I've dispatched an email to the support guys, but I thought it wouldn't hurt to post here also...

2.20 gigahertz AMD Athlon 64
2048 Megabytes Installed Memory
NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GT
Windows Vista Home Premium (build 6000)
OFF Version: V1.0, patched with Superpatch v1.32 and Minipatch v1.32g
CFS Version: 1.3 (original Microsoft discs patched to v1.3)

I received OFF in the mail earlier today, and did a fresh install of CFS3 (original Microsoft discs) and patched to v3.1. I then installed OFF off the DVD without a problem.

However, when I first ran the executable on the desktop, I received a window that showed that ActiveSky 6.5 (an FS9 3rd party add-on I have) was being installed. Not being sure what was going on, I canceled the installation.

Now, whenever I try to run OFF, I get an OFFMan: Fatal Error Installing OFF message (along with OFF will now exit, try uninstalling and reinstalling OFF, or follow any instructions given after this message). After closing out that window I get another stating: Error installing OFF initialisation files (followed by instructions to set OFF to run as administrator, and run it in XP compatibility mode, which I've done).

I've followed its instructions, and fully removed the program, and then reinstalled, but to no avail. I've changed the compatability on cfs3.exe and OFFManager.exe to WinXP, and set them both to run as administrator.

I've tried running with the Superpatch and Mini-Patch, and running without.

I'm at wit's end. I've tried everything in the FAQ, the various forums, and anything else I can think over the past 4 hours. Got any other suggestions?

At this point you have done the right thing by contacting Support via email. My best wishes in your getting it sorted. I am confident with the devs help you will be"up and at 'em" soon.

I pretty convinced that my registry is the problem. This is a 4+ year old computer I'm on, and the HDD is at least 3 years old. Needless to say, there's been a lot of installing and uninstalling over the years.

Is there a way (barring a new install of the OS) to completely eradicate bad registry entries and essentially start fresh?

Keep in mind that I did have Phase 1 and Phase 2 on this rig years ago...not sure if that makes a difference.

Yep sounds like it from the email we replied to.

There's info in the FAQ on searching for old P2 entries and removing traces. I also use a program called ccleaner. It has a good registry scan feature (and is free/donation).

As always backup data/passwords before doing registry fixes.

http://www.ccleaner.com/

(also watch out it wants to install yahoo toolbar or something during install you may want to untick that).

Thanks for the reply, Polovski!

Well, I tried everything I could think of, to no avail.

So I reformatted the HDD and then backpedaled to XP from Vista.

OFF loaded without a single problem.

Goodbye for awhile. The Fokker Scourge awaits me!

Hey great news Gromit! Let us know what you think of her after all your trials and tribulations. Are you the Scourger or the Scourgee?

The Scourger, of course.

Ok Gromit, you've had three days since you got OFF going properly.

Are you still the Scourger, or the proud owner of half a dozen newly dead pilots, perchance?

I actually have been waiting until this weekend to properly start my first campaign. I've done a few minutes of flying here and there just to admire the graphics, but the bulk of my fun begins tomorrow morning.