I know this may sound lame at first but, hear me out.I installed FS9 in Dec; Was a Christmas present. (Was runinng Windows7 x32 Ultimate OS with original fs9 install, now running Windows7 64 Ultimate OS) Put it on a separate hard drive. Never did any gaming before and I got after loading third party add ons without really knowing what was good and what wasn't. One thing I learned was that with some aftermarket add ons they were self extracting, to what "they" had programed as a default file path. Usually C:\Microsoft Games\fs9 or something similar. Often I would have to go back and clean up move files, folders, etc. PMDG apps comes to mind; some scenery/airport programs. It seems that many of these programs wanted to install folders outside of the fs9 directory. Is that normal?I think I want to reformat that drive and start over and be a little more selective with what I load up. I want to get this installed properly to minimize conflicts, maximize results . . . you know the drill.

1. For those of you that have fs9 installed on a separate drive, do you have the file path/directory named in such a way that minimizes errors with self extracting programs once you point it to the proper drive letter?
2. How do you make sure that the self extracting programs install properly on a separate drive when they are set up to seek the fs9 install on the "C" drive?
3. Do you keep the drive:/Microsoft Games/fs9, etc or drive:/fs9 or something else?

THANKS IN ADVANCE!

Every installer I've seen will let you specify the folder (and drive) you install to. Yes, many bring up the MS default location by default, but there is virtually always a Browse or ... button nearby that will let you change it.I don't know when you talk about installing files outside the FS folder - a few packages have a separate configuration (etc.) program and these are usually installed outside of FS. If it is trying to install FS files outside of FS, then you have not specified your FS9 folder correctly to the installer.I use C:FSFS2004 as my folder name, just because it's short and easy to remember. :) No problems to report using any installer to this point. I install any FS utility programs into the FS folder, into their own separate folders.Hope this helps,

Edited February 22, 201214 yr by tgibson

....It seems that many of these programs wanted to install folders outside of the fs9 directory. Is that normal?

On a Windows 7 (and Vista) system, you don't want FS2004 to be installed on the default folder. (C:Program Files (x86)etc)The 'Program Files ' folders are special system folder and protected by the OS and can cause all kinds of issues when installing add-ons.So yes, please do install FS2004 in a different folder/drive, like C:FS2004, E:FS2004 whatever.The FS installation path is saved in the Windows registry and most add-on installers look for this reg key and select it automatically.If they don't for some reason, you should be able to change the installation path manually in the installer.I never have encountered an installer when you couldn't change the installation folder and have to move files manually.It can happen that de registry key gets corrupted and the installers can't determine where FS2004 is installed.Flight1 has a free utility which you can download to reset the FS2004 reg-key back to its proper value.

On a Windows 7 (and Vista) system, you don't want FS2004 to be installed on the default folder. (C:Program Files (x86)etc)The 'Program Files ' folders are special system folder and protected by the OS and can cause all kinds of issues when installing add-ons.

C:Program Files is not a special system folder and it is not protected by the OS. If it were then it would be hidden from normal viewing, which it is not.There is no reason why FS2004 and any add-ons should not be installed under the Program Files folder provided you give full access rights to the flight sim folder, subfolders and files. This is how my system is set up and it works just fine. However, if you are not confident about changing permissions then, yes, the best thing to do is install the sim outside of the Program Files structure.David

Edited February 23, 201214 yr by vector

Well, you are certainly in the minority about it not being a special folder, *as set up by default*. Vista and Win7 put many more restrictions on the Program Files folders than on other folders I create myself outside of that folder, at least in my experience...

Remember, we are talking about FS9 on a separate drive, not the "C" drive. So C:Program Files in both 64 and x86 is not really relevant to this.

From what I've seen most installers will read the fs9 registry entry to find the path to the main fs9 folder and default to that location. Otherwise they give an option to install to a custom location. Just don't be too quick to click through the "next" buttons in the installer, and make sure the registry entry is correct (if, for example you move fs9 after installing).As far as "special folders", on my Win 7 x64 the properties/security/advanced on my fs9 folder looks like:and on program files x86 like:You see admins have "full control" on the first, but only "special" on the second.scott s..

Well, you are certainly in the minority about it not being a special folder, *as set up by default*.

Wikipeadia says "Program Files is a folder in Microsoft Windows operating systems where applications that are not part of the operating system are installed by default." Seems pretty clear to me that they are saying that Program Files is part of the OS, just like many other folders are, but that it is not a special systems folder - but, no doubt, they are wrong!Windows normally hides special systems folders from view - and for good reason too. It is possible to access them but you have to exercise some effort so as to display them. The Program Files folder structure is not hidden from view and it is easy to make any additions, alterations,etc., there.David

Edited February 24, 201214 yr by vector