Any Final fix for CFS3 and Win-7?

[SPQR33]

Gents: Can't get CFS3 to work with Win-7. Been to and read-printed out instructions from several web sites and forums, including M-$ and SOH, and others.
Even M-$ site was beyond useless, and its links went back to SOH forums from 2009, 2010 and 2011. Their Fix-It patches did not work.
Been in contact with M-$, to no avail.
All I was able to do was get CFS1 to work with my new Cyborg-X joystick; CFS2 works great with my vast back-up of planes, ships, missions, etc.
As of today, I have loaded, reloaded, deleted, uninstalled CFS3 for the 18th and final time.
I have followed all Fixes noted in this Forum and others, in numerous combinations, renaming, deleting .dll files, resetting to Win-Vista SP2, then to Win-XP SP3, Admin Priveleges, with and without all patches and/or MB, etc, etc.
I consider myself a decent hacker, so I am my wits end.
History:
Back on Maundy Thursday this year, my Boomer Win-XP Pro gaming machine exploded.
On Good Friday, I bought another Boomer Win-7 64-bit machine.
By Holy Saturday, I had all my stuff recovered to a pair of 1.5Tb HDD's, and went back online.
On Easter Sunday, I reloaded all of my CFS3 stuff, including all 8- of my add-ons.
I loaded a Clean/Patched/MB version of CFS3 installed, then copied over my Prime-Bloated version of CFS3 from one of the Back-Up HDD's, (my thanks to Martin Wright).
Then did same with BoB, Korea, MAW (had trouble with MAW's MB .dll files), then ETO (trouble with its BDP file zapper), and PTO_Solomons (no trouble), and finally PTO_R-S.
All ran well up to 3- weeks ago.
One evening, I was finishing some PTO and CFS3 missions to send to HouseHobit (Owen) for his test fly and upload to his site.
That night, I got a notice of some M-$ updates, 9- of them, and clicked OK to do it.
The next evening, I went to use PTO Mission Builder.
It said it can't find some .dll files on my machine.
So, as I had to do with MAW, I copied them, in the order requested saying this or that .dll file was missing from my machine, after 11 attempts to load PTO MB, I clicked copy to add these .dll files into the PTO MB folder, and into the Main OS Windows folder.
Did nothing.
So I found a long past back-up folder with updated .dll files for CFS3 from 2005 and another from 2007.
I put them into my Clean/Patched load of CFS3, my Prime-Bloated load of CFS3, ETO, PTO, PTO MB, and into my Main OS Windows folders.
Nothing.
Assuming my CFS3 #2 Play CD went bad, I found at Amazon a fresh CFS3 Battle for Europe Set dated 2007/2009 and works with Win-XP Pro.
Got it, deleted all Clean/Patched CFS3 loads, and tried it once again.
Zero effect. I still get that CFS3 Failed to Load. And I get the same error window when I try any of my other 7- add-ons for CFS3.
And I get the same Missing .dll files messag when i click on amy one of the MB icons.

My guess about the 9- M-$ updates, well here it is...
One was for M-$ Outlook Security. One was for a Malicious Spyware Scanner.
But the other 7- "updates" were for Security Updates for Win-7, Microsoft, Programs (x86).
All updates were dated for July 10th, 2012, with a Core Date of July 10th 2011.
I ignored these update requests until the 14th of July, and on the 15th of July, None of my 8- CFS3 installs would work.

My guess, they saw any and all of the .dll files (all dated from 2002 and/or 2005/2007) within Every Load of CFS3 and its add-ons, and corrupted them or removed any Registry Links to open these .dll files.
It is my guess that this is why all CFS3 versions, when you go to MB, say the .dll files are missing. They were disabled or overwritten or corrupted by these 7- Secutiry Updates for Win-7/Windows/Programs(x86).
Note: Uninstalling these 7- updates did not return my machine to its original working order.

If all of you folks have come up with a Universally Acceptable and Universally Workable Solution to this Win-7 / CFS3 Compatibility issue, I would surely like to hear it.
Microsoft has been about the most worthless company I have ever had to deal with. You would think that they would allow their own products to work with any and all of their latest OS's.
At least I got CFS1 and CFS2 working well, as with about a dozen other Non-M$ FLight Sims I have.

Can someone please send me a link to The Absolute Final Working-for-Everyone Solution?
Regards,
SPQR33

[grizzly50]

Did you try a System Restore to take it all back to just before July 10th?

[mrjmaint]

Did you try a System Restore to take it all back to just before July 10th?

That is what I would try.

[Human Drone]

Well, I won't be much help, but to me this is why I don't like Windows. Of course, I'm stuck with it, but I recall that when I first saw the "registry" in Win 95, I said to my office mates that we're done - sooner or later that construction will end up in nightmares like this. Maybe it's just me, but it seems like letting programs install files right into the Windows directory tree is just begging for troubles and bookkeeping problems, and that registry is such an intimidating and complicated thing that even experienced programmers shy away from it. Meanwhile, sloppy install/uninstall routines leave it with outdated, incorrect, or colliding entries, etc. What a mess!

I feel for you and hope you can get your rig back to where it was. A pox on Micro$oft for abandoning their most loyal community!

Good luck,

Tom

[hairyspin]

I'm no Microsoft acolyte, but forgive me for wondering what the zarking fardwarks has happened??? I've used Win7 since the pre-release versions and have only had bother connecting to multiplayer games. That particular nut was cracked years ago, so CFS3 installs and runs easy as pie on my 64-bit Win 7 Home Premium rig. I have 7 set to update automatically and have never had a problem with this and the registry behaves like a well-trained dog. I have a rack of old software I use constantly and 7 runs it as happily as the day is long.

The only thing I did was turn the UAC off, but even that is strictly speaking unnecessary since Tailwind put me on to directory permissions. The only Absolute and Universal Solution to Everything I know of is to let the OS install, be sure you have a current set of drivers for all your hardware and trust the guys who built this rather good OS to have done a thorough job - which they have. I mean, a borrowed digital SLR was plugged into my rig yesterday for the first time ever and without voodoo or Net-trawling the OS just installed the drivers and I could read off my photos in less than a minute. Same for the replacement DVD burner two weeks ago.

Exactly which .dll is reported missing? This might give a clue to what is happening.

[SPQR33]

I'm no Microsoft acolyte, but forgive me for wondering what the zarking fardwarks has happened??? I've used Win7 since .....
The only thing I did was turn the UAC off, but even that is strictly speaking unnecessary since Tailwind put me on to directory permissions. .... Same for the replacement DVD burner two weeks ago....Exactly which .dll is reported missing? This might give a clue to what is happening.

To Grizzly50,Hairysipn, et al:
To recap; I had ZERO trouble with CFS3 and all of its 7 or 8 iterations, on my new Win-7 Rig. Ran fine right up to the night I sent several missions to HouseHobbit for test fly and upload. Then I got a pile of Windows Security Updates for Programs (x86).
That next day, well speaking frankly, the Crap hit the fan.
And every listed fix from 2009 thru 2011 on every forum from M$ to SOH failed to work.

To answer Grizzleys question, Yes, I did a full system restore to the date before the updates. And I even clicked on each to Uninstall.
All did nothing but loose some of those day's work.

As to Hairysipns question, well, Every .Dll File within every CFS3 (or add-on) folder was asked for, in order, when I tried that next evening to open ETO MB.
Remembering a small problem with a MAW install of its MB with Win-7, I found the requested .dll file in ETO, and copied it into MB folder, then again into the Main Windows folders.
When I hit the MB icon again, it asked for the next alphabetical ordered .dll file, Did the same, again and again until I ran out of "Jobs can't find XXXX.dll file on your computer" error messages.
Then the thing just quit resounding
Finally it asked for some .jpg picture, and I knew than I was sunk.

When I click any of the 8- loads of CFS3 and its add-ons, all I get is that the game fails to load error message, and will send a message to M$. It closes, and so does the game's splash screen.
And, Hairyspin, I have about a dozen other legacy and some newer Flight Sims, driving games, etc, all run on my new rig OK.
It is simply Anything CFS3-Only Related that seems to have been attacked by those 7- Security Updates for M$/Programs (x86).

Some other folks have been sending me other fixes to try, so I'll let everyone know if any or all of it works for me.

Again, all my thanks for your expert and compassionate help.
If there is ever any trouble with CFS3, well, I usually get a mouth-full of it... In Spades!!!

Regards,
SPQR33

[hairyspin]

Oh horrors horrors. Sounds to me like something core in CFS3 has got mangled and you'll have to clear off the lot, reinstall and patch CFS3 from scratch and reimport your legacy installs.

Make sure everything is fully cleared off:- Program Files (x86) sub-folders for all CFS3 installs, Documents sub-folders and Appdata sub-folders. The last one is where most of us go wrong and forget to clear it, type %appdata%\microsoft in an Explorer address bar - or from the Start menu - and you'll get taken to the appdata folder straight away with all the appdata folders for your CFS3 installs visible. Get rid of the desktop shortcuts too.

Then start again. Make sure vanilla CFS3 works first! One last thing, do the directory permissions trick in the link above and you'll not need to mess with the UAC (thanks Tailwind!)

[SPQR33]

Oh horrors horrors. Sounds to me like something core in CFS3 has got mangled and you'll have to clear off the lot, reinstall and patch CFS3 from scratch and reimport your legacy installs.

Make sure everything is fully cleared off:- Program Files (x86) sub-folders for all CFS3 installs, Documents sub-folders and Appdata sub-folders. The last one is where most of us go wrong and forget to clear it, type %appdata%\microsoft in an Explorer address bar - or from the Start menu - and you'll get taken to the appdata folder straight away with all the appdata folders for your CFS3 installs visible. Get rid of the desktop shortcuts too.

Then start again. Make sure vanilla CFS3 works first! One last thing, do the directory permissions trick in the link above and you'll not need to mess with the UAC (thanks Tailwind!)

My Dear Hairyspin: You are another SOH-CFS3 Prince among many men.
You and several Canadian fellows are now and have tried their very best to offer a solution to my problem with CFS3.
In my nearly 12 year history with all things CFS3, if it could hit the fan, I was standing in front of it, face forward.
I really think that I have had every concievable problem ever witnessed with CFS3 in all of its iterations, over M$ OS's going back to Win-98 SE, Win-2K, Win-ME, et al.
Still, I soldier on with this superior flight sim.
But this time, I really got a full face splatter of crap from somewhere.
Remember, on my latest Win-7 Boomer Gaming Rig, I have 21 flight sims, driving sims, chopper games, etc. None were affected, only anything CFS3 or its 7- Add-Ons.
One nught everything worked. The next, nothing CFS3 worked.
The only Wild Card was those 9- of Windows Updates, 7- of which were Security Updates for Windows\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\.
I read several of their KB pages; as usually worthless as M$ can be.
Even uninstalling the Updates proved fruitless.
As did doind a Full System Restore back to the day before all went south.
But why didn't CFS1, CFS2, LOMAC, Battle of Britian, Pacific Fighters, Etc, etc, get slammed by, well, whatever it was, that did this?
I believe myself to be a fairly decent System Hacler, and a darn good CFS3 hacker. But this time...
Shot through the Heart, from behind. And very possibly by M$, those folks who created this game.
Regards,
SPQR33

[rbp71854]

Most likely a complete re-install required now because of the actions taken post .dll missing error messages. But in the future tuck this away if you have a similar problem.

as you are probably aware viruses or deleting files and folders can cause DLLs to become damaged or deleted. You can reinstall missing DLL files, most DLLs are available for download online free of charge but you need to know what to do with the file after you download it.

1.Go to a website that allows you to search for and download copies of DLL files
2.Type in the name of the DLL you want to download in the search box and hit "Enter."
3.Click on the "Download" link for the file and save it to your desktop to access it later.
4.Go to "Start > Search" on the desktop toolbar. Type "C:\Windows\System32", which is the folder that stores the DLLs. If you have a 64-bit system instead, type "C:\Windows\SysWOW64" and hit "Enter." A folder will pop up on the search menu.
5.Double-click on the folder to open it. You will see a list of files.
6.Drag the DLL file you just downloaded into the open folder. Drop it anywhere inside the folder.
7.Click "Yes" if it prompts you to overwrite the existing file. Sometimes damaged DLL files are classified as "missing" by the computer.
8.Go to "Start" on your toolbar. Select "Run." A search box will pop up. Type "regsvr32 [file name of dll]" and hit "Enter" to start the command. This action registers the DLL on the computer.
9.Close the open windows and folders. Reboot your computer

[SPQR33]

Most likely a complete re-install required now because of the actions taken post .dll missing error messages. But in the future tuck this away if you have a similar problem.

as you are probably aware viruses or deleting files and folders can cause DLLs to become damaged or deleted. You can reinstall missing DLL files, most DLLs are available for download online free of charge but you need to know what to do with the file after you download it.

1.Go to a website that allows you to search for and download copies of DLL files
2.Type in the name of the DLL you want to download in the search box and hit "Enter."
3.Click on the "Download" link for the file and save it to your desktop to access it later.
4.Go to "Start > Search" on the desktop toolbar. Type "C:\Windows\System32", which is the folder that stores the DLLs. If you have a 64-bit system instead, type "C:\Windows\SysWOW64" and hit "Enter." A folder will pop up on the search menu.
5.Double-click on the folder to open it. You will see a list of files.
6.Drag the DLL file you just downloaded into the open folder. Drop it anywhere inside the folder.
7.Click "Yes" if it prompts you to overwrite the existing file. Sometimes damaged DLL files are classified as "missing" by the computer.
8.Go to "Start" on your toolbar. Select "Run." A search box will pop up. Type "regsvr32 [file name of dll]" and hit "Enter" to start the command. This action registers the DLL on the computer.
9.Close the open windows and folders. Reboot your computer

First, to rbp71854 and all of the 25 or so folks who have tried to help me in this situation, words can not express my gratitude for all of your help.
And if any of you all ever get a notice from M$ that you have Updates waiting to be downloaded and installed, well, check them all first.
If any are listed as Security Updates for Microsoft\Program Files (x86), uncheck them and run for the hills!!
Do Not Install them !! They will, intentionally or not, destroy and corrupt every needed CFS3 .dll file in your System Folders and within every Load you have of CFS3.

Now, this is some meat with the potatoes. I did find a long past updated set of .dll files for CFS3.
But I did not know how to use them, nor exactly how to correct the registry to recognize them.
This will be done.

This Sunday, I am having a phone conference with a fellow from Canada who had similar trouble, and with his help, I should be back up and running soon.
Even if it requires me to do full reloads of all of my CFS3 add-Ons once a Clean and Patched copy gets working.
With the above info, and his help, well, let us all hope no one ever has to go through this problem any time soon.

Funny, since I first loaded CFS3 onto my machines way back in 2002 or 2003, if there was a problem with something CFS3, I got it, and had to struggle through it to get this great game working.
I will consider this a small bump in the road for this game is worth the trouble, and to honor the fine developers who have given so much of their time to its improvements.

Regards to all,
SPQR33

[SPQR33]

Most likely a complete re-install required now because of the actions taken post .dll missing error messages. But in the future tuck this away if you have a similar problem.

as you are probably aware viruses or deleting files and folders can cause DLLs to become damaged or deleted. You can reinstall missing DLL files, most DLLs are available for download online free of charge but you need to know what to do with the file after you download it.

1.Go to a website that allows you to search for and download copies of DLL files
2.Type in the name of the DLL you want to download in the search box and hit "Enter."
3.Click on the "Download" link for the file and save it to your desktop to access it later.
4.Go to "Start > Search" on the desktop toolbar. Type "C:\Windows\System32", which is the folder that stores the DLLs. If you have a 64-bit system instead, type "C:\Windows\SysWOW64" and hit "Enter." A folder will pop up on the search menu.
5.Double-click on the folder to open it. You will see a list of files.
6.Drag the DLL file you just downloaded into the open folder. Drop it anywhere inside the folder.
7.Click "Yes" if it prompts you to overwrite the existing file. Sometimes damaged DLL files are classified as "missing" by the computer.
8.Go to "Start" on your toolbar. Select "Run." A search box will pop up. Type "regsvr32 [file name of dll]" and hit "Enter" to start the command. This action registers the DLL on the computer.
9.Close the open windows and folders. Reboot your computer

Dear rbp1854:
Just on a lark, i went to the Win-7 Home Premium System32, and SysWOW64 system folders. As folows:
In SysWOW64, there were 1,774 .dll files listed.
In the System32 folder, there were 1,947 .dll files listed.
Not a one was an equal named as needed for any of the CFS3 Clean or Modded loads, or within any of the 6- current CFS3 add-ons.
Curious; were they there before this Security Update, or were they never there?
I have kept a copy of your comments and private messages, so for future reference, I can go find what I need.
Once again, you are in my debt for your assistance in this regard.
If I find a solution to this obviously M$ Caused trouble, I will post what I found and what I did to correct it.
SPQR33

[rbp71854]

I have completed a search of a stock CFS3 install and the cfs3 .dlls are located in 3 folders. The root directory, the 1033 folder, and the mb folder. I have copied these .dlls from an operable install and if you want I can zip up and send. Send me a pm with e-mail and they will be on their way. Each individual dll would have to be registered via the procedures noted above.

Bob

[SPQR33]

I have completed a search of a stock CFS3 install and the cfs3 .dlls are located in 3 folders. The root directory, the 1033 folder, and the mb folder. I have copied these .dlls from an operable install and if you want I can zip up and send. Send me a pm with e-mail and they will be on their way. Each individual dll would have to be registered via the procedures noted above.

Bob

Bob (rbp71854):
you have a P/M.
If not getting it, use my SOH Profile e-mail address:

SPQR@VERIZON.NET

I have kept my SOH Profile open, and several CFS3-SOH folks and I chat often.
Regards,
John Turek
SPQR33

[rbp71854]

E-mail sent with stock dlls.

Bob

[HouseHobbit]

Too Cool Bob!!
And there is MUCH Rejoicing!!

I knew the SOH lads would find a way..
God Bless each of you..