OnCourse Software

Is PFE not compatible with Windows 7? I've never installed any program in the default programs folder...I created my own folder for programs. When Dave suggested I might have a bad install, and also that I should install the cumulative updates, I uninstalled PFE, downloaded the updates and installed both. I had also bought the Xpack voice set and installed that as well. I had the Windows virus program, which is the only one I use, turned off. When I tried a flight, I had several consistent problems.

1. If I use either the push/start or start options and then contact ground for taxi, I never get a response. Only if I turn off the push/start option altogether would I get a response on contacting ground. I tried three different planes and got the same results.

2. The TGS gauge, which had worked before, now failed to display the arrow or the number of taxi points remaining. Only the sidebars were still working. Voice prompts still worked.

3. If using vcp mode 1 or 2, I lost the ability to tune either the com 1 or com 2 radios myself. This hadn't been happening previous to the reinstall. And yes, I do use com 2, for listening to Live ATC.

The voice pack did work and I was able to select from both the old and new voices.

I just now did a second uninstall and reinstall in the hopes of fixing the above problems, again to the non-default folder and again with virus protection turned off. I installed in this order: PFE Deluxe, Xpack, cumulative updates. I ran and shut down PF2000 to activate the new voices. Setting up PFE after the reinstall, I was no longer able to access the old voices. "Xpack Voice Sets Only" was selected, so I tried both of the other options. Neither had any effect. If I choose an option other than "Xpack Voice Sets Only", close the options page and reopen it, "Xpack Voice Sets Only" is again selected.

I haven't even tried a flight after this second reinstall. I'm too frustrated to fiddle with this any more today.

Doesn't seem to be any way of editing posts on this forum. After my above post it occurred to me to try running PFE and PF2000 in Windows XP emulation mode. Seems to have solved all of the problems I was having. More testing tomorrow.

PFE is fully compatible with Windows 7....something is obviously amiss,but what i don't know?

If I use XP compatibility mode for FS9, PFE and any other programs I run along with FS9, most of the problems go away. Now I seem to be having a problem with a particular panel. I started a flight with one plane and had no problems. Started the same flight, same settings, with a different plane and the problem I had previously with the avionics...can't tune the radios, and also the autopilot shuts off and can't be turned back on. It could also be that a combination of panel A and scenery B is too complex and overloads my system. Further testing should find the culprit.

Which particular aircraft are you having issues with?

It was a panel, the PS Panels 737NG by Paul Scarratt. Just my luck to choose that particular one for testing PFE. I really like that panel, but I guess I'll just have to find another one to use for the 737.

After eliminating the 737NG panel I set all flight sim programs back to run in regular mode instead of XP compatibility mode. So far I'm not having the problems I mentioned before, though I still get an occasional missing instruction...I can tell because I hear the vcp read it back. No big deal.

Can't help you with that aircraft,if you said PMDG or I-fly i probably could have sorted it...

I've been at this a long time and know that this sort of thing happens and will continue to happen. It's no big deal, and I don't expect folks to do the impossible. Now I just completed a flight using Lonnie Payne's MD-80 series panel, which would be considered relatively complex. Departure airport was KDEN, with loads of ai traffic. Despite all that, PFE worked without a hiccup from gate to gate. The bottom line that PFE is working as it's supposed to, and I've had problems with only one panel, which has been fired and replaced. I'm quite happy with PFE and am glad I finally decided to give it a try. I also appreciate the very good support I've been getting here.

Good stuff!!