simtim

Blame it on user error! After much playing around, I finally solved my CTD problem. Peter, thank you very much for your response. I did not mean to sound like I was blaming you or FSUIPC. The solution actually came to me while writing the original message on this board. When I wrote, “virus protection…is enabled” something clicked in my brain. I completely uninstalled my virus checker. That took care of about 50% of the crashes. The other half was taken care of when I updated the graphics driver. Sounds simple – but I am using a laptop which means there is no support for device drivers from the original device manufacturer. I had to go through the computer’s maker, who had not released a new driver for my graphics since April. I managed to get one anyway through a mod of the desktop version. Not the best solution, but it works. No more crashes, and I can once again enjoy my flights!

First off, I have used Flight Simulator with FSUIPC for years. I love the combination, but lately I have had more problems with FSX than I can seem to solve. Any help would be appreciated. I was having many CTD errors prior to today, and since SP2 was just released, now seemed to be a good time to do a reinstall. First I uninstalled my entire setup including third-party programs and did a reboot. Then, I installed FSX, followed by SP1, SP2, and then FSUIPC4. After that I installed my third-party programs. After each install I ran FSX and rebooted. Unfortunately, after all that I am still receiving crash-to-desktops. All this came about because I decided to reinstall FSX after several months of having it off my system. In my initial installation of FSX without FSUIPC I never received a CTD, which is why I tend to suspect it. I always run FSX in “administrator mode” and have given ownership rights of the directories specifically to me in Vista Ultimate. For virus protection I use “Windows Live OneCare” which is enabled during flights. The CTD occurs during several different occasions. Most often it occurs after I initially load FSX and start making selections within Free Flight mode. Usually it occurs when I select real-time weather, but it has also occurred when I make other selections such as aircraft or origin airport. The CTD happens whether or not I am using a default aircraft or an add-on. On the rare occasion when I get through the Free Flight menu successfully, I have always received a CTD when I am in the cockpit before takeoff. The occurrence appears to be random – sometimes I am just sitting there when it bugs out. Other times I am moving my mouse about to make a selection. The third CTD type I receive is when I am in the cockpit and hit the alternate key to bring up a menu. I can always make the choices within the menu, but it has never failed to CTD once I select “OK” to get back in the cockpit. I have never been able to take off in Free Flight Mode. To be absolutely clear, when I say “crash to desktop” it means I receive a “fatal error” and Flight Simulator exits and restarts. I am also certainly open to the possibility that FSUIPC is not causing my problem; after all, I have used it error-free for years. Granted, it very well may be user error. My setup is FSX Deluxe with SP1 and SP2 under Windows Vista Ultimate. I don’t use Acceleration yet, but I have it on order. For add-ons I use registered FSUIPC4, Level-D Boeing 763, FS2Crew for B763, Ultimate Traffic, Radar Contact, and FSBuild. My computer’s device drivers are all current. I run an Alienware M5790 “Area 51” laptop with 2048 MB RAM, 2.67 MHz clock speed, Intel Core 2 CPU, ATI Mobility Radeon X1900 video with 256 MB video RAM, and a Logitech Extreme 3D Pro joystick.