Propeller doesn't spin - gauges don't work

[Chad-M]

Does your system meet the sim's requirements? YES
Did you temporarily disable your anti-virus program during the download process? YES
Before installing did you disable UAC. (User Account Control)? YES
Did you install, and are you running the sim as an admin? YES
Before running the sim did you make sure the FSX/P3D directory is off limits to any AV scanning? YES
Does your system have the required distributables? YES
Is your video card DX11 compatible? YES
If applicable, did you disable any FSX to P3D migration tools (like Estonia) before running the sim? YES
Are you using an aircraft other than a Milviz one as your default aircraft? YES
Have you installed in the root sim directory? YES
Do you have the appropriate SimConnect libraries installed? YES

Aircraft: PC-6 for FSX Steam Edition
Sim platform: FSX: Steam Edition
Operating system: Win10
Version: 190816
Unique ticket identifier: F9561BD1-562F-0465-62F2-824EB6CB0E0F

________________________________________________________________

Transaction ID: 5edd59371c9c6
Product: Milviz PC-6 for FSX Steam Edition
Amount paid: $52.00 AUD
Purchased at: 2020-06-07 21:30:59
Quantity: 1

Purchased from Orbx - they referred me to Milvis

The prop doesn't spin in any view and the gauges don't work. I can fly the plane but with no gauges it doesn't last long. I spent many hours trying to fix and eventually performed the following:

[Uninstall everything]
1. Uninstalled FSX-se from the Steam library.
1a. Deleted "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\FSX"
1b. Deleted "C:\Users\chadw\AppData\Local\Microsoft\FSX"
1c. Deleted "C:\Users\chadw\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\FSX"
1d. Deleted "C:\Users\chadw\Documents\Flight Simulator X Files"
1e. Deleted 'DovetailGames' and all subkeys from the registry
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\DovetailGames
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Microsoft Games\Flight Simulator
2. Uninstalled Steam
2a. Unsured all directories deleted
2b. Deleted 'Valve' and all subkeys from the registry
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Valve\
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Valve\Steam
3. Uninstalled Orbx apps (from Orbx)
3a Uninstalled Orbx apps (add/remove programs)
SimObject Display Engine
4. Uninstalled Orbx
4a. Deleted "C:\Users\chadw\AppData\Local\orbx-central-updater"
5 Cleaned up registry (CCleaner)

6. Shutdown PC
6a Pulled power (waited 30s)
6b Booted PC

7. Cleaned registry again (CCleaner)

8. Rebooted.

[Virus scan - disabled]
7. Anti-virus exclusions: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\FSX"
8. Turned off virus scanner (Windows real-time protection). No 3rd party anti-virus installed.
8a. Cloud-delivered protection - off
8b. Tamper protection - off
9. User Account Control Setting - set to "Never notify"
10. Firewall (domain, private, public) off.
11. App and browser control (check apps and files) off.
12. SmartScreen for MS Edge - off (I don't use this browser)

[Install]
13. Download "SteamSetup.exe" from Steam. (running browser as admin)
14. Ensure no applications running
15. Killed unnecessary services
16. Run "SteamSetup.exe" as administrator
17. Launch Steam
17a. "SteamService.exe" running 'elevated'. steam.exe, steamwebhelper.exe not 'elevated.
18. Kill Steam
19. Change steam compatibility, "Run this program as administrator"
20. Launch Steam - throws error about compatibility - click 'continue'.
21. steam.exe, steamwebhelper.exe now 'elevated' - SteamService.exe not running.
22. Install FSX-se from within Steam Library

23. Launch FSX-se from Steam library
24. confirm FSX-se is running 'elevated'
25. Exit FSX-se
26. Reboot

27. Turn off virus software (repeat steps 7-12)

28. Download 'orbx-central-4.1.11.exe' from orbixdirect.com (running browser as admin)
29. Close all programs and kill unnecessary services.
30. Run 'orbx-central-4.1.11.exe' as administrator
31. Confirm 'Orbx Central.exe' is running 'elevated' (six instances are running)
32. 'OrbxCentralWorker.exe' is also 'elevated'
33. No Orbx nor Milviz products installed (no aircraft, no other, no misc)

34. Within Orbx Central, navigate to 'Milviz PC-6 for FSX Steam Edition'
35. Click 'install'
35b. MVAMS immediately turned green checkmark
36. Orbx Central shows 'Milviz PC-6 for FSX Steam Edition' and 'MVAMS' installed.
37. Following https://milviz.com/flight/tips.txt
37a. This isn't entirely compatible as I'm installing from orbx central - I have no option to download compressed file.
38. Step 1 - run MVAMS and select options - [There are NO addons - never have been any after re-installing the software many, many, many times]

[Play]
39. Launch Steam
39a. Confirm Steam is 'elevated'
Free flight - choose 'Cessna C172SP Skyhawk'
Save and make this the 'default flight'
Click 'fly now'
Confirm the aircraft is operational.
Exit the flight.


40. Free flight - choose "Pilatus PC6 Porter Landplane"
41. 'Yes' to trusting 'PorterSystems.dll'
42. 'Yes' to trusting 'AMSInterop.dll'
43. 'Yes' to trusting 'MV3DSound.dll'
44. 'Yes' to trusting 'Milviz_Lighting_Guage.dll'
45. Click 'Fly now'

Still no joy. The prop doesn't spin and the gauges don't work. GPS seems operational.
Also, the MVAMS has never had any addons in it. Curiously, you can't crash the plane, it just bounces off the ground.

[Software Versions]
FSX-se 10.0.62615.0 (FSX.20150710-1055)
Windows 10 Home - Version 10.0.18362 Build 18362 (updated 10June2020)
MS Visual C++ 2015-2019 Redistributable - 14.26.28720.3 (updated 11June2020)
MS Visual C++ 2015-2019 Redistributable (x64) - 14.26.28720 (Updated 11June2020)
MS Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable - 8.0.61001 (updated 11June2020)
MS Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable (x64) - 8.0.61000 (updated 11Junee2020)
MS Visual C++ 2012 Redistributable - 11.0.50727.1 (updated 18Apr2020)
MS Visual C++ 2012 Redistributable (x64) - 11.0.50727.1 (updated 18Apr2020)
MS Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable - 12.0.30501.0 (updated 11May2020)
MS Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable (x64) - 12.0.30501.0 (updated 11May2020)
.NET 4.8 (Release 528040) (other .NET also installed)
Radeon Software Version 20.4.2 (released 21apr2020 - latest version)

[Hardware]
Intel Core i7-3820 - 3.6Ghz CPU
16GB DDR3 1866Mhz RAM
120Gb SATA SSD
ASUS ROG-STRIX- Radeon RX580-O8G 8Gb GDDR5 1360Mhz
DirectX® 12 Technology
OpenGL 4.5
OpenCL® 2.0
Asus Sabertooth X79 motherboard
Saitek yolk
Saitek throttle quadrant
Logitech rudder
Logitech radio

[doodlebug]

we have seen some cases where XMLtools doesn't install correctly - especially via the ORBx installer.

Please make sure you have the XMLtools for the sim version you are running enabled during install .

XMLTools.dll will be in the main FSX or Prepar3D folder, and there should be an entry in DLL.xml found in \AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\FSX or AppData\Roaming\Lockheed Martin\Prepar3D v{version number}

It should read as follows:

<Launch.Addon>
<Name>XMLTools</Name>
<Disabled>False</Disabled>
<ManualLoad>False</ManualLoad>
<Path>XMLTools.dll</Path>
<DllStartName>module_init</DllStartName>
<DllStopName>module_deinit</DllStopName>
</Launch.Addon>

If not, run the XMLtools installer inside the aircraft folder for the sim in question (xmltools_201 installer.exe is for FSX).

Go to your user's AppData\Roaming\Lockheed Martin\Prepar3D v{version number} or AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\FSX\ folder and check whether DLL.XML is present or not.
If it is not, and you have other users defined in your machine, go to each one's AppData\Roaming folder and check that DLL.XML is present in either Lockheed Martin\Prepar3D v{version number}, or Microsoft\FSX\ (depending on platform).


The correct XMLTools installer for your product will be found either in Lockheed Martin\Prepar3D v4\SimObjects\Airplanes\{your plane}\panel or FSX\SimObjects\Airplanes\{your plane [base model]}.
If you do not have the XMLTools installer, you may download the FSX/P3D 32bit installer here and the P3D v4+ 64bit version here.

[Chad-M]

There is no XMLTools.dll anywhere on the PC.
There is no DLL.xml in "C:\Users\chadw\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\FSX". chadw is the only user but there is nothing in the /users/ Default, Default.migrated, nor Public.

I found "xmltools_201 installer.exe" in "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\FSX\SimObjects\Airplanes\MV_PC-6_Base\Redist". When I execute it, it doesn't appear to do anything.

Your post indicated I could download a copy of the xml tools installer, but you did not provide a link. (there is no URL under the word 'here')

[doodlebug]

oops....
apologies!
https://milviz.com/filesfordownload/xml ... taller.zip (FSX/P3D 32 bit)
https://milviz.com/filesfordownload/xml ... taller.zip (FSX)

[Chad-M]

PC still has its fly open (no firewall, no anti-virus, user account control)
I ran xmltools_201 installer.exe (as admin) but it still doesn't appear to do anything. I ran it from CLI (cmd and ps) and still nothing.

XMLTools.dll doesn't exist anywhere.

The only xmltools* on the entire system is xmltools_201 installer.exe which I downloaded from here and also the one in the aircraft folder.

I downloaded free Milviz aircraft (p-38, f-15) and the prop and instruments work on those products. No freeware of any kind is installed. Since the total scrub, I've reinstalled other 3rd party payware aircraft and they are operational. I've since purchased Orbx Scenery and it installs correctly.

MVAMS still has no add-ons (nothing to select)

[edit]
I re-ran xmltools_201 installer.exe after installing my other products and it finally spits something out (a window). And, it created a file called XMLToolsInstallerLog.txt which only shows what the window showed on screen:
XMLTools 2.01 Installer
=======================
Fri Jun 26 09:45:34 2020


FSX found on this machine!!
XMLTools.dll successfully installed in FSX's main folder !!
DLL.XML not found !!
====================
-Cannot find the file for this User. A manual search and update is recommended.

-End of process-

There is only one user administered on this PC. I then ran xmltools_201 instller.exe from the same directory as dll.xml and I get the same error. Now, XMLTools.dll was created in the "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\FSX" directory . MVAMS still has no addons. In 10+ hours of trying to get this aircraft flying, this is by far the most progress.

Here is dll.xml after installing other add-ons:
(C:\Users\chadw\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\FSX\DLL.XML)

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="Windows-1252"?>
<SimBase.Document Type="Launch" version="1,0">
<Descr>Launch</Descr>
<Filename>dll.xml</Filename>
<Disabled>False</Disabled>
<Launch.ManualLoad>False</Launch.ManualLoad>
<Launch.Addon>
<Name>ObjectFlow.dll</Name>
<Disabled>False</Disabled>
<ManualLoad>False</ManualLoad>
<Path>C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\FSX\ORBX\FTX_AU\FTXAA_ORBXLIBS\Scenery\ObjectFlow.dll</Path>
</Launch.Addon>
<Launch.Addon>
<Name>FSUIPC 4</Name>
<Disabled>False</Disabled>
<Path>Modules\FSUIPC4.dll</Path>
</Launch.Addon>
<Launch.Addon>
<Name>SODE Animation Module</Name>
<Disabled>False</Disabled>
<ManualLoad>False</ManualLoad>
<Path>C:\Program Files (x86)\12bPilot\SODE\SimObjectAnimationModule.dll</Path>
</Launch.Addon>
<Launch.Addon>
<Name>MILVIZPACK</Name>
<Disabled>False</Disabled>
<ManualLoad>False</ManualLoad>
<Path>Modules\MILVIZ\Milviz_pack.dll</Path>
<DllStartName>module_init</DllStartName>
<DllStopName>module_deinit</DllStopName>
</Launch.Addon>
<Launch.Addon>
<Name>MILVIZ_F15E_Nav</Name>
<Disabled>False</Disabled>
<ManualLoad>False</ManualLoad>
<Path>Modules\MILVIZ\F15E_Nav.dll</Path>
<DllStartName>module_init</DllStartName>
<DllStopName>module_deinit</DllStopName>
</Launch.Addon>
<Launch.Addon>
<Name>as_connect</Name>
<Disabled>False</Disabled>
<Path>as_srv\as_btstrp.dll</Path>
</Launch.Addon>
</SimBase.Document>