There was a thread on installing a second copy of FS9 on a second drive on the same computer.The main talk was of installing a second OS on the same computer but one person cliamed to have three working copies of FS9 on his computer.He merely renamed the FS9 route directory and then installed the new version. Once installed he renamed the original version back and gave a new name to the new version.I have followed this and installed onto D drive but am getting a message "cannot find the FS9 registry tree was it installed properly.Any help on how to do this installation? and what ive done wroung?Thanks Peter

What Windows are you using? If Win98/ME, then you aren't going to be able to use a different copy.If Win2K/XP, you should be able to run a copy of your first installation anywhere. However, programs using the registry for the location would cause a problem, i.e., AFCAD, TTools.First, you would have to have a complete installation including the registry entries. The first installation would have to be run so the installation is complete. Next, you would copy the entire FS9 folder and paste it to a different (drive, partition). You should be able to run the second instance, but again with the above limitations.I have two instances of FS2004, but they reside on the same drive, partition. One is labelled correctly for use, while the other is labelled FS2004. I use the second instance as a clean copy to test problems. I rename the two folders when I want to use the oppose copy. While I do this manually, it could be accomplished via a *.BAT file.W. Sieffert

Thanks for your help.I am using windows XP. I have a large C and almost empty Large D drive.My C FS9 is so full of junk that it is running too well so I thought of adding a clean version on my D drive and keeping that for the best addons only.When I have the version On D to my liking I was hoping to remove my C version.From what you say If If I delete the C version using the uninstall I am still left with all the junk addons. By reinstalling I get my original back still with all the junk addons so could only copy and paste that version across.What I want is a virgin copy on D to start adding to. But I dont want to wreck my C version yet by deleting everything.I hope you understand this ? :-)Thanks Peter

Hi Peter,I recently installed another instance of WinXP (Home) on D:, and now use multi-boot to select which instance I wish to run. I've installed another instance of FS9 on my second XP instance, and am actually doing as you are- slowly building up this new FS instance which will become my "normal" one someday.But your question is a little different, as I think you still have only the original install of XP. My understanding is that you can un-install FS9 and this will remove only those files that were installed from the original CD's (and the patch, I assume). You could then install FS9 on D:, have it be the only install of FS that you can access, and re-build it as you wish. All of your add-ons will still be left in the skeletal remains of your original FS9 install on C:. which you could move to D: at your leisure. Or re-install them, if you have the original install files still. Is this what you wish to do?Bruce.

Bruce Just through interest are you getting much better performance with your second uncluttered install of XP and FS9?What I want is simply to keep my FS9 On C drive untouched and start a new virgin FS9 on D and I am still not clear on how to achieve that :-)If I uninstall my C FS9 then move the remaining files temporaraly to D.Make a complete fresh install on C,copy and rename this version to D then retransfer the remaining files I had firstly transferred to D back to the new fresh install.Will this then give me what I am trying to achieve :-)yikesPeter

Hi,Why don't you use regedit and delete this key:[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftMicrosoft Games]Then reinstall a fresh copy where ever you want it.Don't forget to make a backup (.reg) before deleting the key.Ed

Hi Peter,Here are two methods:1. Copy the entire C: Flight simulator folder to drive D:. Enter the Windows Registry, press Start, Run, type regedit, OK. Open the following registry key and change the EXE Path entry:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftMicrosoft GamesFlight Simulator9.0EXE Path: C:Program FilesMicrosoft GamesFlight Simulator 9toEXE Path: D:Program FilesMicrosoft GamesFlight Simulator 9Exit the windows registry which will save the new registry key path. Open each of your flight simulator shortcuts and change the Target: and Start In: entries to the new location, i.e., C:... to D:... Restart the flight simulator from each of the shortcuts to ensure each works correctly.2. Copy your entire flight simulator folder to drive D: and rename the copy FS2004OLD. Uninstall the copy on drive C: with the Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs menu. Once uninstalled, use Windows Explorer to remove any residual flight simulator 9 folders on drive C:. Reinstall FS2004 on drive D:. Start the flight simulator and ensure it is working properly. You now have two copies of FS2004 on drive D:, FS2004OLD and the new installation. If you want to use FS2004OLD, you should have it in the same path as the new installation:D:Program FilesMicrosoft GamesFlight Simulator 9D:Program FilesMicrosoft GamesFS2004OLDTo use FS2004OLD, rename Flight Simulator 9 to FS2004NEW, then rename FS2004OLD to Flight Simulator 9. To return to the new installation reverse the folder names. Once you are satisfied with one or the other, then delete one of the two versions or use one for testing and the other for normal flying.W. Sieffert

Hi Peter,Regarding my 2nd install of FS on my new XP instance, I'm finding it much faster without the stutters that I had before. However, that could be just the new FS install (as you are doing) and nothing to do with the second XP instance.Looks like some good advice further down on how to do what you are wanting to achieve.Let me know if I can be of any further help, Peter. BTW, got my instrument rating a few weekends ago, boy that was hard work studying and practicing for that!Bruce.

>What I want is simply to keep my FS9 On C drive untouched and>start a new virgin FS9 on D and I am still not clear on how to>achieve that :-)>If I uninstall my C FS9 then move the remaining files>temporaraly to D.Peter, it is so simple to achive, that folks are missing the forest for the tree.1) Rename the C install of FS9 temporarily2) Install a "virgin version" on drive C.3) Move the "virgin version" to drive D and rename it FS9_Virgin (or some such name.4) Rename the original FS9 version to what it was previously.6) Create a new Desktop Shortcut to your D drive's "FS9_Virgin" installation.There's absolutely NO need to move/copy/uninstall or any such nonsense... :)

Congratuations Bruce!!!W. Sieffert

BillWouldn't this require changing EXE Path in the registry in order to install a lot of addons to FS9_Virgin? Or is the idea not to install anything to FS9_Virgin. David

Thanks, it was quite an effort. Bruce.

>>Bill>>Wouldn't this require changing EXE Path in the registry in>order to install a lot of addons to FS9_Virgin? Or is the idea>not to install anything to FS9_Virgin. >>David>Good question, David. I'm sure you'll need to change the path in the registry when installing new add-ons. But this is really easy, thanks to all who posted here, very useful thread.Could you please comment on my thoughts:I want to try Patch 1 for FS9, but I'm not prepared to start struggling with SP2 both in FS9 and some other programs that I have. I read somewhere (and I agree) that Patch1 was made with WinXPSp2 in mind. So in this case a dedicated partition of WinXPSP2 with FS9+Patch1 looks more appropriate. But if you, guys, confirm that Patch1 will work with Sp1 the same like with Sp2 I won't take that trouble installing an alternative OS. (But who can really confirm it on the othere hand?:)) And regarding the Patch, btw, has that problem with the 4th disk been solved? Or I'll still need a virtual CD to preserve my original from the tinbox?Thanks.

I don't know why you think the FS9.1 Update was optimized for WinXP SP2. FS9.1 Update runs equally well on Win98/ME. A very large chunk of WinXP SP2 is SP1, which was included so two service packs were not needed to bring WinXP up to the latest SP. Pre-SP2 updates were availabel piecemeal from the Windows Update site prior to SP2 release. The other major update provided in SP2 was DirectX9.0c, which also was available prior to SP2 release. Most other SP2 updates relate to security.FS9.1 Update runs fine on WinXP SP1. Prior to installing FS9.1 Update, ensure you have the default FS9.exe and default modules (dll) files installed or your update may not complete or your system may not operate properly. If you don't know if your executible and modules are default, retrieve them from your FS2004 CDs and install them in the appropiate folders.The new FS9.exe requires CD#4 to be in the CD-drive.W. Sieffert

Thanks, wsieffert. CD#4 not necessary be grinded in the CD-drive, btw. One can use Virtual cd recorded with Nero or other utilities. I meant to ask if we were still there or it has been changed any time around recently :)).