Is that possible? I want to have a IFR sim and VFR sim--one configured for performance and another for visual quality. This'll save me from changing the Display setting everything I want to swtich from IFR to VFR and so on. I thought it should be okay, then I realize that the installer will write over the existing Application DataMicrosoftFS9 though. I don't think I can have 2 different fs9.cfg because the cfg is stored in Application DataMicrosoftFS9, not in the root of the sim.

I think you will need to install the second copy on a different partition - - but within a separate OS- easy if you're using Win XP. Then at boot you'll be asked which XP copy you wish to run. I don't think it's possible to do it any other way without having to rename at least part of FS9 each time you want to run an alternative copy.To explain - if you rename FS9( C/Prog files/MS games /FS9 )as OldFS9(or whatever) and do the same to the FS9 Files in Docs and Settings etc.Then install a new copy - this is the one the registry will see. To run the old copy you will then have to rename the "new" to something else, rename the "old" back to the proper names and the registry will see this one. Lot of hassle everytime you want to change copies. - easier - if you have the drive space- to just do what I suggested above in a separate partition.Dave

Why not just have two FS9.cfg files and change them out when you want VFR or IFR configuration?Cheers,Andy

I'm presuming that he may want to install perhaps differing scenery etc in each - makes sense to go for the eye candy in the VFR copy. I agree that if you're just going to use identical copies and merely change from VFR to IFR flight then just changing the .cfg file is easier.Dave

Umm.. yes... installing 2 OSes just for the sim seems to be more of a hazzle ;-)You guys are right though.. I guess the closet solution is to have 2 cfg's, and rename them as needed when flying. The downside is that I wanted to have 2 instances of FS installed so I can have seperate scenery and texture (one set looks great from 35000ft, the other looks great from 5000ft :) ). I guess they'll have to overlap.

The scenery .cfg can be used to alter the location of the files needed - in FS9 there is no requirement to have the scenery folder within the FS folder itself. I think it ought to be possible to create two separate scenery packages as well as using a separate FS9.cfg file for whichever style of flying you want, then use a small .bat file to switch them into the sim before launch.I've always thought it curious that MS themselves, in designing a `general purpose` sim, don't have this option as part of the startup menu.Allcott

If the only thing you want is different FS configuration parameters, just use a multiple fs9.cfg configuration.Do the following:- Copy your current fs9.cfg to the main ...Flight Simulator 9 folder and rename it to e.g. fs9IFR.cfg.- Make another copy and rename that fsVFR.cfg- Now make to shortcuts to FS9, one for VFR and one for IFR flying.In "properties" of the shortcuts, change the "target" to resp.- "Flight Simulator 9fs9.exe" /CFG:fsVFR.cfg- "Flight Simulator 9fs9.exe" /CFG:fsIFR.cfgNow, if you start FS9 via one of these shortcuts, FS9 will use fsVFR.cfg or fsIFR.cfg depending on the used shortcut.And it uses that .cfg file both for starting up AND writing back changes when you exit FS9.This way you can make as many different configuration as you want; also handy if you have different controller configurations you fly with.Rob Barendregt

Neat! Thanks a lot!

Hi there,this could all be achieved without renaming and/or creating new files. You could download Ken Salter's 'FS Configurator'. which allows you to use multiple .cfgs, so you just change your settings, save them (via the program), and then open FS9 with the configuration you want using FS Configurator.The other option is to create a new user account in Windows XP just for FS - FS9 will create separate .cfgs for each account (That's why the'yre in the 'Documents and Settings' folder).Cheers,Gosta.http://www.hifisim.com/images/as2betateam.jpg

Gosta,Thanks for the insights. I'll take a look.So with your second method, one could install FS2004 in another directory right? (thus allowing me to install sceneries independent from the other installation--something cannot be accomplished by changing cfg alone) since Windows will create another folder account under Documents and Setting so it will not overwrite the other FS installation. Neat!

Alright, I tried to install FS from a new account--it won't let me since it checked the registry. But that's okay--you guys gave me some ideas on what to do :)Thanks all,

Hi Preston,>(thus allowing me to install sceneries independent from the other installation--something cannot be accomplished by changing cfg alone)http://www.hifisim.com/images/as2betateam.jpg

Thanks Gosta--but what I meant was.. not so much with sceneries, but with different textures (ground, water, sky, etc). Some textures look good at 3000ft, some look good at 35000ft :)So far I'm successful at having 2 CFG's with 2 shortcuts. That's at least better than nothing :)

Hi Preston,I see what you mean now. A .bat file could do the same with swapping textures, but of course you'll have to find out exactly which bitmaps are replaced with what - for exaple, the high altitude textures may replace different ones than the low-altitude ones, so you'd have to include the corresponding default textures in the other backup folder.Cheers,Gosta.http://www.hifisim.com/images/as2betateam.jpg