Finally succeded - with help of Microsoft support - to free Windows 8 of the hitch that stopped the FSX install.

 

It appears that Microsofts own ambitions to prevent illegitim use of it's products creats problems for us with licensed software: You need to go through a procedure through DOS-commands (CMD application) to omit a token saved in User\ProgramData\SLDL. It is impossible to see even with "view hidden files" acivated.

 

This is not something that Microsoft explains, but evidently there is a notation of FSX being installed earlier, and Win8 or FSX can't handle that in the installer program. This is the response from the Windows InstallShield when the install is unterrupted:

 

- - - -

 

Error 1722. There is a problem with this Windows Installer package. A program run as a part of the setup did not finish as expected. Contact your support personnel or package vendor.

 

(OK-box to press)

 

--- Rolling back action: ---

 

Feature transfer error

 

Error: -1603 Fatal error during installation.

 

Consult Windows Installer Help (Msi.chm) or MSDN for more information.

 

(OK-box to press)

 

Microsoft Flight Simulator X - InstallShield Wizard

 

The Wizard was interrupted before Microsoft Flight Simulator X could be completely installed/uninstalled.

 

- - - - -

 

So here is the solution - if not the explanation - copied from Microsoft Support engineer Abdul R (and adjusted for Windows 8 by me):

 

1. You need a small DOS program from Microsoft. Click the "Download the Software Licensing System Reset Tool package now" link to start the download.

http://download.micr.../MSKB928080.exe

(Or copy the address and paste into your browser adress window - my remark.)

2.When you receive the File Download dialog box, chose Desktop then click Save.

3.When the download is complete, click Close.

4.Double-click the MSKB928080.exe file on your Desktop.

5.When you are prompted to accept the license agreement, click Yes.

6.Extract the files to the following suggested folder:

C:\MicrosoftKB928080

Note If you receive the Open File - Security Warning dialog box, click Run.

7.Run the Software Licensing System Reset Tool. To do this, follow these steps:

 

a.Press Windows Key + R (on Swedish keyboard WinKey + Q), or sweep right and click Search, type cmd in the search box. A box with icon and "Command interpreter" appears left. (NB!) right-click (NB!) the box, chose "Run with administrativ rights" at the bottom of the screen, ENTER.

b.In the Command window, type the following command at the Command prompt:

cd C:\

c.Press Enter.

d.Type cd MicrosoftKB928080.

e.Press Enter.

f.Type resetsldl -All.

g.Press Enter.

 

Thanks again for your efforts to help!

Error 1722. There is a problem with this Windows Installer package. A program run as a part of the setup did not finish as expected. Contact your support personnel or package vendor.

 

Good info Tom about the fix. This is a common error with Windows 7 and Vista too so not just inherent with Windows 8. The 'Windows Installer Package' is most likely Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 which is used by developers (in this case Microsoft) to install FSX properly. It is installed first on your system when FSX first runs if it does not see it installed already. Unfortunately, Windows has progressed and has more security controls than were around when Microsoft first released FSX. So now you have to make sure all of your security controls are turned off (not your firewall) and install FSX in a non-default folder like C:\FSX. There have already been hundreds of successful installs of FSX in Windows 8 and this problem occurs occasionally. As you can see, this KB928080 - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928080 has been around for several years. Glad you got your problem fixed though and thanks for posting your solution.

 

Best regards,

Jim