Oops-a newbie's goof!

[newpilot]

 I realized I made a mistake when I said my computer ran Windows 95. Someone (thanks, NAV  ;)) was mentioning how the sim 2004 had to have at least Windows 98 and I thought "wait a minute- I know I had
the minimum set up (when I had researched the sim)". Sure enough, I actually have Windows 95!! Big difference!
 I guess this just goes to prove I wasn't kidding when I said I'm so computer ignorant!! Sorry for being such a dummy!
 So, now do you all think my computer could handle the 2004 or 2002 sim? Or if not, what's your next suggestion? I'm just looking into something to complement me in getting my pilot's license, so I don't really care much about graphics as long as the thing is realistic and helpful.
 As far as my computer specs go, I looked up under "My Computer" and got this imformation. It's all Greek to me, so I don't know what's helpful and what's not. :

 Window 98 Second Edition

 Computer: Genuinelntel
Pentium Pro Processor
128.0MB Ram

Memory 128.0MB Ram

File System and Virtual Memory- 32-bit

System is configured for optimal performance.

Under Virtual Memory-says the hard disk at
C:\1897MB Free

 Don't know if that helps or not.
 I don't think my computer could handle too much because it already freezes up once in awhile. Sounds like 2004 would be too much of a hog. Do you think I could run the 2002 fairly successfully?
 You guys are a lot of help! Otherwise, I'd be so lost!
                                   Thanks!

[Scottler]

Do you know your processor speed?  It should be listed on the "My Computer" tab...

[TacitBlue]

I dont think you have enough RAM anyway... but if that comp is as old as it sounds, it probably takes PC-100, which you can get cheap now.

[Nav]

Glad it helped a bit, newpilot Though I must admit that I know more about aeroplanes (real and virtual) than I do about computers.

Some possible problems I can see:-

1. You're short of memory (RAM) for any flightsim. I have 512MB (against your 128MB) and that is barely enough. Luckily memory is a 'plug-in' item, you buy a few little 'cards' and plug them in (any shop will show you how). They only cost about 30 bucks each here (Australia) and you probably only need 3 of them. It will probably solve your 'freezing' problem anyway, as a bonus.

2. Your 'virtual memory' looks VERY low - my computer shows 25,140MB, against your 1,897MB. Either you misread it - that is, it's really 18,970MB - or your hard disk is full to the brim. If it IS full, FS won't work - it borrows 'virtual memory' all the time. I hope you HAVE misread it - otherwise the only solution would be to buy a new, bigger hard disk - which comes expensive.

3. You have to find out what video (graphics) card you have. Possibly you don't even have one, a lot of 'home computers' sold for 'home office' use don't. If you have to buy one, again they're not overly expensive - about $90 - and easy to fit.

My 'gut feeling' is that, with a bit of tweaking, you'll be able to run FS2004. Which would be good, because then you'll have all of us FS2004 'nutcases' available to give advice. But possibly your best 'next step' would be to take your 'puter (just the box) to a good computer shop (preferably a small one), explain your problem, and ask them to check things over for you.

If they can help you at reasonable cost, they'll be able to sell you both the hardware and the game - and maybe a joystick as well, that's essential - so they'll do their best for you.

[sonic]

Hey Nav,Or anyone actually What should your virtual memory be set at mine is at 1.5 gigs on my second harddrive. Does having a really big VM really help.  :(

[ashaman]

You REALLY are using a Pentium Pro still?

Unbelievable... it's such a old CPU (and a rare one it was too, even when it was around) I'm surprised someone is still using it.

The Pentium Pro was sort of the prototype of the Pentium II after all, you have quite a old PC, with a rare CPU.

If you really have a Pentium Pro based computer it should travel around 200Mhz, though there were CPU of that kind that went far up to 233Mhz or down to 150Mhz the most successful was the 200Mhz.

For successful do not think a lot, it was a processor that was mostly used in servers (it was in a dual processor server that I had my only experience with this CPU, in fact). It was the first CPU from Intel to have the second level cache integrated on die (quite a feat at the time ) and was particularly fast for the time if using 32-bit code (32-bit code today is the norm, at the time was the exception) but not particularly efficient when cranking 16-bit code (it fell behind even the then regular and much less expensive Pentium MMX of same speed). This and the high prices undermined the success of this CPU.

As for the version of Flight Simulator you can use... if you really have that kind of CPU and memory quantity (seen the typology of the CPU this last should be in 66Mhz SIMM modules too, nowadays almost rarer than a honest politician) it's really a bad idea to go above FS98.

Sorry for being a bearer of bad news.