Ok,I've got a new setup. 3.4g Pentium D, 1g ram, 240g hdd and a Geforce 7600gs card.

I won't go into the pain involved in that little deal and other recent experiences but I will say it was an unexpected purchase aided by my home contents insurance policy.

FSX was immediately on the shopping list as I thought the upgrade from my 1.8g thing would be just the ticket to run it.

First attempt with FSX had the computer dropping out during my first flights and then refusing to start. FSX also decided to revert to default settings any time it liked.It was back to the Computer Shoppe where a power supply problem was diagnosed and back to the Game Shoppe for another FSX.

This FSX wouldn't show aircraft. Back to Shoppe. The next copy would show aircraft but no textures-forget about settings of any sort. Back to Shoppe-"Sorry can do no more"

I wasn't giving up yet. It was too late to call MS support so I had the whole weekend to stare at this useless piece of rubbish and its non performing programme.

I should have come here first to see what you guys were up to--but no--I went looking myself.

I downloaded ijt-autogen by Ian Thatcher because he had fps problems,which was also a feature of the copies of FSX I had and mod_terr to see if things might improve.

Before I installed them I formatted.

I downloaded updated drivers(I'VE JUST BOUGHT THE DAMN THING!!!!) for the graphics,the motherboard and the chipset. And a flash BIOS just for the hell of it.

I reinstalled FSX and went to play with settings. Everything is running fine with fps to 40 if I want(I don't)

The added extras maybe don't show as well but might do on a 2.6g which is why Ian Thatcher changed the autogen.

This has been a frustrating execise and my sympathy is extended to all others running less than what I am. If it were me I think I would be ready to chew my arm off in frustration.

Seek medical advice if contemplating self harm.

Col