SU2 Beta 1.4.14.0  Windows 11 23H2  nVidia Driver 576.02

Today I couldn't install anything because my C drive (Win 11) was full - not a normal situation

I discovered a new folder in ProgramData/nVidia/Streamline/FlightSimulator2024 - it is 19.6GB and contains 5,444 files.  Each file is named sl-sha-68a19ax.dmp where x is an increasing number.  Each file is about 6MB and appears to be a mini-dump analysis. The Streamline folder, sub-folders, and files were all created yesterday and I have never previously seen any such folder/files.  I did suffer several CTDs and Freezes yesterday in FS2024 but did nothing to record or manage the errors. 

I've done a lot of reading about the Streamline folder but what I read does not seem to match what I see.  This is what nVidia says:

Streamline is an open-sourced cross-IHV solution that simplifies integration of the latest NVIDIA and other independent hardware vendors’ super resolution technologies into applications and games. This framework allows developers to easily implement one single integration and enable multiple super-resolution technologies and other graphics effects supported by the hardware vendor.

I renamed the Streamline folder and started a 2024 Beta sim session that worked almost perfectly. Great scenery, very steady 60FPS @ High and Ultra with LODs>200.  The sim held 60FPS during the entire ILS landing with the Honda Jet at KSAN RWY 9 with the very detailed ORBX KSAN addon and FSLTL running.  Not a stutter of flicker!

No new Streamline folder was created during today's session and not having the folder in place seemed to cause no problems. 

Does Anyone know what the Streamline folder is used for in FS 2024 and can I delete it?

Here is the opening of one of the files:

Microsoft (R) Windows Debugger Version 10.0.27829.1001 AMD64
Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.


Loading Dump File [C:\ProgramData\NVIDIA\Streamline_Apr25\FlightSimulator2024\1740615980354735\sl-sha-68a19a3.dmp]
User Mini Dump File: Only registers, stack and portions of memory are available


************* Path validation summary **************
Response                         Time (ms)     Location
Deferred                                       srv*
Symbol search path is: srv*
Executable search path is: 
Windows 10 Version 22631 MP (16 procs) Free x64
Product: WinNt, suite: SingleUserTS Personal
Edition build lab: 22621.1.amd64fre.ni_release.220506-1250
Debug session time: Wed Feb 26 20:26:21.000 2025 (UTC - 4:00)
System Uptime: 0 days 3:21:01.042
Process Uptime: 0 days 0:53:08.000
................................................................
................................................................
................................................................
..............................................
This dump file has an exception of interest stored in it.
The stored exception information can be accessed via .ecxr
(32e8.13c0): Access violation - code c0000005 (first/second chance not available)

+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| This target supports Hardware-enforced Stack Protection. A HW based    |
| "Shadow Stack" may be available to assist in debugging and analysis.   |
| See aka.ms/userhsp for more info.                                      |
|                                                                        |
| dps @ssp                                                               |
|                                                                        |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+

For analysis of this file, run !analyze -v
ntdll!NtGetContextThread+0x14:
00007ff9`9b5922d4 c3         

Edited April 25, 20251 yr by TacomaSailor

Interesting - I just tried your suggestion to rename that folder - I could immediately load up an airport in the UK that would crash every time I tried to fly there!  I could load up at any other airport, but not this one.

 

I took your entire post and ran it by my assistant here's what he had to say:

 

 

What's happening with that Streamline folder and all those .dmp files?

 

Streamline is normally meant for DLSS, Reflex, and similar vendor tech to hook into games without requiring full SDK integration.

 

HOWEVER — in your case, it’s not being used for super-resolution stuff.

Those .dmp files (mini-dumps) are crash diagnostics.

 

What's clear:

Something inside Flight Simulator 2024 SU2 Beta caused NVIDIA Streamline to capture crash dumps — probably because Streamline is active at a deep driver level in this beta version.

 

Those files aren't normal or expected under healthy conditions.

They are basically NVIDIA's automatic "here's what went wrong" captures, probably so MSFS 2024 or NVIDIA can debug beta issues later.

 

 

 

---

 

The big evidence:

From your dump excerpt:

 

> (32e8.13c0): Access violation - code c0000005

 

 

 

c0000005 = classic access violation (bad pointer, memory out of bounds).

 

Shadow Stack protection mentioned = modern CPU defenses kicking in to catch it.

 

 

This means something (probably inside MSFS 2024 or its graphics API calls through Streamline) was crashing bad enough that NVIDIA thought, "Hey, let's make a record of this for engineers."

 

 

---

 

Why did it stop today?

 

Because the crashes stopped.

 

Streamline is a passive recorder in this case — it doesn't generate files unless there's a crash.

 

No crash = no new Streamline folder.

 

 

 

---

 

Can you delete it? Yes. Absolutely.

It’s just crash reports.

It has no live effect on running FS 2024, the beta, or NVIDIA.

Think of it like your own personal "black box" recorder for flights that ended badly.

 

It’s safe to delete the entire ProgramData\NVIDIA\Streamline folder if you want.

And frankly, since it ate 19.6 GB like a fat kid at a candy store — I would.

 

 

---

 

Why did renaming or deleting it improve performance?

 

Less stress on the C:\ drive.

 

No background I/O overhead from the Streamline service trying to log.

 

Less Windows resource contention (ProgramData is not meant to be spammed that way).

 

Psychologically — knowing the drive isn't on life support also helps.

 

I am on a slightly older driver (566.36) and that nVidia folder does not exist on my system

BTW - I was poking around doing some disk cleanup and found this Streamline/MSFS2024 folder with 72,000 files occupying 310 GB of disk space. 

On 4/26/2025 at 3:16 PM, cj-ibbotson said:

I am on a slightly older driver (566.36) and that nVidia folder does not exist on my system

Yeah I don’t think I’m gonna update my drivers any time soon. It seems nvidia keeps degrading more and more.