Geonames servers out of service ?

[achmedfsx]

Brought it back to work, maybe these steps help someone else...

1. Uninstall GSX (Windows Programs&Features)
2. Uninstall XPOI (Windows Programs&Features)
   Answer "Remove AddonManager ?" -> Yes
3. Uninstall Universal Installer (Windows Programs&Features)

   Installation folder C:\Games\FSDT\Addon Manager leftovers: Couatl_Updater2.exe, Couatl_Updater.exe, XML-Dateien
   and a directory Couatl64 with QlmLicenseLib.dll and .manifest

4. Removed manually Subdirectory "Addon Manager"
   P3D V4 environment examined with Lorby Addon Organizer: searched for FSDT, GSX, XPOI in all tabs, nothing found

5. Started P3D 4.5 HF3
   No special message

6. Regedit
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\FSDreamTeam
   - contains some GSX parameters
   - Subtree GSX, GSX Level 2, XPOI contain only serial numbers, not deleted !
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\FSDreamTeam
   - Only subtrees GSX , GSX Level2 Expansion, XPOI with content Name: SerialNumber, Data: my license keys
   
   These trees contain my former flightsimstore keys (key in name field)
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\eSellerate\Activations\PUB9932588035\ACT725435328
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\eSellerate\Activations\PUB9932588035\ACT725435328

   I left all these entries
   
7. Downloaded these three installers (Universal Installer, GSX+GSX Level2, XPOI)
   - FSDT_Universal_Installer.exe from FSDT https://www.fsdreamteam.com/products_addonmanager.html
      Attention ! I didn't download the Addon Manager from this site, it's for FS9
   - gsx_p3d4_setup.exe from https://www.fsdreamteam.com/products_p3d.html
      Attention ! GSX and GSX Level 2 Expansion installers are equal: GSX Level 2 is part of the GSX installer
   - setup_xpoi.exe von https://www.fsdreamteam.com/products_fsx.html
      Although "FSX site" XPOI has to be downloaded from here as it works for P3D V4 too

8. Kaspersky Exception
   "gearwheel" -> "Threats and Exclusions" -> Add
   -> File or Folder: C:\Games\FSDT (my FSDT target folder) including subdirectories
   -> leave object and hash fields empty
   -> protection components: all components
   -> state : activ
   -> add
   -> back to "Threats and Exclusions" and "save"
   
9. While installing, stopped Kaspersky temporarily

10. Installation FSDT Universal Installer 1.0.90
   Path: C:\Games\FSDT\Addon Manager
   Creates three icons:
   - FSDT Live Update
   - FSDT Installer
   - Start Couatl for GSX MSFS
   afterwards FSDT Live Update was started automatically,
   then the FSDT Universal Installer itself was started automatically
   
11. FSDT Universal Installer
   Clicked on GSX, GSX Level 2, XPOI "Install"
   For all three, the installer mentions, he couldn't install them, with "OK", he calls the download page,
   so I clicked "Cancel" and terminated the installer by Exit
   
12. Installation GSX and GSX Level 2
   Start of gsx_p3d4_setup.exe
   loads "additional files" (2,3 GB), then starts the "GSX Setup Wizard"
   -> Fsdreamteam GSX 2.9.5
   -> installation folder was fixed to my former selection (see above): C:\Games\FSDT\Addon Manager
   -> "Install in prepar3d V4.4+" was activated already
   Installer installs VC++ Redist too
   Then he calls the Live Update and loads a bunch of GSX files.
   Asks me if I want to keep the GSX installer "gsx_p3d_setup2.exe" for future re-installations, I say "Yes"
   -> stored in C:\Users\...\Documents\GSX_Installer
   Three icons added:
   - FSDT GSX Control Panel
   - FSDT GSX Manual
   - FSDT Installation Guide
      
13. Installation XPOI
   Start of setup_xpoi.exe
   -> installation folder was fixed to my former selection (see above): C:\Games\FSDT\Addon Manager
   -> "Install in prepar3d V4.4+" was activated already
   Installer installs VC++ Redist too
   Then he calls the Live Update and loads some files.
   Icon FSDT Live Update was created again
   
14. Running FSDT Universal Installer
   Now the Universal Installer shows GSX, GSX Level 2 and XPOI as "Installed" with a green hook on it.
   Clicked on "Update all", it seems to check the installtion, but no further downloads.

15. First start of P3D V4.5 HF3
   Addon Manager starts, shows all three products as "Trial Mode"
   Trying to register them shows message that the Couatl Scripting Engine couldn't be started.
   Stopped P3D and (as always) wait for process termination (Windows Task Manager: processes)
   
16. Running FSDT Live Update again
   It downloads some files
   
17. Second start of P3D V4.5 HF3
   A "Couatl Debug Window" came up, in Windows Task Manager, I saw "Couatl Scripting Engine for MSFS/P3D"
   Again in P3D the Addon Manager : all three products are active (instead of "trial mode")
   XPOI seems to work, I see icons of the towns but without text
   GSX seems to work, the "Parking Brake to request ground services" voice comes again.
   Stopped P3D and (as always) wait for process termination (Windows Task Manager: processes)
   
18. Third start of P3D V4.5 HF3
   Rebooted Windows, then started P3D
   Didn't notice a "Couatl Debug Window"
   Everything seems to work again.

[jimre6]

Whatever you did, virtuali... it worked !!
Re-ran FSDT's Couatl Updaters, yet again, producing it's resultant sizable download... booted up FSX, and Voila...    Houston, we haaave lift-off !!
Been a long haul, this one, from my 1st email to your support@vertualisoftware.com c. 4/11/2022, but as I'd commented in my last post; eventually we'd get there...
So pleased for you too,  Achmedfsx...   you demonstrated having the patience of Job throughout, and I'd found your posts very comprehensive and worthwhile...  You'd very understandably, almost chucked it all in...  but so glad you got your XPOI's functionality back too...  you certainly deserved it !!
Thanks again vertuali for whatever you altered in the latest Live Updater !!
XPOI adds so much to one's Sim flight experience...  I sure missed it !!

[achmedfsx]

I have to add a further point, as for my former starts of P3D, I clicked its icon directly.
For my complete setup with some external plugins (TrackIR, Active Sky, Pilot2Atc a.s.o.),
I use a script that has to be started as Administrator - and so the geonames problem was back today.

I'm not sure whether it was Kaspersky or not, but after I defined the "couatl scripting engine" program as trusted,
geonames access worked in this environment too.

19. Fourth Start P3D V4.5: Start by script as "Administrator", message "geonames server not reachable" again
   "gearwheel" -> "Threats and Exclusions" -> Trusted Applications
   -> Added C:\Games\FSDT\Addon Manager\couatl\Couatl.exe
   -> All selections except "Interaction with ..." activated
   -> back to "Threats and Exclusions" and "save"

[virtuali]

There wasn't any need to do all that lengthy process, the issue was a very simple one: our new Live Update didn't update XPOI because of a bug in it and nothing you could do before the fix could solve that, what solved it was an updated updater we released last week.

Of course, if the antivirus/firewall is blocking the software from accessing the internet, you'll have all sort of issues, particularly with XPOI, that needs a constant working connection.

[achmedfsx]

No problem, see it as a checklist for a complete removal/re-installation with hints about security software.
Originally, I wrote it down for me, but thought it may be useful for others too.