Idiotic Newbie - FSUIPC4 not showing in FSX

[Squeezer039]

Hope you can help. I'm sure it's just another dumb newbie issue but I can't figure it out.

I seem to have successfully downloaded and installed FSUIPC 4.86. I can't be sure though because no matter what I do, I can't see it as a drop down menu of 'Modules' in FSX. I'm not sure if I clicked 'yes' when it installed and I first ran FSX because it seems so long ago now, so I don't know if I said yes to loading it and trusting it. Perhaps it didn't ask me which is why there is a problem.

Anyway, when I look in the Modules folder, I can see all the files I think I need but judging from some of your other posts, I am perhaps missing an INI file.

The Modules folder contains the documents folder and the following: FSUIPC4 Install.log, FSUIPC4.dll and FSUIPC4_loader.dll. The install log and the dll.xml content are shown below.

I'm very keen to get it working and then get registered, but as yet, I'm not clever enough to do the first bit

Many thanks

Squeezer

FSUIPC4 Install Log:

... NOT found! ...

===========================================================

INSTALLATION FOR FSX:

SetupPath="E:\FSX\"

Checking version of FSX.EXE:

... Version 10.0.60905.0 (Need at least 10.0.60905.0)

Checking compatibility with installed SimConnect:

Found SimConnect build 60905 (Original)

Found SimConnect build 61242 (SP1 May07)

Found SimConnect build 61259 (Acc/SP2 Oct07)

Checking if there's already a version of FSUIPC4 installed in:

E:\FSX\Modules\FSUIPC4.DLL

... No previous valid version found.

FSX Modules folder already exists.

Okay -- installed FSUIPC4 into "E:\FSX\Modules\FSUIPC4.DLL"

Looking for the current user's Application Data path:

... found as "C:\Users\Fred\AppData\Roaming"

Now finding \Microsoft\FSX\FSX.CFG for all users, including this one

Looking in "C:\Users\All Users\AppData\Roaming"

... No FSX.CFG there

Looking in "C:\Users\Fred\AppData\Roaming"

Found FSX.CFG in "C:\Users\Fred\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\FSX\FSX.CFG"

Now checking DLL.XML ...

... There is a previous DLL.XML, checking for FSUIPC4 section.

... FSUIPC4 section already exists but will be replaced.

(with FSUIPC4_Loader entry)

... FSUIPC4 section of DLL.XML written okay

Now checking for a SimConnect.XML file ...

... No SimConnect.XML file found. This is okay.

Looking in "C:\Users\Default\AppData\Roaming"

... No FSX.CFG there

Looking in "C:\Users\Default User\AppData\Roaming"

... No FSX.CFG there

Looking in "C:\Users\Public\AppData\Roaming"

... No FSX.CFG there

"Modules\FSUIPC Documents" folder created okay!

Now installing additional files into the "Modules\FSUIPC Documents" folder:

Installed "FSUIPC4 User Guide.pdf" okay

Installed "FSUIPC4 for Advanced Users.pdf" okay

Installed "FSUIPC4 History.pdf" okay

Installed "List of FSX controls.pdf" okay

Installed "GlobalSign Root.exe" okay

Installed "FSUIPC Lua Library.pdf" okay

Installed "FSUIPC Lua Plug-Ins.pdf" okay

Installed "Lua License.pdf" okay

Installed "Lua Plugins for VRInsight Devices.pdf" okay

Installed "LuaFileSystem.pdf" okay

Installed "Example LUA plugins.zip" okay

Installed "Offset Mapping for PMDG 737NGX.pdf" okay

Installed "FSUIPC4 Offsets Status.pdf" okay

FSUIPC4.DLL installed and signature checked out okay!

Deleted GlobalSign Root fix program ... no longer relevant

===========================================================

All installer tasks completed.

*************** End of Install Log ***************

dll.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="Windows-1252"?>

<SimBase.Document Type="Launch" version="1,0">

<Descr>Launch</Descr>

<Filename>dll.xml</Filename>

<Disabled>False</Disabled>

<Launch.ManualLoad>False</Launch.ManualLoad>

<Launch.Addon>

<Name>Object Placement Tool</Name>

<Disabled>True</Disabled>

<ManualLoad>False</ManualLoad>

<Path>..\Microsoft Flight Simulator X SDK\SDK\Mission Creation Kit\object_placement.dll</Path>

</Launch.Addon>

<Launch.Addon>

<Name>Traffic Toolbox</Name>

<Disabled>True</Disabled>

<ManualLoad>False</ManualLoad>

<Path>..\Microsoft Flight Simulator X SDK\SDK\Environment Kit\Traffic Toolbox SDK\traffictoolbox.dll</Path>

</Launch.Addon>

<Launch.Addon>

<Name>Visual Effects Tool</Name>

<Disabled>True</Disabled>

<ManualLoad>False</ManualLoad>

<Path>..\Microsoft Flight Simulator X SDK\SDK\Environment Kit\Special Effects SDK\visualfxtool.dll</Path>

</Launch.Addon>

<Launch.Addon>

<Launch.Addon>

<Name>FSUIPC 4</Name>

<Disabled>False</Disabled>

<Path>Modules\FSUIPC4.dll</Path>

</Launch.Addon>

</SimBase.Document>

[Pete Dowson]

I seem to have successfully downloaded and installed FSUIPC 4.86. I can't be sure though because no matter what I do, I can't see it as a drop down menu of 'Modules' in FSX. I'm not sure if I clicked 'yes' when it installed and I first ran FSX because it seems so long ago now, so I don't know if I said yes to loading it and trusting it. Perhaps it didn't ask me which is why there is a problem.

After first installation FSX will always ask if you want to run the program, and trust it. After that it will not ask again.

Anyway, when I look in the Modules folder, I can see all the files I think I need but judging from some of your other posts, I am perhaps missing an INI file.

An INI file is generated when it first runs, it isn't installed. And if it has ever run there will bre a log file too, FSUIPC4.LOG.

The Modules folder contains the documents folder and the following: FSUIPC4 Install.log, FSUIPC4.dll and FSUIPC4_loader.dll.

Why did you install the Loader? This is only needed in exceptional circumstances and the Installation guide tells you when to try it. Did you not read the one short document included in the downloaded ZIP advising you what to do?

Please remove the loader and re-run the Installer.

I'm very keen to get it working and then get registered, but as yet, I'm not clever enough to do the first bit

If you've purchased a registration code then registration is done as part of the installation process. Please do read the installing and registering document in the ZIP it isn't very long and won't take much of your time, really!

FSUIPC4 Install Log:

... NOT found! ...

What is "NOT found"? Is that your comment? I think you've omitted a lot of the Install Log which preceded the part you posted. Why?

INSTALLATION FOR FSX:

SetupPath="E:\FSX\"

Checking version of FSX.EXE:

... Version 10.0.60905.0 (Need at least 10.0.60905.0)

Checking compatibility with installed SimConnect:

Found SimConnect build 60905 (Original)

Found SimConnect build 61242 (SP1 May07)

Found SimConnect build 61259 (Acc/SP2 Oct07)

Okay. there's one really BIG problem you have, straight off. You have the base version of FSX installed -- the original one from September 2005 -- yet you've installed the SP1 and SP2/Acceration versions of SimConnect. These are NOT compatible with the original version of FSX.

You need to install SP1 and SP2 updates to FSX, or, if you own it, Acceleration.

Regards

Pete

[Squeezer039]

Pete,

Firstly, many thanks for you prompt and comprehensive reply.

..and you probably thought I was joking when I said "Idiotic Newbie". I don't want to bore you with the details but there are some reasons at least (albeit perhaps not 'good' reasons).

I installed the loader after several attempts at getting FSUIPC4 to show up in FSX and having failed ...multiple failures did seem to be an 'exceptional circumstance'....so I gave it go. I had tried the installation with the loader there first but still no joy.

"... NOT found! ..." - nope this was not something I added as a comment, it is what I cut and pasted from the file itself...but yes I did miss something during the cut and paste. I'll check to ensure I don't miss something in future.

Define BIG. "Thrown myself of the roof - Big" or just "get a grip, you idiotic newbie - BIG"? If a solution can be found, it doesn't qualify as big for me. No solution = big = roof!

Recently I had to re-install FSX after taking out the SSD on which it is loaded to rescue important files on a failing hard drive on my wife's computer which she desperately needed for work. After some months of that SSD being in her machine, I placed it back in my FSX machine and, oh dear, FSX wouldn't load. Looking at various help pages on the web indicated I needed to use the repair option from the FSX installation disks (I have FSX Gold Edition i.e. including deluxe and Acceleration expansion pack). I ran 'repair' from disk one and then changed to disk two when it asked. It didn't ask for the Acceleration disk and FSX seemed to be okay again after the first two disks had finished so I thought all was ok. Also, when FSX loads, it shows up as the Acceleration version, so as far as I could tell I had an up to date version of FSX.

I've now gone through as you suggested...at least i think I have, i.e. removed the existing FSUIPC4 files, re-installed Acceleration and then re-ran the install FSUIPC4 exe file. But not much seems to have changed - no INI file, nothing in drop down menu as 'Modules'.

The content of installation log is copied below and while the installation of FSX seems to show a newer one than was previously indicated, the SimConnect detail doesn't appear to have changed at all. It shows up as follows:

Checking version of FSX.EXE:

... Version 10.0.61637.0 (Need at least 10.0.60905.0)

Checking compatibility with installed SimConnect:

Found SimConnect build 60905 (Original)

Found SimConnect build 61242 (SP1 May07)

Found SimConnect build 61259 (Acc/SP2 Oct07)

Once again Pete, any assistance much appreciated...before I do indeed head for the roof.

Kind regards

Squeezer

Installer for FSUIPC4.DLL version 4.86

Looking in registry for FSX install path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft Games\Flight Simulator\10.0

Parameter"SetupPath"

... >>> OK! FOUND FSX! <<< ...

Looking in registry for ESP install path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft ESP\1.0

Parameter"SetupPath"

Not there, so looking in:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ESP

Parameter"AppPath"

... NOT found! ...

Looking in registry for Prepar3D install path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\LockheedMartin\Prepar3D

Parameter"SetupPath"

Not there, so looking in:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Prepar3D

Parameter"AppPath"

... NOT found! ...

===========================================================

INSTALLATION FOR FSX:

SetupPath="E:\FSX\"

Checking version of FSX.EXE:

... Version 10.0.61637.0 (Need at least 10.0.60905.0)

Checking compatibility with installed SimConnect:

Found SimConnect build 60905 (Original)

Found SimConnect build 61242 (SP1 May07)

Found SimConnect build 61259 (Acc/SP2 Oct07)

Checking if there's already a version of FSUIPC4 installed in:

E:\FSX\Modules\FSUIPC4.DLL

... No previous valid version found.

FSX Modules folder already exists.

Okay -- installed FSUIPC4 into "E:\FSX\Modules\FSUIPC4.DLL"

Looking for the current user's Application Data path:

... found as "C:\Users\Fred\AppData\Roaming"

Now finding \Microsoft\FSX\FSX.CFG for all users, including this one

Looking in "C:\Users\All Users\AppData\Roaming"

... No FSX.CFG there

Looking in "C:\Users\Fred\AppData\Roaming"

Found FSX.CFG in "C:\Users\Fred\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\FSX\FSX.CFG"

Now checking DLL.XML ...

... No previous DLL.XML found, creating new one (for FSUIPC4 only).

Now checking for a SimConnect.XML file ...

... No SimConnect.XML file found. This is okay.

Looking in "C:\Users\Default\AppData\Roaming"

... No FSX.CFG there

Looking in "C:\Users\Default User\AppData\Roaming"

... No FSX.CFG there

Looking in "C:\Users\Public\AppData\Roaming"

... No FSX.CFG there

"Modules\FSUIPC Documents" folder created okay!

Now installing additional files into the "Modules\FSUIPC Documents" folder:

Installed "FSUIPC4 User Guide.pdf" okay

Installed "FSUIPC4 for Advanced Users.pdf" okay

Installed "FSUIPC4 History.pdf" okay

Installed "List of FSX controls.pdf" okay

Installed "GlobalSign Root.exe" okay

Installed "FSUIPC Lua Library.pdf" okay

Installed "FSUIPC Lua Plug-Ins.pdf" okay

Installed "Lua License.pdf" okay

Installed "Lua Plugins for VRInsight Devices.pdf" okay

Installed "LuaFileSystem.pdf" okay

Installed "Example LUA plugins.zip" okay

Installed "Offset Mapping for PMDG 737NGX.pdf" okay

Installed "FSUIPC4 Offsets Status.pdf" okay

FSUIPC4.DLL installed and signature checked out okay!

Deleted GlobalSign Root fix program ... no longer relevant

===========================================================

All installer tasks completed.

*************** End of Install Log ***************

[Pete Dowson]

The content of installation log is copied below and while the installation of FSX seems to show a newer one than was previously indicated, the SimConnect detail doesn't appear to have changed at all. It shows up as follows:

Checking version of FSX.EXE:

... Version 10.0.61637.0 (Need at least 10.0.60905.0)

Checking compatibility with installed SimConnect:

Found SimConnect build 60905 (Original)

Found SimConnect build 61242 (SP1 May07)

Found SimConnect build 61259 (Acc/SP2 Oct07)

That looks better!

So what's the result? Does it work or not? You don't say. If not, where's the FSUIPC4.LOG file?

Pete

[Squeezer039]

Pete,

Nope, unfortunately there is no sign of it being installed or working. It still doesn't show up as a drop down menu when I start flying in FSX and there is still no sign of an INI file or a request to load it and trust it.

The content of the FSUIPC4install.log file added to the end of my last posting on the forum....wasn't it? At least that's what's in the Modules folder of FSX on my E:drive.

Anyway, here it is:

FSUIPC4install.Log

Installer for FSUIPC4.DLL version 4.86

Looking in registry for FSX install path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft Games\Flight Simulator\10.0

Parameter"SetupPath"

... >>> OK! FOUND FSX! <<< ...

Looking in registry for ESP install path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft ESP\1.0

Parameter"SetupPath"

Not there, so looking in:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ESP

Parameter"AppPath"

... NOT found! ...

Looking in registry for Prepar3D install path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\LockheedMartin\Prepar3D

Parameter"SetupPath"

Not there, so looking in:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Prepar3D

Parameter"AppPath"

... NOT found! ...

===========================================================

INSTALLATION FOR FSX:

SetupPath="E:\FSX\"

Checking version of FSX.EXE:

... Version 10.0.61637.0 (Need at least 10.0.60905.0)

Checking compatibility with installed SimConnect:

Found SimConnect build 60905 (Original)

Found SimConnect build 61242 (SP1 May07)

Found SimConnect build 61259 (Acc/SP2 Oct07)

Checking if there's already a version of FSUIPC4 installed in:

E:\FSX\Modules\FSUIPC4.DLL

... No previous valid version found.

FSX Modules folder already exists.

Okay -- installed FSUIPC4 into "E:\FSX\Modules\FSUIPC4.DLL"

Looking for the current user's Application Data path:

... found as "C:\Users\Fred\AppData\Roaming"

Now finding \Microsoft\FSX\FSX.CFG for all users, including this one

Looking in "C:\Users\All Users\AppData\Roaming"

... No FSX.CFG there

Looking in "C:\Users\Fred\AppData\Roaming"

Found FSX.CFG in "C:\Users\Fred\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\FSX\FSX.CFG"

Now checking DLL.XML ...

... No previous DLL.XML found, creating new one (for FSUIPC4 only).

Now checking for a SimConnect.XML file ...

... No SimConnect.XML file found. This is okay.

Looking in "C:\Users\Default\AppData\Roaming"

... No FSX.CFG there

Looking in "C:\Users\Default User\AppData\Roaming"

... No FSX.CFG there

Looking in "C:\Users\Public\AppData\Roaming"

... No FSX.CFG there

"Modules\FSUIPC Documents" folder created okay!

Now installing additional files into the "Modules\FSUIPC Documents" folder:

Installed "FSUIPC4 User Guide.pdf" okay

Installed "FSUIPC4 for Advanced Users.pdf" okay

Installed "FSUIPC4 History.pdf" okay

Installed "List of FSX controls.pdf" okay

Installed "GlobalSign Root.exe" okay

Installed "FSUIPC Lua Library.pdf" okay

Installed "FSUIPC Lua Plug-Ins.pdf" okay

Installed "Lua License.pdf" okay

Installed "Lua Plugins for VRInsight Devices.pdf" okay

Installed "LuaFileSystem.pdf" okay

Installed "Example LUA plugins.zip" okay

Installed "Offset Mapping for PMDG 737NGX.pdf" okay

Installed "FSUIPC4 Offsets Status.pdf" okay

FSUIPC4.DLL installed and signature checked out okay!

Deleted GlobalSign Root fix program ... no longer relevant

===========================================================

All installer tasks completed.

*************** End of Install Log ***************

Having read some of you other posts, I also took the time to make a SimConnect Log file in case you need that. The content is as follows:

SimConnect0.Log

0.00000 SimConnect version 10.0.61259.0

0.01558 Server: Scope=local, Protocol=Pipe, Name=\\.\pipe\Microsoft Flight Simulator\SimConnect, MaxClients=64

0.01883 Server: Scope=local, Protocol=IPv6, Address=::1, Port=49793, MaxClients=64

0.02113 Server: Scope=local, Protocol=IPv4, Address=127.0.0.1, Port=49794, MaxClients=64

0.02169 File not found: Path="Modules\FSUIPC4.dll"

My dll.xml reads as follows:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="Windows-1252"?>

<SimBase.Document Type="Launch" version="1,0">

<Descr>Launch</Descr>

<Filename>dll.xml</Filename>

<Disabled>False</Disabled>

<Launch.ManualLoad>False</Launch.ManualLoad>

<Launch.Addon>

<Name>Object Placement Tool</Name>

<Disabled>True</Disabled>

<ManualLoad>False</ManualLoad>

<Path>..\Microsoft Flight Simulator X SDK\SDK\Mission Creation Kit\object_placement.dll</Path>

</Launch.Addon>

<Launch.Addon>

<Name>Traffic Toolbox</Name>

<Disabled>True</Disabled>

<ManualLoad>False</ManualLoad>

<Path>..\Microsoft Flight Simulator X SDK\SDK\Environment Kit\Traffic Toolbox SDK\traffictoolbox.dll</Path>

</Launch.Addon>

<Launch.Addon>

<Name>Visual Effects Tool</Name>

<Disabled>True</Disabled>

<ManualLoad>False</ManualLoad>

<Path>..\Microsoft Flight Simulator X SDK\SDK\Environment Kit\Special Effects SDK\visualfxtool.dll</Path>

</Launch.Addon>

<Launch.Addon>

<Name>FSUIPC 4</Name>

<Disabled>False</Disabled>

<Path>Modules\FSUIPC4.dll</Path>

</Launch.Addon>

</SimBase.Document>

One last thing, my FSX.cfg file doesn't contain a line relating to FSUIPC4 under the 'TRUSTED' section. Should there be something there or is that created when you say 'yes' to the install and trust question when it loads for the first time?

Thanks once again Pete

Kind regards

Squeezer

[Pete Dowson]

The content of the FSUIPC4install.log file added to the end of my last posting on the forum....wasn't it? At least that's what's in the Modules folder of FSX on my E:drive.

No, that's the Install log, not the FSUIPC4.LOG, which is produced when FSUIPC4 runs.

According to the Install log, FSUIPC4.DLL is properly installed in "E:\FSX\Modules".

But the SimConnect log says:

02169 File not found: Path="Modules\FSUIPC4.dll"

So, it looks to me as if the copy of FSX you are actually running is NOT the one the Registry says is installed and where FSUIPC4 is installed.

Take a look in your E:\FSX\Modules folder. There's an FSUIPC4.DLL there, right? And an FSUIPC Documents folder containing these files:

Now installing additional files into the "Modules\FSUIPC Documents" folder:

Installed "FSUIPC4 User Guide.pdf" okay

Installed "FSUIPC4 for Advanced Users.pdf" okay

Installed "FSUIPC4 History.pdf" okay

Installed "List of FSX controls.pdf" okay

Installed "GlobalSign Root.exe" okay

Installed "FSUIPC Lua Library.pdf" okay

Installed "FSUIPC Lua Plug-Ins.pdf" okay

Installed "Lua License.pdf" okay

Installed "Lua Plugins for VRInsight Devices.pdf" okay

Installed "LuaFileSystem.pdf" okay

Installed "Example LUA plugins.zip" okay

Installed "Offset Mapping for PMDG 737NGX.pdf" okay

Installed "FSUIPC4 Offsets Status.pdf" okay

So, check how you are loading FSX. Right click on the FSX icon you are using to start it, and look at the path where FSX.EXE is being loaded from.

Try running FSX by double clcicking on FSX.EXE from your E:\FSX folder.

Pete

[Squeezer039]

Pete,

Many thanks once again.

I've cancelled my planned departure from the roof as all is well and the universe is back in harmony. FSUIPC4 is now installed, it shows up under Add-ons when I fly FSX and your instructions for clicking on the exe file in the E:\FSX folder did the job.

The Log and INI files are now present in the Modules folder:

Log file

********* FSUIPC4, Version 4.86 by Pete Dowson *********

Running inside FSX on Windows 7

Module base=67C80000

User Name=""

User Addr=""

FSUIPC4 not user registered

WIDEFS7 not user registered, or expired

31 System time = 07/03/2013 18:11:07

31 FLT path = "C:\Users\Fred\Documents\Flight Simulator X Files\"

421 Trying to connect to SimConnect Acc/SP2 Oct07 ...

421 FS path = "E:\FSX\"

702 LogOptions=00000000 00000001

702 SIM1 Frictions access gained

702 Wind smoothing fix is fully installed

702 G3D.DLL fix attempt installed ok

702 SimConnect_Open succeeded: waiting to check version okay

702 Trying to use SimConnect Acc/SP2 Oct07

2590 Running in "Microsoft Flight Simulator X", Version: 10.0.61637.0 (SimConnect: 10.0.61259.0)

2590 Initialising SimConnect data requests now

2590 FSUIPC Menu entry added

2652 E:\FSX\FLIGHTS\OTHER\FLTSIM.FLT

2652 E:\FSX\SimObjects\Airplanes\Aircreation_582SL\Aircreation_582SL.AIR

48189 System time = 07/03/2013 18:11:55, Simulator time = 18:11:09 (02:11Z)

49967 Starting everything now ...

50981 Advanced Weather Interface Enabled

81870 Sim stopped: average frame rate for last 33 secs = 29.7 fps

84662 Weather Mode now = Theme

84662 C:\Users\Fred\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\FSX\Previous flight.FLT

93663 System time = 07/03/2013 18:12:40, Simulator time = 18:11:42 (02:11Z)

93663 *** FSUIPC log file being closed

Average frame rate for running time of 33 secs = 29.7 fps

G3D fix: Passes 10763, Null pointers 0, Bad pointers 0, Separate instances 0

Memory managed: 18 Allocs, 18 Freed

********* FSUIPC Log file closed ***********

INI file:

[General]

UpdatedByVersion=4860

History=UKR15SN1PVMFB4E1UJCX7

AxesWrongRange=No

TCASid=Flight

TCASrange=40

AxisCalibration=No

DirectAxesToCalibs=No

ShowMultilineWindow=Yes

SuppressSingleline=No

SuppressMultilineFS=No

AxisIntercepts=No

DontResetAxes=No

InitDelay=0

GetNearestAirports=Yes

OOMcheck=Yes

WeatherReadFactor=2

WeatherRewriteSeconds=1

CustomWeatherModify=No

SimConnectStallTime=1

LuaRerunDelay=66

FSVersionUsed="Microsoft Flight Simulator X",10.0.61637.0

SimConnectUsed=10.0.61259.0

Console=No

[JoyNames]

AutoAssignLetters=No

[WideServer]

WideFSenabled=Yes

[sounds]

Path=E:\FSX\Sound\

Device1=Primary Sound Driver

Device2=Digital Audio (S/PDIF) (High Definition Audio Device)

Device3=Digital Audio (S/PDIF) (High Definition Audio Device)

Don't know how the shortcut ended up causing the problem, but it is history.

I'll be registering this evening and immersing myself in the instructions.

Many, many thanks one again for your kind help Pete and also for your patience.

Idiotic Newbie Squeezer signing off

[Pete Dowson]

Don't know how the shortcut ended up causing the problem, but it is history.

That shortcut is evidently pointing to another copy of FSX you must have installed at one time and forgotten about?

You can easily make another shortcut to the correct one. Just drag the FSX.EXE to the desktop with the ALT key pressed.

Regards

Pete