Windows XP and Rail sim

[bharrison]

Does anyone know of any problems or program conflictions between windows XP and rail sim?

The reason I'm asking Is my pc is having problems and crashes at least 1 upon start up. And sometimes in games. Can railsim cauese this?

Ben

[M1ckran]

I use Windows XP with SP2 and subsequent updates. I've not installed SP3 because I've been advised, by people in the know, that it slows the system by installing all the DRM restrictions that Vista includes. I only have two "games":Train Sim and Rail Sim.

I have no problems under normal use but, occasionaly, I have managed to lock-up my PC in the editor. That was probably my fault; I think you need to allow RailSim to catch up before clicking on too many bits and pieces.

Run chkdsk /f from a dosbox to fix any filesystem errors and, when all errors are fixed, try defragging your drive.

If other games also cause problems on your computer, I think it's likely to be either a hardware problem or a driver problem. You could check the make and model of your graphics card and hard drive controller, and look on the manufacturers' websites for driver updates.

Hope you sort it.

[Basherz]

I would have said that XP (SP2) is as steady as a rock. Beware SP3 though - this is a kiler and totally useless to the average user.

Chris

[GaryG]

SP3 is still allowing me to run MSTS (and RailSim) as well as they did with XP SP2...

GaryG

[Basherz]

SP3 is still allowing me to run MSTS (and RailSim) as well as they did with XP SP2...

GaryG

Hardly worth installing unless you are networking Media Centre Edition to a Windows 2008 Server!!

Finally, here comes XP Service Pack 3

By Susan Bradley

On the heels of Vista Service Pack 1 comes the update that far more Windows users have been anticipating.

Unfortunately, XP Service Pack 3 is an unremarkable update for everyone except network admins, who will appreciate the additional control over wired and wireless connections offered by SP3's Network Access Protection.

Installs made easy, networks kept safe

After three and a half long years of waiting, XP Service Pack 3 will be available for download via Microsoft Update next week. That's good news for anyone who installs Windows XP on new PCs; you won't have to load separately the dozens of patches that were required in the past.

In my testing, XP SP3 is a stable — in fact, quite boring — update, with just one noteworthy advance. For organizations running the Network Policy Server on Windows Server 2008, the new Network Access Protection client lets them quarantine Vista and XP workstations. Microsoft's Network Access Protection blog has many posts regarding this technology's ability to add workstation health checks to your network.

One issue relating to XP SP3 that I'm still investigating involves the Media Center Edition of Windows XP. Because Windows Media Center Edition (MCE) was not designed to be used on a network, that version of the OS could be installed only in a workgroup, not in a domain.

Among the small businesses I work with, owners often bought the MCE version of XP without realizing that it couldn't be used in a domain. There's an unsupported way to add PCs running MCE to a domain, however. It's called the "banana hack," and I first blogged about it in late 2005.

When I test domain-resident MCE systems with XP SP3 installed, though, the machines lose their network connectivity. At this time, it's uncertain whether the banana hack will be updated to allow PCs running MCE (and patched with SP3) to join a domain.

In fairness, the hack is not endorsed by Microsoft, so those who rely on it have only themselves to blame for their predicament. Still, it's an honest mistake, since it isn't obvious that MCE can't be installed on domains. The good news is that Vista Ultimate includes all MCE features and does support domains.

[Retro]

SP3 is still allowing me to run MSTS (and RailSim) as well as they did with XP SP2...

GaryG

Likewise no problems with SP3
Regards James.

[bharrison]

As far as I'm aware The windows XP I use is downloaded as It costs £167.00 to buy it. Which is rather expensive. I ain't sure what /if any SP it has.

[M1ckran]

It could just be that you need to click the windows update icon to install the current patches, which could take some time if you're using a pre-SP1 system. I think you certainly need to try this.

When you say "downloaded", do you mean you have an unregistered copy? If so, you won't be able to download all of the updates you might need from Microsoft's update site. I've seen XP Home addition advertised ay £56.

Michael

As far as I'm aware The windows XP I use is downloaded as It costs £167.00 to buy it. Which is rather expensive. I ain't sure what /if any SP it has.

[bharrison]

I've been told that the battery on the mother board may need to be raplaced, which gives the computer the power to keep your settings when the pc is switched off. As it no longer holds charge anymore.

Ben