The "My Microsoft Flight Sim 2004 won't flippin' work!!" thread
 

This thread is for those who are having problems with the all-new MSFS2004 (and, being Microsoft, there must be plenty of 'em!).


Well, for starters here's my problem.

when I start up, I get the message that hardware drivers may cause the computer to freeze up on me when I go in, and that it will continue in "software mode". I've tried downloading the latest drivers for the offending video card, but this message always comes up.

Here's all the info on the offending item (as brought up by the machine):

Company: SiS
Product: SiS 630/730
Chip Type: SiS 730 Rev 31
Software Version: 2.08
Driver Version: 2.08
Video Memory (Type): SDRAM
Video Memory (Size): 64.0 MBytes
Video Memory Clock: 100MHz
BIOS (OEM String): SiS
BIOS (OEM VenderName): Silicone Intergrated Systems Corp.
BIOS (OEM ProductName): 730
BIOS (OEM ProductRev): 1.08.51

Any ideas? I want my V licences!!! :( :confused: :{

Flight Simulator 2004: Known Video Issues DirectX (Home User) Support Center SIS download centre

Might help, but from what I've read, you really need a new card. That chipset had problems with FS2002.

bollocks :*

At least CFS1 works on my computer, otherwise I'd go cracked.....

Cool_Hand - dunno about the others but the Extra 300 now spins quite well (it never used to spin at all), and some of the other aircraft seem to stall in a more realistic manner - wing drops and so on.

rotorcraig - have seen favourable comments on the R-22's flight model in a review on avsim.com but apparently it doesn't autorotate - just piles into the ground at a high rate of knots.

The new weather is fantastic - you even get fog forming when the conditions are right; rain drops on the canopy look correct instead of cartoony, lightning is fascinating and lights everything up nicely. Turbulence is a nicely done as well.

DamienB, you are so right about the weather.

Still think the thing is a bit power hungry though, although I'm starting to get used to 15 to 30 fps compared to 50 to 100 I get on FS2002.

For sheer flying experience, X-plane still feels miles better.

Tim

Century of Flight and my PC!
 

Just received Century of Flight FS2004 for my birthday from a group of my friends - very kind of them indeed, but I have an aincient PC running just below the minimum spec!

If any of you have any old PC bits that you have no use for such as any cpu/board combination over 450MHz, or a HDD, then maybe you could donate them to this poor student!?

Thanks,

MS :8

Well, these are the supposed minima to run it

2000/XP - 128 MB Ram
98/Me - 64 MB Ram
Processor: 450 MHz minimum
Available hard drive space:1.8 GB
DirectX 9 or later (included with Microsoft Flight Simulator: A Century of Flight)
Video card: 8 MB/3D with DirectX 7.0 or later drivers

I'm afraid it'll run like cold treacle on anything much less than a 1600MHz machine with a halfway decent video card and folks aren't giving those away yet.

[Couldn't take everyone ignoring the poor bugga any longer]

MikeSamuel,

Mac is right on for the specs. The Oct. 2003 edition of PC Gamer Mag recommends a 1.6Ghz CPU or equivalent and a 32Mb 3-D Vid Card.

Take Care,

Richard

P.S. Depending on the OS you are running, you want 256Mb for Win9x and 512Mb for WinXP/2k.

Just to repeat my comments in a different thread.. My set up:

Windows XP SP1
P4 2.53 Ghz
512mb Ram
MX420 64mb graphics card (OK, I know this isn't the worlds best bit of kit)

FS2002: Typical frame rates, 35 (at worst), 60 ave, 100+ best. All 'sliders' to max detail.

FS2004: 10, 25-30, 45 respectively. Sliders, average 66 to 75% across.

2004 perfectly playable, but having been spoilt with high detailed smooth gameplay, I certainly notice the difference.

timmcat,

Going from a MX420 to a Ti4200 would do give you a huge boost in performance. Plus all those sliders would be back at the Max again.

Take Care,

Richard

ASFKAP,

When FS running and Cockpit View at start, press Shift and Z twice - 1st press will bring up LAT and LONG, Altitude, Heading and Speed. in Red text at top of screen. 2nd press will bring up a 2nd line of text with Frames per second and G meter. ;)

Hi,

I'm currently getting 30FPS with FS2002 what would I be getting in FS2004?

Thanks
BAe 146-100

BAE-146.. if my experience is anything to go by, I would guess around 15 fps.

Hi,

timmcat, Its not even at 15, more like 5 FPS :( :{. Well I will have to try it on my dads laptop tonight, hopefully it will be better.

BAe 146-100

BAe 146-100,

What are the specs on your current comp? We might be able to recommend an upgrade that will improve your game's performance without leaving a huge smoking hole in your wallet.

Take Care,

Richard

Hi,

Naples Air Center, Inc., I would not be able to upgrade the other PC. This is my dads laptop, if you click on the specification page it will show the specs (of course!). Will FS2004 run better on this? Thanks for your help :ok:.

BAe 146-100

BAe 146-100,

The Onboard Video will run FS2k4. It does share the Motherboard's RAM and your Dad's notebook only has 256Mb. You should get another 256Mb stick of RAM for it and FS2k4 will run a lot smoother. As a side effect, your father will see a boost in speed for all his other programs he uses too. WinXP Pro is happiest at 512Mb total RAM.

You can add another SODIMM stick in order to bring the RAM up to 512Mb. Here is the document on how to add more RAM:

NX9010 Manual

Page 59 (68 on the downloadable version) shows how to add the stick.

Dabs has the RAM you need:

Crucail 256Mb SODIMM PC-2100 Price inc VAT £36.88

Take Care,

Richard

Hi,

Thanks a lot Richard for your help :ok:. I have decided that I'm going to take it back, I don't think my dad will let me take his laptop apart :p.

Kind Regards
BAe 146-100

BAe 146-100,

I am sorry to hear you are taking it back. You do not actually open up the notebook to add the RAM, there is a small panel on the bottom of the notebook for adding RAM. Just have your dad add it. It is a very simple process that takes no more than 30 seconds.

Tell him, if he adds the RAM, his notebook will run his programs a lot smoother and faster. I am sure that would make him happy.

Take Care,

Richard

I agree..all the flight sims in standard form are pretty pants,this one is no exception.

You wants good jets..check these out.
http://library.avsim.net/esearch.php...oot&DLID=35063
Meljet B777-200 RR BAW-Simply stunning!!!

Just the tip of the iceberg...
A fellow Pruner is designing a new Gatwick addon,look at the screenies @
http://www.onlinesimulationsolutions...num=1060441491

As many would agree...its the addons that really make the sim..there are plenty out there whatever your taste :p

I like the cloud improvements & have noticed that aircraft tend to be more buffeted by weather, especially on approach. However, the perennial prob with flight sims is that there really is no overall goal - you take off, fly around & land again. Often it's pretty dull. Check out www.flightsim.com for decent add ons.

Oh and one more thing, since when did the Americans take over global atc??? or is that naive of me?!

Whatever the reason, tis also a shame they do not use Airbus. Getting a bit bored of Boeing :rolleyes:

Flight sim a/c download
 

hi
does anyone know of a website i can download the PA-28-151 aircraft for flight sim 2000?

Cheers
Dave

Try

Flightsim.com

They have most aircraft for most flight sims. Need to register, but it is a great resource for flightsim goodies. Everything from scenery to instrument panels

T'Bug :ok:

PC requirements for MS Flight Sim
 

Hi, Anyone let me know if I can use MS Flight sim on an older pc. I have a AMD K6 or K2/ 450mhz with 320 mb RAM, and can put it up to 512 mb RAM if need to. Do you think that is enough to handle the MS Flight Sim or would it be too slow and jumpy.
Cheers

Java,

The amount of RAM you need all depends on which OS you are running. If you are running WinXP for example then 512Mb is appropriate, if you are running Win98 then something around 128Mb is fine.

Running K6 II 450mhz is the lowest end for running and is not going to run Flight Sim very well at all, even with all the minimum settings within the Sim.

Take Care,

Richard

It will also depend on what version of flight sim you want to use. FS2004 is very heavy to use by all accounts and you will get a very low frame rate. Although I ran CFS 2 on a similiar machine, to yours, albeit with a good video card and it was playable.

For your machine I would recommend X-plane it is not as hungry as FS2004 (mostly due to the scenery not being as detailed) and many think it's flight characteristics are more "realistic".

I ran MS Flight Sim 2000 on a PII 350, and had to turn down many of the settings to get it to perform decently. X-Plane is definitely easier on your hardware, and isn't that far behind in scenery detail. If you do want all of the scenery details though you will need a faster computer, but if you're just looking for something to practice procedures, turning down graphics setting s will work fine. X-Plane at the time ran pretty well, but I haven't tried a more recent version of the sim that computer. Most flight sims benefit more from faster processors and RAM than video cards, so if you can you should look at upgrading the processor.

goates

You may find that FS2002 runs better than FS2000. I think they did a bit of code optimisation. I did run both FS2000 & 2002 on a 450Mhz Pentium III PC, and it wasn't too bad. I soon found that I wanted to upgrade, however...

Ah a subject I know a bit about ;)
Sad as it is and I know I should get out more!!!
Ok I have had various versions of MS flight sims and with the spec you have I would suggest FS98 it has bags of features works very well, will accept a decent 3D graphics card ( worth having to get all the nice eye candy to work). On a set up like yours it should run pretty well, plus there are loads and loads of add-ons for Flightsim98 at free web sites like www.avsim.com and www.flightsim.com just search for FS98 in the file library.
If your need any further advice whack me an e-mail
[email protected]
hope that helps.
As an extra FS98 can be had for as little as £1 on Ebay!!! never need to pay more than £10 for it anywhere.... the later versions of FS will cripple your computer and will look like a slide show...

Thanks volrider, appreciate your time and info.

Microsoft Flight Simulator??
 

Hi,

I'm thinking about getting Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 "A Century Of Flight" edition. As anyone of you used it yet? How is it?? what about the 2002 one?

cheers

This was discussed a little bit before - I'm still trying to get to grasp with 2002 when I have a minute - but I have heard that 2004 is power-hungry.

amofw

FS2004 is no more power hungry than 2k2, however it has better clouds and ATC so just remember to turn the clouds down a bit in the options and keep the traffic below 55% and it should run no different to 2k2 but with a better visual appeal.
hope that helps

F.S.
I'm not sure what the actual shop is like, but I've purchased online stuff from Transair pilot shop in London.
They might be worth trying

http://www.transair.co.uk/londonshop.asp

419

Flight Simulator Widows Group
 

Hi,

If your Girlfriend/Wife/Fiancee/Mistress/Lover is always complaining about your Flight Simulator Use then they should go here

http://webtek.clansites.co.uk/fswforum/index.php

Flight Simulator Widows Group Forum, Newly Opened

Garmin Pilot III & Microsoft Flight Simulator
 

How do you link the two together so your position and route in MFS is output onto the Garmin. I know you need a utility called GPSOUT, but I can't get it to work.

I know there are a few threads out there on this, but there doesn't seem to be a definitive answer.

Any help - much appreciated.

Let me get this right - you are actually proposing to use a toy (sophisticated toy, but toy, nonetheless) to prepare a route to go into a purpose-built navigational instrument. Why?????

I hope you are not intending to use this as primary nav aid!!!

That isn't right. What KCDW wants to do, I believe, is have the current position of the plane (in the simulator) output to the GPS. It's not as daft as it sounds. It lets you experiment with using the GPS during a "real-world" flight. And if you're just playing with the sim then it lets you play more realistically, if such is your want.

Phew. Drauk's interpretation is the correct one! I've just got it, and want to play with on land.

For those who understand these things, my settings for the Garmin are:

attached to COM2
Simulator mode
Aviation In Protocol

The GPSOut ini file is:

Sentences=RMC,GGA,GSA,GSV,RMA,PGRMZ,AV400
Interval=1000
Port=COM2
M (don't know what that's for)
Speed=4800

Thanks