Simviation Forums

Anyone;

I'm new at this.  I just purchased a HP n1180M Media Center which comes Flight Simulator 2004 on a dvd disc.  I've tried several times to install and download this program.  Each time it finishes up to the point where the installation is complete, and I click on the "play" button, I get the following msg from a DLL error window which appears in center screen;  "you have tried to download a program with an incorrect format."

Can anyone help me out so that I too can start flying.

My computer experience is on the average level of experience.  I have had used some other flight sim programs in the past.

thanks in advance.

An American in Germany.

Mike Richter
email addresses:  mrichtersr@interquest.de and also
michael.richter@hq.amceur.army.mil

Hi Mike. Not sure where you got this machine or the software but this sounds suspicious to me.
AFAIK, all M$ games are distributed & sold on CD, not DVD. FS9 comes on 4 separate CDs. It's quite likely you have an illegal copy which is the reason for the error message. The answer would be to purchase a legal copy of the software.

PS. Installing & running FS9 does not involve downloading anything. The files posted here are 3rd party extras.

Installing & running FS9 does not involve downloading anything.

I think he wanted to write "loading" and not "downloading" but this does notchange anything. I too believe it is an illegal copy which causes the problem. My knowledge is also that FS does not come out in DVD.

Mike FS doesn't come on a DVD in Europe that is for sure. I'd go back to the shop you got it from and demand a legitimate copy of the game as you've paid for it in good faith. There are EU laws that protect your rights as a consumer. If they don't help contact the German Trading Standards office, they'll be thrilled to have an easy "collar" on someone dealing illegal software

Ozzy

ALL:  The copy is a legal copy.  It is included in the purchase of the HP 1180 Media Center.  Included on the DVD are Software Jukebox, Microsoft Works and Money 2004.  Is is a Microsoft DVD and says: For distribution only with a NEW PC, computer system component or computer accessory only.   I purchased the computer in a military exchange in a sealed box.

Still need some help.

thanks,

Mike

could you tell us exactly what the error message says?

the missing DLL seems to be an obvious cause for the problem, so it would help if we knew it's name

c ya

Moach

no error number provided; just the statement ref "improper format".

thanks

mike

Your best bet in that case is to email MS customer support then Mike, I for one am flummoxed!

Ozzy

kinda akward, because i searched a number of shops in the US, and you can't get FS2004 on a DVD.

I've also been searching for your computer online, from HP and can't find it...

I've also been searching for your computer online, from HP and can't find it...

I found it here

http://www.shop.bt.com/invt/cae122

It seems a good machine.

Mike, it might seem like a stupid question but I assume it is (or it is supposed to be) the simulator FS2004 and not some kind of addon for FS2004 like a scenery. Right?

Hi there Mike.
Sorry to hear that you are having problems.
I also did a search for your machine and I found a spec sheet for it

www.hp.com/hpinfo/newsroom/press_kits/2 ... m1180n.pdf

Is this your computer?
If it is, it doesn't say that it comes with MS flight simulator.  There were other sites with specs for this system and none of them list Flight Simulator as included.

Is there anyway you can post a screen shot of the error?  Maybe a screen shot of the installation screen so we can verify that it is Flight sim and not some addon?

Ben.

I'm still suspicious as FS9 requires the CD in the drive in order to run. I can't see M$ changing this for software distributed via DVD. Going from past experience, any software like FS9 bundled with the machine would usually be preinstalled. My advice would be to contact the supplier.

Mike,

If all else fails, FS9 now sells for around $20-$30. It would suck to have to buy it after it came with your machine, but it may be your only option.

guys a few years ago i bought a new gateway computer and i could add packs of software for an additional charge one of the packs was flight sim 2000 but in my experience with add on packs form computer manufactures is they give you copies of the cds esspecually ones from microsoft

guys a few years ago i bought a new gateway computer and i could add packs of software for an additional charge one of the packs was flight sim 2000 but in my experience with add on packs form computer manufactures is they give you copies of the cds esspecually ones from microsoft

I had a computer where everything I was supposed to need was stored on the hard drive including a bunch of Microsoft programs. It didn't come with any CDs except the MB drivers.

Damned disk went out a month after purchasing and the manufacturer was going through bankruptcy. Vowed then and there never to accept a computer like that again. Now I build my own computer and all software is purchased on a CD or downloaded and saved to CD along with any registration keys.

In the above case I'd suggest giving Microsoft Tech Support a call. They should still support their software even if it was preinstalled on a manufacturer's computer.