Some bad news, some good
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe via email or RSS feed. You may also be interested to know that we have a thriving forum where you can meet with flight simulator fans worldwide. Thanks for visiting!
Well, I got hit by my first real problem with Flight Simulator X over the weekend, the problem being it wouldn’t start! I got some pretty obscure error message and an hour or so of Googling didn’t provide any answers, so I was left with no real option but to uninstall and reinstall it.
As I was having to do a reinstall, I followed the official Microsoft line and uninstalled all add-ons and did a complete clean out, ensuring all directories with any previous installed files were deleted. I reinstalled FSX, then immediately applied Service Pack 1 and fired it up. Wow, what a difference! I seemed to have a major performance gain over my previous installation. As mentioned in an earlier post, I had initially applied SP1 over a “dirty” FSX install, i.e. I had a number of add-ons installed to it, contrary to their recommendations. So, looks like they were right after all. It really does seem a lot smoother after applying SP1 to a virgin FSX install.
I reinstalled FS Global 2008, X Graphics, Active Sky X and my two favourite Real Air aircraft and I’m now back in business and can continue my around the world tour. I’ve had to switch aircraft to the Real Air SF260 for now, as it would’ve taken me about 10 years to complete the trip in the Beaver.
Anyway, I guess the moral of the story is: Listen to the developers recommendations 
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Sounds like a fun packed weekend, keeps you out of the rain though
Well, it was different! I thought I was on for a complete system rebuild at one stage
Mark - FlightSimX
Hi Mark,
I reinstalled my system 2 weeks ago and all was well, then last week i had same problem as you. no fsx at all, just wouldn’t start up, i thought it may have been fsx earth demo as everything was fine until then. Did you have it installed by any chance, just Guess work at the moment but FSX has never done that before,
cheers
Jason
Mmm, I don’t want to start pointing fingers without some further investigation but, yes, I had just installed FS Earth! I’ll contact the author and see if anyone else has reported the problem.
Cheers for the pointer, Jason.
Mark - FlightSimX
Hi Mark, yeah sorry was not trying to point the finger either, I am really interested in FS Earth as a product and would like to rule it out. But I just cant afford to take the risk with installing it again, as i lose about 2-3 evenings just reinstalling my add ons. I didn’t even get it running fully but what i saw looked great.
Cheers
Jason
Yes, it did look neat from the brief chance I had to take a look at it. I’ll try and find out some more info.
Mark - FlightSimX
I have just got Active sky x and graphics x, been meaning to get it for a while. After hearing of your reboot they were high on your priority list amonst your real air add ons, so i gather they must be good. Will have a good look at them tonight, Question is how many windows and programs are able to run in the background (like FS earth) before it slows the system down.
Please keep me posted on the FS Earth.
Thanks
Jason
You won’t be disappointed with the X Graphics stuff - it’s completely transformed FSX for me.
Re number of windows, Active Sky X can be minimised to the taskbar once start, so it doesn’t use too many resources. FS Earth is a different matter. As the manual mentions, both Google Earth and FSX are pretty heavy graphics hogs and it recommends you minimise FSX when starting FS Earth. To be honest, I don’t think my machine is up to it, so I’m going to try using it across FSWide and having FS Earth on my other machine.
Mark - FlightSimX
Hi Mark, I must get onto your forum with this stuff, I have widefs and dont know why? bought it and fsuipc in error, do you know how i can utilise my other machine via wide fs and then google earth or fs earth.
Lastly is your flight round the world on google earth?
Jason
re: Active sky i do like the little weather window, i am going to see if i can set up a quick button to it, i did see something about it. Havent used it fully but quick 5 mins and i saw a difference
Cheers
Jason
I’m not too sure about WideFS myself yet, Jason. I’ll try and take a look soon. My understanding is that you can run an application on one networked machine linked to FS running on another networked machine.
I’m plotting my trip on Google maps. Here’s the direct link: http://tinyurl.com/2ctn6z
From there you can download the KML file which you can load into Google Earth.
Mark - FlightSimX
Hi mark,
so that means 2 copies of FSX, i do have 2 copies networked, if i ever get anywhere with widefs I will inform you. Hey tried your link i had a google map of Paris but no link, sorry if it’s me but i could’nt see it.
Cheers
Jason
Hi Jason. No, you don’t need 2 copies of FSX. That’s the beauty of WideFS - it lets you interface to other compatible add-ons on another networked PC as if FSX was installed to it, but without the need for it. I’ll report back more when I’ve had a chance to try it.
Mark - FlightSimX
Just got FSX Standard and was attempting to install, but ran into an error after loading the second disk.
Error 1607 “Unable to install InstallShield Scripting Runtime.
Any ideas what causes that?
George
Have you tried the fix over at http://consumer.installshield.com/kb.asp?id=Q108340
when installing FSX it says i have to have windows xp service pack 2 to install.. is there a way to install it without service pack 2??
Hi Jim. Unfortunately, not that I know of. I assume FSX uses some system files that only get installed with SP2, unless someone else here knows better.
Mark - FlightSimX
Leave a Comment