OK, this is ridiculous

[abcd]

I can't believe that a new user is expecte to wade through the amount of (generally well intentioned, but conflicting) advise on this forum to get this software working. Can the makers not just get it right? I am not familiar with this language of comm ports and DLL files and am giving up hope of working out how to get this thing going.

I have some basic questions:

1) am I supposed to be loading FMSalpha83 of FMSbeta70? How am I supposed to know?

2) I loaded FMSbeta70, copied the update files into the Model folder. Did the fix to make it Vista compatible (downloading the Version 2 Beta 7 version from the internet and getting the D3DRM.DLL file and extracting it into the system32 folder).

3) I fire it up, and it looks terrible. I hear a plane and see a fuzzy landscape backdrop. Nothing works. What am I doing wrong?

[Blayd]

Yep, piss poor. But hey, what do you expect for free? ( no excuse for poor programming..sorry) problem is.. the latest version of this program, is old. Trying to run this on Vista and 7 isnt out of the question, but runs badly. Especially the graphics. This should get you flying...assuming your past the point of having to deal with all the other bullsh*t just to get it to run in windows.....when its open, go to Graphics, uncheck Fog, Smoothing, and Texture. This will give you an untextured terrain, but at least you should be able to fly. Everytime I try to turn on the textures, I get either a white screen, or a flashing white screen. I'm running a very new video card and so far, I havent figured out how to get the nice textures to work. If you look at alot of the posts on here.. alot are from like 2008, 2005..
I'll use it for now.. but I can say this... FMS has probably boosted the sales of the more up to date sims by alot.. seeing as this one is being given out alot so that companies can charge 20 bucks for the controller with crap software you have to be a programmer just to get working, then most will go looking for something they can use the controller with.. and pay the money for something that not only loads, works and looks gorgious, but is smooth, and actually helps you learn something. Hope I helped ya....

[Steve Lewin]

Or putting it another way: it was developed for FREE, some considerable time ago and the developers stopped working on it. Since then Microsoft keeps changing Windows to make it more and more incompatible so THEY can sell new versions of their programs because their old ones stop working.

For years ordinary FMS users have been trying to help people get this old software running on the newer operating systems because there still isn't a better FREE simulator available. It's not easy to do and of course they don't get any praise or thanks just moans because they can't provide free and instant solutions to every problem anyone ever sees.

You should load FMS 2 Alpha 8.5, the latest version. It is by far the best. But to be honest you're right, Microsoft have now messed Windows up so much that getting this old free software working on their latest versions is really tricky for someone with little or no understanding of computers. Sorry !

Steve

[abcd]

Thanks Blayd. I have moved a step forward - can see the plane and the basic landscape. I don't seem to be able to control it using the joystick (Dynam 6ch) despite having followed the (FMS-quality) instructions for calibration. To be honest, I'd happily buy another simulator if there is one we can use to learn to use fly using our joystick. Can you recommend any?

[abcd]

and thanks Steve

[ggunners]

Please use FMS 2 alpha 8.5.

Make sure you calibrate your controller in Windows Control Planel first.

Then assign channels to stick movements in FMS next.

It is best to find a PC tech friend to get FMS running.

If that does not work for you, try RC DeskPilot for free. The flight physics are OK and getting better but not quite as good as FMS right now. It does work with WinVista and Win7.

You might also try ClearView. It costs about $40, works with the FMS type controller and works with the newer operating systems.

Happy Flying! -- ggunners

[KEW]

Hi Cyberwave,

You are entitled to your opinion, but by your language, you are certainly not a gentleman!

I have been using FMS since the mid nineties, and I have had to jump through a few hoops to get it running on the newer operating systems, but I still get many hours of pleasure and satisfaction from the program.

Your loss, I guess.

KEW