Reinstall MS Combat Flight Simulator 3 in my Win7 64. It's an old v.3.0 without any patch. Found some weird problems. The sim runs very well without any problem, but the executable won't shutdown automatically after exiting. I have to terminate it manually from task manager. Even stranger, task manager shows that cfs3.exe eats up incredible amount of memory, varies depending on playtime, in about 1 hour that exe robbed a whole GB of memory! Not even FSX does this. Well, it doesn't ruin the gameplay at all, but it's just weird. Anyone have the same problem? Maybe I'll try to patch it tomorrow and see if it cure the problem. Any other inputs are welcomed. Thanks.

Patched to 3.1a, but the problem still there. Still have to kill the exe from task manager, and it's still memory hungry. Now I've seen a lot of programs that won't run under Win7, but this is the first time I've seen one that won't shutdown..

If you haven't already, try installing June 2010 Directx Redistributable. Dirextx 8/9 is broken under W7-32/64 stock and this could lead to .dll files not linking correctly.

It's been awhile, but I believe CFS3 patched to 3.1a needs Dx8.1 which W7 doesn't have.

plug_nickel

I'm sure my Directx is up to date. And the 3.1 patch readme says that you need directx 9.0, not 8 (thankfully). Maybe it'll work ok in XP, but since the gameplay itself is ok in win7, I think I'll live with killing it from task manager everytime I done playing.

Is it in program files?

No. Ever since using Win7 I always remember not to install my old sims/games/apps on program files folder. I installed CFS3 on the root of my F drive. Also run it as admin, disabling desktop composition, compatibility to win98/me and xp sp2/3 but none of them solved the problem.

Hmmm. Try clearing the read only box in the properties for the folder it's installed to. I've had problems in the past, but this will usually fix it.

Dave, I just tried your suggestion, but no joy. Still the same problem. I wonder how many CFS3 user knows if it also happens to them? I only found the problem because (win7) aero wouldn't come back after I close the sim. If I didn't mess with compatibility options, I doubt I'd ever spot it. It appears to be closing normally, but truth is it's still running in the background.

Don't know man. That's a weird one!

Could you try disabling aero..I've got cfs3 running ok on win 7 64 with no problems

Didn't work either. You sure the cfs3.exe not still lurking in the background? Might want to check the task manager. Like I said, it doesn't have any impact on PC performance at all (not in mine, at least). If not, then I think it's the evil combination of whatever hardware and software that made up my PC as the culprit. Thanks for the helps anyway, guys.

Hmm. I haven't thought about this stuff in a long while, but I seem to
recall there used to be ways of launching programs in a "shell", which
constrained their resource use and also obliterated them effectively
when the shell was closed. Currently, Avast AntiVirus offers effectively
the same functionality with its "sandbox" feature - you can open a program
in the sandbox, and it can't make trouble outside it, and it will close
with the sandbox. I don't know if this will constrain the memory used, though.

hey there, I recently installed cfs3 as well. Same problem (not really a problem just annoying) I haven't even tried to fix it.

I would recommend installing ETO, it makes the game. I'm having more fun with CFS3 right now then any other sim. Enjoying it tons! I think my favorite part is how chunky it feels when you hit an aircraft with your guns...it's very satisfying in an odd way.

I confirmed that issue as Win7 specific prolem. Ran the cfs3.exe straight from win xp sp3 and she works great from start to finish. Next project is trying to figure out how to padlock enemy planes..

Try setting cfs3.exe Properties, Compatibilty, to 'run as administrator, and set compatibility mode to XP SP2 or 3. It exits fine normally, - we use that fact in Over Flanders Fields so cfs3.exe comes back to OFF manager (works in Windows 7 32/64 fine).

Also make sure it's setup in cfs3config.exe to run at your monitors full res.

May not directly effect unless MP is involved but worth renaming oleacc.dll to something or deleting once you find it works still (e.g. rename to oleaccOLD.dll) in the CFS3 program directory too, so your system uses newer dlls elsewhere.

Finally install DirectX 9 properly so you need the FULL version (NOT via the little MS directX web installer progam that will NOT install the full version). See our FAQ regarding links for that.

Hello!

I think I have this solved. I'm not sure what setting it was in the CFS3 config utility that resolved it, but it's closing now when I exit. I can post my settings if you wish?

I have a question:

I'm running in Eyefinity (3 screens) and mostly it's working OK. However, the level of detail when you start to zoom out in external view greatly decreases compared to when I just run this on one monitor. Is there a way to adjust that?

Good news! And yes, please post your setting. Thanks.

Ok, here are the settings I am using (I have a decently powerful system, details in my sig). I am NOT running in Win XP compatibility mode, but I am running as an Admin and with the Desktop Composition disabled.

Thanks, ArgonV. I changed the settings to match yours via cfs3config.exe, but now it says that my override file is out of date and refused to run. Maybe I'll try to reinstall later and see if it works.

Do you have the latest Patch installed? Also, be sure your directory isn't write-protected.

Still out of town now. I'll check tomorrow. But I'm sure I had the latest patch installed. I did run the sim several times from Win XP, though (it was originally installed on Win7). Maybe this messed something up. I'll let you know when I get to it.