Crash to desktop when trying to start "instrument rating" exam

Bug Reporting Hub Crashes (CTDs)
, ,
1

Using the template below will greatly help the team reproduce the issue and ease the process of fixing it. Before posting, search for an existing report. If you are not sure it’s a bug, please first report in User Support Hub.

2 tags are required - add them in the tag section next to the title above:

Feel free to delete this quote section after adding your appropriate tags.

ISSUE DESCRIPTION

Description of the issue:
Game crashes to desktop when trying to start “instrument rating” exam in career mode.

[PC Only] Did you remove all your community mods/add-ons? If yes, are you still experiencing the issue? Yes, my community folder is empty.

FREQUENCY OF ISSUE

How often does this occur for you: It has happened every time I try to start the “Instrument rarting” exam in career mode.

REPRODUCTION STEPS

Please list clear steps you took in order to help our test team reproduce the same issue:

1.Start game
2.Go to career mode
3.Start “Instrument rating” exam
4. Game crashes to deskop.

YOUR SETTINGS

If the issue still occurs with no mods and add-ons, please continue to report your issue. If not, please move this post to the User Support Hub.

What peripherals are you using, if relevant:

[PC Only] Are you using Developer Mode or have you made any changes to it? No

[PC, MSFS 2020 Only] Are you using DX11 or DX12?

[PC Only] Many issues may be due to an outdated graphics card. Please state your Graphics Card Driver Manufacturer (NVIDIA, Intel, AMD) and Version: NVIDIA 3080ti, 566.36 driver.

[PC Only] What other relevant PC specs can you share? 32gb ram, I9 12900kf

MEDIA

Please add a screenshot or video of the issue occurring.

fs2024 Instrument
fs2024 Instrument1578×889 78.7 KB

AsoboReport-Crash-2712765030.txt (22.1 KB)

The issue started when I purchased the exam, I purchased it and it crashed to desktop. I returned to the game and the exam was already purchased and ready to be taken, I havent been able to take it since it always crashes when I click on “take exam”. I am able to retake passed exams, it only happens with this one.

[END OF FIRST USER REPORT]

:loudspeaker: For anyone who wants to contribute on this issue, Click on the button below to use this template:

Do you have the same issue if you follow the OP’s steps to reproduce it?
•

Provide extra information to complete the original description of the issue:
•

If relevant, provide additional screenshots/video:
•

2

Do you have the same issue if you follow the OP’s steps to reproduce it?
• Yes, exactly.

Provide extra information to complete the original description of the issue:
• Original description is 100% my case

If relevant, provide additional screenshots/video:
• n/a

3

Do you have the same issue if you follow the OP’s steps to reproduce it?
• Yes, exactly the same. CTD after exam purchase and CTD every time I click “Take exam”.

Provide extra information to complete the original description of the issue:
• A couple of times I have tried to start it and it successfully changed to the pre flight screen. I noticed it said aircraft_model_missing or similar in the top left. The few times I’ve made it to that screen, it crashes a few seconds after displaying. I’ve tried uninstall/reinstall, updating graphics driver, and removing the community folder. Nothing has worked.

Please help I need my IFR cert!

4

Do you have the same issue if you follow the OP’s steps to reproduce it?
• Exact same issue

Provide extra information to complete the original description of the issue:
• Exact same issue

If relevant, provide additional screenshots/video:
• Exact same issue

5

same problem. 100 percent.

6

I also have exactly the same issue as reported - 100% same as original description.
Instrument exam purchased and credits were withdrawn from my account.
Click on take exam, after a second or two it will CTD. Occurs every time when trying to take the exam. Restarting the computer makes no difference.
Ensured VPN turned off - issue remains.

7

started my career anew.
retake the exam.
the problem remains.
crash.
as described in the first thread.

8

Identified a fix me. Found out it’s an issue with the “Community” folder (likely a conflict with a file from the Navigraph addons), but to fix this, do this:

(Make sure you’ve closed out the game and to be safe, restart your PC before doing below)

  1. Locate your community folder location (if you don’t know how to do this, just search for it - lots of help online on this one)
  2. “Backup” your existing community folder by renaming it to “Community Backup”
  3. In the same folder location, create a new folder named “Community”
  4. Start game and complete the certification
  5. Close game, delete the “new” community folder and rename the “backup” community folder to “Community”
  6. Should be back to normal with all your addons
9

Do you have the same issue if you follow the OP’s steps to reproduce it?
• YES

Provide extra information to complete the original description of the issue:
• Exam already purchased, but crashes when attempting to take the exam

If relevant, provide additional screenshots/video:
•

10

your method doesn’t work.
or i’m just stupid.
show a video of how you did it.

11

My Сommunity folder is empty.
I don’t use the Navigraph tool. There’s no one to conflict with.
I don’t use mods either.
Trying to pass an exam takes me to the desktop.

12

I don’t do videos, but the method worked for me.

The location of the “usercfg” file that will tell you where the sim is looking for the community folder for Steam version (the version I use) is C:\Users<“Your User Name”>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. To view the file, you can use any text editor (default in Windows is Notepad). Open the file and go all the way to the bottom to locate the Community folder location. Look for the entry at the bottom that says "InstalledPackagesPath “E:\MSFS 2020” (This is what mine looks like since I’m using the same community folder for both MSFS 2020 and 2024, so I’ve pointed my massive community folder to a different SSD). Go to this location and find the Community folder. Rename the “Community” folder to “Community Backup”. Create a new folder called “Community”. Launch game and see if you can get the challenge to work. If so, complete it, close the game, go back to Community folder and delete the new one and rename the backup to community. Hope this helps, if not, I have no idea what else it can be and hopeful the Asobo team comes out with a fix to address.

13

I had the same situation with an empty community folder. I fixed the issue by uninstalling the game, but before reinstalling, I removed the entire “Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024” folder from the roaming folder, following the same path described by VocalBurrito. This ensured a clean install.

Hope that works for you guys!

14

yeah bro. clean install.
residual msfs2020 files were causing the problem.
now everything works.
I flew on.
thanks Burrito for showing where to dig.

1 Like