Importance or issues of installing SP1 first, or let Acceleration do both SP1 and SP2?Unfortunately, I can't remember if I installed via Method 1 or 2 a month ago?Method 11) FSX and rebooted2) SP1 and rebooted3) Acceleration (with SP2).----- or ------------Method 21) FSX and rebooted2) Acceleration (with both SP1 and SP2)What I would like to hear from the experts, does it make any difference, and if it does, what kind of problems can I expect?Bill Clark

Just install using method #2. The Acceleration add on handles all the work for you. I've been through many a reinstall.

Any other individuals have comments on their experiences?Bill Clark

Hi Bill,I too install using method 2; never had problems with this way.Adam

Method 2 worked for me too

If you go with method #1 you will need SP 2.If you go with method #2 you will have FSX fully patched and you will also have Acceleration. This is a must add-on.

If you are not planning on using acceleration, install SP 1, reboot, install SP 2 , reboot.

Method 2 with no problem

At this point I don't understand why anyone would avoid the Acceleration addon. It comes with FSX gold which is $20. For that you get full functionality without all the install-patch-reboot-rinse, repeat hassles. I did it this way on Win 7 64 method 2 with no hassles ( and I am loaded with addons).

As said already, and reinforced several times...Option #2! That is the "undocumented" Microsoft preferred way as well. Just let Acceleration take care of the entire shabang! No muss, no fuss!-Greg

Thanks for all your feedback,Bill Clark

I would like to say, that regardless of what others have said, installing SP1 is very important to some addons prior to installing SP2/Acceleration. There are some features in SP1 that I have found during quality testing of products that is necessary PRIOR to installing SP2/Acceleration. While it is assumed that SP2/Acceleration contain everything that is necessary, this is certainly not the truth. It has caused strange faults, crashes or other anomalies in testing that I have conducted with various clients. Some may deny this, but some have denied that SP2 and Acceleration contain the same elements... which is also certainly untrue from a development standpoint. Finding issues that are SP1 compliant are hard to pin down, and I feel many developers are not aware of them. I have personally witnessed at least 3 occassions when not installing SP1 required a complete reinstall of FSX.I would like to point out that most of these issues that I encountered were with environmental addons. Not having SP1 installed prior to SP2/Acceleration should not effect 98% or more of available addons. That said, why take a chance when your alternative is a complete reinstall?Also, why do I say complete reinstall? Simple. We know how computers can do things we are not aware of. If you built a new computer, installed an OS and jacked up your registry and/or got a virus, would you not just "start over", or would you build upon an already untrustworthy install?My recommendation, to be SAFE:1) Install FSX2) Install SP13) Install Acceleration/SP24) Have trouble free funRegards,-Cody BerglandOwner, Jaggyroad Films

This needs to be adjudicated and made into a Sticky. I have had too many trouble with FSX Installation. Particularly when SDKs are involved. Some Simmers Don't care for installing SDKs.I would like a comprehensive and detailed (information like..even if you have to install SP1, when Installing SP2, it you may then have to go and uninstall SP1 before installing SP2 etc etc..)MAnny