Return of the Gaming Services Bug

User Support Hub Hardware & Peripherals
1

Hi folks,

As of last Fridays Windows 11 update I can no longer run MSFS on my PC. I have got the old Gaming Services pop-up and crash of the application on start up. I have looked at all the fixes including:

  • MS Store Update of all apps
  • Wsreset
  • Windows Apps uninstall and reinstall of MS Store and XBox (multiple times with reboots inbetween)
  • Powershell command line uninstall and reinstall of MS Store and XBox (multiple times with reboots inbetween)
  • Manual removal of MS Store XBoxApp and registry entries and reboot and reinstall
  • Uninstall MSFS and reinstall (now will not reinstall from XBox or MS Store)
  • Restore from full HD backup - Worked once then problem arose again with mandatory Windows updates

This was an old issue with Windows and Gaming Services but seems to have reappeared, and it looks to me like MSStore and XBox data never gets fully removed.

I have tried support ticket, but MSFS Zendesk simply pointed me to the MS Store/XBox app support and MS Store phone support ran me though the same things I had done (listed above) and have now been silent after 24hrs now. So I am about to do a complete Windows reinstall.
I must admit I feel this is not great support for a mainstream and popular application. Any suggestions welcome.
Cheers
Bernie

2 Likes
2

I don’t know about Windows 11 but with Windows 10 updates are not mandatory. Automatic updates in the store can be disabled and system updates can be paused for a month (among other workarounds).

3

Thanks, but have discovered it isn’t the Windows update, but seems to be the new XBox update.
I have now resolved the situation by:

  • Restoring a week old complete hard drive backup
  • Updating MSFS 2020
  • Installing all Windows updates
  • Not installing any MS Store Updates (XBox etc.)

That seems to work with a stable simulator, but spent at least 12 hours on fixing this after getting recommended “updates” from MS. Also their few support messages and single phone support (which I initiated and has now gone completely silent) require you to update MSStore apps, which on my machine seemed to cause the issue.

If Apple support can offer remote desktop assistance, so can MS. Unimpressed; MS Support, do better.

Thanks
Bernie

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