SimConnect error. (Resolved)

[Rob Jones]

When loading FSX I get "Can't Init SimConnect Error!", then FSX Fatal Error and restart. With GSX uninstalled all is ok. This is on a fresh FSX/Acceleration install, W7/64.

Rob.

[virtuali]

That messages seems to indicate that, although your installation seems to be fresh, it really isn't, so there's something wrong with Simconnect.

Fact that with GSX removed you see the message going away, doesn't mean the problem is caused by GSX: FSX will happily run with a broken Simconnect, if your installation is fresh and no other addons that requires Simconnect are launching, you won't see any problems with it, it become an issue only if you install a module that requires it, like GSX.

Try this:

- Go into your Windows\WinSxS folder and delete the simconnect 10.0.61259.0 folder. Then reinstall the Acceleration pack, this will hopefully restore a broken Simconnect

Note that, Simconnect *itself* requires the VC++ 2005 SP1 runtimes to be working so, it's very likely they are missing/corrupted on your system.

In this case, try this:

- Go in the Windows control panel, and Uninstall ALL the instances of the Visual Studio 2005 redistributable runtimes. You might have more than one version: remove them all.

- Then, after removing everything related to VS2005, reinstall again these 3 files:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=32BC1BEE-A3F9-4C13-9C99-220B62A191EE&displaylang=en
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=200b2fd9-ae1a-4a14-984d-389c36f85647&displaylang=en
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=766a6af7-ec73-40ff-b072-9112bab119c2&displaylang=en
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?displaylang=en&id=26347

[Rob Jones]

Thanks for the reply. I am unable to delete the SxS simconnect folder as it tells me I must have permission from System - although I am an Administrator. I did all the VS2005 stuff, but still the same I'm sorry to say.

[virtuali]

Thanks for the reply. I am unable to delete the SxS simconnect folder as it tells me I must have permission from System - although I am an Administrator

Try to boot Windows into Safe mode, you should be able to remove that folder then.

[Rob Jones]

Done all that, but no good. I've completely uninstalled and reinstalled FSX again, with the same result, so I'm a little pessimistic now

[specialist]

Done all that, but no good. I've completely uninstalled and reinstalled FSX again, with the same result, so I'm a little pessimistic now

I normally wouldn't post other forum's solutions here, but since I'm not sure you've solved your problem, I would take a look here for answers to your question. I had similar problem, and after downloading the stand alone Nick suggested, I no longer have this problem. http://www.simforums.com/forums/missing-simconnectxml_topic34857.html

[Rob Jones]

Thank you for that - it didn't work, except that FSX no longer crashes after the errror message. FSX will load, but nothing shows in the Addons menu (obviously, since it can't connect with GSX - and presumably anything else that needs Simconnect).
A useful post though.

[virtuali]

Done all that, but no good. I've completely uninstalled and reinstalled FSX again, with the same result, so I'm a little pessimistic now

You should have only reinstalled the Acceleration pack, not FSX, because the Simconnect (yes, there are several versions installed at the same time, and this is normal) which is required by all our products is the one that come with the Acceleration pack.

Try to remove the Simconect folder from windows again, but reinstall only the Acceleration pack.

[Rob Jones]

No good, sorry...

[Rob Jones]

For info, all your suggestions were relevant and should have worked I think, but I had a problem with Win\SxS and nothing would fix it - the routines were becoming too complex for me. Repairing Windows and following all the instructions here and elsewhere came to nothing, so I did a clean install of Windows 7 - and all works well, GSX included.
One thing I've learnt - don't mess with SimConnect!

Regards,

Rob.

[mulgrave]

Hi

I had same problem and all suggestions did not work So I reinstalled fsx, sp1,2 c+++ libraries and now seems ok ( see my previous messages)
FYI,

[As you can see from Microsoft site, it sent alert not to delete simmconnect
Quote:
\Support Alert: Do not delete SimConnect.dll 
2/8/2007 

It has come to our attention that some FSX customers are experiencing intermittent problems with add-ons not working when using the SimConnect interface.  This might be seen through the loss of add-ons appearing in the Add-on menu or the obvious discontinuity of functionality between the add-on and FSX.
 We are actively looking at this problem, and have tracked it down to a NT_STATUS_CONNECTION_RESET in the low level connection layer of the Operating System.
 Although we do not yet have a solution for this problem, we do know this is not related to an improper or incomplete installation of the SimConnect server with FSX.  PLEASE DO NOT MANUALLY DELETE THE SIMCONNECT.DLL ASSEMBLY FROM THE WINDOWS SIDE BY SIDE DIRECTORY!  We have seen posts in the forums alluding to the fact that this might solve the problem, but not only will this NOT solve the problem, you are more likely to incur additional problems by trying to manually delete this file.  If you feel strongly about re-installing SimConnect or any other portion of FSX, please use the "Repair Installation" option from the FSX program setup file on your DVD:  setup.exe.
 Correcting the intermittent connection problem will likely require an update of the SimConnect dll, which will be installed as part of an update to the FSX program.

UNQUOTE

[virtuali]

If you feel strongly about re-installing SimConnect or any other portion of FSX, please use the "Repair Installation" option from the FSX program setup file on your DVD:  setup.exe.

Not so simple: there are 3 different versions of the Simconnect libraries, all installed together at the same time and this is normal. FSX came with one version, the SP1 with a different one, and the SP2/Acceleration with a different one either.

Some FSX addons requires the original RTM version, some the SP1, some the SP2 (all our products requires the SP2 version).

It's possible that only one version is broken or corrupted so, if it's the SP2, only the FSX addons requiring the SP2 version wouldn't work and, repairing or reinstalling using the original FSX DVD won't fix it, because it only contains files for the RTM version so, to fix an SP2 Simconnect, one must either repair/reinstall the SP2 or the Acceleration Pack.