FS2004/FS9 doesn't start anymore ... ???

Jorge

Jorge

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Good morning, everyone.

Just wondering if anyone has had this issue with FS9 in the last day or so. I started having this problem after the latest "update" by Windows (which I don't have any control over anymore for the last few months, by the way).

Basically, I try to start ANY version of FS9 (GW3, PW, Modern, Classic, or Master Copy) and it goest to the splash screen. After a few seconds it disappears and nothing else happens.

When I check the Events, it always says it's the "fs9.exe" and the "panels.dll" files that are faulting. With the GW3 installation, it's the "FSGW.exe" which is the only one that I named different for testing purposes.

As for the Windows stuff, it's been preventing me from saying "no" to updates for a few months now. It seems that UNLESS the updates are, well, up to date, I can't run my computer.

It's been like that ever since I started getting the "Windows 10 end of life" stuff from M$. You either agree or you have to turn off the computer -- which is what I've been doing.

When I restart to try and pick up where I left off, it installs everything anyway, and you have no control of what gets installed.

All the other "older" software seems to work fine for now, but -- then again -- they don't have all the module stuff that FS9 has and don't deal with any ".net" stuff. I haven't had a chance to re-install the ".net" stuff since I'm not sure that would help, hence the post.

Nothing in the Defender Scan either, so nothing with viruses that I can tell. That was the first thing I was thinking.

I've tried rebuilding the fs9.cfg and that doesn't help either. It just rebuilds then CTD again after the splash screen.

Any ideas would be great, because I'm now out of ideas. I've been wanting to re-install PW again for a "fresh" install to start from. I also wanted to update the install PDF, but this is now affecting ALL the installations of FS9, so I'm not sure that would be a solution -- especially since I don't have that much time on my hands anymore.

A full re-install of ANY version would take the better part of a day, and that's just too much time for me to dedicate due to family and other obligations.

Thanks ahead of time for any advise. Hopefully this doesn't mean I'm out of a hobby all of a sudden. :(

Saludos,

Jorge
Miami, FL

PS: I just did some testing which I hadn't thought of. Non-M$ software doesn't seem to be affected, just their propietary software since it appears that the older copy of MS Office I had which was from 2003 or so doesn't work anymore either. Thankfully I have OpenOffice (LibreOffice), so I can still write and make spreadsheets. Hope this helps to shed some light.
 
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Jorge, I feel for you..
I'm not sure what to suggest, I'm sure you have tried them all..
I'm on Windows 11 with the latest 24H2 update & have no issues.
Just to recap..
Your installs are NOT in the default C:\Program Files directory?
You have done the 9.1 update & 9.1 patch?
Running in XP compatibility & as Administrator?.

Rename & backup the panels.dll then try running FS9
Try changing your GW3.exe to FS9.exe & run that.
Maybe do a completely fresh install (not on C:\) & see if that works. (dont forget to do the Compatibility & Admin & updates)
If that new install works, then you can copy & paste your other install into it!
First copy over Modules, then run the new install to see if that works, then copy over the other stuff.

Those are the alternatives that I can think of.
Apart from that, no other idea.
 
I've been longing for the day that Microsoft would stop supporting Win10 and there'll be no more updates to scramble my settings or break any software. But so far I've gritted my teeth and accepted the proffered updates and while a few of them have found little ways to annoy me, none of them have affected any of my FS9 installs.
 
zswobbie1 said:
Maybe do a completely fresh install (not on C:\) & see if that works. (dont forget to do the Compatibility & Admin & updates)
Click to expand...
Or at least a very basic and default version. It always helps to have a virgin FS anyway.

Bernard
 
Thanks for all the advise from everyone!

Well, found the issue. It's the newest "updates" for Windows Defender. They won't let any of the older stuff work anymore. Go figure.

I realized it had to be something with the updates in one way or another, because it turns out everything went nuts after the latest updates from last night.

After I turned off Defender everything went back to normal. Now I'm only turning the thing on when I need to use it, which is basically getting online.

I've been using Webroot on my other computers. I'm debating whether to try and add this computer to the account or just try something else, but I'm DEFINATELY getting away from Defender as soon as humanly possible.

Does anyone know if this is a definition thing or a "newer" Defender program thing? It may be a while before I can change this one over -- if I even can since it's almost as old as my laptop and the older computer this thing replaced for daily work.

Saludos,

Jorge
Miami, FL
 
Strange. FS04 and Word 03 are working fine for me. Maybe I'm not effected as both are installed on the slave/aux HDD as I don't install anything to my main small SSD.

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Jorge; Head over to YouTube and search for stuff like Defender and Win10. I'm guessing you'll need to change a setting in Win10?? :dizzy:

I'm with Mick on this topic, I'm actually looking forward to no more Win10 updates. :ernaehrung004:
 
1st thing I did way back when was set my internet to a metered connection as Windows won't update when on a metered connection unless I tell it to (It hasn't had an Windows up date since 2019). The downside was that Windows Defender also wouldn't update but using Task Scheduler to make it update every day using "C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\MpCmdRun.exe" -SignatureUpdate fixed that.
 
Allan,

Mine looks a little different than yours. I have several more options on that page, but not sure why.

At least I was able to get things sorted out for now, so that's good.

Now hoping the next update doesn't mess things up again and makes me have to go through all this again!

Jorge
Miami, FL
 
Right on time, I'm getting a failure message after a Win10 (64 bit) update. :pop4:
My message pointed to a prog named Cimmani.exe which sounds a LOT like malware, however after some searching its actually an updater prog for AMD graphics cards. I run a really old passive cooled (no fan) AMD GPU and there haven't been any updates for several years. :indecisiveness:
Its also related to use by network connected PC's and the only thing I network to is my keyboard and track ball. :wiggle:

So, after I found the EXE and its control files, I was able to flush all of them down the recycle bin. Many restarts later and I'm not seeing any problems or failure alerts. :wiggle:

The moral of this story- ALWAYS check first before you start to bin dodgy files. :ernaehrung004:
 
Good evening friends,
there are moments where I believe that to continue with my old pc with Win XP is not the badest choice (lol I have no other options)
to run our loved FS2004 and all the works around this sim
In my dreams I think about a pc with all the options possible with win XP and only connected to the net for online flights (I think the last one I did was in 2008 aprox) and to fly with real weather.
For all the other things just a simple laptop and when I download stuff for FS2004 on this one, I transfer it to the "FS2004/XP" pc via a stick.
So no problems with updates or other disturbing things
Reading about this topic shows me again what a fine community is here - so much help - that makes me fell as at to be at home here
Best Regards
Michael
 
Michael, Us FS9'ers always stick together, through re-install & re-install.
We all have our battle wounds & medals dealing with Microsoft & simming! :medals:

Sometimes we just want to dump the PC :toilet_claw:, other time we feel like :banghead:

But then, after all the :redfire: we do this to the PC :a1310: & we start again..:monkies:
 
And I'm running my sims from a 2TB portable USB drive. I cross my fingers when I start up the sim.
 
Good evening friends
yes Robin a lot of us can say to be veterans of FS2004 - and longer.
I just looked at flightsim.com, my first panel published was for the Junkers Ju-188 for FS98,
published 20 february 1998.
It' s a longway from - - -
LOL LOL
It is too passionate - and you are not alone. There are still friends who "battle" with you
Good evening
Yours
Michael
 
Oh Robin,
you said the things just as they are - I cannot do better.
Yes yes yes and a lot of LOL
Best Regards
Yours
Michael
 
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