FSX:SE Crashing on Certain Tasks [SOLVED]

[BillNyedaGUY]

Hi! Sorry if this issue has been solved in the past. Anyways, I am having issues with Flight Simulator X: Steam Edition on the game launcher side. I can start it up from Steam and the home page loads just fine. If I click the free flight menu, the aircraft preview screen stays black and then the game stops responding. If I click the missions tab, it loads perfectly. When I click "Fly Now", the game shows the loading screen but no loading bar and the game crashes again. I have to close it from task manager then. My game has no add-ons installed and I have re-installed the game multiple times. Running Windows 10 Pro 64-bit. The system is an Intel Core i5-8600K with 8GB DDR4-2133 paired with a GTX 1060 6GB. Thank you for helping out!

Edit: The conflict was solved!

Originally posted by EngineeringTechPro:

Solved the issue! I deleted the FSX folder from C:\Users\[username]\Appdata\Roaming\Microsoft. Then, I went to steamapps\common\FSX\fsx.exe and right-clicked "Properties". After that, I clicked the compatibility tab and chose Windows 7 as the compatibility OS. Windows XP SP3 might work if Windows 7 does not. I started FSX and the launcher showed the preview and didn't crash! I was able to change the compatibility OS back to Windows 10 but I think if I reset the FSX folder again in Appdata\Roaming\Microsoft then, the launcher would crash again. Anyways, thank you to everyone who helped out and looked into the issue. All help was appreciated.

[pirateinparadise]

I have the same CPU and GPU. I'm using the nVidia 388.71 driver. Did it ever work properly? When you installed FSX, did you run the vcredist and DirectX installers from the C:\Steam\steamapps\common\FSX\_CommonRedist\ folder and the msxml.msi from the C:\Steam\steamapps\common\FSX\Installers\ folder?

[BillNyedaGUY]

Originally posted by pirateinparadise:

I have the same CPU and GPU. I'm using the nVidia 388.71 driver. Did it ever work properly? When you installed FSX, did you run the vcredist and DirectX installers from the C:\Steam\steamapps\common\FSX\_CommonRedist\ folder and the msxml.msi from the C:\Steam\steamapps\common\FSX\Installers\ folder?

It did work properly but for only a few hours after I downloaded it. I use Geforce Experience to update drivers and I am on version 390.77. I used to use the box edition a few years ago. I thought of purchasing the steam edition and I eventually did. I played for a few hours before this issue came up. I did run both DirectX and vcredist installers from that exact folder. I also ran the msxml.msi from the Installers folder. Nothing really helped. I had tried to remove all FSX files from my computer from the ProgramData, appdata (Local and Roaming), the documents folder, and the steamapps folder. I reinstalled FSX after that but it did not help either. I am still looking for a fix. I will try to rollback drivers to see if that caused problems. I also contacted Dovetail Support and I am waiting for a response.

[BillNyedaGUY]

Originally posted by ianmcgregor10:

Did you follow these instructions?

https://dovetailgames.kayako.com/knowledgebase/article/View/78/0/how-do-i-reinstall-microsoft-flight-simulator-x-steam-edition

Immediately after you re-install run the Game File Verification utility.

Yes those are the exact instructions I followed. Thank you for looking into the issue!

[BillNyedaGUY]

Ok, I attempted to rollback the NVIDIA drivers from 390.77 to 388.71. The driver rollback stopped the FSX launcher from crashing at the free flight screen but for only a few seconds before it stopped responding. The same problems came back. Still looking for a fix.

[BillNyedaGUY]

Yes, the game is running as an admin but I still did the compatibility option. Didn't fix anything. Still looking for a fix. Thank you for looking into the issue!

[BillNyedaGUY]

Originally posted by ianmcgregor10:

What are you using as AV? Can you run something equivalent to Norton Power Erazer which is a deep scan?

Empty all temp folders and clear the Steam download cache, the Steam browser cache and all cookies as they can cause these problems as it says in the settings.

I have cleared the download cache before and reinstalled the game. I also tried to do the browser cache and cookies. Doesn't help. I am using plain Windows Defender for anti-virus and I have scanned the computer with a full scan. No issues there. Thank you for looking into the issue!

[Morag]

Originally posted by EngineeringTechPro:

Ok, I attempted to rollback the NVIDIA drivers from 390.77 to 388.71. The driver rollback stopped the FSX launcher from crashing at the free flight screen but for only a few seconds before it stopped responding. The same problems came back. Still looking for a fix.

during those few seconds when the free flight screen didn't crash did the 3D model of the aircraft appear in the preview window?

Like, the missions tab didn't crash but as soon as you ask FSX to render anything like the preview window on the free flight screen or by trying to start a flight then it's crashing.

Can you get into the video settings in game?

[BillNyedaGUY]

Originally posted by Morag:

Originally posted by EngineeringTechPro:

Ok, I attempted to rollback the NVIDIA drivers from 390.77 to 388.71. The driver rollback stopped the FSX launcher from crashing at the free flight screen but for only a few seconds before it stopped responding. The same problems came back. Still looking for a fix.

during those few seconds when the free flight screen didn't crash did the 3D model of the aircraft appear in the preview window?

Like, the missions tab didn't crash but as soon as you ask FSX to render anything like the preview window on the free flight screen or by trying to start a flight then it's crashing.

Can you get into the video settings in game?

Thank you for looking into the issue. After the rollback, only once did the game not crash at the free flight screen. The preview did not show at all but the launcher was working until a few seconds before failing. The mission and multiplayer tabs don't crash until I start a mission or start the simulation on multiplayer. The video settings do open. I did try clicking DirectX 10 but that just stops the launcher from starting all together. Once again, thanks for looking into the issue.

[BillNyedaGUY]

Originally posted by ianmcgregor10:

I would just say that Windows Defender is not really good enough. Maybe try an on-line scan. House Call? Bit Defender?

I don't really think it is a system security issue. The computer is only 2 months old and I do not open malicious sites, emails, etc. Windows Defender is updated daily by Microsoft with definitions leading it to be a decent anti-virus software. Anyways, there would be other signs if there actually was a virus or some sort of spyware. Thank you for looking into the issue!

[BillNyedaGUY]

Originally posted by ianmcgregor10:

Don't use DX10 or check the preview box. I am on DX 11 and so should you be.

Press the Windows key + R and type dxdiag.exe and check the DX version.

BTW I use WinOptimiser 15 and, just today, it reported 228 instances where Microsoft report.wer files showed that steamwebhelper.e had crashed.

This is the very first time that this has happened.

See what error reports Windows is reporting on your system.

Might just help.

I ran dxdiag.exe and it stated that I am on DirectX 12. It might show DirectX 11 on your system as your graphics card might be an older model (GTX 970, GTX 780, etc.) as it isn't completely software based. Steamwebhelper.exe usually crashes because of software conflicts and a reinstall may help. I will try and use WinOptimiser. Thank you for looking into the issue!

[BillNyedaGUY]

Originally posted by ianmcgregor10:

Don't use DX10 or check the preview box. I am on DX 11 and so should you be.

Press the Windows key + R and type dxdiag.exe and check the DX version.

BTW I use WinOptimiser 15 and, just today, it reported 228 instances where Microsoft report.wer files showed that steamwebhelper.e had crashed.

This is the very first time that this has happened.

See what error reports Windows is reporting on your system.

Might just help.

I ran a full scan using WinOptimiser and cleared some registry entries and browser cache. It did not say anything else and the FSX problem persists. Looking for a fix still. Thank you for looking into the issue!

[BillNyedaGUY]

Originally posted by ianmcgregor10:

I also use MalwareBytes to remove PUPs which caused a problem a while back.

You can try that for free as well.

The problem with FSX seems like a conflict between FSX and Windows 10, DirectX, and/or my GPU. I don't really think it is a security issue but thanks for suggesting. Also, thank you for looking into the issue!

[BillNyedaGUY]

Originally posted by ianmcgregor10:

I have had FSX running on Win 7 and Win 10 with no probems but I uninstalled a lot of junk [5GB] from Win 10 before it was really useable.

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-uninstall-remove-restore-built-apps-windows-10

I uninstalled everything on this list and disabled Cortana in Edge.

I do use some built-in apps but deleted the ones I don't. Doesn't seem to help the issue. I never enabled Cortana and use Spybot Anti-Beacon which disabled Cortana along with Microsoft Telemetry Services. Thank you for looking into the issue!

[BillNyedaGUY]

Solved the issue! I deleted the FSX folder from C:\Users\[username]\Appdata\Roaming\Microsoft. Then, I went to steamapps\common\FSX\fsx.exe and right-clicked "Properties". After that, I clicked the compatibility tab and chose Windows 7 as the compatibility OS. Windows XP SP3 might work if Windows 7 does not. I started FSX and the launcher showed the preview and didn't crash! I was able to change the compatibility OS back to Windows 10 but I think if I reset the FSX folder again in Appdata\Roaming\Microsoft then, the launcher would crash again. Anyways, thank you to everyone who helped out and looked into the issue. All help was appreciated.