Will FSDS 3 a/c work in CFS 2?

[Colin_S]

After years of fun making aircraft, ships and scenery for CFS2 with FSDS Pro and FSDS2, I recently had to get a new PC and of course it has Vista. Pro won't even install and FSDS2, after working for a couple of months has now stopped (a click on anything to do with textures crashes it) I am hoping Abacus tech can suggest a fix, but......

If I upgrade to FSDS3, will the a/c, ships etc export to and work in CFS2?  
If they don't, it doesn't seem worth carrying on; CFS3 is so limited compared to CFS2 and Gmax just makes me laugh.
Anybody tried FSDS3 to CFS2, have any tips or opinions on it ?

[ozzy72]

Can't you run it in XP emulation mode?

[Felix/FFDS]

ACtually, yes.  FSDS 3.5, 3.5.1 will work with CFS2.

In this case " think gmax gmaepack"  (ok, I know it sounds like heresy, but....)

Install the CFS2 gamepack and point your FSDS 3/3.5 to the appropriate CFS2 makemdl.exe and such.

You will then model and compile to the correct model format (or, conversely, you can use the FS2004 gamepack makemdl.exe, etc - just be sure to model for the CFS2 game, since you can do much more for FS2004 than CFS2.)

Note also, that your existing FSDS2 fsc files will open easily in FSDS3.

[Colin_S]

Thanks both for comments

Ozzy - it doesn't work in XP compatibility mode. The problem is not staring and running, it's that it can no longer assign textures to any model or part, or indeed open any texture. It could last week; it can't now. Has Vista upgraded itself and wrecked FSDS2 at the same time, I wonder?

Felix - nice to know FSDS3 will work with CFS2, but I am wondering if I can upgrade as I don't have a working FSDS2 now.

[Felix/FFDS]

I suggest that you write to Abacus about upgrading to FSDS3.5.1, also, they might have suggestions on running FSDS2 under Vista.

A suggestion - you might want to try to install FSDS2 not to the default "program files"  but to a separate folder OUTSIDE of the Program Files.

I suggest you try something like C:\ABACUS\FSDSv2 ...

[Colin_S]

Sorry for delay in replying, been laid up with a back injury.

Reinstalling to a non-default location has no effect.

Abacus Tech suggested updating DirectX and also my nVidia graphics drivers. Have done both and neither have any effect.
Turning UAC off also didn't work.

My last thought is, FSDS worked up till the end of May. If I can roll back or use a Restore Point to then it might start working again. Not hopeful; my previous experience, Vista and XP, is that no restore point has EVER worked.

Ah well, like many things, it was fun while it lasted.