Aircraft unexpectedly banks to the left or to the right or is uncontrollable in Flight Simulator

Article ID: 260183 - View products that this article applies to.
This article was previously published under Q260183
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SYMPTOMS

Before you start to fly, before you take off, or when you fly in Microsoft Flight Simulator, your aircraft may unexpectedly bank to the left or to the right after being airborne for about five minutes. Additionally, your aircraft may take off on its own.
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CAUSE

This problem may occur if the fuel settings for the aircraft are not configured correctly.
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RESOLUTION

To work around this problem, use the following methods in the order that they appear in.

Method 1: Disconnect the game device

Sometimes a controler that is not calibrated correctly may cause problems in the game. To determine if the game device is causing the issue, turn off your computer and unplug the game controller (joystick). Start Microsoft Windows, and then start the game. Try to use your keyboard to play the game. If the issue continues to occur, go to the next method. If the issue did not occur, the problem maybe with game controller configuration and setting. For more information about how to troubleshoot game controllers in Flight Simulator, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
315926
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315926/ )
How to troubleshoot joystick problems in Flight Simulator

Method 2: Reset the game defaults

Follow the steps for the version of Flight Simulator that you are using.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004

  1. Quit the game.
  2. Click Start, click All Programs, and then click Microsoft Games.
  3. Click Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004, click Troubleshooting, and then click Reset Defaults.
  4. Start the game.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002

To rebuild the Flight Simulator 2004 configuration file, press and hold down CTRL+SHIFT as you start Flight Simulator 2004, and then start a new flight. Continue to hold down CTRL+SHIFT until the game is in Cockpit view. Note When you rebuild the configuration file, some of your settings may change.

Method 3: Change the Fuel selector setting to Off

  1. Start a new flight in Flight Simulator.
  2. On the Aircraft menu, click Fuel.
  3. In the Fuel selector box, click Off.
  4. Click the green check mark to return to the cockpit.

Method 4: Change the Current realism settings to Easy

  1. On the Aircraft menu, click Realism Settings.
  2. Move the Current realism settings, slider all the way to the left (the Easy setting).
  3. Click the green check mark to return to the cockpit.
Note Changing the Current Realism Settings to Easy allows you to fly for an indefinite period of time without running out of fuel.

If you are using third party add-ons (scenery or aircraft) with Flight Simulator, the game may not work as expected. To resolve the problem, remove the game, delete its folder, and then reinstall the game. If you do not have third party add-ons installed, follow these steps also.

Method 5: Remove the program, delete the program folder, perform a clean boot procedure, and then reinstall the program

To remove the program, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.

    Note On a Microsoft Windows XP-based computer, click Start, and then click Control Panel.
  2. Double-click Add/Remove Programs.
  3. On the Install/Uninstall tab, double-click Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000, Flight Simulator A Century of Flight, or Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002, and then follow the steps to remove the program.

Delete the Flight Simulator 2000 folder, the Flight Simulator 2002 folder, or the Flight Simulator 9 folder

  1. Click Start, click Run, type "c:\Program Files\Microsoft Games" (including the quotation marks) in the Open box, and then click OK.
  2. In the Microsoft Games dialog box, right-click the Flight Simulator 2000 folder, the Flight Simulator 2002 folder, or the Flight Simulator 9 folder, and then click Delete.
  3. Close the Microsoft Games dialog box.
  4. In the Microsoft Games dialog box, right-click the Flight Simulator 2000 folder, the Flight Simulator 2002 folder, or the Flight Simulator 9 folder, and then click Delete. Click Yes to delete the folder.
  5. Close the Microsoft Games dialog box.

Perform a clean boot procedure on the computer

When you start Microsoft Windows by using a typical startup, several programs start automatically and run in the background. These programs may include antivirus and system utility programs. Such programs may interfere with the game setup.

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
331796
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/331796/ )
Games: How to perform a clean boot to prevent background programs from interfering with play
After you perform a clean boot, empty the temporary folder in Windows. To do this, use the method that is appropriate for your system.

Reinstall the program

Insert CD1 of the Flight Simulator CD package in your computer's CD or DVD drive, and then follow the steps to install the program.
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STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.
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Properties

Article ID: 260183 - Last Review: November 14, 2007 - Revision: 5.5
APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft Flight Simulator X Deluxe
  • Microsoft Flight Simulator X Standard
  • Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004: Century of Flight
  • Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002 Standard Edition
  • Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002 Professional Edition
  • Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000 Standard Edition
  • Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000 Professional Edition
Keywords: 
kbconfig kbsetup kbprb kbui KB260183
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