I haven't been able to run MSFS for a few months now.  I've opened previous threads trying to explain the issues I've been having since the rollout of the last update.  I've tried so many things that I've lost track.  The sim launches and then goes to a smaller, all black window and never goes any further.

Should I finally call it quits and give up?  I'd hate to do that after having been using this product for 25ish years.

I had  reinstall MSFS completely from the scratch twice! I also had to install it again when I bought new PC. Our hobby comes with many caveats and sometimes it require a fresh start!

Sorry for your woes, but hang in there Andy.   Hopefully there's something here that helps.

How-to-fix-a-black-loading-screen

How-to-fix-loading-issues-after-clicking-Play

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I bought a pc off a well known flight sim computer company because back in the day, it was one of the only ways to get your hands on the new 30xx cards. I was super excited but I kept on getting CTD’s. I went back and forth with said well known company and they pretty much responded “it’s a new platform, it’s out of our hands”. After doing lots of research, I learned that it was actually a “feature” that was turned on in the BIOS. I forget what it was, but once I unchecked it, I never had a CTD like I experienced again. Long story short, it’s worth taking a deeper dive into your system settings. A complete reinstall is obviously your last choice, but before you do - check your BIOS settings. 

2 hours ago, andyjohnston.net said:

I haven't been able to run MSFS for a few months now.  I've opened previous threads trying to explain the issues I've been having since the rollout of the last update.  I've tried so many things that I've lost track.  The sim launches and then goes to a smaller, all black window and never goes any further.

Should I finally call it quits and give up?  I'd hate to do that after having been using this product for 25ish years.

Did you do a reinstallation of Windows and start again? That usually sorts things out. I usually do that once every 18 months or so.

6 minutes ago, YukonPete said:

Did you do a reinstallation of Windows and start again? That usually sorts things out. I usually do that once every 18 months or so.

If you do a reinstall and with your BIOS settings are still something wrong ( if so ) you still would have this problem..

cheers 😉

7 minutes ago, pmplayer said:

If you do a reinstall and with your BIOS settings are still something wrong ( if so ) you still would have this problem..

cheers 😉

You can always reset your BIOS to its default settings and try again. you may have some aggressive setting that the system doesn't like.

3 hours ago, andyjohnston.net said:

I haven't been able to run MSFS for a few months now.  I've opened previous threads trying to explain the issues I've been having since the rollout of the last update.  I've tried so many things that I've lost track.  The sim launches and then goes to a smaller, all black window and never goes any further.

Should I finally call it quits and give up?  I'd hate to do that after having been using this product for 25ish years.

Do you have Goggle maps installed in your simulator?

Format your machine Andy. Total wipe of Windows and the drive with MSFS (if different). While you are at it, review your setup and see if a bigger SSD makes sense, no better time than when doing a full wipe. Back up everything you want to keep (files only, not programs) first. From there you can be back on a brand new, clean, healthy Windows desktop in 15 minutes. Yes it is that quick and easy. Install drivers and apps and the sim from fresh downloads, not backed up versions. You could be flying in 24 hours. That’s if you really want to. If you need help on how to clean instal Windows properly, can send you links to a detailed step by step guide that makes it as easy as 1-2-3. Do not waste more time trouble shooting.

If you have been trouble shooting a few months now, the answer to your question could potentially be “yes”, unless you follow my advice. 😉

Personally I think you should reset bios as suggested and then vanilla install the sim. The last time I performed a reformat on my computer was in 2014. I think reformatting and reinstalling a fresh copy of windows is mostly a waste of time. 

3 hours ago, andyjohnston.net said:

I haven't been able to run MSFS for a few months now.  I've opened previous threads trying to explain the issues I've been having since the rollout of the last update.  I've tried so many things that I've lost track.  The sim launches and then goes to a smaller, all black window and never goes any further.

Should I finally call it quits and give up?  I'd hate to do that after having been using this product for 25ish years.

That is a bad experience you are having and I am sorry to read that!

I had those thoughts also back in the passed when I struggled to get something done. Quit is always an option.....1 out of.....? many options.

Before I quit, I would even consider to do a complete fresh and clean install off:

-  The MSFS app (Repair or reset)

- The complete sim or

- my complete system!

AND:

- Check my hardware cables (especially my monitor cables). Sometimes hardware can cause massive problems even if other games are running fine, this must not mean MSFS has to run equally fine

Thumbs up for you to solve this one so you may enjoy using the sim again!

Marcus

Never switched still running FSX-SE on a 10600k and GTX970 , DX!0 and settings maxed no issues no updates and my sim is loaded to the max with add on sceneries and PMDG etc. The sim look's glorious and very very rarely get a OOM due to selective scenery app and steves fixer

If I started again as a newbie it would be with prepared or Xplane AND GO FLY !!

Edited July 16, 20241 yr by zmak

The issue might be a simple switch somewhere, or a driver, but if you haven't found it after months then perhaps as others have suggested it is time to do a complete reinstall of your PC.
I also recommend to record your current BIOS settings and then reset it to factory defaults.
Also, do not use XMP settings at first since they are basically an overclock of your RAM. MSFS does not always like overclocks. When things are working again you could ramp up these settings.

I would completely blow out my installation and sim folders, then reinstall completely vanilla and see if that runs.  I would also consider doing an uninstall and clean reinstall of my video drivers.  If that didn't work, I'd consider rolling back my drivers a revision or two and see if that's the issue.

I'd probably also consider doing some stress testing of my hardware to see if there's an issue, depending on whether there's other symptoms of problems.

Beyond that, like others have said - BIOS, fresh Windows, etc.

If you are planning to upgrade your computer, now is a good time to do it because you will have to do a fresh install of Windows if you change the motherboard.

But even if you don't plan to change the motherboard I recommend you do a full format and start over from the beginning as that is the only thing that helps when you have tried everything else, I know, it's hard work, but it's also rewarded in the end as your computer will not only work better in MSFS but overall as well.

Edited July 16, 20241 yr by Ixoye