved to the background - MSFS_AutoFPS will never start again as a foreground process.  The only way I can find to resolve the problem, after an abnormal sim termination, is to remove and reinstall MSFS_AutoFPS.

???

Edited May 7 by TacomaSailor