During the download of the 40th anniversary edition the servers went down before the download was complete. A couple of days later, I completed the download. Since that time I have not been able to run MSFS 2020. The program loads to the menu page but then screen goes blank and the program crashes.
Each time when I restart the computer the UWP generic video driver gets installed. I am using an AMD 6700XT graphics card. I have to reload the AMD drivers in order to get the program to run. After reinstalling the AMD drivers I can run Xplane 11 with no issues so it seems to be a problem with the MSFS program.
Today I uninstalled the MSFS program from steam and then redownloaded it. Again MSFS will only load to the menu screen before it crashes. It would appear that each time the generic driver overrides the AMD drivers.
The fact that Xplane 11 runs seems to eliminate any problems with hardware (graphics card). Is there still a corrupt file in MSFS even after a new download. I have run out of ideas so any help would be appreciated.
you’re not alone, mine CTD is halfway through the 40th install. Then when I tried to redownload, it would either stall out on the looking-for-update loop or crash again barely getting off the ground where it left off. I figured it would be a good time for a total and complete clean wipe. (which I dread because the download takes hours)
Decided to plop it onto a brand new NVMe SSD, and nothing but errors while downloading the game, and constant CTD issues during the installation. Tried other HDD’s still same issue. Once it “completed” the download and when I started the game it told me integral files were missing and needed a download and again CTD. Checked the main folders, and only 20 GB of data was inside, not the usual 120+ GB. ? The darn thing told me it was completed. Again 4th time trying to install it. Seems to have finally taken. My fingers are crossed.
Point is, this game is a horrible horrible download and install. Asobo and MS should be ashamed of the amount of CTD issues that are happening. Every time we have a big update in the game, I cringe, because there’s a good chance I’m going to have an issue with the download.
Make sure when you uninstall the game, it’s not just through the STEAM desktop app. You need to find the large Flight Simulator folder and delete it as well.
I have tried to return MSFS to Vanilla as outlined in the link from TheSevenFlyer as shown reply above. So now I have taken your advice and deleted MSFS through the windows list. It seemed to behave the same as when I deleted it through Steam.
Tomorrow I will try downloading from Steam again. I will try to find the "large Flight Simulator file as well. I know everyone’s system is different but could you tell me the path where you found yours? Or what the file name was.
I agree with you that it is a pain to have to redownload this completely. I have over two years of mods to try and rebuild.
I’ve had more than two reproduceable CTDs that were all related to new SU’s. None of the other typical fixes seemed to matter. I even Even ran chesums A clean reinstall was all it took.
Keep your Community Folder with your addons, copy and paste it somewhere.
Any Markeplace items you may have purchased will be able to be reinstalled.
Steam files are located in these locations, make sure you have deleted any remaining after the uninstall:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\MicrosoftFlightSimulator
C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft Flight Simulator\Packages
I have tried everything that you suggested and still can’t complete the download. It keeps getting hung up while decompressing a file. I have closed MSFS (steam version) and restarted the download many times. It will download for a time then stop while decompressing some file. All this after I completely erased MSFS using the Steam client. I have verified the files using the steam client. All good although I thing this only is checking the Steam loader file. I have manually removed the "large Flight Simulator folder as mentioned above by CDNRamrod77.
I am completely frustrated with this mess. As a member of the Forum moderator Team would I be better off giving up on Steam and downloading MSFS from the Microsoft store? That would mean buying the program again! How can the average person be expected to put up with all this.
Even after the update from 1.1.5 to 1.1.7 it doesn’t work same problem I see the plane in the hangar I select departure airport it starts loading and then it kicks me out of the game (all other 40th anniversary planes work fine)
I know there’s been issues as well with the version of windows for some people. Windows 10 vs 11 and also the last service pack update from windows caused issues. Perhaps rolling back to a previous version if you’ve recently updated?
Also what type of HDD are you installing it on, and have you tried installing it onto a different drive?
The large file I was referring to was the one the admin commented C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\MicrosoftFlightSimulator
C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft Flight Simulator\Packages
that’s the default location unless of course that was changed by yourself during the initial install.
My suggestion would be dependant on if you have the money to try.
It may not work either.
However, given that the installation path is different on the PC, if the issue with Steam is with the installation, and not in your PC or internet connections, it quite possibly could work.
Either version can have some serious issues, and for those that do get serious problems, it’s very hard to determine what they could be from, there are so many variables that can cause problems.
I have never seen any figures as to which install has fewer issues.
It actually seems to me to be fewer people using steam that post issues here, than those that purchased MSStore.
That may simply be due to the volume of sales of MSStore vrs Steam.
(I have no idea which has sold more, but I suspect MSStore)
I personally would probably stick with Steam and try to figure it out, but again as I mentioned at the start, if you have the money !!!
Another thing you can do is file a Zendesk support request from the “Support” tab at the top of the page.
