My MSTS has gone to h*ll in a handcart . .

[rufuskins]

I have decided to relegate myself to "Help for Beginners", because I have come to the conclusion that - as Manual used to say - I know nothing!

For some reason best known to MSTS, and perhaps those who actually know what they are doing, MSTS has decided not to work! I started up as normal on my XP Laptop before work - I normally have an hour spare - decided on a Route and Activity from TrainStore and clicked on RUN. TrainStore did its thing and the first MSTS screen duly appeared but with no "bars" at the bottom, and after a short time the dreaded "Send/Dont Send" appeared. Returned to TrainStore and tried several other routes and activities, but still no joy.

Updated TSection and re-entered MSTS via TS again, sometimes got the "Send/Dont Send" and occasionally got to the next screen with the four options greyed out? Also occasionally got the "out of date, please resave in TE" message for activities, but this did not solve the problem. . Have done a number of RouteRiter checks, but no errors were shown!

Following further efforts at lunch time MSTS still refuses to co-operate, and It would appear that I will either have to reinstall everything or load up a working backup.

I am not expecting a definitive answer - probally isn't one - but could someone in the know suggest an idiot's or should I say Rufuskins', guide to error resolution; e.g. check TSection status, etc.

I am not conscious of having imported anything of any significance since it last worked, although of course as some of you may have picked up in my LBE post elsewhere, I have been trying out broken path repair for the LBE route. I am not clear how amending paths in ONE route could mess up ALL routes?

Ruf - slightly depressed but determined to get there wherever "there" is!

[roltay]

Hello,

Just one idea, have you tried a System Restore,

Other than that i "know nothing" either!!

Cheers.

[GSX1400]

The problem with laptops I find is that they remember failed states why you put them in standby or hibernate as I often do to save all that bother restarting.

I know this is an obvious question but have you done a full restart on your laptop rather than just waking it up from standby/hibernate?

[alanch]

Please don't try a System Restore - well known method to screw up MSTS even more, especially if you use Trainstore.

Have you tried unstoring and then storing everything in Classic Trainstore, before trying an explore on one of the default routes?

[roltay]

Hi alanch,

Thanks for the HU i did not realize that System Restore can screw it,

Cheers,

[rufuskins]

The problem with laptops I find is that they remember failed states why you put them in standby or hibernate as I often do to save all that bother restarting.

I know this is an obvious question but have you done a full restart on your laptop rather than just waking it up from standby/hibernate?

Point noted although I never leave the laptop(s) in the hibernate/standby unless seriously interupted.

Have you tried unstoring and then storing everything in Classic Trainstore, before trying an explore on one of the default routes?

I am currently working with the VISTA laptop, and unlikely to get onto the XP laptop until tomorrow when I shall try the suggestion.

Ruf

[morice1]

System restore is ok to use [certainly in XP - I don't use vista ] as long as you remember to unstore everything in trainstore first . Otherwise catastophe! Windows will add a numerical suffix in brackets to every file in the trainset folder which was in store at the time. This takes a considerable time to manually correct - I know i've done it.

Robert

[Lad491]

Ruf - If its a registry problem you could try renaming your trainsimulator folder, re-installing msts to get the registry entries back correctly again, then deleting the new version (not uninstalling) and naming your old version back again.

You could even try keeping the original trainset folder and not copying back your one and seeing if msts will now start. If it does you could copy each trainset folder one at a time, testing after each until it stops loading, then you know where to start looking. It sounds like you have a duff eng file or wag file somewhere.

[rufuskins]

Ruf - If its a registry problem you could try renaming your trainsimulator folder, re-installing msts to get the registry entries back correctly again, then deleting the new version (not uninstalling) and naming your old version back again.

You could even try keeping the original trainset folder and not copying back your one and seeing if msts will now start. If it does you could copy each trainset folder one at a time, testing after each until it stops loading, then you know where to start looking. It sounds like you have a duff eng file or wag file somewhere.

Having managed to get into work through the snow - was pretty bad here in Rochdale/Heywood earlier - I attempted some of the suggestions before the ones above. The results were pretty much the same, although in a couple of instances Cambrian 2 opened in Explore Route mode and I was able to drive the loco a short distance before the screen blacked out and the task manager reported TS as "Not Responding".

I shall now look at the two options above, although the latter is possibly the better one as I did amend/"fiddle with" an engine file when an error message occured during broken path repair attempts. It could be the unintended consequences challenge again!

Ruf

PS A further thought has occurred to me in so far as the HD is at least 85%+ full then perhaps this could affect performance - then again perhaps not.

PPS Finally perhaps I should have stayed at home and resolved MSTs - but for the money ......... I work contract so no work means no pay!!!

[Lad491]

although the latter is possibly the better one as I did amend/"fiddle with" an engine file when an error message occured during broken path repair attempts.

if you have merely damaged a path during your fixing spell, storing the route it was for should enable the rest to run ok. Msts wont load though if you have a damaged path.

PS A further thought has occurred to me in so far as the HD is at least 85%+ full then perhaps this could affect performance - then again perhaps not.

Not related to this problem i dont think, but you shouldnt let your hard drive go below 10% of its total capacity less the size of your swap file. However it could be that you ran out of hard disk space temporarily during whatever you were doing and that has shafted (technical term ) other stuff as well.

[rufuskins]

if you have merely damaged a path during your fixing spell, storing the route it was for should enable the rest to run ok. Msts wont load though if you have a damaged path.

It wouldn't surprise me if I had actually damaged a path rather than repair it - I believe that my ability in the hamfisted department should qualify me for considerstion in the Queen's New Year's honours list!!!!

I am minded to reinstall MSTS on to the XP laptop with only a small number of routes, perhaps use of the Mini Route would be appropriate. This should free up HD space especially if I reduce the size of the TRAINS folder!!

I have acquired a second 250Gb HD that plugs direct into the USB port of the laptop, and I will use that as a repository for the unused ROUTES and TRAINS - the first has a large number of backup files all of which need some sort of rationalisation.

It's all go isn't it bearing in mind I am still working on rationalisation of CabView and Sound files, as well as looking at CD Canvas plus activity creation - no wonder I get to bed late and I wake up with MSTS thoughts!
Ruf

PS Please excuse the ramblings!!!

[jbilton]

Ruf - If its a registry problem you could try renaming your trainsimulator folder, re-installing msts to get the registry entries back correctly again, then deleting the new version (not uninstalling) and naming your old version back again.

You could even try keeping the original trainset folder and not copying back your one and seeing if msts will now start. If it does you could copy each trainset folder one at a time, testing after each until it stops loading, then you know where to start looking. It sounds like you have a duff eng file or wag file somewhere.

Hi Laurie
I believe this was your 10000 th post



Cheers
Jon

[Lad491]

wow thanks Jon I didnt notice I'd got that close. Last time i checked i was in the 9600's region. Its been a busy week for posting

[rufuskins]

. . . well at least something of note has come out of this thread - congratulations!

Ruf