New SolarFire9 Install Is NOT Compatible with Windows10

[caseygrace]

I have used SolarFire9 for years and loved it until I got a new laptop with Windows10 Pro.

I tried to install SolarFire9 as a new install (no backup from previous successful install) but have not been able to get the software to start after install.

I followed all troubleshooting steps, as instructed by the SolarFire team, detailed below:
- wiped the hard drive and reinstalled Windows, saving NONE of my data (Seriously?)
- drove a stake through the heart of OneDrive.
- created a new local user (Ridiculous requirement)
- attempted to install SolarFire9 logged in as the new local user.

SAME ERRORS EVERY TIME.

Below, from the Event Viewer, occurs every time I attempt to start the software after a fresh SolarFire9 install on a virgin Windows10 install:
Application Error
Faulting application name: SolarFire.exe, version: 9.0.0.25, time stamp: 0x574db812
Faulting module name: KERNELBASE.dll, version: 10.0.19041.1826, time stamp: 0x617d5271
Exception code: 0xc000041d
Fault offset: 0x0012ca42
Faulting process ID: 0x2a60
Faulting application start time: 0x01d8a9a02d93cd9c
Faulting application path: C:\Program Files (x86)\SolarFire9\SolarFire.exe
Faulting module path: C:\WINDOWS\System32\KERNELBASE.dll
Report ID: 1e87ee83-3591-45e9-8ea3-23f2a45a150e

[Jim Eshelman]

Casey, people supporting Solar Fire on Facebook forums have told me in no uncertain terms that Solar Fire 9 has some serious problems on Windows 10 and 11. (The problems are with SF 9, not with Windows.)

Among other things, it makes me quite happy I never upgraded from SF 8. I kept looking at the new features in 9 and couldn't find anything I wanted, so I never spent the money, but I almost spent it on principle several times.

I'm told that there is no expectation SF 9 will be fixed in its current form and everyone is waiting for SF 10 to have the fixes. I can't confirm that's true, I'm just going by what I'm told by people who support SF 9 day in, day out. One person said they made enough commotion with SF support that Astrolabe gave them a copy of SF 8 as the solution, and it worked fine for them. - At the same time, many people are using SF 9 happily on Win 10, so I'm not sure what makes the difference between when it works well and when it doesn't. (SF 8 works brilliantly for me on both Win 10 and 11.)

A few individual responses to your letter:

wiped the hard drive and reinstalled Windows, saving NONE of my data (Seriously?)

Ugh. In any troubleshooting, this is a last resort (and one that rarely makes a difference). Astrolabe should know better. (Most of the other recommendations they gave you are equally bad IMHO.)

drove a stake through the heart of OneDrive.

I think this is exactly the OPPOSITE of what you want to do, but it CAN be a viable solution if you're only using SF on one computer. I have careful instructions on SF on Win 10 here (though written based on experience with SF 8, not 9):
https://www.solunars.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=5725

The gist of my advice is: Use Windows 10 the way it was intended, with all the advantages. Specifically, create your profile/login with a Microsoft account, not a local account; make sure OneDrive is fully enabled; make sure OneDrive syncs your Documents folder instead of using the local-profile Documents folder; make sure OneDrive is set to keep all files also on the local machine (instead of working cloud-only) or, in the alternative, start out this way and then go cloud-only on non-SF folders you choose; then install Solar fire after you have this setup complete.

That will at least remove any difficulties Windows itself could be bringing to the matter. The key points are to use a Microsoft account (just to get unsuspected complications out of the way), make sure OneDrive is syncing the Documents folder (where SF puts its user files), and make sure those files are all kept on the local machine instead of cloud-only (they have a green disk icon after them in File Explorer, rather than a cloud icon).

Below, from the Event Viewer, occurs every time I attempt to start the software after a fresh SolarFire9 install on a virgin Windows10 install: ...
Application Error
Faulting application name: SolarFire.exe, version: 9.0.0.25, time stamp: 0x574db812

That's all you need right there: It's a program error. They have to fix it or give you a version that will work on your current computer.

Faulting module name: KERNELBASE.dll...

On a new Windows installation that has had all Windows updates run, this is invariably an application error, not a Windows error. (If it were a Windows error, with KERNELBASE.dll faulty, other programs would be having serious problems also.)

Faulting application path: C:\Program Files (x86)\SolarFire9\SolarFire.exe

Again, the finger points to SF itself. Admittedly, it could be a Windows error because all it really means is that Solar Fire was the application running (getting computer attention) at the time the error was encountered, but that usually means the application is where this occurred.

You could try re-registering KERNELBASE.dll, but I doubt it will make a difference (on a new Windows install that's fully updated). The method is to open an admin command prompt and type regsvr32 KERNELBASE.dll (then reboot). It makes no sense that this would be necessary on a fresh system, but it does rule out one minor possibility. A simpler path might be to run System File Checker (SFC.exe /scannow from an admin command prompt) to confirm all Windows system files are the correct version and undamaged.

[caseygrace]

Thank you so much for the thoughtful reply. I decided to delay my struggle with Solar Fire install until after the Saturn/Uranus meat-grinder has completed its course. Stuck, as I am, with no astrology software on my computer, enter astro.com where, "Please select this option only if you really know what you are doing" could be taken as a compliment, if you think about it.

I am intrigued by the methods presented in Sidereal Mundane Astrology but I am struggling to replicate the George Washington mundoscope.

Yes, another sidereal mundane newbie but not entirely sidereal ignorant either, so there is hope.

Getting the sidereal horoscope displayed correctly using basic astro.com options was easy. The mundoscope is a puzzler, however. The closest approximation I've found is actually pretty cool in its own right; by selecting the "Sky Map" options under Chart drawing style, you can get a nice display of the fixed stars, constellations, planets, axes, Gallactic Center, house boundaries, ASC/DC/MC/IC + planetary latitudes in a table below the chart.

Planetary latitudes are also available by generating a sidereal ephemeris for 1732 (Washington's birth year).

I think the last pieces I need are the latitudes of Washington's natal house cusps ... and this is my next push into the astro.com options.

Settings I used to generate the Sky Maps for George Washington's natal chart:
Horoscope for: George Washington (manually enter the birth data)
Chart type: Natal Chart Wheel
Chart drawing style: Sky Map: Upper Sky and Lower Sky (two separate charts each generated separately)
House System: Campunus
Zodiac: Sidereal
Ayanamsha: Fagan/Bradley

[Jim Eshelman]

I am intrigued by the methods presented in Sidereal Mundane Astrology but I am struggling to replicate the George Washington mundoscope.

Did I include George Washington's mundoscope in SMA? (I don't remember doing that - but please give me a chapter or page number if you wish.) Or maybe you found it elsewhere on this site.

In any case, the mundoscope is nothing more than a map in prime vertical longitude. In Solar Fire, it is the Z-Analogue Prime Vertical chart on the Harmonics, Transforms & Analogues menu. In Janus, it is listed as a mundoscope. In TMSA it is listed on the face of the chart and also in the PVL column. Astro.com has no provision for it at all.

This may be your solution (at least within the Sidereal zodiac): Just download and install the free TMSA software which lists these positions automatically and also calculates the ingresses that interest you: https://www.solunars.com/viewforum.php?f=60 (Select the TMDSA 0.4 Stable Release thread and see the thread below it on Installing TMSA for instructions in circumventing Windows security warnings.)

I think the last pieces I need are the latitudes of Washington's natal house cusps ... and this is my next push into the astro.com options.

This is irrelevant to the mundoscope calculation.

[caseygrace]

... download and install the free TMSA software which lists these positions automatically and also calculates the ingresses that interest you: https://www.solunars.com/viewforum.php?f=60 (Select the TMDSA 0.4 Stable Release thread and see the thread below it on Installing TMSA for instructions in circumventing Windows security warnings.)

Excellent! Thank you for the guidance. I am excited to get started.

Did I include George Washington's mundoscope in SMA? (I don't remember doing that - but please give me a chapter or page number if you wish.) Or maybe you found it elsewhere on this site.

Sidereal Mundane Astrology
Chapter 3
THE MUNDOSCOPE
Page 13

As a practical example, here are the horoscope and mundoscope for George Washington:
general, president, and identified by history as the father of a nation. He was born February 22,
1732 in Popes Creek Landing, VA. According to the family Bible, he was born at 10:00 AM.

[Jim Eshelman]

I'd forgotten that. I think you have an older version of SMA. The current edition uses Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's chart as the example. It's probably been that way for several editions.

Help yourself to a current (17th) edition: https://www.solunars.com/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=4017

[caseygrace]

THANK YOU! The generosity here is abundant. WOW.
I now have the TMSA software + the current edition of SMA.
Kid in a candy shop!

One last question ... any opinions here regarding use of sidereal for planetary magickal practice?

I'm astonished, honestly, that sidereal is not de facto; particularly for timing with lunar mansions.

[Jim Eshelman]

One last question ... any opinions here regarding use of sidereal for planetary magickal practice?

Yes: Since the Sidereal zodiac is the only actual zodiac, working with prevailing astrological energies requires using the Sidereal zodiac. I don't know if you have my book Visions & Voices which studies Crowley's scrying of the 30 Aethyrs against the backdrop of the prevailing astrological patterns (since we have exact times, dates, and places for nearly all of the visions), but a contrast of his visions against Sidereal sign placements (especially Moon sign) shows unequivocally that only the Sidereal zodiac mapped his inner experiences in these visions.

I'm astonished, honestly, that sidereal is not de facto; particularly for timing with lunar mansions.

Well, me, too But, y'know, old habit and what not...

[caseygrace]

Visions & Voices and 776.5 are en route to me as I write this.

I am also learning the Hebrew alphabet with the assistance of a wonderful book, Learn to Read Hebrew in 6 Weeks by Miiko Shaffier.

It is an honor to correspond with you, sir.

An online search for your books also brings up your Astro Data Bank birth chart, https://www.astro.com/astro-databank/Eshelman,_James_A.

Fun fact! You are 10/10, Crowley was 10/12 and I am 10/13.

With respect and gratitude.

[SteveS]

Jim, when I go to my cosmic conference in June, I hope to sit down with a few people who are very interested in historic great fires, one of the persons is a well known author. I will be under some good SLR Natal Jupiter-Node symbolism so I am looking forward to possibly making new Jupiter contacts. For sure, I will start em off with your SMA work on the outstanding 1871 Great Chicago fire destroying the city. It has such an “outstanding” DC Capsolar & Cansolar with Cansolar Mars on Chicago’s MC map line, also outstanding CapQ/CanQ quotidians.

Would you please give me your Solar Map settings in SF (mine is version 9) for view of various maps where if I need to PM you from the conference with questions, I will know I have the same settings as you? I am sure most of the people I will come into contact with will not be versed well with planetary symbolism, but I think most will be familiar with the par-excellent symbolism for Mars with fires. I want to be sure they see DC’s 1871 Cansolar Mars MC Map line going through Chicago and Chicago’s Cansolar Mars MC Map line. I want to be able to grab their attention in order to bring SMA awareness to thier minds, hopefully they will be able to spread good words to other earth scientiests about the great potential for SMA with their mundane work. Thanks.

[Jim Eshelman]

Would you please give me your Solar Map settings in SF (mine is version 9) for view of various maps where if I need to PM you from the conference with questions, I will know I have the same settings as you? I am sure most of the people I will come into contact with will not be versed well with planetary symbolism, but I think most will be familiar with the par-excellent symbolism for Mars with fires. I want to be sure they see DC’s 1871 Cansolar Mars MC Map line going through Chicago and Chicago’s Cansolar Mars MC Map line.

I think this is what you want:

My default settings on the Lines drop-down menu are: Select all four angles along the left, then pick In Mundo. No other boxes checked.

To get squares to the angles, click Zodiacal instead of In Mundo, then check Add Aspects. I've previously set the Add Aspects options (the > next to it) to list ONLY squares.

You can't get EP/WP in RA (one day TMSA will), but you can get all the rest.

If you're showing them the Chicago Fire Cansolar, don't forget to mention that the much worse Peshtigo fire - America's single deadliest fire with at least 1,500 deaths - began the VERY SAME DAY. Whereas the central longitude of Chicago is 87W39, Peshtigo is 87W45 - they're on the same longitude! You can see on the map (if you look up where Peshtigo, WI is) that the Mars line goes exactly through both. Chicago is more famous, but Peshtigo is the bigger deal.

[SteveS]

Jim wrote:

If you're showing them the Chicago Fire Cansolar, don't forget to mention that the much worse Peshtigo fire - America's single deadliest fire with at least 1,500 deaths - began the VERY SAME DAY. Whereas the central longitude of Chicago is 87W39, Peshtigo is 87W45 - they're on the same longitude! You can see on the map (if you look up where Peshtigo, WI is) that the Mars line goes exactly through both. Chicago is more famous, but Peshtigo is the bigger deal.

Exactly Jim! Randall Carlson beleives both of these great fires were set off by some type of small air-burst from maybe some type of cosmic debri. He has devoted a 2 hour podscast for these 2 great fires. Thanks for the settings Jim and heads-up for Solarfire 9 not Windows 10 compatiable.

[Jim Eshelman]

That's a theory that's been around a while. Major fires erupted the same day on the other side of Lake Michigan, in Holland and Manistee, Michigan. There seems no common physical cause for all these fires other than extreme dryness and strong winds. The one argument usually raised against this being debris from Comet Biela (which was passing near Earth at the time), is that comet fragments or meteorites are cool when they hit ground.

[SteveS]

I never heard about the cosmic therory for statrting these fires. I was only aware of the Chicago fire until I saw/heard Randall's pod cast on the other fires in the same area, kinda makes the cow theory starting the Chicago fire questionable I have already been asked if SMA could possibly see a comet fragment causing catastropic damage in the futue for an important part of the planet and I said yes---maybe. Told em SMA has great potential for their line of work/thinking---but has its limitations as well for clear foresight. I told em I wish our camp had accurate ephemeris going deeper back into history---if so--we could take SMA and possible go back and research the cosmic environment for the possible probable year of Younger Dryas catastrophe, but told em I am a dreamer.

[Jim Eshelman]

Having recently taken Chicago architecture tours, I can tell you that nobody in the know in Chicago has taken the cow story seriously for a long time. Officially the cause of the initial spark is unknown (the fire department never specified a cause). The O'Leary story likely flared up faster than the fire itself because of fierce opposition to Roman Catholics in the recnetly growing Irish population.

There are several possibilities of who started it. Given how dry everything was, any untended spark anywhere could have done it: The dryness was the real cause.

The celestial debris theory, according to my notes, goes back to about a decade after the fire.

[SteveS]

The dryness was the real cause.

Indeed, that is what I also believe, doesn't really matter the cause of the spark.

[carriere.francois]

Hello everyone,

Just for the sake of it: I upgraded to version 9 of Solar Fire this week (now version 9.0.29). The problems (big S) are still there. For instance, using the different menus to set personal parameters make the software crashes. So impossible to set planets, aspects and orbs, which are the most important features an astrologers uses. Sadly, never did Alabe or its distributor (Hank Friedman) told me there were flaws concerning Windows and their software. But they took the money

The reason I bought the upgrade was for primary directions and they're not working. So, for instance, it's impossible to calculate Placidus PDs...

So, got back to SF8 and Astrologv3.46 for the PDs which come from the freeware Morinus,

Best regards,
François

[carriere.francois]

Hello,

Finally, I have been able to have SF9 working with Windows 11: I had to uninstall Onedrive (it's in the SF docs). Still some bugs (SF closes when not expected, but most bugs are gone. I suppose people will want to make version 10 is more functional with newer version of Windows.

Best regards,
François

[Jim Eshelman]

You've basically crippled Windows, then, since OneDrive is fundamental to the way it works now. Everyone I've known who had any troubles from SF and OneDrive was because they were trying to avoid OneDrive rather than embrace.

I wrote a long piece on how to make this work - at least with SF 8 - here, if you're interested:https://solunars.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=5725