Problem shutting down WindowsXP

[Lysander77]

After running MIcrosoft Flight Simulator 2004, when shutting down Windows XP, a splash screen appears reading "Ending Program - FS9".  However the program does not end, and ultimately the splash screen changes to "Program not responding" and it becomes necessary to to "end program" manually.
All of this takes several minutes delay and -- the beauty part -- one of these splash screen comes up for every time FS9 has been opened during the current Windows XP session - i.e. if FS9 has been opened, then closed, twice, the splash screen appears twice, etc.
Evidently in closing FS9 some element of FS9 remains in the memory and must be "ended" - once for each time FS9 has been opened and closed.
Has anyone else experienced this tedius phenomenon - and perhaps found a way to prevent it?
Thanks indeed for any clues on offer.
         
                           

[flyboy 28]

That happens to me alot, because I have a rather low-end system. I just give it about 5 minutes and if it dosen't clear up, I just turn off the computer manually by holding the power button (for 7 seconds I think).

[Jared]

you could also pull up the task manager and end the FS9.exe file from there if it does not want to shutdown

[alrot]

That's unusual ,what is happening is that the memory RAM System or Video doesn't drop fast(as it should be) the loaded fs9 you should check your bios or as well type DXDIAG in start \execute And check the bus speed,but i think your pcs has a little conflict....

[Viper22]

If you need more help, post your system specs.  Also, when you close the program, are you taking the CD out too soon?  This happens to me sometimes.  It could also have to do with addons, but I'm not sure if that could be the cause...

[Lysander77]

Many thanks for all your helpful replies and for taking the time to respond.
System specs are:
                       Compaq Presario  SR1250NX
                        Intel 2932 Mhz processor
                        1.96 GB available virtual memory
                         NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT w/128 MB RAM

Program is MicroSoft Flight Simulator 2004 with a recent upgrade/service pack.  
More add-ons, I'm afraid, than the original sim: bags of scenery from France VFR, Visual Flight, Just Flight - all this plus terra mesh(es), aircraft, EZ-GPS, and "adventures" from Abacus, planes from Icarusgold, Alphasim, and some instrumentation transplanted from various sims to my Lysander.
No specific add-on seems to have initiated the problem and using the "task manager" does not show that FS9 is still active.  It would seem that each opening and closing of FS9 leaves some residue that triggers the "End Program - FS9" splash window. Where this residue might be lurking is beyond my capacity to find.

Many thanks again for the always considerate responses - one of the wonderful satisfactions of Simviation!
                                All the best,
                                     Lysander77

[ashaman]

The fs9.exe not closing and remaining as a ghost process requiring manual killing was a thing that happened to me too. It stopped abruptly after I changed joystick.

I think it was the driver of the old Logitech Wingman Rumblepad (a joypad I used because of space problems, before the actual system) that caused it.

(Just to point that it could be something that on first thought has nothing to do with the simulator.)

[microlight]

There's another possibility that I experienced just last week. I was writing an XML gauge (it's complete now), which although actually working in FS9 in its early stages of writing, caused the sim to do exactly what you describe. When I sorted out the logic and got it all written correctly, the problem disappeared.

So if it's a recent occurrence and you've installed any panels recently with custom XML gauges, it might be a badly-written gauge that's causing the problem. Try removing your recent panels and see what happens.

[Lysander77]

Thank you, an excellent idea -- in fact, I have indeed been playing with various joysticks, including the Microsoft one.  I'll track down the driver for this and see if eliminating that cures the problem.
Most grateful for your help....

[Indigojones]

I get this too, but all you need to do is pull up the task manager and, like Jared said, end the fs9.exe task.
It started for me after I started using the no-CD exe.

[Fozzer]

you could also pull up the task manager and end the FS9.exe file from there if it does not want to shutdown

...that's what I have to do every time I want to close down FS 2004....(Ctrl + Alt + Del)....!
It's the ONLY way it will stop FS 2004 from re-starting after I exit it from the Sim by the normal method... ...!
(I reckon it's a Bug in FS 2004)...!

...It always comes up with the report, either "Panels.dll", or "Weather.dll", (or "something else"), and then the hard dive kicks in and re-starts the program again....BUGGAR...!

The Ctrl + Alt + Del method cures it, instantly,  every time....
...joy......!

Cheers all...!

Paul...When it's bed-time, I don't need to be spending 10 minutes every night trying to get FS 2004 to "Go Away"... ...!
LOL...
...!

[Hagar]

...that's what I have to do every time I want to close down FS 2004....(Ctrl + Alt + Del)....!
It's the ONLY way it will stop FS 2004 from re-starting after I exit it from the Sim by the normal method... ...!
(I reckon it's a Bug in FS 2004)...!

I've never had this problem with FS9 or any other M$ sim on 4 different PCs & Win98/Me & now WinXP. It's most likely caused by one of your FS addons.

[Fozzer]

A Google search for the "Weather.dll" and "Panels.dll" fault show a frequent problem with users of FS 2004...
Very few have found a definate cure for it... ...!

Paul..Weather...It's snowing at the moment... ...!

[Indigojones]

Still, it takes about 3 seconds to end the fs9.exe task in the task manager after you've exited normally, whatever the cause. I wouldn't really be fussed to check on each and every module if it's that easy.

[Fozzer]

Still, it takes about 3 seconds to end the fs9.exe task in the task manager after you've exited normally, whatever the cause. I wouldn't really be fussed to check on each and every module if it's that easy.

Too True... ...!

With all the add-ons I've got installed, the program runs perfectly, it's just that trying to shut it down that the problem occurs, in common with a number of other users... ...!
So Ctrl + Alt + Del, + ending fs9.exe sorts it out.... ...!

...strange tho'... ...?

Paul...getting to bed on time now... ...!