Microsoft KB Archive/316958

Knowledge Base

Flight Simulator 2002: Turns Blank and Computer Hangs When Starting Game

Article ID: 316958

Article Last Modified on 1/31/2007

---

APPLIES TO

• Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002 Professional Edition
• Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002 Standard Edition

---

This article was previously published under Q316958

SYMPTOMS

When using Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002, you attempt to start the program, the splash screen appears, a blank screen appears, and then your computer stops responding (hangs).

CAUSE

This issue can occur if the Riched20.dll or riched32.dll file on your computer is infected with the Nimda worm virus.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, use the methods listed below in the order in which they are presented.

Method 1: Run Anti-virus Software and replace Riched20.dll

1. Run anti-virus software that contains the latest virus signature file, and perform a complete scan of your computer. Support for this particular virus is available from several different anti-virus programs. For additional information about third-party antivirus vendors and products, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   49500 List of Antivirus Software Vendors

   Once you have successfully removed the Nimda worm virus from your computer proceed to the next step.
2. Quit all Microsoft Windows programs.
3. Insert the Windows CD into the CD-ROM drive and press and hold down SHIFT to prevent Windows CD from starting automatically.
4. Click Start, click Run, and then type:

   <cd-rom>:\MSI

   where <cd-rom> is the drive letter of the CD-ROM drive.
5. Click OK, and then install Windows Installer engine.
   
   
   • If you are running Microsoft Windows 95, Microsoft Windows 98, or Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me), double-click Instmsi.exe.

     -or-

   • If you are running Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 or Microsoft Windows 2000, double-click Instmsiw.exe.

   
   
   

   The Instmsiw.exe and Instmsi.exe are Windows Installer engines that install a new version of Riched20.dll.
6. Once the installer is finished, close all open windows and start Flight Simulator 2002.NOTE: If you have Flight Simulator 2002 Professional, the Instmsiw.exe and Instmi.exe files are located in FS2002 folder on your hard disk. The location is:

   <drive:>\Program Files\Microsoft Games\FS2002\gmax\msi

   where <drive:> is the drive letter of the hard disk.

If the problem continues to occur, proceed to the next Method.

Method 2: Extract Riched32.dll Files

To resolve this issue, extract a copy of Riched32.dll from your Microsoft Windows CD-ROM. To do this, follow these steps.

NOTE: Because there are several versions of Windows, the following steps may be different on your computer. In this case, please contact your product documentation to complete these steps.

Locate the Riched32.dll File

1. Click Start, point to Search, and then click For Files or Folders.
2. In the Named box, type riched32.dll, and then click Search Now.
   
   NOTE: If you do not see Riched32.dll in the list of found files, proceed directly to the next section, "Extract the Riched32.dll File".
   
   If you do see Riched32.dll in the list of found files, continue.
3. In the list of found files, right-click Riched32.dll, and then click Rename.
4. In the box that appears, type riched32.old, and then press ENTER.
   
   NOTE: If you receive an error message that states that "access is denied" when you try to rename the Riched32.dll file, follow these steps:
   1. Click Start, and then click Shut Down.
   2. In the Shut Down Windows dialog box, click Restart in MS-DOS mode, and then click OK.
   3. At the command prompt, type the following commands, and press ENTER after each:
      • cd\windows\system
        
      • ren Riched32.dll Riched32.old
        
      • exit

Extract the Riched32.dll File

Follow the steps for your version of Windows.

Microsoft Windows 98

1. Insert your Windows CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive.
2. Click Start, and then click Run.
3. Type sfc, and then press ENTER.
4. Click Extract one file from installation disk.
5. In the Specify the system file you want to restore box, type Riched32.dll, and then click Start.
6. In the Extract File dialog box, click Browse next to the Restore from box, and then locate your CD-ROM drive.
7. In the Save file in box, type the following, and then click OK:

   <drive>:\Windows\System

   where <drive> refers to the letter of the drive where your \Windows folder is located.
8. In the Backup File dialog box, click Skip, and then click OK.

Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition

1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. Type msconfig, and then press ENTER.
3. In the System Configuration Utility dialog box, click the General tab, and then click Extract File.
4. In the Extract one file from installation disk dialog box, type Riched32.dll, and then click Start.
5. In the Restore from box, type <drive>:\Windows\options\install, where <drive> refers to the letter of the drive where the \Windows folder is located.
   
   NOTE: If the .cab files are not present on your hard disk, insert the Windows Millennium Edition CD, and then type <drive>:\Win9x, where <drive> refers to the drive letter of you CD-ROM drive.
6. In the Save file in box, type the following, and then click OK:

   <drive>:\Windows\system

   where <drive> refers to the letter of the drive where the \Windows folder is located.
7. In the Backup File dialog box, click Skip.
8. Click OK, and then click OK to close System Configuration Utility.

Microsoft Windows 2000

Log on to your computer as an administrator.

1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. Type cmd, and then press ENTER.
3. At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:

   sfc /scannow

   This command invokes the System File Checker, which replaces the missing or renamed Riched32.dll file.

Windows XP

1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type msconfig, and then press ENTER.
3. In the System Configuration Utility dialog box, on the General tab, click Expand File.
4. In the File to restore box, type Riched32.dll.
5. In the Restore from box, type <drive>:\Windows\options\install , where <drive> refers to the letter of the drive where the \Windows folder.
6. In the Save file in box, type the following, and then click OK:

   <drive>:\Windows\system

   where <drive> refers to the letter of the drive where the \Windows folder.

Additional query words: msgame performance display video

Keywords: kbconfig kbdisplay kbprb KB316958

---

Send feedback to Microsoft

© Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.