CFS2 and Wndows8? Windows10?

[MaskRider]

Hi Guys,

Pretty sure the topic of running CFS2 on Windows8.1 has been handled but I thought I would bring it up fresh again.

A couple of days ago, after 12+ years or so, my old "main-frame" WindowXP flight-simming/scenery-building rig bit the dust.

Everything was backed up regularly so that is no worry. But now I am faced with task of getting back up and running again.

I have a Windows 8.1Pro lap top to keep me going for the time being.

I am probably gonna be needing a new rig- either bought off the shelf or else custom made.

Just out of curiosity I copied my recently backed-up copy of CFS2 to my laptop- C:\Program Files (x86)\ -just to see how or if it would run. Is this a good place to run it from or should I go with a different location?

It runs surprising well. I haven't spent a lot of time at it but have run into a few glitches that I recall others experiencing. Such as the plane display when choosing the aircraft doesn't work unless I de-maximize the window.

Also, the function keys don't seem to work as they should.

Anyhow, any thoughts on any nice nice off the shelf rig that will run CFS2 and FSX efficiently? Or would it be best to go with a custom made rig?

I am feeling a little adrift.

Thanks
Chris

 

[Allen]

The best thing for Win 7 and up is to have any old games outside of Program Files or Program Files (x86) as the Windows User Account Control will nag you at best and at worst my lock the files so you can't edit them.

I keep my games in C: like C:\Combat Flight Simulator 2 or have them like C:\OldGame\Combat Flight Simulator 2 so the Windows User Account Control or any other windows BS can't get in the way.

The function keys seem to be a prob depending on PC. My laptop has no prob with any key while other have ran into function keys probs.

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/showthread.php/95345-Windows-10-snafu-content-thread

 

[MaskRider]

Thanks Allen. Very useful. After reading through a good deal of the linked thread I am beginning to think that maybe building a new rig with WindowsXP might do the trick and just forget about hooking it up to the internet. I wonder if the updates to Windows XP, up to a certain point at least, might still be available somewhere?

For now I will give your suggestion of moving the install out from underneath the "Program Files" umbrella a try. See if anything shakes loose.

FYI the laptop I am running on right now is a HP Pavillion G7.

This is the first time it has ever been put through its paces. Not bad so far.

Cheers,
Chris

 

[MaskRider]

I noticed that whenever I used one of the function keys, F3 and F4, for instance, a little "app"-looking window would open up. F3 would open up a little display brightness slider. F4 would open up a display/monitor choice side-bar on the right side of the screen. I had never paid any attention to them before but each seems to be assigned a preset function and each key has a little icon on it representing that function. So I "discovered" that if I do "fn+F3" and/or "fn+F4" the keys work as they should: F3 cycles through the cockpit views and F4 cycles through the view modes.

That's one issue resolved.

I wonder if there is a way to uncouple those function keys from their preset tasks. There must be.

Chris

 

[Allen]

I'm on a free Acer Aspire now. My XP eat another HDD back in Oct/Nov and I'm really not sure if I want to get a new HDD and do a clone of the HDD that is failing if I can get it to boor or rebuild from XP SP1 up to SP3. My lap top has its own function key in between CTRL and Windows key that need to be pressed for things like brightness and volume to be changed so my F1 to F12 behave like they do on a desktop.

For the most part every tool I use is or can be made to work on Win7. I have MDLC running by DOS box and every thing else is running fine but for a small prob with AirEd. It can't replace a Record via Replace from Clipboard. This means I have to delete the Record than use Add from Clipboard. Copy and Replace from Clipboard for Tables data work just fine.

 

[MaskRider]

Thanks for the info regarding the various simming tools and applications. Once I get CFS2 functioning normally, which I have pretty much already done, I will start experimenting with all of the scenery making utilities and miscellaneous aircraft tweaking utilities to see whats what.

Interesting note about the function keys. On my kaput desktop keyboard it was necessary to press the "fn" key along with the F1 - F12 key in order to activate the action indicated by the icon on the F1 - F12 function key. On my HP laptop, it turns out to be just the opposite.

By default it is set up so that the action indicated by the icon on the F1 - F12 function key (or Action Key) is activated by simply pressing the F1 - F12 function key. This default configuration is the "Enabled" mode. Turns out there is an easy way to reverse this functionality. This may have been covered in earlier forum threads but if not here goes:

With the computer turned off press the power button to start the computer. Then press the F10 key to bring up the BIOS Setup window. Navigate to the "System Configuration" tab -> "Action Key Mode". Toggle the choice from Enabled to Disabled. Save and exit and as the old saying goes "Bob's your uncle!" After performing this tweak my CFS2 function keys operate as expected with no need to any longer press the "fn" key.

I ran across this solution by googling and finding this article

Bottom line: nothing to do with Windows8 or 10. Just a computer manufacturer issue.

Cheers,
Chris

 

[Devildog73]

Chris,

I am kind of in the same mode as you.

I loaded a pristine CFS2 as Allen. C:\Combat Flight Simulator 2.
I then made folders; C:\BPF\Iceberg\Combat Flight Simulator 2, and C:\BPF\Meridian\Combat Flight Simulator 2, C:\BPF\Scenery\ "all your stuff and Richard's"....

I have a new gaming laptop fast enough with enough RAM both system and video to max out CFS2 settings.

My suggestions for the F keys issue is a separate keyboard. I bought a blue tooth mouse and keyboard set and everything is working nicely EXCEPT my Mission Builder.

I haven't tried to build new, but cannot access existing missions to modify.

Still working on a work-around on that.

Lee

 

[MaskRider]

Hi Lee,

I haven't yet done any experimenting with Mission Builder. It opens fine but that is as far as I have taken it. I haven't tried to open any missions or create any new ones. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

I have mostly been working at adding back all various scenery-building and simming-utilities and getting them up and running: G2K, FSSC, EZLandclass, DXTBmp, Panel Studio, Tatuk GIS Viewer, ACMan, etc, etc. Getting the paths set-up correctly to match the new Windows8 environment is a bit of a chore. Editing existing projects so that they refer to correct location-paths for existing projects, target locations for exporting compiled bgls and so forth, background images, etc, etc..

Pretty much have things under control.

Will be interested to see how MB behaves.

Cheers,
Chris

PS: Edited to add that I played around a bit with MB. The only issue I encountered, so far anyway, is that the help menu won't open up. Instead, after a moment or two thinking about it, a little window pops up saying that the old help file format is incompatible with Windows8 and that I should rush right over to the Microsoft website to find a solution. Uh-huh.

I was looking up the key stroke combination for saving a scenery object layout. For some reason, after a lengthy sabatical from CFS2, I just can't seem to remember that particular key combo.

 

[No Dice]

Well , I can not wait until you are all back up and running.
Two Icons of the past are returning...Hell yes !!


Welcome back home.

 

[Allen]

The old help files don't work on Win7 or newer. Quite a drag. This may help. I keep some text on my MB background mb_main_backgrnd.jpg. The mb_main_backgrnd.jpg is found in the CFS2MAINFOLDER\UIRES\MB



View attachment MB Main BG.zip

 

[kdriver]

I was looking up the key stroke combination for saving a scenery object layout. For some reason, after a lengthy sabatical from CFS2, I just can't seem to remember that particular key combo.

Hi Chris,

Here are the Global Scenery Layer Editor Keyboard Commands:

Activate GSL edit mode = Ctrl + Alt + Shift + G
Save GSL = Ctrl + Alt + S
Load a layout file = Ctrl + L
Save layout file. = Ctrl + E

Notes:
1: By default once you save the GSL it’s automatically added to the default CFS2.gsl file.
2: Once added to the gsl the scenery can only be removed by removing the .gob file.
You can save a master copy of your work in .mis or .lay format.

Cheers,
Kevin

 

[MaskRider]

Thanks for the memory refresher Kevin. One small correction. Pretty sure "Save Layout" command is ctrl+w.

Cheers,
Chris

 

[No Dice]

Yes, Save layout is Ctrl+W

 

[rhumbaflappy]

I've attached a zipped file to correct the .hlp file issue. It should work for windows 7, 8, 10. Run the install.cmd as administrator ( right-click to choose ). Works for me.

Dick

 

[No Dice]

Thank God for rhumbaflappy,
(Dick... what does your nickname mean by the way ? )
One could only wish to be half as intelligent as you sir.

You have always taken our hobby and found a way to expand it.
Thank you sir,

Dave

 

[MaskRider]

I've attached a zipped file to correct the .hlp file issue. It should work for windows 7, 8, 10. Run the install.cmd as administrator ( right-click to choose ). Works for me.

Dick

Thanks Dick. I've downloaded it but haven't yet installed it. Here's why.

When I saved it, I saved it to a folder in my Downloads folder named Windows Stuff.

When I went to save it, there was already a sub-folder present named "Help file utility for legacy applications" and inside it an old windows update file, Windows8-RT-KB917607-x64.msu (898 kb, 1/25/2013). Ever hear of it? Shall I try installing it a see what happens? If I decide to give it a shot, do I simply double click on it to install it?

Or should I just go with your winhlp32-windows-10-x86-x64.zip and forget about this MS version?

Cheers,
Chris

PS Went ahead and installed yours. It did the trick very nicely! It also restored the help function on my very legacy install of Adobe PageMaker.

Decided against messing with the MS legacy help update. Didn't want to take a chance of ending up with Windows10 automatically and involuntarily installed on my computer along with it!

Best regards,
Chris

 

[MaskRider]

msinet.ocx error when try to run FSMetar

Latest glitch:

When I try to start FSMetar I get the following error message:

Has anyone else experienced this issue?

The FAQ files has the following note:

Q. An msinet.ocx error occurs when i run FSMetar

A. download msinet.cab from http://activex.microsoft.com/controls/vb6/msinet.cab

Install File and run FSMetar

I tried this (although not from the link provided in the FAQ) and still no joy.

Haven't yet tried tried Active Sky.

I use to run ActiveSky and FSMetar routinely on my WindowsXP rig. No issues. They both worked flawlessly.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Chris

 

[bearcat241]

Try this Chris:

Extract the MSINET.OCX file to your windows/system32 folder (and SysWOW64 if you're running a 64-bit OS). Right click it and select the Register option. That should put the file on the system registry for acknowledgement.

 

[MaskRider]

Hi Bearcat!

Well, I didn't extract it to the SysWOW64. I just dragged and dropped it, after giving myself permission to do so. However, when I right clicked on it I did not see any "Register" option in the context menu.

The main file that this smaller file comes out of is named Vs6sp6B.exe.

When you double click it a whole bunch of other files get extracted into the folder it was downloaded to.

One of the files that gets extracted is named msinet.cab

msinet.cab contains two files:

MSINET.INF
MSINET.OCX
​

I copied all three files: the cab, the inf and the ocx file over to SysWOW64 folder and right clicked on each. None showed a "Register" option.

Right clicking the inf file shows "Install" as a context menu choice.

Opening the inf file in notepad looks like this:

; INF file for MSINET.ocx

[DefaultInstall]
CopyFiles=install.files
RegisterOCXs=RegisterFiles

[DestinationDirs]
install.files=11

[install.files]
MSINET.OCX=MSINET.OCX

[RegisterFiles]
%11%\MSINET.OCX

[MSINET.OCX]
file-win32-x86=thiscab
RegisterServer=Yes
FileVersion=6,1,97,82

[version]
signature="$CHICAGO$"
AdvancedINF=2.0

[SourceDisksNames]
1="default",,1

I am wondering if I should choose that "install" option in the inf context menu and see what happens.

What do you think?

Thanks,
Chris

 

[bearcat241]

Well, i don't know why you didn't get the option to register, other than the fact that i experimented within WinXP and haven't tried it within my Win7 install yet. I was under the impression that you had already tried the "install" option on the INF file with no joy. The INF file has a register command embedded within, but if you choose this again, afterwards you can manually register for good measure.

To register a comm .dll or .ocx on Windows 7 32-bit, do the following:

• Copy .dll or .ocx to c:\windows\system32 (and SysWOW64 if you're running a 64-bit OS)
• Type cmd in Run menu, it will search cmd.exe , right click and click Run as Administrator.
• It will show a prompt at c:\windows\system32.
• Type regsvr32 ocxname.ocx to register .ocx. or.