Just a quick question to see if this is possible, but is it possible to install Flight Sim on 2 different drives and then select which one you want to run? The reason I ask is that I want to test some programmes out on a clean installation without having to interfere with my original installation. Some regular readers may remember me having problems installing Ground Environment which to this day I still have no success so was wondering if I was to re-install a fresh FS9 on a different drive and then try installing GE to see if this works instead. I can't see how this is possible but if it can be done then please let me know. Thanks

Hi,You need to re-name the FS9.exe file, then CD1 will trigger a new installation. Then just name it back. Not sure if moving just the file will work.

There is a segment in issue number 25 of my Tips and Tricks for FS2004 series which outlines the process (and a few concerns) involved in creating two FS2004 installations on the same computer.Perhaps it would be helpful.http://library.avsim.net/esearch.php?CatID=fs2004misc&DLID=124745Good Luck!

There is a segment in issue number 25 of my Tips and Tricks for FS2004 series which outlines the process (and a few concerns) involved in creating two FS2004 installations on the same computer.Perhaps it would be helpful.http://library.avsim...isc&DLID=124745Good Luck!

Thanks for that info, it looks interesting. I will give it a go soon when I get some free time and see what happens. I just hope it doesn't mess up my original copy with all my add-ons! Just out of interest though, if I were to make a new 2nd copy as instructed in your guide and then wanted to get rid of it, then restore all the settings of the original programme back to how it was, is the process quite simple?

Thanks for that info, it looks interesting. I will give it a go soon when I get some free time and see what happens. I just hope it doesn't mess up my original copy with all my add-ons! Just out of interest though, if I were to make a new 2nd copy as instructed in your guide and then wanted to get rid of it, then restore all the settings of the original programme back to how it was, is the process quite simple?

The process included the renaming of all critical files which contain "settings".The restoration therefore is simply a matter of restoring their original names. However even that should not really be required as the "old" program can be used as is. The only "hitch" I can forsee would be some addon you wish to install that insists on finding the original names of critical files.All I can tell you is is works for me using the process I detailed in T and T 25.

FSUIPC installers, as do some others, plus certain add-ons and functions use the registry entry to get the path for FS. A dual installation of FS9 would mean two registry entries of the same name with different string values, or one of the registry entries might be written over.The only way I can see to get around this is to do one installation to a different folder or on the second installation rename the first FS folder so only one matches the registry entry at a time. Under Microsoft Games would be where the two folders of different names would be. Both folders would reside on the same logical disk partition. Then to test just do some folder name swapping to keep the registry path working.

Oh dear, I need some serious help please before I do any further damage....I have tried installing another fresh version on FS9 as per the guide given by Opa in the T&T 25 but I have a major problem; my original copy of FS9 was installed on my external hard drive (J) so I decided to put this new installation on the normal C drive. It installed fine except that all the slider settings were the same as my original which wasn't a problem and funnily enough all my add-on aircraft had been copied over. No problems here then, however, after checking the version of this which was 9.0 and not 9.1 this seemed like it had worked but it hadn't, well, not really. You see I should have disconnected my external hard drive as for some very strange reason, although when I did install it on my C drive it is acually got installed on my external hard drive and now when I run my original copy with all my countless hours of hard work, guess what version of flight simulator I now have again? That's right, I have the new one again which means I have lost everything!Now the question is, where do I go from here without making matters worse or has the damage been done now? I don't know if to just delete everthing now and start again which would take days, if not weeks to put back again, or is there a way I can salvage some of this wreckage? Any help on this critical situation would be extremely welcome, thanks!

I just realised what I did, when I ran disc 1 I did the 'express install' where it says that it will install all files to the default folder, eg C:\Program Files..... which I clicked on, but infact it installed it on J path which is my external hard drive and has replaced my previous version!I still need any help on this though, I think I have messed up big time!!!!!

I just realised what I did, when I ran disc 1 I did the 'express install' where it says that it will install all files to the default folder, eg C:\Program Files..... which I clicked on, but infact it installed it on J path which is my external hard drive and has replaced my previous version!I still need any help on this though, I think I have messed up big time!!!!!

If you had renamed your original installation, as was detailed in the procedure I used, I cannot see how the new installation could possibly replace it. It should have created a new installation using the regular naming conventions.In any case, you can try a System Restore - going back to a date prior to your experiments. Possibly that would put things back as they were.

No, the system restore didn't work. I am just wondering what I should do, I think I am going to have to do a complete re-install much to my frustration. If I have programmes on my desktop such as AES where I have got credits, can I transfer that programme into the new version of FS9 or am I going to have to re-install that as well?Think I am going to have a good long think about what I plan to do, on one hand I am quite tempted to start all over again afresh but on the other I keep thinking of all the hard work I need to put back into it......

No, the system restore didn't work. I am just wondering what I should do, I think I am going to have to do a complete re-install much to my frustration. If I have programmes on my desktop such as AES where I have got credits, can I transfer that programme into the new version of FS9 or am I going to have to re-install that as well?Think I am going to have a good long think about what I plan to do, on one hand I am quite tempted to start all over again afresh but on the other I keep thinking of all the hard work I need to put back into it......

Be patient - a complete re-install "may" be the only option but let's explore other options first.Are you saying that you did not rename your orginal Flight Simulator 9 folder (and the other files I mentioned which needed to be renamed also) prior to trying the new install?Just trying to understand what you did or did not do.

You might also need to use the free flight1 FS registry repair tool to restore your path if your original files are intact:http://www.flight1.com/view.asp?page=libraryFSX/FS9 Registry Repair Tool (36KB)Also in Win XP up unless you have used to Win system manager tool to assign partition permanent drive letters for removable media the drive letters will change as you connect and disconnect those devices and removable media in those that allow it. In other words, J: might now be something else.To get to that, at least in XP, right click on My Computer, Manage, Storage, Disk Management. It might also in your case be under Removable Storage. Right click on the partition image in the right pane and you can reassign an available device drive letter. You must be an admin and yes, be very careful not to reassign your master boot disk drive letter. Without modifying anything just see how that device is recognized for a drive letter.

Be patient - a complete re-install "may" be the only option but let's explore other options first.Are you saying that you did not rename your orginal Flight Simulator 9 folder (and the other files I mentioned which needed to be renamed also) prior to trying the new install?Just trying to understand what you did or did not do.

Yes, I renamed the original Flight Simulator 9 folder with 'Full' after it as per your instructions and also the other files as well prior to the new installation...

Then an Express Installation would not install into that folder, since you renamed it. What else did you do?

Yes, I renamed the original Flight Simulator 9 folder with 'Full' after it as per your instructions and also the other files as well prior to the new installation...

Are you absolutely sure you do not now have two folders on your (J?) drive - one named Flight Simulator 9 (which would have been created during your new installation) and the other one (your orginal FS9 folder) which you renamed? If you followed the p[rocedure exactly that is what you should have.You should also have two different exe files (which start FS) and two different FS9,cfg files - each named to reflect the name of the two exe files. i.e. FS9.exe and FS9.cfg for the new installation and FullFS9.exe and FullFS9.cfg (or what ever name you used) for the old setup which you renamed.