Classic British Flight Sim

There probably aren't many of us doing this ... Anyway, I noticed that when running FSX Windows reverts to the basic desktop before running the game - to save memory. I've found out how to set it to do the same with FS9 - or any game or program where you might want to run maximum memory.

On my laptop Task Manager shows I'm using 35Mb running Windows Aero desktop (dwm.exe) and another 30Mb running a few gadgets on the desktop. The Vista sidebar which contained the gadgets isn't part of W7 so the gadgets sit on the desktop and would have to be disabled at boot-up. But you can set the desktop to revert to basic when fs9.exe is run. When FS9 is closed the desktop reverts to glorious aerorama automatically. Running the basic desktop takes only 2-3Mb so you can save 60Mb by doing both. It's worth 10 frames per sec on my FS9.

Right click on the shortcut and choose properties. Under the 'compatibility' tab tick the box for 'Disable desktop composition', Apply, OK. No need to reboot.



You CAN have it all!

Ian

I've got FS9 on Win7 and haven't needed to do that... umm... I shall investigate, cheers matey

speedbird591 wrote:There probably aren't many of us doing this ... Ian

I am

Thanks for the tip, Ian.
I had turned off the 'Aero' facility, but I do like it.
This way, as you say 'you CAN have it all'.
I'll give it a try and see if I see any difference.

Cheers

Kevin

Hi,

I'm planning a PC upgrade and thinking of migrating from Win XP to Win 7 - any views on whether it's worth the cost of the new OS ?

Also any known issues such as drivers for video cards, joysticks etc ?

Yourll find Win7 a dream both for usablility and drivers. Im using 8800GTS's and a creative sound card with no issues and this is still on the RC1 build of 7!

Hi Degsy

I really like Windows 7, but do find there are some pointless changes compared to Windows XP. An example being 'Edit' is now 'Organize' (Yanks can't even spell correctly), which has taken some time to become familiar with.
With regard to FS9 and FSX, selections such as Aircraft, weather and location no longer respond to the scroll wheel on the mouse (or is that my set up?).
In general, Windows 7 is excellent - but why try and fix that which isn't broken

Regards

Kevin

An example being 'Edit' is now 'Organize' (Yanks can't even spell correctly), which has taken some time to become familiar with.

Not totally sure as my Win7 machine is a few thousand miles away, but in explorer if you press alt you get the full 'File, Edit etc.' toolbar across the top, otherwise it's hidden and you just get the cut down version.

with regard to FS9 and FSX, selections such as Aircraft, weather and location no longer respond to the scroll wheel on the mouse (or is that my set up?).

Sounds like your set up, that definitely works on mine.

SkippyBing wrote:

with regard to FS9 and FSX, selections such as Aircraft, weather and location no longer respond to the scroll wheel on the mouse (or is that my set up?).

Sounds like your set up, that definitely works on mine.

Hmm, interesting . I have Win7 64bit and am using a Microsoft Comfort Optical Mouse 3000. Perhaps I need updated drivers.

Cheers.

Kevin

Hi Kevin, I'm on Win7 x64 too, using the MS explorer mouse with no issues. Best plan might be to download the microsoft mouse software from the Microsoft site.

Thanks Ben.

I have the software from the Microsoft website. I have found that scrolling frantically does allow the menu to scroll, but very erratically. Whilst other programs scroll easily, the do so in a mildly jumpy fashion (similar effects when changing guage / autopilot settings within FS).
Beginning to think there may be something wrong with the mouse.

Thanks for your advice.

Kevin