"Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002 has detected 3rd Party software that may not be compatible with this version of Flight Simulator.File: Traffic.DLL" error message when you start Flight Simulator 2002 on a computer that is running Windows XP (824427)

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, use the following methods in the order that they appear in.

Method 1: Start Alternative Flight Simulation Programs

When you install Flight Simulator 2002 two utility programs, Fltsim98.exe and Fs2000.exe, are also installed. When you start either of these programs, Flight Simulator 2002 starts. To use these programs to resolve this issue, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, point to Run, and then type the following text where drive is the letter of the hard disk where Flight Simulator 2002 is installed:

   drive:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\FS2002\

2. Click OK.
3. Double-click the Fs2000.exe file.
   
   Note You can also double-click the Fltsim98.exe file.
4. When you see the main menu of the game, quit Flight Simulator 2002.
5. Start Flight Simulator 2002 as you typically would.

If the issue continues to occur, continue to the next method.

Method 2: Copy the Traffic.dll File

To copy the Traffic.dll file from the Modules folder to the root folder of Flight Simulator 2002, follow these steps:

1. Quit Flight Simulator 2002 if it is running.
2. Click Start, point to Run, and then type the following line where drive is the letter of the hard disk where Flight Simulator 2002 is installed:

   drive:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\FS2002\

3. Double-click the Modules folder.
4. Right-click the Traffic.dll file, and then click Copy.
5. On your toolbar, click the Back button.
6. On the Edit menu, click Paste.
7. Close all the windows and test the game.

If the issue continues to occur, continue to the next method.

Method 3: Remove and Reinstall

In case the issue persists, remove Flight Simulator 2002, use a clean boot to restart your computer, and then reinstall Flight Simulator 2002 to a new folder.

A clean boot is a way to create a clean environment. When you start your computer with a clean boot, Microsoft Windows starts and loads only basic devices and services. For information about how to use a clean boot and how to use a normal startup, see the "More Information" section later in this article.

To remove Flight Simulator 2002 and then reinstall it after a clean boot, follow these steps.

Note Because there are several versions of Microsoft Windows, the following steps may be different on your computer. If they are, see your product documentation to complete these steps.

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click Add or Remove Programs.
3. Click Flight Simulator 2002, and then click Change/Remove.
4. Click Uninstall and follow the instructions on the screen to remove the game.
5. Click Start, point to Search, and then click All Files and Folders.
6. In the All or part of the file name box, type FS2002.
7. In the Look in box, click My Computer, and then click Search.
8. Right-click the FS2002 folder, and then click Delete.
9. Click Yes when you are prompted to delete files.
10. Close all windows and perform a clean boot.
11. Click Start, click Run, type %temp%, and then click OK.
12. On the Edit menu, click Select All.
13. On the File menu, click Delete.
14. Click Yes when you are prompted to delete the temp files.
15. Insert the Flight Simulator 2002 CD-ROM in the CD-ROM drive or DVD-ROM drive.
16. Click Start, click Control Panel, click Add or Remove Programs, and then click Add New Programs.
17. Click CD or Floppy.
18. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation.
    
    When the installation program prompts you to confirm the destination folder for Flight Simulator 2002, create a new folder other than the folder where the program was previously installed.
19. Use a normal startup to restart your computer.