MDFMike

I am using P3D - not FSX. 
 
I just isolated this problem by disabling the following in dll.xml - it is for Active Sky Next for P3D V2,2 - which has been working fine until now.
 
<Launch.Addon>
    <Name>as_connect</Name>
    <Disabled>True</Disabled>
    <Path>as_srv\as_btstrp.dll</Path>
  </Launch.Addon>
 
Information from ASNext web site documents requirement to either run P3D as administrator, or, change ownership or permissions to update the C:\Program Files (x86)\Lockheed Martin\Prepar3D v2\as_srv directory.
 
There are two files in this directory which need to be updated during execution:
1) btstrp.txt
2) log.txt
 
I updated permissions and re-enabled the entry in dll.xml - no more CTD - and it doesn't require being run as admin.

I think I've found root cause of my issues with the range of NVidia drivers between 314.07 and higher. 
 
To recap, I had two symptoms at these driver levels,
1) FSX crashed to desktop at startup, and 
2), DWM.exe crashed.
 
 
I neglected to consider that I also have a Targus Display Link USB 2.0 adapter with a third monitor enabled via its video port. 
 
So, I decided to try a test by installing the latest NVidia driver, 320.18, which just released a few days ago. I then noticed that the NVidia control panel was unable to display any monitor information (other than 3d settings) when the monitor attached to the Targus USB Display Link adapter was active. Also, dwm.exe crashed as soon as I tried to run the refresh to update my Windows Experience Index. I then decided to disable the video connected via the Targus Display Link and try again.
 
- The Windows Experience index refresh was then successful - no more dwm.exe crash
- The NVidia control panel was able to display all sections of video information. 
 
- FSX started and ran with no issues on NVidia driver level 320.18.
 
So, I think something may have been fixed in Nvidia driver level 320.18 to allow FSX to startup without crashing. There is still an issue involving video connected via the Targus USB 2.0 and the NVidia levels higher than 314.07.
 
Update: - I no longer experience the DWM.EXE crashes with the Targus video adapter active after upgrading the Targus DisplayLink USB 2.0 drivers to the following levels:
 
- DisplayLink Core Software - version 7.2.47873.0
- DisplayLink Graphics - version 7.0.43577.0
 
 
 
 
 
Hardware: Dell XPS L702X-
Processor: Intel i7-2820QM CPU - 2.3 GHz
Memory: 8GB RAM
 
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate - 64 bit.
 
Video Card:
GT555M with NVidia 3D Vision
 
Targus Display Link USB adapter Model ACP51USZ