[ouston]

After a week or so of hoping somebody would reply to this post nobody seems to have come up with anything. In the meantime I have come to suspect that the spinning disc/failure to launch problem is to do with the Securom copyright protection software on the disc. I downloaded the A-Ray scanner and it detected Securom on the DVD. The solution according to posts on the Pacific Fighters site seems to be to acquire the il2.exe file from the US version of the disc. I live in Britain so I have the European version which can helpfully be identified by having "Made in Europe" above the barcode. Some copies apparently made it to the US so if some kind person across the Pond could check and email me the exe file from the US release I would be very grateful. The US version apparently launches fine and does not involve Securom.

Exactly why this happens in my case and people using apparently the same version of Vista can have no problems at all I have no idea. If it is the solution it is also very annoying that a legitimately purchased piece of software will not run on the owner's computer. I have also been prevented from flying for about a month now, I am getting withdrawal symptoms and I really want to try the Korea map.

Pip pip

Ouston