Have spent last 2 weeks trying to reinstall FSX which had been working perfectly well for several years apart from usual minor hiccups. Everytime I try to install FS Acceleration Expansion Pack I get the message "could not open Key" and installation rolls back and terminates. I have tried reinstalling a drive image of FSX which includes the Acceleration pack and which worked up to 2 weeks ago but then I get "fatal error". I have tried completely wiping FSX from PC and reinstalling from scratch but with same result. I have tried a completely fresh installation of Windows 8 but still get same result. As far as I can tell all equipment works okay and I have done virus and malware scans and disk scans to the nth degree with no adverse results. I have tried new installations of FSX on different discs and also different partitions with same result. I am now at a total loss and would appreciate any help and advise.

Tks.

 

System Specs:

 

Item Details

 

Windows: Windows Version 6.2 (Build 9200)

Internet Explorer: 9.10.9200.16688

Memory (RAM): 16352 MB

CPU Info: Intel® Core i7-2600K CPU @ 3.40GHz

CPU Speed: 3496.3 MHz

Sound Card: Speakers (Creative SB Audigy 4 |

SPDIF Out (Creative SB Audigy 4 |

Realtek Digital Output (Realtek |

 

Display Adapters: AMD Radeon HD 5800 Series | AMD Radeon HD 5800 Series | AMD Radeon HD 5800 Series

Monitors: 1x; AMILO LSL 3260W |

Screen Resolution: 1920 X 1200 - 32 bit

Network: Network Present

Network Adapters: Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter | 802.11n USB Wireless LAN Card | Bluetooth Device (Personal Area Network) | Intel® 82579V Gigabit Network Connection

CD / DVD Drives: 2x (J: | L: | ) J: ATAPI iHAS624 B | L: ATAPI iHAP122 9

Ports: COM Ports NOT Present. LPT Port NOT Present.

Mouse: 16 Button Wheel Mouse Present

Hard Disks: C: 111.8GB | E: 112.1GB | F: 144.6GB | G: 299.4GB | H: 180.2GB | I: 59.2GB | M: 135.9GB | Q: 1021.0MB

Hard Disks - Free: C: 49.9GB | E: 53.7GB | F: 104.7GB | G: 151.0GB | H: 113.3GB | I: 50.3GB | M: 122.7GB | Q: 969.1MB

USB Controllers: 4 host controllers.

Firewire (1394): Not Detected

Manufacturer *: American Megatrends Inc.

Product Make *: System Product Name

AC Power Status: OnLine

BIOS Info: | |

Time Zone: GMT Standard Time

Battery Status: No Battery

Motherboard *: ASUSTeK Computer INC. P8Z68-V GEN3

The only bit of info I can give you, from what I've read, is that FSX and Windows 8 don't play well together.  Most recomendations are to stick with Windows 7, which is still the superior Windows OS.  If you still want to continue using Windows 8, then I would suggest dual booting with Windows 7, and use that to run FSX.

You need to make sure Microsoft.net (dotnet) version 1.1 is installed (Version 1.1 should be installed when you install FSX.  It's part of the Installer).  You're evidently trying to install things too fast.  For instance, if you install FSX and then immediately try to install Acceleration or SP1 or SP2, it won't let you.  You either have to run FSX at least one time after installing and do some basic fsx configurations.  Then you can install Acceleration.  My understanding is that a dll in the FSX installer stays active on your system for at least 10 minutes and, when you try to immediately run another installer, it will overwrite the one still active on your system and you will get the could not open a key component message.  What has happened now is that your registry has probably gotten corrupted and you need to uninstall FSX, remove any and all hidden folders and files, then run a registry cleaner, then reinstall FSX.  Once FSX is installed, run it at least once then run Acceleration.  A good guide for uninstalling/reinstalling FSX is at this link - http://support.precisionmanuals.com/KB/a87/how-to-uninstall-and-reinstall-fsx.aspx.  The guide shows you exactly where those hidden folders and files are located.

 

Windows 8 is filled with a lot more security as people who run Windows get viruses or warnings and they blame it all on Windows.  An antivirus program was made to give you a lot of warnings occasionally to let you know it is working and you made a great decision to buy their awesome program. I'm not an advocate of antivirus software but I think the freeware Microsoft Essentials does just as good of a job but then that would be putting antivirus programs out of business.  Long story short, people see these warnings and immediately think it's Windows causing the problem.  They complain to Microsoft so Microsoft techs throw in more and more Windows security.

 

Another problem you could be having with Windows 8 is ownership or sharing issues.  I would download and install a program called Take Ownership (Google).  Once installed, when you right click on the FSX folder, you will see an option to "Take Ownership".  This will effectively give you, the User, ownership of FSX in the event the Installer did not allow you to share certain files and folders in FSX. 

 

Hope this helps.

 

Best regards,

Tks for responses. Will try reinstall to Win 8 first and if that doesn't work I'll try Win 7

Have tried both options to the FULL and sad to say, neither work. I have been careful in the extreme when uninstalling, installing, loading and reloading. I have installed on different discs (after formatting and checking discs|ssd). I seem to end up at the same point. Everything looks good and aircraft on runway ready to go but the moment I hit any of the menu lists I get a fatal error. Also, now FSX will not hold any of my settings, i.e. default flight, throttle settings, etc.

I am at a total loss with this.

If you reinstalled Windows and FSX it would be impossible to continue to receive the same errors as you were getting. 

 

Best regards,

Jim

Brain is getting a bit befuddled but over the past 2 weeks I am convinced I have tried a completely fresh installation of Win 8 and FSX with same results. I was about to pull FSX and equipment and wait for a while and then try again but I will try again a new installation of Win 8 and et al.

Watch this space.

Tks

Colf

Brain is getting a bit befuddled but over the past 2 weeks I am convinced I have tried a completely fresh installation of Win 8 and FSX with same results. I was about to pull FSX and equipment and wait for a while and then try again but I will try again a new installation of Win 8 and et al. Watch this space. Tks Colf

After installing Windows 8, make sure you install FSX as an Administrator.  This means you should open up Windows Explorer, click on the DVD Drive where your first FSX disk is located, scroll down to "Setup", right click it, and select Run as Administrator.  Also check over in our Windows 8 Forum and see if there are any tips there from Windows 8 users on installation.

 

Best regards,

Jim

Will do. Currently backing up all other PC stuff before "ripping" it apart.