I first wrote about this sudden problem in the AVSIM FS9 forum, and so to avoid having to re-type it all, I have cut and pasted it here. I would like to enquire from PMDG how I can go about re-validating my licensed PMDG 737-600/700, 737-800/900, and MD11, in the wake of my computer calamity. Thanks from TonyI do apologize if this topic has been handled back in the mists of time, and I did carry out brief search in the archives before deciding to go ahead and ask my question in a new post.My FS9 computer's motherboard, a Gigabyte P.Ga-P35-DS3L stoped working a couple of weeks back without warning. When the diagnosis came in I wasn't really worried because I had made a complete backup of my FS9 hard-drive contents, on a separate drive that was left UN-connected so as to avert damage to that backup drive in the event of a system breakdown.The computer repairman who helps keep my system running was unable to find the exact same model as the motherboard that went bad, so he purchased a Gigabyte EP41-UD3L motherboard as a replacement. Next he tried the REPAIR procedure on my registered copy of the Vista OS, but was informed by a system message that a NEW Vista install would be needed, as opposed to the Vista "repair" approach that he found would not work.At one point the computer guy installed Windows7 on the new hard drive, followed by a re-install of FS9. Right off an "invalid license" message from PMDG prevented FS9 from even starting up. Oddly enough, installing an un-opened CD copy of the LevelD767 removed that error message from PMDG, and enabled FS9 to start up. But then, when I looked into the scenery and aircraft addon listings inside FS9, NONE of my extensive scenery and aircraft addons were visible or accessible in FS9.Over the years I have purchased and enjoyed flying the entire PMDG Boeing fleet, the PMDG MD11, the LevelD767, the Feelthere Embraer fleet, the Dreamfleet 727 and the Leonardo Maddog 80. Also before this disaster, my FS9 scenery list included many titles by UK2000, Fly Tampa, Aerosoft, FSDT/Cloud9, SimWings and Megascenery. With my computer still not yet set up right for FS9 use, I have now lost access to ALL of these addon aircraft and scenery products, many of which took HOURS to download from the net.As I speak, the computer tech is attempting to re-install my licensed Vista OS unto a NEW hard drive, after which he intends to try and move the Windows Game Folder, which contains FS9, along with all my previously registered addon scenery and aircraft, from my original, evidently undamaged drive from the old system, to the new drive.With the nightmare scenario of me ultimately having to re-install and re-register ALL my addon scenery and aircraft looming larger with every failed fix here, I would like to seek your learned opinions as to whether the corrective steps I have described above will allow me to once again use all my addon FS9 scenery when complete, or if, despite my precaution of backing up all my FS9-related files unto a physically separate drive, I will have to contact each addon vendor to commence that time-comsuming re-install and validation process all over again.Any answers that could set me on the right path would be greatly appreciated, folks. As it stands now I am effectively locked out from all the enhancements that made FS9 so magical for me, and becoming more depressed with each new corrective action that fails to reverse this situation. Apologies for the long-winded write up, but I felt that I needed to explain precisely what has been done so far, in the hopes someone on this forum might see a quick , no-hassle solution to it all. Tony

You can't just copy your FS folder onto a new system. Most Windows programs are not self-contained like this - FS and most addons are no exception. There's a bunch of registry entries, shared dlls that go in the various Windows folders etc that are going to be missing when you do this. The only way to get most of those things in place correctly (especially the registry entries, many of which are dynamically created during the install process) is to start over from scratch and reinstall everything using the actual installers. No other way unfortunately. I would not attempt to install overtop of the already existing FS9 folder, there's too many things that can go wrong trying to do that. Just wipe it all out and install clean.

Thanks for the quick response, Ryan. My next question relates to time-limited links from which I originally downloaded all the PMDG Boeings. How do I prove the validity of my original download to PMDG, in order that a repeat download, installation and validation can be permitted for my entire fleet ? Also, I was mailed a burnt CD copy of the PMDG MD11, when I requsted a backup after a less catastrophic computer glitch a while back, but I did not use that CD when my computer came back from the dead with all addons intact. May I now use that CD to re-install at least the MD11 ? If this is the way to go, would I use the ORIGINAL key password assigned when I first purchases the MD11 ? For the Boeings, I sure hope that the entire download step doesn't have to be repeated over again now, but if that is what will be necessary, I am prepared to devote the hours needed to do so, with PMDG's approval and direction.Thanks from Tony Selario

Tony,I don't see your name in the customer database for downloaded products. Do you have your order ids? PM those to me please if so. If the 737 orders were before October 2004, there's nothing we can do - our customer database prior to that date was destroyed in a server accident.At any rate if you don't have the installers you're going to need to purchase our Extended Download Service for them - we stopped doing free redownloads in 2007 due to the bandwidth cost to us.Also, what do you mean you were sent a burned backup CD? Who sent it? That's not something we do here...

Hi Ray, I sent a pasted copy of my proof of payment email for the PMDG Boeing fleet and the MD11, by PM to you a few days back. If that PM may have slipped through the cracks en-route, I will re-send it if you advise me to do so. Thanks for looking into this, and I do look forward to hearing from you and hopefully being granted permission for re-activation of my purchased copies of the PMDG 737-800/900 and the PMDG MD11. As I mentioned earlier, I went ahead and opened a CD boxed copy of the 737-600/700, so I won't bother you guys for a replacement for my evidently lost download version of that item.Much obligedTony