Deanklef,
Let's check this one step at a time.
1. Before installing ANYTHING, always start in Era 1 and then exit, then start the ETO Spawn Selector to 1, Stock Spawn Mode.
2. Before installing ETO 1.30, read all READMEs, especially those that start with 01 and 02.
3. Run the CFS3 ETO Expansion 1.30 Obsolete File Remover.exe, and let it do its job.
4. Now run the CFS3 ETO Expansion Update Rev 1.30.exe.
5. Run your BDP Zapper. The AvH one is not recommended, as it deletes ship *.bdp files. Aircraft, objects, weapons, and vehicles are the only *.bdp files that should be removed. Shouldn't cause a crash though, but it will mess with the drop-down (those you can land on) aircraft carriers. In lieu of using the AvH BDP Nuker, you can use the normal Windows search option on each of the four folders named above, one at a time. Takes a little longer, but it does the job safely.
6. As you have XP, make sure to follow this pathway: C:\Documents and Settings\User Name (Your Name)\Application Data\Microsoft to get to the CFS3 ETO Expansion_________ folder to delete these two files before starting ETO after installing 1.30: UnlimitedPilots.xml and ViewUI.xml.
NOTE: Only delete these two files from the CFS3 ETO Expansion_________ folder found in Application Data/Microsoft, and NOT the two files of the same name found in the CFS3 ETO Expansion main game folder found in Program Files/Microsoft Games.
7. It should be safe to start ETO now.
If there was something wrong with the download, you probably wouldn't have gotten past unzipping (extracting) the zip file. I won't rule that out completely just yet, although it looks like the download is OK so far.
I am assuming that is crashes when you click FLY. If that is when it's crashing, then look at the left side of the UI screen at the Location bar. If you see that it is empty or contains a series of lowercase letters and digits, with no spaces between them, DO NOT CLICK FLY. Make sure you have an airfield selected in the present Era you are in. You see, if you are at one airfield in one Era, and then switch Eras, the previous airfield may not exist in the new Era. You have to be very watchful on this. I used to mess this up plenty myself in the beginning.
If this is not the problem, do an ORIFs Re-Install.
Follow this pathway: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\CFS3 ETO Expansion\CFS3 ETO Expansion READMEs. Look for a file named ERA Files Restore Rev 1.30.rtf. Follow the instructions found here exactly, and remember to take your time.
Once you have deleted the twenty-four (24) folders and files called out in the ERA Files Restore Rev 1.30.rtf, look in the CFS3 ETO Expansion main game folder for an executable file named CFS3 ETO Expansion ORIFs Re-Install Rev 1.30.exe. Running this *.exe file will replace all of the files and folders you have just deleted with nice, clean new ones.
At this point, to be on the safe side, follow this pathway one more time: CFS3 ETO Expansion ORIFs Re-Install Rev 1.30.exe. Look for the file named uisel.xml in here and delete it.
Now close all Windows and restart the sim. See if this has finally fixed the problem. If it hasn't, please come back or PM me here. Hang in there and we'll get it fixed.
I hope this helps.:d
