I've finally dialed in FS9 on my new system--steep learning curve on Vista 64 bit---and am about to reinstall FSX/FSX Acceleration using NickN's tips (nHancer etc). I've already purchased FSUIPC 4x registered version, UTX, and GEX. I'm thinking about REX as well. What order would you install?On my brief reinstall a couple weeks ago, I did base install followed by UTX and GEX. I had not applied the frame rate governor (setting FPS to unlimited and controlling frames via autogen--.bat file), so it was choppy--I'd get from 60 to 140FPS--fast but not smooth. The other area I didn't install was weather--I've got ASA. Does REX have a real-time weather engine?ThanksRich PerryIntel i7 965 Extreme Edition (turbo oc'd to 3.8Ghz)Nvidia GTX 285 2GB GPU (186 driver)OCZ 6GB DDR3 RAM 1800MhzVel Raptor 300GB SATA II 10000rpm HDSB X-Fi ExtremeDell 24 1920x1200Vista Ultimate 64-Bit

I've finally dialed in FS9 on my new system--steep learning curve on Vista 64 bit---and am about to reinstall FSX/FSX Acceleration using NickN's tips (nHancer etc). I've already purchased FSUIPC 4x registered version, UTX, and GEX. I'm thinking about REX as well. What order would you install?On my brief reinstall a couple weeks ago, I did base install followed by UTX and GEX. I had not applied the frame rate governor (setting FPS to unlimited and controlling frames via autogen--.bat file), so it was choppy--I'd get from 60 to 140FPS--fast but not smooth. The other area I didn't install was weather--I've got ASA but didn't install. Does REX have a real-time weather engine?

Yes REX has a realtime weather engine also. You can have both ASA and REX installed and use which ever one you want. For example you could load REX textures and use the ASA weather engine or vice versa. As far as an install order for any addons, I have not found any particular order to be better than the next. The key to installing your addons is to start FSX after each addon is installed, then exit FSX and install the next addon and repeat the process. Make sure you perform a defrag when you have completed all of your installations.Regards,Bob

Do yourself a HUGE favor and do NOT install FSX to the default path.Instead, use a short path such as C:\FSX ... :(

I agree with Father Bill and further I would open and run and defrag FSX at every step ie 1. FSX RTM open and run - defrag; 2. FSX + SP1 (or +Acceleration) open and run - defrag; 3. FSX + SP2 open and run - defrag and 4. the same for each autogen, landclass, scenery, 3rd party aircraft, etcThat way you know where the problem lies.RegardsPeterH :(

I agree with Father Bill and further I would open and run and defrag FSX at every step ie 1. FSX RTM open and run - defrag; 2. FSX + SP1 (or +Acceleration) open and run - defrag; 3. FSX + SP2 open and run - defrag and 4. the same for each autogen, landclass, scenery, 3rd party aircraft, etcThat way you know where the problem lies.RegardsPeterH :(

This is true but, if you are using a good defrag tool lik O&O or ultimatedefrag, you dont need to defrag anything till everything is installed and then some.These defragers allow you to select what you want to be on fastest part of disk, they dont just consolidate like windows defrag does.for example using vista resource monitor while on FSX i noticed that 90% of disk activity while Siming is to the FSX\Scenery folder, so this folder is now been placed on the fastest part of my disk using Ultimatedefrag. That is the outermost edge of the disk.

This is true but, if you are using a good defrag tool lik O&O or ultimatedefrag, you dont need to defrag anything till everything is installed and then some.These defragers allow you to select what you want to be on fastest part of disk, they dont just consolidate like windows defrag does.for example using vista resource monitor while on FSX i noticed that 90% of disk activity while Siming is to the FSX\Scenery folder, so this folder is now been placed on the fastest part of my disk using Ultimatedefrag. That is the outermost edge of the disk.

Thanks...I defragged using O/O after basic install and acceleration. I will likely load UTX/GEX/REX in that order, then defrag again. What I found interesting today is after I went through all of NickN's tips/set up nHancer etc and installed the FPS Limiter (30FPS), I was very unimpressed with the video quality and choppiness--I attempted test flights with all different autogen settings--FPS would remain very high--but it was choppy. Just on a whim, I uninstalled FPS Limiter (.bat file), and selected DX10 Preview box, clicked on A/A in FSX and WOW what a treat...I was able to crank my water to 2X mid...run autogen out to extremely dense, and best of all, lost the choppiness. I set the FPS to 45 and it seems it is a sweetspot. It seems almost counterintuitive but it's incredibly smooth using DX10 and the water effects are amazing. I know Nick says it's not the way to go--since nHancer won't work--but of all the settings, it seems to be the best.Rich Perry

Do yourself a HUGE favor and do NOT install FSX to the default path.Instead, use a short path such as C:\FSX ... :(

Interesting. Can you please explain why, please? I will be reinstalling FSX soon on a new machine and this is one tip I had not heard about. Thanks. Gianluca

Interesting. Can you please explain why, please? I will be reinstalling FSX soon on a new machine and this is one tip I had not heard about. Thanks. Gianluca

If you are using vista, dont install FSX under program files, better to install in something like C:\FSX, This is cause vista UAC and security issues that limit your control over fsx folders, and issues this could create for addons.personally i have installed FSX on a seperate drive entirely.I you are not using vista, then igonore this rule. But i dont know if win7 has the same over protective security issues as vista.

Thanks...I defragged using O/O after basic install and acceleration. I will likely load UTX/GEX/REX in that order, then defrag again. What I found interesting today is after I went through all of NickN's tips/set up nHancer etc and installed the FPS Limiter (30FPS), I was very unimpressed with the video quality and choppiness--I attempted test flights with all different autogen settings--FPS would remain very high--but it was choppy. Just on a whim, I uninstalled FPS Limiter (.bat file), and selected DX10 Preview box, clicked on A/A in FSX and WOW what a treat...I was able to crank my water to 2X mid...run autogen out to extremely dense, and best of all, lost the choppiness. I set the FPS to 45 and it seems it is a sweetspot. It seems almost counterintuitive but it's incredibly smooth using DX10 and the water effects are amazing. I know Nick says it's not the way to go--since nHancer won't work--but of all the settings, it seems to be the best.Rich Perry

The reason you had coppy display was definatly due to not having AA on in fsx, its got nothing to do fps limiter, and i recomend not to bother with fps limiter unless you have micro stutters, fps limiter, in my experience only helps with micro stutters not heavy stutters.And the only reason i dont use dx10 is cause the fsx progressive taxi does not work in dx10, i could not use fsx without pogressive taxi arrows that guide you in airport.

Interesting. Can you please explain why, please? I will be reinstalling FSX soon on a new machine and this is one tip I had not heard about. Thanks. Gianluca

I do this for two reasons...1. I prefer short pathnames to long, rediculously complicated ones.2. To mitigate/eliminate the draconian "protection" that Vista (and to some degree even WinXP) enforces on anything installed in the ../Program Files folder structure.Reason #2 is the primary cause of >90% of all questions asked about FS9/FSX, such as:a. Where is FS9.cfg or FSX.cfg file located? I don't have one! I can't find it! etc.b. Why can't I edit my xxx a/c's aircraft.cfg or panel.cfg files?

It is not often I can offer any real good suggestions or help but, I don't believe anyone has installed FSX as many times as I have. Each time, I learn something new. I think, maybe there are a thousands things (perhaps million) that can go wrong with FSX that you may never be able to find without doing a new clean install. As someone else has mentioned, I have FSX installed on its own disk (Drive D) and all of the programs that affects FSX appearance is installed on default drive C. Once FSX is installed and before installing any addons, I back up both drives. Once I have FSX in its "naked" state, I do a "Create Restore Point" for drives C & D before installing each and every addon. I also test each "addon" before installing another.Just some things that has helped me.wb2002 ASUS P5Q SE PLUS/Thermaltake W0106 700W PSUIntel QX6700 Quadcore - 2.66 OC TO 3.2Vista Ultimate 64/CORSAIR XMS2 DHX 4GB (2 x 2GB)2x150GB SATA WD Raptor- No Raid/2x320GB SATA WD SE16- No Raid2x IDE Light-On DVDRW 165H65/BFG GTX2603x SILENX 120X25MM FANS + 2x 10in XCLIO Wind Tunnel Case FansDanger Den Water Cooling/Enermax temp/fan controllerFSX ACC@ 1600/1200 |UTX/ASX/FEX/MTX/ASA/REX Now using Ultimate Traffic 2

Actually, after I first installed FSX + SP1 + SP2 to my E:\FSX folder, I copy/pasted the entire folder and renamed it to be E:\FSX_Virgin.Now I don't even have to "reinstall" it again to recover from any boo-boos, self-inflicted or otherwise... :(