rshepherd

Thanks for your input guys... Although, I wasn't looking for a Windows 8.1 bashing session from the get go. Seeing the responses here with many having no issues except for the joystick item I'm inclined to give it a shot and take the few days it usually does to do a clean install and then install FSX, add-ons, etc... One thing I have noticed and agree completely with others here, is that W8.1 does utilize memory and/or CPU cycles more efficiently and I am anxious to see for myself how that translates into FSX operation. Thanks to those who also pointed out the DLYS fix...

Gents, I know that a slew of Windows 8.1 posts have been started on Avsim, but I was wondering if by now, any solid verdict has been settled on by the PMDG folks here (Ryan?). I'm really starting to get used to, and actually like W8.1 on my computer at work and am considering doing a clean install on my FSX PC at home; 8.1, FSX Gold, all my myriad of add-ons and see how it goes. It would also be nice to keep this post here instead of moving it to the Windows 8.1 forum as I am mainly concerned as to PMDG's answer on the subject and their research as far as how their products have been interacting with W 8.1. ... Should I go for it? Thanks!

Thanks Ryan, That's kind of what I thought (and was actually hoping you'd catch this, Ryan. I know you guys play around with many different hardware configs) System on SSD it is then...

Hey guys, I have a question (Apologies for the repetition if this has been brought up before) I have a 250GB Samsung SSD sitting right here that I would like to install... Currently, I am running two 500GB Seagate Barracudas; one has Windows on it and the other is running FSX solely. So my question: Would I see the most performance gains for FSX if I installed FSX on the SSD, or if I install Windows on the SSD. (I know that FSX reads and writes to the system drive as well for certain functions.) Thanks!

Ah, when you said SB integration you didn't specify the transponder issue... I wasn't talking about the transponder, but the radio freq changes (which turns out was my mistake - see below)... I'm aware of the transponder issues. It's no big deal to me to go back into SB4 and turn on the transponder there since I run SB4 via simconnect on a separate laptop... Thank you! I'm not at my PC right now to test this, but I'm sure this is my issue...! Never thought that I'd actually have to turn on COM1 - Duh... (I don't have to do this in my other payware A/C, but then again, THEY aren't as detailed as PMDG) Thanks!

I think what he means is that when you change freq in squawkbox (via com1 122.80 for example), the radios in the 777 do not reflect the change as they do in the NGX and any other aircraft I've flown with SB4 in FSX. I just tried to connect tonight with SB4 and change the Com to 122.80 and it didn't recognize the switch in the 777 (or vise versa if I change the freq in the 777, it doesn't change in SB4). This is huge to be able to fly online successfully within SB4. Not sure if I'm making sense to everyone here, but I'm sure that I'm making sense to those who fly online with SB4... I had a guy from our VA Friday night ditch the 777 and fly another A/C just because of this reason....

Well that did the trick! Ran the Flight1 registry repair tool and I tracked the ILS (and autolanded) at EWR flawlessly... Thanks to all!

As I think about it, you guys are right, it does only happen at night (or more so) as far as I can remember. That doesn't mean that I haven't had it happen during daylight hours; it's just that all the times I can seem to recall have been at night.

This just started happening to me as well on my last two flights. I had to take back control from the AP else I was landing in the grass to the left of the runway! KEWR and KIND were my last two destinations. I have no add-on scenery for EWR but I do for IND. I'll give the registry fix a try... I have to say though, in the years I've owned the MD-11 this is the first time this has occurred. Thanks!

Guys, Same here as well with a 16:9 monitor and GTX 570.. .I get the doubling up on the 2D panels and when I switch from 2D to VC to 2D this will fix it sometimes, and sometimes if I minimize FSX via ALT-TAB (I run in full screen), and then bring it back up, this will, in most cases, fix it. Seems it happens most when switching from VC to 2D; and it always ONLY affects the 2D panels. Never the VC. I can fly all night fine in the VC. It's pretty disheartening when it happens because I know I'm gonna have to jump through a hoop or two to try and get it back to normal in the middle of my flight. Thank goodness this hasn't happened yet on approach! The 16:10 theory sounds plausable; wondering if there's a .cfg tweak that can be adjusted for this... PMDG? Thanks!

+1I don't get on here too often (I guess I'm a lurker), but IMO this was the best response I have seen regarding the 2D vs 3D argument. I have a more than capable machine and run FSX with PMDG stuff quite well. Regardless, I have always been slow to switch over to VC for all the very valid reasons that have been noted in the past (which I won't reiterate here). It has only been during the past 12 months or so, that I have forced myself to slide over to flying more in the VC, and I am enjoying it the more I do it. Learning the tricks to get around easier in it was the key, and I will continue to move towards fully embracing it; including picking up a TrackIR5 here in the near future.That being said; not everyone CAN afford to lay out the $168 for TrackIR or a machine with the current specs that many of us have here. So I fully agree with Julian's post... Even though I am now embracing the VC; I would still like to see the continued inclusion of 2D panels for others (and myself for when I get lazy, :( ).

Cool... Thank you (both you and Jason)! I kinda figured but I wanted to verify before opening a ticket. I'm a purist in the respect that I like to have one inclusive, up to date, installer for my software.Thanks!

Maybe a stupid question, but are(have) the SP1b updates going to be re-packaged in the original aircraft installers for the 800/900 and 600/700 .exe's on the website? Just asking before I open a re-download ticket... Thanks PMDG!-Robert Shepherd

I'm in! This was a great idea; and thread! Constructive! :)All I ever fly is online, once you do it becomes the ONLY way to fly! But then to do it with the new NGX and the community here?? Now THAT would be awesome!Of course, we're gonna get Robert to fly too... RIGHT??? :)Anxiously awaiting the NGX...Robert Shepherd

I too am getting the flickering... But never when I first start the simulation (so far). It has always happened when I ALT-TAB BACK into the cockpit. In other words; if I ALT-TAB out of FSX to start an ACARS program, for example, and then ATL-TAB back in. That's when the flickering starts. It appears as though it is something with the refreshing of the screen in the VC. The flickering for me are squares that seem to cycle around the four quadrants of my screen, no matter where I pan while I am in the cockpit. If I switch to any other view it goes away completely.The odd thing is that if I ALT-TAB back out again, and then back in, it will sometimes stop. Further, it appears that this becomes more successful if I start another program such as IE, minimize it, and then ALT-TAB back in to cockpit (for example, last night I had the flickering and was dealing with it as I was in the middle of a VatSim flight. I ALT-TABBED and started IE to go to myairplane.com to get some charts. When I ALT-TABBED back in the flickering went away, to my relief). Very odd...As one said earlier... "I hope this bug gets squashed". I am growing very fond of the JS41 the more I use it and it is the first plane, I believe, that will finally wrench me away from 2D panels.Thanks!Robert ShepherdWindows 7 Ultimate x64FSX w AccelerationCore2Quad Q96508GB Corsair XMSXFX NVidia GeForce 260 Black Edition

Hmmmm, very interesting... Just read the hotfix description and this could be promising. Would explain a lot about how these "Deadlocks" as they are called, affect us here.Not getting too excited yet; but I am going to install this hotfix. Only time will tell if this fixes us up... :)Thanks Steveo38!Robert-

Hey all...Just jumping in here. I'm glad to see that I am not alone but at the same time sympathize with those of us here who do have this issue...My System: - Windows 7 Ultimate x64 - FSX + Acceleration (with *******' texture fix applied), Frames locked at 30, detail level pretty darn high, mainly for FSDreamteam sceneries. - Intel Core2Quad Q9550 3.0GHZ (not over-clocked) - Corsair XMS DDR2 800 @ 8GB, 2 pairs - Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P, Rev 1.1 (Using the RealTek onboard sound with current drivers from Gigabyte - they just released new drivers a few weeks ago that I haven't installed yet though) - Seagate Barracuda 160GB SATA HDD's x 2 (One for system and the other specifically for FSX and related programs; C: and D: respectively) - XFX NVidia GeForce GTX260 'Black Edition' w 896Mb (Current 200-series drivers and tweaked AA and AA transparency settings with NSpector since NHancer doesn't work with these newer drivers yet) - Saitek X52 Pro + pedals, Eclipse II keyboard, Logitec Wireless trackball3rd party stuff: - FSUIPC, registered + WideFS, registered - Active Sky Evolution + X Graphics - Squawkbox 4 (I fly online 99.9% of the time) - FSBuild - CaptainSim: 727 Captain + expansion, 757 Captain + expansion, 767 Captain + expansion, C-130 xperience - PMDG: QotS + 8i expansion (EAGERLY AWAITING NGX! ;) ) - Wilco: All commercial aircraft for FSX except ERJ v 2.0, E-Jets v 2.0 - Coolsky MD-80 Classic - Flight1: ATR - FSDreamteam: KJFK, KDFWOf course, I get the exact same problem and have been for years, as all of us here have been. FSX would just lock up in flight, sound still plays. Not every flight though... I can go about 20 - 30 hours of flight time before this rears it's ugly head again. I can ALT-TAB to get to my task bar, at which time I can then get to Task Manager to see that FSX is "Not Responding" (duh), but also, my ACARS program is Not Responding as well. CPU cores are maxxed out...The latest case was on approach to KSMF from KSLC. Flying the Wilco CRJ-2004(X), FL320, Running ASE, online with SB4 and my VA's ACARS running in the background. Flew the entire flight fine, up until I was descended to about 8K and getting ready to intercept the ILS. Then she froze! Needless to say - THAT SUCKED. I waited for about 10 minutes, ALT-TABBING around hoping that would hurry up and un-freeze me, but this time it just took too long and I gave up. I flew the flight another day and made it in. Go figure... It's as usual with this error.I do have a spare Creative Labs X-Fi Titanium PCI-e card that I'm thinking about trying now, looking at some of the sound related posts... This and the processor thread theories seem to "feel" like they make the most sense. Dunno...Just thought I'd add my system, sympathies, and $0.02 to the "database" here... :) ... I really hope Microsoft is watching and we figure this thing out. There's nothing more frustrating than spending hours in the cockpit flying for a VA that you are recording time through ACARS for, and then having this freeze strike you! I've lost many hours of flight time because of this. - Robert

Well HOT DAMN! That worked! I have very good AA with SB4 running now. As a matter of fact AA_MODE_SELECTOR_OVERRIDE and AA unchecked in FSX seems to work better! I've gained back the few frames I've lost using AA_MODE_SELECTOR_ENHANCE and AA checked.This is awesome... Thinking that maybe this override setting should be included in the original post as an addendum for SB4 users. Maybe placebo but it seems that even the AA TRANSPARENCY setting is working better this way as well.Thanks Jason...-Robert

Cool deal.. I'm gonna try this tomorrow. Thanks Jason! :)-Robert

Hey all,I've got these settings working GREAT as advertised - but...When I start Squawkbox 4 I lose all AA effects. Jaggies come back. If I exit SB4 I get great AA again. Should I include the SB4 .exe in the NVidia/NVidia Inspector profile?This didn't happen with NHancer... :(Thanks!Robert

Hi All,Lurker here... :( I just wanted to add that I too have witnessed transparent textures at dusk in my just recently purchased 400X... I have no add-on scenery and did not have ASA running; I was actually going through the engine start up tutorial and had been sitting on the ground for a while at Boeing Field with my time divided between reading and cockpit work.I started the engines and went to spot view to check out my new bird all lit up and running... Of course I was quite surprised and dismayed to find that I was looking at nothing but seats and wings minus the engines. All other FSX scenery textures appeared fine. I never saw the black screen issue though...I restarted FSX and went through the tutorial a bit quicker this time and never got the transparent texture issue, albeit this was only my second (attempt at a) flight. I'm sure that if I was sitting at the tarmac as long as I had the first time that I would've lost my textures again.I have seen this similar issue pop up mid-flight in the CaptainSim 757; more specifically, their USAir repaint.I'll try the sound fix here and see what happens... Thanks all for working through this! I hope that we can crank our sound acceleration back up one day!My System:Windows 7 Ultimate x64Intel Q9550 2.83 GHZ Quad CoreGigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P v 1.14 GB Corsair XMS 800MhzNVidia GeForce GTX260 Black Edition2 x 160GB SATA Seagate Barracuda HDD's (system on C: and FSX on D:)Robert-

HEHEHE!!! We need more new people then... :( Been DYING for it, LOVE it... Can't wait for it!! Most of my flights are in it and since I have exclusively switched over to FSX, can't fly it anymore... So I visit everyday looking for some word - But not asking. :( I just drank in that reply... "Yes and Yes"... LOL ... Thanks "New Guy", (aka, Renzo) :( Thanks!Robert

PLEASE!! ... I have been waiting with baited breath for some news of the NGX development! ... Guaranteed that I will be one of the first whipping out the Mastercard! :( -Robert

Ok Thanks for the reply...I'll go ahead and just install with the beta for now then...Can't wait to see the patch!Robert

Hi guys...Not to be a noodge, but how far off are we from SP1? I just re-installed Vista x64 on my semi-new build. Bought a new motherboard, memory and 700Watt power supply. I would like to install ASA SP1 right off the bat instead of installing the beta patch and then SP1 later.I guess what I'm saying is that I would like to have an idea so I know how I'm gonna install ASA on my PC. If it's still gonna be a while then I'll go ahead and install the beta patch, if not and it looks like SP1 will be released in a couple of days, then I will hold off and only install ASA solo and wait for the SP.Thanks for the great product and support!Robert