Problems with the Bristol to Birmingham Route Activites

[eholly]

Hi Gentlemen

I have recently downloaded the brilliant Bristol to Birmingham route by "casperdog" from UKTrainsim. However, even after downloading ALL the called for additional files - including those shown in various stock lists within the Activities - I still cannot get a single Activity to load and then run properly!

God knows how many times I have checked all the files, but they still don't load and run properly. I am using a Dell pc with Windows 7 Professional OS. I've also experiened problems with casperdog's Somerset & Dorset Activities!

I must be thick or something - can anyone help please?

Eric

[slipperman12]

Hi Eric,
Sorry to hear you're having problems running what, in my opinion, are two of the best routes available for MSTS!
Could you give us a couple of the exact error messages you're getting - sorry to be a little pedantic, but MSTS is like that

Also, as you are running Windows 7, have a look at Vista/Windows 7 Forum where you'll find details of how to get MSTS running in that OS; note that if your Train Simulator folder is within Program Files (or Program Files (x86) if using 64 bit), then permissions must be correctly set.

Cheers,
Ged

[eholly]

Hi Ged

Many thanks for trying to help. I must admit my wife Wendy is pulling her hair out too!!!!
Here goes - error messages:-

Act002_BRISTOL_BRUMvia_Old Road
It loads - we get to look through the cab window of D&&Class45, but everything has hung, the mouse pointer is frozen and eventually we get shoved back to the desktop!

Act003_WorcsShrub_Birm_SFast
Failed to open texture file - routes\BTB\textures\MorrisJtype.ace
Failed to open shape file - routes\BTB\Shapes\Morris-Police.s
Failed to open shape file - routes\BTB\Shapes\TBa40Fna.s
(I press "Yes" to continue on all these) - then it loads the Scotsman cabview and hangs!
When it returns to desktop of its own accord and in its own time - we see another Error Message:-
Failed to open shape file - routes\BTB\Shapes\TBmmicv2.s

Those are two examples for you Ged.

Regards

Eric

[eholly]

Hi Ged

As to Windows 7 etc, all my other Routes run perfectly via Tony Formosa's Train Store.

Regards

Eric

[gswindale]

Hi Eric,

Failed to open tends to indicate that your computer is struggling a bit with resources - you can try turning some of your display settings down a notch or 2 to see if that helps.

I'm suspecting that as a new route; it is somewhat more detailed than some of the others you may have and hence the problem.

A resource issue is also a likely culprit for your other error.

I note that you are running W7, but the sim itself is 9(?) years old and has poor memory management - do you have MSTSBin installed at all as that may help?

[slipperman12]

Hi Geoffrey,
You beat me to it! Covering all the points I was about to raise, so I abandoned it

Cheers,
Ged

[eholly]

Hi to both Geoffrey and Ged

Many thanks for your swift responses, I do appreciate your help.

I have MSTSBin installed. I have turned down my Display settings by one notch from the maximum. Max is my normal setting, as this latest pc is so very powerfull and most of the Routes look marvellous. However, I will turn down the settings another notch or two, just in case ................

On ACT004_A_Summer_Saturday, there were again numerous Shape files that both failed to open and subsequently load. Here are a few from the error messages that I appear to spend my days gazing at, rather than driving the engines I love.

ukfs_c_2x5000m_2d5.s
ukfs_c_2x7000m_2d5.s
ukfs_tr_25m_5d71.s
ana so on, and so on.....................

I'll let you know if the reduction in Display settings has any positive effect.

Regards both

Eric

[eholly]

Hi Both

I've reduced quite a lot of display, both in ordinary and Advanced - likewise with Sound. I'm pleased to report that I've just left Bristol in the Class 45 heading for Worcester. The tracks look terrible, and the ride is "lumpy" at best, but hey we're moving at last!!!!!!!

I'll put a few notches back on when I've completed the Activity and we'll see how much she'll take.

Thanks guys, speak to you all later, but passengers are waiting ......................

Regards

Ericio de Rioja in North Wales

[BobLatimer]

Eric,

Are you using the memory switch to get MSTS to use more RAM?

If not, do a search of the forums for "Memory Switch" and you'll find some instructions on how to set it up.

Bob.

[eholly]

Hi Chaps

Thanks for all your help and advice.

We made it to Birmingham New Street eventually, after many "Saves" and Display adjustments. I ended up in New Street under the following settings, which I must admit reduced Clive Heard's wonderful graphics to a shambles of their marvellous quality - when driving under "Explore Mode"

Resolution - 1280x1024x32
Overall - No 2 setting between Best Performance and Best Graphics
On the Advanced Screen:-
All settings belowthe halfway point on the various scales!

From that description, you can imagine what the display looked like. Very disappointing.

Bob suggests using the "Memory Switch" but I haven't found an exact reference to how to set it up as yet? Perhaps you could point me to the actual post Bob?

I'll carry on trying to get this Route running better. Many thanks again,

Eric

[MisterWho]

Eric,
there probably are many references here on how to use the memory switch, but this link points to the tutorial I used when I first set up MSTS last year.

http://msts.steam4me.net/tutorials/xtra_mem.html

Hope it works for you,
moi

[eholly]

Hi Moi

Many thanks. I'll have a go and let you know.

Regards

Eric

[eholly]

Hi Again Chaps

I've tried to run most of the Activities on BTB, plus a few I've downloaded alongside Stock List downloading chores. By reducing most of my normal display settings to well below average, most of these trips are both successful and enjoyable. However, a file I'm trying to find for a couple of the Activities, doesn't appear to be available from the download Search facility. The file id is 25382. I think it might be a download of Derby Black 5s, as this is the error that appears when trying to open Activities with this file included.

Does anyone know the location of this file?

Thanks for all your help so far - a special mention to Tony Smedley, Ged and Moi.

Eric

[ashgray]

Hi Eric

There's an updated version of the file containing the Derby Black 5 locos, which I'd guess is why the original file you're looking for is no longer available.

Try this file:

BR Derby Black 5s [22460402 bytes] - BRDerbyBlack5s-v2.0.zip File ID: 25760 Date: 10 Nov 2011 - 1669 Downloads

Ash

[eholly]

Hi Ash

Many thanks, I'll download it straightaway.

Eric