Dorset Coast v3 activity problems

[cambrian06]

Hi energize,
Just to clarify are you using XP or Vista?.
I'm not convinced that this is a lack of memory, I run Dorset Coast and Thames Mersey quite succsessfully on 1 gig RAM (onXP) without turning off any background functions. As you have 2 gig I would have thought you would be OK even on Vista.
The points at which you crash out don't seem to be particulary "busy" areas, I've just tried a couple of the activities and I didn't even get a dip in frame rates at those points.
Can I suggest you try one of the problem activities with the sounds set to minimum and see what happens.
Regards,
Andy.

[bharrison]

Laurie

My response to your Question Is in the Vista Forum

Under Dorset coast activity Problems Under Vista.

Thanks

[thenudehamster]

Ben,
A simple analysis of PC specs will not always give a reasonable idea of how well MSTS will run on that machine. Mine is similar to yours in memory and graphics, but has a Core2Duo processor, which may well make it handle things better than your apparent single chip CPU, but it's not guaranteed. What I can do is have tasks running in the background while MST is running in the foreground, because it only uses one CPU. If yours is a single chip CPU then you won't be able to. I used to run DC on a 1.6GHz single chip machine with 1Gig of Ram and on-board graphics under XP, but my current 1.8GHz Core2Duo with 2Gig RAM and an 8500GT struggles under Vista on occasion.

Much depends, as others have said, on what background tasks you may have running - and I can't turn this into a treatise on how to set up a 'stripped down' installation as I'm not sure I know. Dorset Coast is on of the most demanding routes ever produced for MSTS, but even a supposed 'top-of-the-range' PC may have trouble with it. All you can do is minimise the problem. One thing to try is to disconnect your PC from any network and disable all networking software, anti-virus, and other security measures - Vista will complain but if you have no network adapters enabled, nothing can come to harm. Just remember to re-enable everything before reconnecting to the network.

Use Trainstore to load only one activity on the route at a time.
Use the 'recommended' settings as a maximum settings level until you're sure it's OK, and be prepared to reduce them further if necessary.

[cambrian06]

Hi Ben,
I've just noticed in your earlier post you state that you are on "version 4". Have you installed the route from the disc (version 3) then downloaded the upgrade to version 4? If so was the route working OK as version 3?
When routes are upgraded to a new version activities written for an ealier version may not work.
Regards,
Andy.

[bharrison]

I've moved my issues to the Vista furom As I use vista not Xp. But i'm removing the route and starting again.

Thanks

[Easilyconfused]

Since there is now a thread in the Vista forum about this http://forums.uktrainsim.com/viewtopic. ... 73&t=92993 I will lock this thread and anybody wishing to help on the other thread can do so in the Vista forum.