RKillins

Hi Rupert .... thank you for your reply. Yes ... I agree, the DX10 How To Guide is a must have and I have been working with it for a few days now. I'm still plugging away, but I'm afraid that I may be ripping myself off by my ignorance on the subject by not doing all I could do. In part, I don't know what to expect, what each setting does for the overall quality (ie if I change something where will I notice a difference), or what problems to watch for based on these settings (ie I hear terms like jaggies, tearing, artifacts, blurries, shimmering etc as being deficiencies adjustable by proper settings, but I don't even know what those are LOL to atch for them LOL) Everytime I did deeper into the meaning of something new, or research a specific setting, I get bogged down in posts and blogs and technical articles that are outdated, irrelevant to my setup ro just plain wrong or I'm unable to find equivalent setting in updated versions of the software I'm using. I'm trying!

Hi Folks, Admittingly, I am overwhelmed with all the reading involved, from so many different sources, and from so many different setups. Combining this with having different applications needing unique settings, and CFG files needing specific tweaks, to be set up someone that is foreign to the terms is a very discomforting feeling for someone who just simply wants to enjoy flying in a beautifully represented environment. I have FSX with Acceleration, with Steve's DX10 Fixer v3.3 and I am looking for help, yeah ... some hand holding maybe ... to get me back into the virtual air after a long absence during a reinstallation. I embarked on my own, but soon found myself all over the internet being challenged with adapting other configurations of different system specs and outdated software to my own. Self educating on knowing how to use, and in what order, Nvidia Inspector, FSX settings and configuration entries, DX10 settings leaves me just walking away after a few minutes. I am very appreciative of people who share their knowledge as for some a question like this is just everyday common knowledge. Akin to taking for granted someone needing to tie their shoes for the first time. But, like tying shoes for the first time, it can be daunting but made easier by someone willing to help. I would be willing to pay a modest fee (discuss privately please) to get me over this challenge. My system specs ... Intel core i7 6700K CPU (4.0 Mhz) Gigabyte z170XP-SLI-CF MB 16GB DDR4 RAM NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660ti GPU with three 23" monitors connected (as one monitor) via Nvidia Surrond to result in a resolution of 5760x1080x32, current driver Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit SP1, fully updated FSX w/ Acceleration Steves DX10 Fixer Active Sky Next REX4 FTX Global Thank you in advance to those respecting my situation and offering support. I have great faith and admiration of those passionate and familiar with how technology and FSX interact.

Hey Romain, thanks for the quick reply. I never even considered the need to have uninstall first. Now it all makes sense. Thank you!! I suppose that means I will have to reinstall any liveries I have, as well as back up customized panel files.

PMDG Operations Center notified me that updates were available for both the PMDG 737-8900 and 737-600/700 Expansion installations on my PC. But, I'm a bit confused ... I selected OK to install the update via the operations centre. "Download complete! Product is being updated. This message will clear when the update is completed ..." But, this has been taking a very long time. A text window opens telling me that a full installer download is required, and proceeds to give me instructions on how to download the installer packages from PMDG. No problem downloading. But there are no instructions on how to install? Do I select "Modify" or "Repair"? So, what is recommended for installation?

Hi Scott, thanks so much. I was hoping that Orbx region's would deliver improved airport scenery in addition to the land mass. It doesn't have to be as detailed as their specific payware airports, any improvement over default FSX will be great. Sounds like it will be money well worth it.

One of the things I find most challenging about FSX is the myriad of addons available, how they interact with each other, and which one to use for the best desired effects. Take for example night lighting. I have three (maybe 4) applications which appear to configure night lighting effects. Which one do I use? Which one takes precedent if I were to configure each one? I have REX4 which offers 23 sets of airport lighting profiles. I have Lights of UTX Interface which offers what I see as perhaps a complex configuration tool allowing different effects according to road type? I have FTX 3D Lights Tweaker, in addition to two tools I am not positive on their purpose ... FTXLights_Day and FTXLights_Night. Are the FTX lighting tools only for FTX sceneries? Similarly, REX4 and FTX Aero Tool appear to do similar things for runway textures. If anyone would like to take an opportunity to comment on the best way to go about using these tools, I would be very appreciative. DO I need only use one, or do I need to use a combination of all to get the best results. If a combination, in what order would I use them?

Easy question I'm sure. Before I invest in an Orbx Region ... Are the airports within that region "ORBX enhanced" or are the FSX default airport objects used still? I'm really not certain what ORBX regions provide in relation to default.

There s no doubt in my mind this has been answered here, but I have not been clever enough to find the appropriate search terms to net me any results. My apologies in advance if I unintentionally missed the obvious. 1. Is there a means of editing the entries in the Coutnry filter of the Free Flight > Select Airport dialogue of FSX. For example, in mthe drop down I have US, USA, United States and United Statesq. I would like to be able to promote some consistency and change them all to United States. 2. I have a lot of custom scenery (ie non default) as I'm sure most do. Is there a means to customize the airport ID with a user type identified, text addition) to easily distinguish between defualt and addon sceneries? Would such an edit affect FSX's functionality? Rob

Yes. Appears so. Yes. This is an older product that I had been using successfully before having to reformat and reinstall my entire FSX setup. This time around though I seem to be having issues. No, I am not using the Steam Edition. I am using FSX with Accelerator. Perhaps I will reinstall this product. It could be I did not run the installer as administrator.

My many thanks for the continued support, and my sincere apologies for taking so long to respond and acknowledge. Life has interfered. The folder is simply called "Panel", no extra characters. In each [fltsim.xx] entry, there is "panel=". No extra characters. All the texture values for each texture in fltsim appear to correspond correctly with a texture.xx entry in the folder.

Thanks you all for the suggestions. The panel.cfg file is present and is not aliased. It has each of the 25 or so windows configured. Check variations are all checked. Still no go.

I have CaptainSim's 767 Base package installed on my system, however, the jets are not appearing in the Select Aircraft dialogue of FSX. The aircraft models have been installed at .../Microsoft Flight Simulator X/SimObjects/Airplanes/CS_B767_300 All texture folders are there, and each has a thumbnail. The aircraft.cfg file appears all in order with each aircraft having its own fltsim number. I can select CaptainSim from the Publisher menu but all I get are my C130 aircraft, no commercial 767's. The aircraft variations are all available for configuration in CaptainSim's Aircraft Configuration Editor. Is anyone able to advise why I am unable to see these aircraft?

Hi Bill, thanks for you spin on things. I will check out FTX Central and see what kind of damage I can do with that. I have noticed that in FSX scenery library there is no indication of FTX Global, so clearly this is something that has no order. UTX lights disabled in favour of FTX lights?

Thank you all for sharing your experiences and knowledge about these products. I am overwhelmed by the complexity how everything works to create a seamless and satisfying simulation experience. I have opted to keep using my UTX Canada and USA along with a newly installed FTX Global. With those, I am also using FreeMesh X, as well as a small handful of Orbx Regions and some miscellaneous payware and freeware. GEX served me well, but I am retiring it. What kind of layering should I consider? I'm thinking from top to bottom .... 1. Pay and freeware airports (incl. Orbx ones) 2. Orbx Regions 3. UTX Canada & USA 4. FTX Global 5. FreeMesh X Anyone using both UTX and Orbx Global, any takers on helping me understand the complexities of UTX's configuration tools to get the best performance and experience complimenting FTX Global. As I said, I am overwhelmed with terminology and how everything works together, so I fear leaving everything in it's default state will prevent me from optimizing the two product's potential.

I currently have the current versions of UTX Canada, UTX USA and GEX North America on my system. I am considering investing in ORBX Global Base and ORBX Global Vector. Having these, can I get rid of UTX and GEX? Will I need any additional applications, like ORBX Global open LC? Do these products address mesh for FSX, or do I need an additional product specific to mesh, like PILOT's FS Global 2010?

Yes, that appears to been the problem. It appears it was on 'hard/cold' water settings, ie winter. Changing it to 'wet season' thawed the lakes out. I guess once snowy cold weather returns to my flying destinations, I will need to set it back. Thank you all!

Thank you both for your replies ... If there is an option, I don't know where to find it. I looked, but failed to locate that as an option. Andy, oddly, your link doesn't work. The www.simforum is apparently for sale?

I am experiencing an unusual scenery problem which I have yet to stumble on a resolution. Hopefully, someone here has had simimlar problems and have successfully resolved them, or perhaps can use their knowledge of FSX and it's addons to determine a possible cause. My smaller inland lakes appear to be frozen over, even in the middle of the hottest summer days. See the attached picture. I am using: FSX + Acceleration GEX North America v2.10 UTX Canada v2.0 UTX USA v2.0 REX4 Texture Direct 4.6.2016.0622 Active Sky Next 1.0.6011.15407 Build 6011 DX10 Scenery Fixer v2.11 Any thoughts on how I an get my smaller lakes to look less like glaciers or icepacks?

Flying over the Gulf of Mexico today on a flight between Phoenix and Tampa, I found that their was no water texture for the Gulf. What was supposed to be water was land. What could the cause be? I use REX 4 Direct, GEX, UTX Canada v1.0 and UTX USA v2.0 My basic scenery structure reads like this... Recently purchased SimAddon sceneries Striking Software: PW freeware sceneries A good collection of Art Poole freeware airports FlyTampa St. Maarten FlyTampa Tampa FlyTampa Buffalo FlightBeam SanFrancisco SunSkyJet Philapdelphia FlightBeam Phoenix FreeMesh X (All series and patches) UT FSX Waterclass UT FSX Object Repositioning UT Canada Ground Polygons UT Can Streams UT Can Water UT Canada Railroads UT Canada Roads UT Landclass - Custom UT Landclass - Urban UT Landclass - Vegetation UT Canada Lighting UT Exclusions for Default Scenery FSX Default Second Question ... I had installed UTX USA, yet I see no entries in my scenery library. I figure I'd see some entries similar to those added for UTX Canada. I have a directory in my root Microsoft Flight Simulator X directory called "Scenery" I'm not sure what it's contents are, but it contains UtCan, UTUsa, AFRI, ASIA, AUST, BASE, Cities, EURE, EURW, Global, NAMC etc. Is this directory supposed to be here? Or is it part of (or a portion of) the Addon Scenery Folder?

Jim, fabulous answer with lots to digest. I truly appreciate the effort put into your reply. Well thought and presented. Personally, I am leaning towards a graphic card problem. Either a hardware issue (I have been geeting new unexpected graphic spikes lately while panning around on the ground), as well as graphic related crashes on bootup. It maybe driver related, but because of the older card, I can't update to the latest 660 drivers. Perhaps my first step is as you had suggested is to disconnect the older card, update the river, and see what kind of results I get. Thanks all!

Hi Jim, No to SweetFx or ENBSeries.

Hi Jim, thanks for your reply. Reinstalling DirectX was kind of a challenge. Microsoft's auto installer refused to reinstall (apparently you can't uninstall DirectX from Windows7) something that was already "up to date". Ended up having to download Directx redistributables (June2010??) from Microsoft and "install" that way. Whether it did anything worthwhile, I don't know. I continue to experience the same problem.

My apologies if this post is in the wrong forum ... it was a choice of here or in a hardware forum. I trust that if this is inappropriate for this forum, it will be moved. I have recently started to encounter FSX crashes. After several minutes of preparing my PMDG 737NGX on the ground at KPHX (FlightBeam), my computer display will go black, and the computer system crashes. My only recovery is to physically reboot my system. Since I'm just learning the 737, it's a disappointing loss of time preparing all the intricate details of flight with this aircraft. I hope someone with some experience and/or understanding can shed some light on the likely issue, and perhaps provide some advice and guidance to avoid or eliminate encountering it again in the future. First, the specs of my system: Intel Core i7 2600k @ 3.5 GHz OC'd to 4.4 GHz ASUSTeK P8Z77-V (LGA1155) MOBO 8.0 GB Dual-Channel DD# @ 823MHz RAM NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660ti (3071MB) GPU driving 3x 31" LCD monitors in surround mode for a resolution of 5760x1080@60) NVIDIA GeForce 8500 GT driving 1x 19" monitor with resolution 1440x900 NVIDIA Driver 341.44 (later drivers seem to not want to install) 931GB WD HD x3 (SATA3) The software (running at time of crash): Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit SP1 FSX & Acceleration Steves DX10 Fixer v2.9 FlightBeam KPHX Scenery PMDG 737NGX SP1d GEX v2.1 UTX Canada v1.0; UTX USA v2.0 FSDT Ground Effects X FS2Crew PMDG 737 Voice REX 4 Direct Active Sky Next SP3 TopCat 2.74 AivlaSoft EFB Chrome (for Simbrief) I have attached some crash dump reports for anyone that is able to decipher such info. My last 7 crashes all had the same info since July 8, 2015. Dump File: 090315-37081-01.dmp Crash Time: 9/3/2015 8:25:14 PM Bug Check String: Bug Check Code: 0x00000116 Parameter 1: fffffa80`0d96d010 Parameter 2: fffff880`1011aaa0 Parameter 3: ffffffff`c000009a Parameter 4: 00000000`00000004 Caused by driver: dxgkrnl.sys Caused by address: dxgkrnl.sys+5d134 File description: DirectX Graphics Kernel Product name: Microsoft® Windows® Operating System Company: Microsoft Corporation File version: 6.1.7601.18510 (win7sp1_gdr.140615-1511) Processor: x64 Crash address: ntoskrnl.exe+735c0 Stack address 1: Stack address 2: Stack address 3: Computer name: Full path: C:\Windows\Minidump\090315-37081-01.dmp Processors Count: 8 Major version: 15 Minor version: 7601 File dump size: 1,160,640 File dump time: 9/3/2015 8:28:18 P Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Yep! That was indeed the problem. One two may characters in my email address. A simple edit to my account settings and within minutes a verification email. Thanks!

I have registered with a support account with PMDG. On the support/account webpage I have an outstanding alert which states: "Your account has been registered but not verified. Follow the instructions in the email that was sent to you. To send the email again, use the Send Verification Email button." After a couple days, I have not received any email yet despite a few tries. (Nothing in my SPAM box either.) Will the fact my account was not verified affect the status of my support ticket? Rob Killins PMDG 737NGX 600/700/800/900