No hope of fixing it, whats next?

[cavity]

I have reached the end of the line with my sim.  After countless hours of trying and retrying to fix my problems, I cant think of what to do next.  I deleted the FS9.cfg, no help, uninstalled the update, no help, reinstalled the update, no help.  I keep getting terrain.dll errors that crash the computer, then I get mini.dmp errors that say their is possibly a bad memory module, the I get pauses to the task bar.  I just cant fly a flight of more than 10 minutes without some major problem.  To top it off, after uninstalling and reinstalling the update, my exe file still says version 9.0.  All of these things combined just make it seem like a simple solution to the problem, or any solution for that matter, is unlikely.  Short of uninstalling the whole game, which I dont even want to think about right now, I guess my flying days are over until I get the energy to take the monster on again. If someone has any idea of what to do besides starting over, please drop me a line.  I wonder if any of this has to do with me putting it on the D drive in the very beginning?  Seems unlikely, but I cant come up with a reason for all the problems.  Todd

[JBaymore]

Todd,

I have been running fs2004 on the E drive on two different machines now for a long time.  No problems from that that I can see.

Have you tested your RAM?

best,

................john

[Katahu]

I have mines installed on an external "E" drive. Therefore, that rules out the "different drive" theory.

As for the other problems, let me see.

After you removed and reinstalled the update, did you delete the old shortcut and added in a new one? Just asking.

What were your system specs?

[cavity]

Here are my system specs:
Intel Pent 4 at 2.6 Ghz and 800 FSB
Soyo Dragon Plus 2 Motherboard
Windows XP with SP2
1GB of Corsair 3200 DDR
80 Gig Maxtor HD at 7200 RPM
Radeon 9600 Pro 128 bit
Direct X 9c

I run AVG anitvirus, have Ccleaner, and Ad-aware 6.0.
I defrag alot and clean the drives.  I also use FSautostart before flying.

I have successfully installed and uninstalled the update but never had to put in disk 4 after doing so.  I checked the Dll files and they are all updated, the bridges are there, so I know it installed.  Why the exe file doesnt update is beyond me.  I have run PC wizard and a host of other programs to try to isolate the problem, but nothing seems to help.  Error reporting seems to tell me different things every time.  Hope this helps, Todd

[Apex]

I'm also on Drive E with FS9, no problems.  

See if you get any solid help on this, I don't know too much tech, but this one is pretty strange.  

If you should re-install: Do a proper uninstall.  Then be sure ALL folders and files are gone, including any aircraft, scenery, etc. add-ons (You can back up your add-ons to a temp folder).  An uninstall leaves behind anything that was not in the original installation.  Re-install, only FS9, not the big MS update (with all the missing bridges).  See if it works.  If yes, re-install your add-ons one at a time.  Sometimes a given add-on will cause a problem.  Also, your specs mention SP2.  I seem to remember somewhere in these posts quite some time ago about problems connected with that.  Do a search for those threads.  Good luck, wish I could help more here.  

[Nav]

cavity, there is no problem about re-installing FS9, and it doesn't take long. Make sure though that:-

1. You remove the update first (using the program provided in the update download file).

2. You uninstall and reinstall the game using the original disks.

Your downloads, addons, and saved flights shouldn't be affected as they are filed separately, not in the original FS9 files. So you should find them all still there.

I see you say that you have installed FS9 on the D-drive? Is that the drive allocated to the CD-ROM? It is on my machine. I don't know enough about computers to work out the implications of that, but maybe putting a program the size of FS9 on a drive dedicated to running disks is not a good idea - maybe try it on the default C-drive next time?

The only other thing I know about FS9 (computer-wise!) is that it demands a lot of free space to use as 'memory'. So putting it on a small compartmented drive is not a good idea. Another reason for trying it on the 'normal' C-drive.

Hope some of that helps.

[turbo_skylane]

if your re installing backup your downloads and uninstall and MAKE SURE YOU DELETE EVERYTHING FROM THE FS9 FOLDER.

[cavity]

If I reinstall, what about PAI and 727 Professional?  Do they both have to go as well?  I have about 50 Afcad airports added as well, with about 100 aircraft downloads.  What is the best way to back all of this up?  I want to delete every last FS folder from my computer if I do this, is CD the bes tway to handle it?  Todd

[TacitBlue]

Take your entire Aircraft folder, and guage folder and put them in a temporary file. You might also save your add-on scenery folder, unless scenery is what is giving you the problem. When you re-install, add your add-ons one at a time, just incase one of them is to blame for this problem.