This is very common when 'old' FS98/2000 panels are used in newer sims. I've found this very often because I'm not a fan of VCs and still prefer many of my 'classic' FS98/2000 2D panels.

There can be several reasons, ranging from the need to install 'old modules' in the cfg file that you have forgotten about through to there being incompatible gauges and even switches on the panel in question.

For example, gauges like 'gear wind noise'. I have also found that many older HGHB switches cause this problem, including even dummy switches and warning lights. When you remove them the panel works fine and you then either have to live without them or find newer replacements that do work. Almost all 'old' autopilots also have the same effect.

Finding where the problem is is an art form! The way I do it is to open up the panel.cfg file with Wordpad, select a large 'chunk' of gauges, copy them to clipboard, delete them and save the file. Then I run the sim and if the problem is still there I copy them back and remove another 'chunk'. Eventually the problem does go away so you know the offending switch or gauge is among the ones you've just removed. So you replace them and take a smaller chunk out than last time. Eventually you can home in the problem one(s).

But be warned, I have found in the past after scratching my head for hours that there were 2 switches or gauges (can't remember) in a panel, when one or the other was removed the panel worked fine so there appeared to be no problem switch/gauge. However, the problem only returned when BOTH of the switches or gauges were in the panel together!

So you can see there's no easy answer and tracking down a problem is really only for people who either know their way around a panel, or want to learn

Roger

PS by way of encouragement, I still use all but one of my classic FS98 panels after making the sort of changes I've mentioned so with a bit of effort it can be done. The 'problem' one was a much loved early 737 panel which had a great startup sequence involving 2 fuel switches. These were the root of the same problem we're talking about and I've never managed to find replacements that worked with the startup. The panel is usable but just isn't the same without it.

Yup, that was it. There were two "Vapor Trails" activation gauges in the first Virtual Panel section that were messing up the autopilot. I got rid of them, and everything works fine, now. So, for those of you out there with this problem, the gauge doesn't even need to be active at the same time as the gauge that isn't working correctly. Thanks again, Rollerball!!

Grateful in Vermont

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Ah gary, there are some panels you just can't live without. The days of 'classic' panel design are almost gone now with everyone thinking all you have to do is slap a few 'default' FS gauges onto a background and you've made it as a panel designer.

But in the days of FS98 and just after, which were the haydays in my view, there were some GREAT panel designers around who hand drew background bmps (none of this rubbishy so-called photo-realism which is anything but) and created gauges from scratch to match as far as possible the original items in the real plane.

Take a look at the 707 panel I'v shown some pics of in the GPS thread in the fs9 forum.

So anyway, I luv em so much I can't just let em go. It's a bit like preserving the aircraft itself maybe and I spose for me it's all part of the simming experience. I really do spend more time doing all these other things than flying in the sim, actually, and I know I'm not alone.

Roger

Rollerball, I'm with you. The panel I was working on is for the FA-18C Hornet, and when completed will have Eric Marciano's HUD and Radar guages (for chasing those pesky 707's  ) as well as at least 3 different screens in the MFD's. The DVC's I've seen in some recent aircraft are getting pretty darned good, though, so I don't know how much longer I can hold out before I dive headfirst into those!
8)