I bought an SSD drive for the express purpose of speeding up my FSX load time. I keep reading that people do this. Unfortunately I can't figure out how to do it. I define and installation path to the SSD drive but the install doesn't put anything but fonts on that drive and everything else goes to the C:program files (x86). Is there any way to install to the SSD or did I waste my money?Thanks for the help.

Well, in my estimation, the first mistake is assuming that the SSD will make a "significant" difference or "Is the load time gain worth the cost?"but since you already did it try this - When you are doing the FSX install - select CUSTOM install - this should allow you to define the exact path to your FSX drive.Vic

Let's just say I found a price mistake on one at Fry's and they honored it. I've been doing the custom installation. It doesn't work. It ignores my path other than for fonts and installs it to the C drive anyway.

What SSD? Did you format it?

It's a Kingston SSD and it's formated. Like I said, it does copy the fonts and an HTML file to the SSD but everything else goes to the C drive. I think it has something to do with what 64 bit systems do with 32 bit programs, but I don't know how to get around it.

It's a Kingston SSD and it's formated. Like I said, it does copy the fonts and an HTML file to the SSD but everything else goes to the C drive. I think it has something to do with what 64 bit systems do with 32 bit programs, but I don't know how to get around it.

Using a Kingston SSD as my lappy system drive and for FS2004. The READ speeds of ssd's (scenery loading) are phenominally faster then the fastest hdd's. I saw a tremendous increase in FS2004 overall flyability and load times(as well as ALL my other apps) after the ssd. Typically the configuration is an SSD for operating system and ALL apps. Some huge games may not fit as ssd's are not as large in capacity overall. This is my 3rd ssd. Data storage for my lappy is on 3 external HDD's (4G total) My Flight Simulator folder is -> C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Flight Simulator 9 Size is 10.8 GB (11,667,263,488 bytes) so my 64G ssd has all -my- apps I use -and- FS9 runs so fast.....I think some simmers reject or put-off getting an ssd since they may feel they want to directly replace a one-drive PC hdd ( maybe 1 or 2 TB hdd) with a 1 or 2 TB ssd..which is ideal but lot's of $$$ honey. I see no downside to the sasd system/apps/some games approach with all my other data files (movies,pics,mp3's) on hdd..they've been there for years already..working just fine.In the past to safeguard my FS and all my add-ons I installed FS2004 (and FSX also once) to an external USB hdd...I may have had to create a 'Program Files' folder on the exteernal drive beforew FS would install..maybe..as I've run into that where 32 bit apps are prevented from installing in Windows 7 c:/Program Files as the os claims it for 64 bit apps only.....ah yes Progress !! Happy Landings....-PS a really fun mountaintop / cliff edge airstrip is John Harris Field (AR05) near Russelville,Arkansas in the Arkansas River Valley above Lake Dardanelle. Arkansas' only nuclear reactor can be seen there in FS2004/FSX.John Harris Field is a private sgtrip but I think John won't mind simmeers using it!! Oh it's a whopping 900ft long grass strip....try it some stormy night!!

It's a Kingston SSD and it's formated. Like I said, it does copy the fonts and an HTML file to the SSD but everything else goes to the C drive. I think it has something to do with what 64 bit systems do with 32 bit programs, but I don't know how to get around it.

I have Windows 7 64 bit and my FSX is located at D:\Flight Simulator X so your problem is not related to a limitation of the OS. You should re-check that you are actually selecting Custom Install and defining a install folder to your SSD.Todd

yes. something else is going on. there is no restriction with 32bit and 64bit systems. FSX will install where you tell it. The only way to get to WHERE you can tell it is to do a CUSTOM install and change the location in the proper dialog.Vic

Well, something strange kept me from doing it. I was definately doing a custom install and I tried to put it into just about any directory name I could think of. I tried program files, program files(x86) and lots of other things. I know I was pointing it right because it would always install a font file and an html file on the ssd drive and then switch back to the hard drive. I tried it as administrator, I disabled user account control, and who knows what else. I finally gave up and let it install to C: and then moved the whole directory to the SSD drive. Ran a registry fix to point things to the right location and it's now working fine. I'm just still scratching my head.