FS 9 Crashes!!!!!!!!!

[mounty]

Hi,

Have a real serious problem - not sure what it is related to so here's a quick rundown.

Basic setup is A8N-E mobo, EVGNvidia 7800 GT, Igb RAM, 240 HD, Windows XP - all less than 18 months old - no problems with other software etc.

Having been using the same set-up for the past year - no problems. Running FS2004, PMDG Series, Ground Env Pro, Active Sky and a few airports with AES. Fly the PMDG 800 99% of the time.

A couple of weeks ago FS crashed - normal flight then the screen froze, went black and the sound started to stutter. Reloaded and the same thing happened again at a different place in the flight. Tried several times but same thing happened at different stages of flight - nothing that I could identify as a "trigger"

Have uninstalled and re-installed everything 3 times and still get the same problem. This last time I checked it out, loaded up a 172 and flew it in a circuit without a problem, then loaded the PMDG 800 and lo and behold, the damn thing crashed - take off ok, climb ok, had just turned base leg and screen froze, then went black and the sound started to stutter.

Only thing I haven't looked at is the graphics card although all the latest drivers are installed and the accard is less than a year old.

Would appreciate any thoughts or advice as to a solution.

Many Thanks

Rob

[BlackWidow]

Did you recently update the drivers to your Video Card or any Drivers at all. If you did make sure you uninstalled the previous version of the dirvers. or you might want to goto the restore point and go back to the time when everything was good. If you did not have a restore point saved try unistalling the drivers you recently installed and going back to the driver version that you previously had.

Of course this is assuming you updated any of your drivers.

[mounty]

Yeah, did all that, even tried going back to a restore point before problems - no difference.

Rob

[BlackWidow]

Is there anything that you did recently to the computer like install anything even some type of sotware?

[Deesystems]

Do you have windows update setup to auto install ??

2 weeks ago,, MS did a big update and changed some core files.

Dee

[Michael Carter]

Heat!

My old system did everything you describe and I tried every fix I could think of and nothing would fix this problem.

When I moved the system out to the shop where it's cooler, I removed the side door and put a 22" box fan about a foot away from the case.

Problem fixed. And it never happened again.

[AndyT]

You beat me to it BSW.
Open it up and vaccum it out. If its really clean, you need a way bigger fan or a better cooling system for it.

[BlackWidow]

LOL that was my next train of thought HEAT

[mounty]

I have auto updates and the timing is about right. Will vacuum it out but the temp probe on the card is just under 50 and has been for a long time. Still wonder why it works ok with the 172 - any thoughts on that?

Thanks for the replies, any other ideas would be appreciated.

Rob

[AndyT]

The number 1 killer of PCs is HEAT, always has been. Its normally caused by a couple of things.

1. Dirt buildup inside the case on the components.
2. Jumbled wiring inside blocking the flow of air.
3. Wimpy cooling systems.

Think back to the day when big companies had to have special air conditioned rooms to keep the machines running. Still the same problem, just cheaper solutions. Or you could always bolt it to the front of an air con unit...