FS9 won't start.

[gypsymoth]

When I dropped FS9 to the task bar since installing it in this new machine last week it restrted normally after being dropped to the taskbar, until yesterday when it refused to respond to my clicking.  The only way I can get it working again is by restarting the computer.   So, I uninstalled it this morning & reinstalled it, & amazingly it's appeared with all my addon aircraft & scenery!!  It still won't start from being dropped to the taskbar.   Any help to put things right will be gratefully received.   I got a message to say it had been successfully uninstalled, too  

[Hagar]

Which method do you use for minimising FS9? Until recently I used to  toggle to Windowed mode (Alt + Enter) before clicking the minimise button [_] at top right of the window. FS9 would often hang when I wanted to resume flying which meant using the old three-finger salute (Ctrl + Alt + Delete) to exit the program.

Fozzer's suggestion of pressing the Windows key to minimise FS9 seems to work for me.

PS. Reinstalling FS9 will only remove/restore default files. This should not affect 3rd party addons, except for modified default files like CFG tweaks, adding repaints etc. It won't fix problems with defective 3rd party files either.

[727 driver]

as far as uninstalling goes...when it asks you if you want to uninstall there will be a box that is unchecked ..you need to check that box and then all 3rd party programs will be uninstalled...then you need to find the folder that has all your 3rd party programs and delete that ..this is found in your fs folder in programs click on whats left in fs after you uninstall the program and delete the contence and the folder..then you reinstall fs...thats a true uninstall..if your 3rd party programs are causeing your problem this should take care of it..if the problem is still there after doing this uninstall then something else is going on...[quote]When I dropped FS9 to the task bar since installing it in this new machine last week it restrted normally after being dropped to the taskbar, until yesterday when it refused to respond to my clicking.

[Hagar]

as far as uninstalling goes...when it asks you if you want to uninstall there will be a box that is unchecked ..you need to check that box and then all 3rd party programs will be uninstalled...then you need to find the folder that has all your 3rd party programs and delete that ..this is found in your fs folder in programs click on whats left in fs after you uninstall the program and delete the contence and the folder..then you reinstall fs...thats a true uninstall..if your 3rd party programs are causeing your problem this should take care of it..if the problem is still there after doing this uninstall then something else is going on...[

I don't recall ever uninstalling FS9 but I've never seen an option to remove 3rd party files in any other version of MSFS. If you wish to do a fresh install of FS9 you must remove all traces of the original install after uninstall is complete & before attempting the new install. This involves exiting setup & manually deleting (or renaming) the Flight Simulator 9 root directory folder which will still contain all your 3rd party addons. Don't forget to remove files like fs9.cfg that are outside the FS9 root directory.

In fact deleting fs9.cfg would be my first step. This could well fix the problem without resorting to drastic measures like reinstalling the sim.

[garryrussell]

There is an option to remove just FS leaving you addons intact or remove the whole lot........I've had to reinstall FS a lot on my old system when I was getting a lot of trouble with it and once on this one.

But yes you must clean up

I use CCleaner and that cleaned out about 6 gig after un installing last time.

Some files like UK2000 scenery still had to be removed by hand.

[Hagar]

There is an option to remove just FS leaving you addons intact or remove the whole lot........I've had to reinstall FS a lot on my old system when I was getting a lot of trouble with it and once on this one.

I'll take your word for it until such time as I can check it out for myself.

Are you sure the option is not to remove personal files? These would be things like logbook entries, saved flights etc.

[Plurb]

I've had good luck starting FS9 (and FSX) for that matter by going to the task manager (CTRL+ALT+DEL) selecting FS9 and click SWITCH TO. After a few seconds I'm back in the Sim.

Hope this will help you.

[727 driver]

if u check the box in question in will not only take out aircraft but gauges log book etc it also takes out any buttons you have assined to eather keyboard or joystick or yolk,,as well as the sensitivitys...but after you uninstall fs you need to go to the fs folder and delete all thats in there..once the msfs folder is gone with the remaining contence in that folder you reinstall the program

There is an option to remove just FS leaving you addons intact or remove the whole lot........I've had to reinstall FS a lot on my old system when I was getting a lot of trouble with it and once on this one.

I'll take your word for it until such time as I can check it out for myself.

Are you sure the option is not to remove personal files? These would be things like logbook entries, saved flights etc.

[Hagar]

I suspect this the option you're referring to.


Checking the box will remove personal files & settings. It will not remove any 3rd party addons. I didn't go any further as I don't wish to uninstall FS9.

[gypsymoth]

Sorry for the long delay in getting back here.  I deleted the FS9 cfg & removed all my addons, & restarted, but I have other problems now.
After 5 minutes the screen goes into a 'pixilated' look & then a pale bluish colour with a clicking noise from the speakers.  The only way of getting out is to switch off.  Switching on again I then get 4 options from Safe Mode to switch on normally.  I turned it on in Normal mode. I've never seen anything like this before.  FS9 was running OK for 3 or 4 days until I installed FSX 2 days ago, to see what it was like.  Connection?    Anyhow, now I  really don't know what to do apart from uninstall FS9 & X & start again with just FS9 as I like it best.  I did a final back up of the (2) Dell so I'm happy to uninstall/reinstall.  In that case I'd be glad og tips of where to look for what to ensure removal of all traces of both.   Does this sound the right thing to do?   :-/    

[gypsymoth]

I threw caution to the wind & uninstalled FS9 & deleted everything I could find.  I've had it running for 25 minutes now & it seems as smooth as silk with no freezes, etc.  I think it may have been an addon I had in my old Dell (but that was running alright) so I'll slowly add things from now on & will better catch a problem early.  BUT would an addon cause problems in one computer but not another?   I've left FSX installed.  FS9 responds well to the Windows key so I'll use that in future.
Thanks for all your input!
Terry.

[Hagar]

Glad you fixed it after all that. Let us know if the problem returns.

[gypsymoth]

Good morning.  Fixed?  Well, I installed the 4 free UK2000 airports this morning (Gatwick/Edinburgh/Glasgow/Stansted) & used Gatwick for a bit.   But I'm wondering if it was either of these as I got a freeze & on restarting Vista, found none of these 4 were showing, & when going into the scenery folder they weren't there!  I know I installed them properly as they showed but, but after reinstalling & then coming out of the sim & restarting I find they'd gone!   Odd that I didn't have problems with the Dells & XP. so is it Vista?   I'm tempted to wipe the drive & install XP.

[Hagar]

I've not tried this particular scenery. Did you download it & start afresh or use backed up files from previous installs? If you did the latter it's possible you missed something. It sounds to me that something is not installed correctly.

Odd that I didn't have problems with the Dells & XP. so is it Vista?   I'm tempted to wipe the drive & install XP.

I have no knowledge of Vista so can't comment on that.

I've tracked down the scenery & will check it out later.

[Hagar]

Good morning.  Fixed?  Well, I installed the 4 free UK2000 airports this morning (Gatwick/Edinburgh/Glasgow/Stansted) & used Gatwick for a bit.   But I'm wondering if it was either of these as I got a freeze & on restarting Vista, found none of these 4 were showing, & when going into the scenery folder they weren't there!  I know I installed them properly as they showed but, but after reinstalling & then coming out of the sim & restarting I find they'd gone!   Odd that I didn't have problems with the Dells & XP. so is it Vista?   I'm tempted to wipe the drive & install XP.

I downloaded the UK2000 Gatwick scenery here & installed it. http://www.uk2000scenery.com/free/My_Homepage_Files/Page1.html
All appears to be working fine for me. It comes complete with an auto-install. You can either let install to the default path or direct it to a Temp folder & do it manually. If your FS9 is in the default location the auto-installer will extract the files to a new folder named UK2000 scenery in your FS9 root directory. This is the intended directory for all your UK2000 scenery. The Gatwick scenery is in a foldernamed UK2000 Gatwick FREE inside the UK2000 scenery directory . You can move this to the FS9\Addon Scenery folder or anywhere you wish. Whichever location you choose the UK2000 Gatwick FREE folder is the folder you need to activate from the FS9 Scenery Library.

Remember that new scenery will not be activated until you exit FS9 & restart it. I suspect that was the cause of your problem. It possibly froze because it couldn't find the files it was searching for in the location you selected. This is only a theory but I suggest activating each of the 4 areas separately. This will make it much easier to troubleshoot if you have further problems.

Please tell me if this helps.