Installing MTS

[joediesel]

Hi all, I've tried to install Microsoft Train Sim, but every time I try and use it it asks for the CD ROM before it will load ? Does anyone know what I've done wrong ? I get a little dialogue box that pops up with an error message, which tells me to insert the CD ?

Thanks....

Joe.

[jbilton]

Hi Joe
Welcome to the forums.
You haven't done anything wrong... thats normal

Try working through this tutorial

http://steam4me.railpage.org.au/trainsi ... _msts.html

Cheers
Jon

[michaelhendle]

You need the msts update which you can down load if you do a search on this site for msts update it should point you to where you can get it from,or just stick one of the discs in the CD/DVD in the drive and it will work.

Michael

[joediesel]

Hi, thank you ! I've just downloaded the MSTS update from Microsoft, I'll install that and see if it makes any difference, but from what you say, having to put a Cd in the drive is normal ? is that what you mean ? to actually use the program ?

Take care,

Joe.

[Lad491]

It is normal except on very early versions, but the update should remove the need for you to put the cd in each time.

[joediesel]

Thanks, the update has fixed the problem I no longer have to use the CD. But.....now, the audio is playing up ! When ever there is a heavy graphics load, like a complicated landscape, I get lots of clicks and pops, this is puzzling ? the only thing I can think of is that the computer is running out of processing power ? My computer is....

Pentium 4 2.8
RAM 2 Gig's.
On board graphics.
Sound blaster Live card.

Joe.

[Lad491]

The bottleneck is usually data transfer from hard disk to RAM and graphics/sound cards.
Is your hard disk an IDE or newer SATA type ?

[jbilton]

Hi Joe
I believe some of the Sound Blasters have problems.... and turning off Hardware Acceleration can help.

Cheers
Jon

[joediesel]

Thanks all, I'll try turning off hardware acceleration. I'm going to get a better sound-card, probably an external fire wire or USB interface. I didn't realise train sim's were so demanding ! I think a better graphics card wouldn't go amiss either

Joe.

[joediesel]

Hi, I thought I would try installing MSTS on my studio computer, which is much more powerful, just to see how it handled it.

Pentium Core 2 Duo 2.8
4 gig RAM
160 HD
On board graphics
M-Audio Firewire Audiophile audio interface.

No difference, actually the graphics were not so good, the audio didn't click as much, but it was still there to an annoying level.
I bought my MSTS from Amazon about 5 years ago, is it possible that it's an old edition now ? Maybe I need to get a more up to date version ? It seems to me that the graphics are the issue here, and I need to invest on a much better dedicated card, my studio computer doesn't really need that much graphics power, as it's only used for audio.
I can now understand why there are such things as dedicated "gaming computers" maybe this is the way to go ?

Joe.

[energize]

Hi, I thought I would try installing MSTS on my studio computer, which is much more powerful, just to see how it handled it.

Pentium Core 2 Duo 2.8
4 gig RAM
160 HD
On board graphics
M-Audio Firewire Audiophile audio interface.

No difference, actually the graphics were not so good, the audio didn't click as much, but it was still there to an annoying level.
I bought my MSTS from Amazon about 5 years ago, is it possible that it's an old edition now ? Maybe I need to get a more up to date version ? It seems to me that the graphics are the issue here, and I need to invest on a much better dedicated card, my studio computer doesn't really need that much graphics power, as it's only used for audio.
I can now understand why there are such things as dedicated "gaming computers" maybe this is the way to go ?

Joe.

No, you don't need to buy a more "up to date" version. Microsoft stopped supporting MSTS long ago so you won't find a more up to date version. Make sure you've installed ALL the updates for MSTS from the Microsoft website. As for your graphics problem, admittedly on-board graphics chips don't offer the same level of performance as a dedicated graphics card. The graphics for MSTS aren't great anyway, but to improve the frame rate try turning down the graphics settings in the MSTS options menu. Turning of dynamic shadows, distant mountains, and increasing the draw distance all tend to help. And no, I don't think you need a dedicated "gaming computer". If your PC has a spare PCI Express slot then you could install a new graphics card. My parents bought this PC in October 2007 for all the family and I can adequately use it for MSTS.

Hope this helps

[joediesel]

Thanks, I'll try some of the tweaks you suggested. I also tried to install BVE, but gave up ! I must admit, the world of train sim's isnt as easy as I thought it would be, also, I would have thought that lots of other other platforms would be available, but it does seem a rather specialised area. I've managed to get MSTS to run some of the routes without any trouble, maybe I'm making too much of these clicks, but audio is my trade so I'm particularly fussy about things like that !
It doesn't make sense to go and spend a fortune on a gaming machine, so I'll just persevere with what I've got. I must say, you've all been very helpful, and the advice you've all given has worked, and cured some of my problems, thanks again folks !

Joe.

[joediesel]

Just noticed "Railworks" have to give that a try !

Joe.

[energize]

Well for RailWorks you'll definitely need a graphics card, otherwise it probably won't work. RailWorks requires at a minimum a 256mb graphics card. Because it needs a 3Ghz processor you might need to buy a dual/quad core one.

[joediesel]

Well for RailWorks you'll definitely need a graphics card, otherwise it probably won't work. RailWorks requires at a minimum a 256mb graphics card. Because it needs a 3Ghz processor you might need to buy a dual/quad core one.

HA HA ! I think a new computer is on the cards, and i thought this was just going to be a "casual interest"



Joe.