Re: FS9 patch DOWNLOAD and known issues

[JBaymore]

The original No CD file replaces the original FS9.exe without loosing any functionality except the Disk #4 CD access required by MS.

The No CD file also replaces the updated FS9.exe without loosing any functionality except the Disk #4 CD access required by MS.

Dick,

What I would like to know is how this information you are saying has been firmly established?

[Silver1SWA]

The no-cd version of FS9.exe vs. the original FS9.exe already had a HUGE difference in file sizes.  The no-cd version is like 500kb while the old FS9.exe (not the new patched file) is 1.32mb

That seems like quite a large difference for the change in only one thing.

[JBaymore]

The no-cd version of FS9.exe vs. the original FS9.exe already had a HUGE difference in file sizes.

Silver,

Yeah... one wonders if it really took that much code to disable the CD function.

But the above discussion requires looking at the relative sizes of the old ORIGINAL fs9.exe from the CD roms and the NEW fs9.exe  from the patch........ not comparuing to the "no CD file.

best,

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

[z1010]

That's a lot of logic on the late (Dutch) night, about the size of FS9.exe
But on the pages 1 and 2 of this topic I read posts of simmers who installed the patch and still use the no-cd patch, apparently without changing things.
So my logic tells me it has nothing to do with the exe file. The patch seems to do a lot with dll's, according to my error-messages.

But maybe Dutch logic .....

[rhumbaflappy]

Hi John.

The need for proof rests with Microsoft, or the posters in various forums that parrot the info from MS' website,  that the No CD file will somehow ruin or limit their simming.

My experience is that it does not ruin or limit anything. I would challenge anyone to set up a FLT file or a series of instructions that prove the limited use of the No CD file. I have repeated this challenge on other forums. There have been no takers.

I can't prove the No CD is perfectly OK... because I have not been given any situations where it would not be OK. It has been fine in every instance I have tried. There is a growing body of testimonial evidence that supports my position. There is no testimonial evidence that it doesn't work perfectly... and should that develop, then it should be an easy matter to reproduce as a FLT file, to share with the rest of us.

Believe me, I will absolutely refute any of my statements regarding the No CD if proven wrong. It shouldn't be hard.

Either I am wrong, or Microsoft is wrong.

Dick

[cavity]

Ok, with all this patch talk, Im getting a little nuts.  I downloaded and installed the new MS patch without removing the no-cd patch.  After it said it was successful, I downloaded the New FSUIPC 3.4, installed it, clicked the no-cd emblem plane and was off and flying.  So, what exe. did I modify, the original, or the no-cd exe, and how would I even know now?

[rhumbaflappy]

Your installation should have worked just fine. If you did not revert to the original FS9.exe, but patched over the NO CD file, then check this:

From within a flight, use the Help menu to chack "About Microsoft Flight Simulator"

It should tell you you are using version 9.1 if the patch has been applied.

Now go to your FS9 folder, and look at the size of the FS9.exe. If it is 1362 Kb in size, then you have the updated EXE file... if it is around 500 Kb, then you are using the No CD with the updated files... perfect.

I will add here that the No CD file will cause the newest version of Active Camera to fail...

AC has been programmed to fail unless the Updated EXE is used. This is a problem with AC... not with the functionality of the NoCD EXE. The sim runs fine... AC has the problem.

I don't own Active Camera, so I am unable to check a NoCD fix for this! But I suspect the NoCD can be fixed to work with AC, by altering the property/Version data of NoCD.


Dick

[JBaymore]

Now go to your FS9 folder, and look at the size of the FS9.exe. If it is 1362 Kb in size, then you have the updated EXE file... if it is around 500 Kb, then you are using the No CD with the updated files... perfect.

Dick,

What do you suppose is in the missing bytes of exe file that is the difference between the 500K and the 1362K?

best,

....john

[rhumbaflappy]

Hi John.

The difference in bytes is unneeded content... as was proven with the original FS9.exe and the NoCD file.

Out of curiosity, I checked Peter Dowson's FSUIPC forum for any info he may have regarding the "lost" funtionality while using the No CD... he had no idea what would be lost. No one has any idea what is lost.

I would like to find someone that uses Active Camera with the new update... I suspect that program checks the version properties of FS9.exe, and aborts if a match is not found for the version number of the updated EXE file. I can fix that with a new version of NoCD, if that is the case.

Volunteers could notify me if they'd like to test a new NoCD that might allow the use of the updated Active Camera. Leave me a private message in the forum, and I'll give you a website download address containing the trial NoCD.

Dick

[Eskimo]

This sounds like a graphics card issue & will depend on your system specs. I haven't seen any comments about incompatibility with current video card drivers & the update although this is quite possible.

Yes, my graphics card is incredibly old.  Must get a new one soon.  ;)

[Silver1SWA]

It appears people are not following this duscussion.

[Gixer]

Well if we use the 'Mary has a little lamb' theory and the patch installs ok if you have the no-cd patch there instead of the original fs9.exe then logic would say the *.exe is not altered.  

If it were to be altered it would have overwritten the no-cd and thus then I am sure it would ask for Cd4 to be inserted.  Though as it isn't altered the no-cd remains as is which would make me think that its an M$ scare tactic.

Does that sound logical? anyone else tried installing it without putting the original fs9.exe back in their fs9.dir?

[cavity]

Rhumba, I checked the FS9.exe and it is 504 kb, however, it also says it is version 9.0.0.30612.  So now what, perhaps I should just leave it, but it drives me nuts wondering if I have the "correct" patch or not.  Yes, it works fine, but for some reason my performance decreased about 10 percent.  I Know this because I go to the same airport, time , settings, plane and flight and follow the frame rate which has now dropped about 1.2 FPS.  I keep mine locked at 21, and now it stays at about 19, 19.5.  Todd

[JBaymore]

Gixer,

I have not looked at the installer myself to see exactly what it does.  But there are other ways to update files........ other than the "copy" to overwrite technique.  A much more spohisticated way actually IS to merge the data in one file overlaid onto the existing file.  Some of the old file remains and new content is added to it.  It is not a simple copy file "A" from here and paste it over that file over there with the same name as the old one.

If that is the approach that M$ used with the installer on the download... then it IS possible that the new patch installed OVER the existing No-CD exe file might work.

But that brings me back to the missing data in the files.  I find it kinda' hard to beleive that the so-called "useless content" is really useless....... which brings me to Silvers comments.....

As Silver is saying ........ if you copy the OLD fs9.exe No-CD file OVER the new patch fs9.exe file....... by a simple rename or a cut and paste technique.... it SHOULD overwrite the WHOLE patch fs9.exe file.  Leaving yoyu with something OTHER than what Microsoft has done with the fix.  The sim may run and not crash.... but is it running on all the cylinders?  Since we do not know exactly WHAT Microsoft "fixed"... it is hard to measure exaclty.

Chris_F has that thought tagged exactly here.


If copying the old No-CD file OVER the new Microsoft patch leaves any of the new file intact..... then I am flabergasted at how that is different from everything I know about copying and overwriting files  :o .

I still think the "proof is out" on this stuff.

best,

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

[rhumbaflappy]

Hi Cavity.

I created a fresh FS9 install ( no altered files ), applied the update from MS, then renamed my FS9.exe ( now updated ) as FS9.update.

Then, I copied the NoCD as FS9.EXE

This way I was assured the update was completed as intended, and that the OLD No CD file was being used with the new content of the update.

Incidentally, the update appears to copy files being updated to the BackUP folder, then it alters ( not replaces ) the original files. That's why it is important the originals are present, or the update may stop before all the files are altered... and perhaps without warning that there was a problem.

There is a new No CD file circulating called "vng-fs91.rar"

It is also 540 Kb... but appears different than the original No CD file when viewed with a hex editor. I'm testing it, so far without any problems. It's file version is 9.1.0.40901. I wonder if this file will work with Active Camera 2.0, and end that problem?

Another alternative to the whole problem is an external USB CDrom. About $50 US. Put your disk #4 in it and plug it in for your FS9 sessions.... and leave it plugged in if needed. A bit expensive, but no worries about incompatibilities, or damaging your FS9 disk, or tying up your original CDrom drive.

Dick