Hi, I am running Win 10 LTSC, 21H2, build 19044. Many people have successfully run MSFS 2020 on LTSC, but I get the infamous issue where the game shows black loading screen after splash, and never gets to the main menu, with the loading circle at bottom right corner. It is stationary, but rotates a bit every 5 seconds or so, and the game never loads. CPU usage is 1%, RAM is around 530 Mb and moves around a bit.

I suspect the issue is that LTSC doesn't have Xbox app, and no Microsoft Store that is needed to install that Xbox app. I tried to install the Store via this tool, but it doesn't work, Store is installed but when I launch it I get "check your connection" error, and nothing seems to fix it. I also tried to install Xbox app without the Store, using this guide, but afterwards Xbox app won't launch (as soon as I run it, it appears for a split second and shuts down). Also tried installing it from their website - it won't install, shows the same  "check your connection" error, just like the Store. I tried running GamingRepairTool, and it shows all modules working except for Gaming Services, which it fails to install/repair. I tried installing it manually but it still doesn't work.

Apart from the struggle with Store/Xbox app, I also tried with MSFS:

-Running as admin;
-Adding -FastLaunch;
-Reinstalling GPU drivers (NVIDIA 3070 Ti)
-Installing windows updates;
-Verify installation via Steam;
-Clear user data (although there wasn't any);
-Reinstalling game, including clean uninstall;
-Disabled Windows Defender and Firewall;
-Enabled Vertical Sync for the game in NVIDIA Control Panel;
-Disabled all audio inputs;
-Removed all USB devices except for mouse;
-Run the game directly from EXE (as admin);
-Disable Steam Cloud;
-Disable Steam overlay;
-SFS and DISM repair of my Windows install (although it is just a few weeks old)
-Everything else from this guide.

And still the same. How can I determine the EXACT cause of game getting stuck in that black screen, rather than blindly shooting in the dark? How do I solve it? Are there any logs I can check?

 

Edited December 12, 20241 yr by laukejas
Removed redundant info

Bump. Can anyone help, please?

Any reason you got LTSC instead of the normal Consumer Home/Pro Version? LTSC is meant for Enterprises with specific Use-Cases that don't involve any kind of Store / Modern Apps, etc.

You probably already know this but on the official forum there are threads about win 10 LTSC

https://forums.flightsimulator.com/search?q=LTSC order%3Alatest

 

I have used Win 10 LTSC for years with 2020. I feel like I have come across this but can't remmeber how I solved it.

 

Try this:

Make sure the Internet is connected.

Open Powershell as admin and enter,
wsreset -i

Wait for a notification to appear that the store app is installed, it may take a few minutes.

On Windows 10 2021 LTSC, you might encounter an error indicating that cliprenew.exe cannot be found. This error can be safely ignored.

The best solution is to ask your IT department to install windows 11 enterprise or pro. I am curious why they installed LTSC anyway since there is only a limited use case, mainly for users who don't want feature updates or an OS without extraneous software like store apps.

LTSC works great. Just run wsreset -i in a Admin command window and it will install the store for you, after which, it will work just like normal. 

I ran 2020 on 10 LTSC for years, and currently running 2024 on Windows 11 LTSC. Works really great. 

36 minutes ago, Allard said:

I am curious why they installed LTSC anyway since there is only a limited use case

LTSC is what Windows should be! There's no nags, no telemetry, no ads, no annoyances whatsoever. Just a clean OS on which you can install and run any app and everything just works. 

Microsoft doesnt' want you using it (they make more money with the ad-laden versions now), so they say all this, but if you actually use it, you'll see how great it is to have an OS that isn't constantly bothering you. I've run LTSC for years and years and have never had any issues. 

4 hours ago, laukejas said:

Bump. Can anyone help, please?

if you can't get it working, PM me and I'll help you out. 

 

1 hour ago, JonathanC said:

LTSC is what Windows should be! There's no nags, no telemetry, no ads, no annoyances whatsoever. Just a clean OS on which you can install and run any app and everything just works. 

Microsoft doesnt' want you using it (they make more money with the ad-laden versions now), so they say all this, but if you actually use it, you'll see how great it is to have an OS that isn't constantly bothering you. I've run LTSC for years and years and have never had any issues. 

Now I'm at a lost. What ads or annoyances comes with windows 10 or 11? I've never seen or came across any. When I brought my Dell laptop, it came with a lot of junk on the system that I didn't want but I solved that by installing a fresh copy of Win 11 on it.

Thanks for replies, guys!

13 hours ago, eXpress48 said:

Any reason you got LTSC instead of the normal Consumer Home/Pro Version? LTSC is meant for Enterprises with specific Use-Cases that don't involve any kind of Store / Modern Apps, etc.

9 hours ago, Allard said:

The best solution is to ask your IT department to install windows 11 enterprise or pro. I am curious why they installed LTSC anyway since there is only a limited use case, mainly for users who don't want feature updates or an OS without extraneous software like store apps.

6 hours ago, Bigmack said:

Now I'm at a lost. What ads or annoyances comes with windows 10 or 11? I've never seen or came across any. When I brought my Dell laptop, it came with a lot of junk on the system that I didn't want but I solved that by installing a fresh copy of Win 11 on it.

 

The reason I'm using LTSC is basically what JonathanC said. It's like debloated version of Windows, much faster and cleaner, no annoyances, no junk, only security updates, much more control over the system. After trying LTSC I would never go back to Home/Pro lol. It's just that much better... And this is the first time I've encountered issue with it, probably due to that missing store.

 

12 hours ago, Fielder said:

You probably already know this but on the official forum there are threads about win 10 LTSC

https://forums.flightsimulator.com/search?q=LTSC order%3Alatest

 

Yeah, I saw all of these before asking my question here... None of the suggestions there worked for me 😕

9 hours ago, JonathanC said:

LTSC works great. Just run wsreset -i in a Admin command window and it will install the store for you, after which, it will work just like normal. 

I ran 2020 on 10 LTSC for years, and currently running 2024 on Windows 11 LTSC. Works really great. 

This is one of the first things I've tried... Unfortunately it doesn't seem to work. Store gets installed, but it won't open ("Check your connection" error), XBox app won't launch either, and MSFS is stuck in that black loading screen. I'll take up on your offer and write you a PM.

And if anyone else has any other suggestions, please do tell... I tried pretty much everything I could find on the internet to no avail.

Perhaps it is different in the USA, but in the Netherlands, one can't buy Windows LTSC seperately unless one's using a volume license, which is for businesses with 5 or more PC's. So most of us will have to use the regular Home or Pro versions.

Since I've never seen any advertisements in my Windows versions (most of them Pro or Education). Most of the bloatware people complain about come with factory installed Windows for complete PC's but since I always build my own I don't have that issue.

For the OP, after all you have tried it is likely there are still some dependancies missing, but it is difficult to find out which ones.
You didn't write if you have the Steam or Store version of MSFS2020. I assume it's the Store version. Perhaps the Steam version doesn't have rely on MS store/Xbox so much and might work, but it is a gamble.

"Don't cross a stream to get water".  Translation: apply the "kiss" principle (google).

Another translation: why use an OS that is seldom updated for a GAME that is updated frequently.

Actually, I probably know the answer. Some of us love how to make challenging difficult stuff work. But if you're just tired of doing that all the time or if that's just not your thing anymore, then it's best to just go with the flow and fly like the rest of us by using the same platform the game was intended for.

Nah it’s the opposite. LTSC gets all the security and bug fix updates and none of the new “features” that are hugely buggy. It’s by far the most stable version of Windows. But anyway, use whatever works for you, but it’s not true that LTSC is challenging to use. OP has some weird error sure, but it’s not a common thing. 

And you can buy LTSC (single license), it’s just not obvious how to. In the US/Canada, CDW will sell you a license.