I have a pretty much similar system but with 3Gb ram and FSX works great on it.

Have you tried uninstalling it completely (including deleting the hidden config file) and reinstalling FSX ?

Also ensure you have the latest drivers for your video card. Oh .. I see you have already updated the vid card drivers. No harm in checking again though.

Good luck !

You might try going  into c drive and into program files ,then microsoft games and then flightsimulator and pick out the  second blue

flight symbol(fsx)(2681 kb) click on it and that should start flightsimulator, If you don't have an icon on the desk top use that one

Thats what i did. some times the icons do not get to the desk top

I have uninstalled and installed it several times, using 2 diefferan DVDs and 1 DVD that had a successfull install on another computer.

Interesting to note that it did not install with an icon on the desktop.

I have tried starting it in admin mode.

It starts so to speak, just quits before anything happens.

Thanks,

Kent

Did you try what I mentioned in my notes???

Bob Moyer

I have a pretty much similar system but with 3Gb ram and FSX works great on it. Have you tried uninstalling it completely (including deleting the hidden config file) and reinstalling FSX ? Also ensure you have the latest drivers for your video card. Oh .. I see you have already updated the vid card drivers. No harm in checking again though. Good luck !

What Video card do you have and what level is your driver?

Mine is 7-15-11.7434 dated 09/2008

Did you try what I mentioned in my notes??? Bob Moyer

Yes and more.

Does flightsimx accept the product key numbers?? You mention you install from 2 different dvd's and one dvd from another computer

microsoft has known to be touchie about product key numbers

Bob Moyer

Does flightsimx accept the product key numbers?? You mention you install from 2 different dvd's and one dvd from another computer microsoft has known to be touchie about product key numbers   Bob Moyer

No problem with validation each time I installed.

It starts to start right after validation and then quits. Meaning splash screen comes on, says it is loading scenery and data base, does a few bars of its overture and then poof, splash screen disappears, music quits and that's all there is.

Kent

I am using the same video card as you have. Drivers is the latest one on the Dell Driver download website. Can check driver details when I get home and let you know if you want.

Another thing you can try is installing the 2 updates for FSX that were released by Microsoft. Can be found at www.fsinsider.com

You have to install update 1 (SP!) first and then update 2 (SP2). You will have to instal both updates and not only the second one.

It appears that in your case there maybe another program that is conflicting with FSX. Do you have any add-on's already installed for FSX ?

Also when uninstalling FSX it is not enough to use only the add/remove option as it will not comletely remove all files. You also have to delete the FSX folder (manual delete) which is found at  C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\

And after uninstal search for all files named or that has FSX in it and delete them as well (at your risk .. lol). I would suggest leving the registry files alone if you are not sure.  Basically you want to uninstal everything related to FSX.

Worst case scenario.. and I hate to suggest this ... Is a reformat and clean instal of Vista...  Sorry.

Did you instal SP1 before installing Acceleration ?

Acceleration comes with SP2 but you need to instal SP1 before installing Acceleration.

Also just a thought. Did you have FS9 and/or previous versions on the same laptop ? If so, were they completely uninstalled before installing FSX ?