To reinstall or not to reinstall...

[microlight]

Can you knowledgeable guys and gals out there help me?

FS9 has recently started freezing on me, resulting in the program being unable to continue. The screen goes black and then after a few seconds, the program closes with the "shall I tell Microsoft" box - you know the one. I've tried removing the most recent things I've added on, but although it's now not as bad as it was last week, it still happens fairly regularly whereas it didn't before. The "shall I tell Microsoft box" identifies the module FE.DLL as being the culprit, but even though I've put fresh-from-CD2 module copies into the sim, it still happens.. So here are the questions:

- would deleting the fs9.cfg help, or would you recommend a complete reinstall?

- I assume that uninstalling FS9 would just take out the original installed program files, and leave behind anything else that I've put in - but I don't knw for sure as I've not done this before!

I was thinking of taking a backup copy of the entire FS9 folder and then re-inserting the added-on pieces into the new installation - do you see any problems with this? Can I put my AI traffic back into the sim merely by copying the planes back into the aircraft folder and the appropriate BGLs from the scenery/world/scenery folder? It'd be a long process reinstalling all of the AI by hand.

Thanks for the help!

[sir_knight57]

You may not need to go through all of that  :P

David "Opa" Marshall has a series titled "TIPS AND TRICKS" which can be found on avsim.com.  In his 13th volume he suggests that making FS9 create a new FS9.cfg file solves many unexplained problems; and most importantly - - it's easy to do.  

I would try this method FIRST before a major operation like a fresh RE-INSTALL  :o

[Hagar]

[quote]I would try this method FIRST before a major operation like a fresh RE-INSTALL

[microlight]

Thanks for the replies, guys. I deleted the fs9.cfg but it seems to have made no difference. I'll work my way backwards through what I've added and see if that has any effect.

Have you got any more suggestions? I'm not looking forward to reinstalling!

[garymbuska]

One other thing you might be able to do is use the system restore feature if you have windows XP you can go back to before you instaled the addon and that should remove any file(s) you put on after the date you select

[Hagar]

I've never tried reinstalling FS9 but this should fix most problems. Of course, it can only replace all the default files & if the problem is caused by a 3rd party file in the wrong place it can't do anything about that. It will also change any modifications you've done back to default & also remove any repaints you've added by editing Aircraft.cfg. I would take a backup copy of any important files before attempting it but your addons should be quite safe. (I'm hoping this is correct but I've seen nothing to suggest otherwise.) Any 3rd party scenery activated via the Scenery Library would need reactivating afterwards.

I have no knowledge of WinXP & some people have reported problems reinstalling FS9. If this was FS2002 I would suggest a duplicate install but I'm not sure that would work with FS9.

[Woodlouse2002]

Try and find this FE.dll in the modules folder (be aware they are hidden files). If you find it then remove it and see if it makes a difference. If not, then put it back.

[cavity]

I am having similar problems with various .dll files.  the lastest is the g3d.dll, not even sure what that does.  I have tried removing lots of stuff but each time there is another dll file error.  Maybe it would be easier if you just reinstall.  I have tried every possible suggestion that I could find to no avail.  Re-install seems to be the only option.  good luck figuring it out.  By the way, I deleted my original FS9.exe file, does anyone know what disk it is on?  Thanks, Todd

[wji]

I'm for the delete fs9.cfg C:\Documents and Settings\You\Application Data\Microsoft\FS9\fs9.CFG

Be sure to load the FS9 Default Flight when testing for problems.

If the default flight gets you going, stop using (disable) the FS9 Logbook.

Good Luck

[Hagar]

[quote]By the way, I deleted my original FS9.exe file, does anyone know what disk it is on?

[Wingo]

I am having similar problems with various .dll files.  the lastest is the g3d.dll, not even sure what that does.  I have tried removing lots of stuff but each time there is another dll file error.  Maybe it would be easier if you just reinstall.  I have tried every possible suggestion that I could find to no avail.  Re-install seems to be the only option.  good luck figuring it out.  By the way, I deleted my original FS9.exe file, does anyone know what disk it is on?  Thanks, Todd

I believe it is on the first disk on the first CAB.

[cavity]

I deleted by mistake.  I had so many stinking exe files that I couldnt figure out which one was the original.  I normally am very good about renaming and placing things in a separate folder, but with all the problems I was having things got switched up. So now I am going to pull the original off the disk and see what happens.  Todd

[Hagar]

Another thought. I haven't installed it myself but seem to remember reading that the FS9.1 update either modifies or overwrites the original fs9.exe. If this is the case & you have the update installed it's possible that the original fs9.exe from the CD might not work properly.

[Alphajet_Enthusiast]

Hit me guys but I actually find a reinstall once a year fun!  ;D
You get rid of all your bogus planes, and you can just install the aircraft and scenery of which you know they are good... I recently had to do one; changed something in the FS9.cfg and the sim wouldnt start up anymore...  ;)

[microlight]

Thanks for your suggestions all, but I've done loads of stuff and I'm no further forward: I've:
- updated my DirectX and video card drivers to the latest versions
- done a second install of FS9

... and it's still doing it. I found a link to the Microsoft website that explains that this is a specific issue with compatibility modes with previous versions of Windows (I have XP), and tells you how to fix it - except that it doesn't. My FS9 is 9.1 out of the box - I haven't done any updates.

I don't know what else to try, as the second install suffers from exactly the same thing. Perhaps it's time to go back to FS2002 ...