Flight Sim 2004 only gives black screen

[HardwareLust]

I recently replaced my GF4ti 4600 with an ATI Radeon 9800 Pro. Now, when I
try to start FS2004, all I get is a cursor on a black screen. I can start
the game in 'safe mode' and that works. DXDiag passes all tests, and all my
other DX8 and 9 games work perfectly.

I have uninstalled and reinstalled the game with the same results. I have
deleted the FS9.cfg file as suggested in the knowledge base, but again the
same results.

Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[Paul Smith]

I recently replaced my GF4ti 4600 with an ATI Radeon 9800 Pro. Now, when I
try to start FS2004, all I get is a cursor on a black screen. I can start
the game in 'safe mode' and that works. DXDiag passes all tests, and all my
other DX8 and 9 games work perfectly.

I have uninstalled and reinstalled the game with the same results. I have
deleted the FS9.cfg file as suggested in the knowledge base, but again the
same results.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Tried running Detonator RIP on your machine, I'd guess there are remains of
old nasty nVidia drivers around...

http://content.guru3d.com/index.php?page=detonatorrip&menu=0 you'll need the
..NET Framework (from Windows Update, if you don't already have it).

--
Paul Smith,
Yeovil, UK.
http://windows.dasmirnov.net/ Windows XP Resource Site.
http://www.smirnov.demon.co.uk/
http://www.doom3portal.com/ A Doom 3 fansite.

*Replace nospam with smirnov to reply by e-mail*

 

[HardwareLust]

Tried running Detonator RIP on your machine, I'd guess there are
remains of old nasty nVidia drivers around...

http://content.guru3d.com/index.php?page=detonatorrip&menu=0 you'll
need the .NET Framework (from Windows Update, if you don't already
have it).

I used DriverCleaner2 prior to installing the new Catalyst's, so I don't
think that's a problem. I do appreciate the suggestion, though I really
don't see how this could be the problem to begin with, if all my other DX8/9
games work properly.

Or, is FS2004 that different from every other game??

 

[Paul Smith]

I used DriverCleaner2 prior to installing the new Catalyst's, so I don't
think that's a problem. I do appreciate the suggestion, though I really
don't see how this could be the problem to begin with, if all my other DX8/9
games work properly.

It does happen.

Or, is FS2004 that different from every other game??

Yes all games are different to each other.

Have you tried using the "reset defaults" option?

Did you reboot in-between uninstalling and reinstalling?

Have you tried testing to see if it runs under a different user?

--
Paul Smith,
Yeovil, UK.
http://windows.dasmirnov.net/ Windows XP Resource Site.
http://www.smirnov.demon.co.uk/
http://www.doom3portal.com/ A Doom 3 fansite.

*Replace nospam with smirnov to reply by e-mail*

 

[HardwareLust]

It does happen.

Certainly, it does.

Yes all games are different to each other.

True to some extent, but it's still just another DX9-based game when it
comes down to it.

Have you tried using the "reset defaults" option?

Yes. That was the first thing I tried, right out of the MS Knowledge Base.

Did you reboot in-between uninstalling and reinstalling?

Of course.

Have you tried testing to see if it runs under a different user?

No. I only have one user, have always only had one user, so I fell that's a
fairly pointless exercise.

Anyway, the problem turned out to be the new Catalyst 4.4 drivers. I
removed them and installed the Catalyst 4.3's, problem solved. Works like a
champ now, plus a big jump in frame rate thanks to the new card.

I do appreciate all of your suggestions. Thank you.

Regards,
H.

 

[Ed Forsythe]

Hi H.
FWIW, I'm running FS9 with a 9800 Pro and Cat 4.4. Did you
uninstall/reinstall FS9 after you installed the 9800 Pro? If not, that was
probably the problem. Have fun - the 9800 Pro is a great card.

 

[HardwareLust]

Hi H.
FWIW, I'm running FS9 with a 9800 Pro and Cat 4.4. Did you
uninstall/reinstall FS9 after you installed the 9800 Pro? If not,
that was probably the problem. Have fun - the 9800 Pro is a great
card.

Yes, that was the second thing I did. After I tried deleting FS9.cfg, the
next thing I did was uninstall FS2004 and reinstall. Same result.

It's not that big a deal I don't think. Did you notice any performance gain
going from 4.3 to 4.4?

 

[Ed Forsythe]

Nope - I upgraded because I read good things about 4.4 and because I'm
insane <BG>.