The problem is solved! Unfortunately, it was me that caused it in the first place, and I am putting this here to help anybody else that may have the same problem.
I authored the Engine Exhaust System package, which has been very popular, judging from email feedback. In between versions 1 and 2, I updated some components, including the effects bitmap files which had been improved in colour by a correspondent. Unfortunately I didn't check the bitmap files for format, and it was this that was causing the problem.
I only discovered this because I had an email a couple of weeks ago with the same crashing symptoms as me. The correspondent suggested an answer that he'd come across on the web that might be worth trying. I did so - and it worked! What had happened was that the bitmap files I had swapped to, were saved in 32-bit textures, whereas all of the other default bitmaps were DXT1. So I re-saved the bitmaps as DXT1 and the problem was instantly solved.
So if any of you out there have been using EES and have experienced a strange crashing problem that is based on FE.DLL, then re-saving the appropriate bitmap files in the right format will cure it. My sincere apologies to all. I'll be uploading an updated version of EES that will include the fix. If anybody can't wait, then IM me and I'll send the corrected files to you.
Just shows that you can't be too careful. One good upshot is that the original problem caused me to re-install FS and it went faultlessly, so at least I have a more rational installation now!
