I have Windows 8. I want to install FSX. I have a WD External Hard Drive 1.5 TB. Can I install FSX there and all the add ons ? If I install it on my C Drive instead, do I really need to keep it out of my (X86 ) Program ?

There are numerious articles on the subject , but I want to hear what your opinion is. Thanks

I have always kept my FSX folder out of C, especially PF(x86) - don't want to mess up my hobby with my OS... Seriously though with so many addons that I have the size of my FSX folder is growing almost weekly. So, it's a pain and not wise to defragment the C drive (and any drive in general) frequently.

 

My FSX folder is on a separate 1Tb external drive used only for FSX (see my specs under my avatar). I use UltimateDefrag4 with "File/Folder Name" option once a month to defragment that drive. I tried other defragmenters including OO, and Diskeeper but UD4 does exactly what it's designed for... Since my system is relatively old ("fours years ago" is old by today's standards) :rolleyes: , I prefer Kostas FSX Guide (google it, AVSIM doesn't allow to publish a link to his webpage) and especially his NVidia Inspector settings in my setup. Your specs may require a different setup though... Plus after so many years in FS, I've finally compiled a sort of "FSX enhancement mod" - a collection of files, edits, etc. designed specifically for my system based on my preferences - stars, textures, modules, effects, airports and navaids with adjusted magvars, etc. After each reinstall of FSX I simply run my batch file and... off you fly!  :p0504:

Sorry to butt in....

Have tried O&O and Diskeeper. Gave up on O&O, took too long, like hours.... Diskeeper I liked up until 2012 when it changed hands and THEY in their wisdom changed the UI......ugh!

Been looking at UD4, but don't know anyone who uses it. So what is your opinion, if I may ask.

Again, sorry for butting in.

Sorry to butt in....

Have tried O&O and Diskeeper. Gave up on O&O, took too long, like hours.... Diskeeper I liked up until 2012 when it changed hands and THEY in their wisdom changed the UI......ugh!

Been looking at UD4, but don't know anyone who uses it. So what is your opinion, if I may ask.

Again, sorry for butting in.

 

Not the answer you were hoping for, I am afraid, but you should really consider getting SSD's...!

I have Windows 8. I want to install FSX. I have a WD External Hard Drive 1.5 TB. Can I install FSX there and all the add ons ? If I install it on my C Drive instead, do I really need to keep it out of my (X86 ) Program ?

There are numerious articles on the subject , but I want to hear what your opinion is. Thanks

 

Without a doubt, put your FSX onto a separate drive.  Install all addons to that location.  This will save you tons of grieve over a long term.  Your sim will operate more effectively/efficiently especially if you do follow the guides for tweaking that are available here at AVSIM.  Exclude this drive from ongoing scanning by anti virus software.

 

Remember though that some files associated with FSX are located on your "C" root drive, such as fsx/cfg, saved flights, scenery.cfg, flight plans etc.  Locations should be most likely at these addresses I list below.

 

I always recommend that you periodically, especially with installing new addons like scenery, that you copy these folders and their contents, ie back them up and put the backup onto your FSX drive.  This is just me so choose your own approach.

 

Should you ever have a C drive failure, your sim will be intact and you will not need to reinstall everything if you know how to relink your FSX into your computer registry using a registry fix tool.

 

C:\Users\{name}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\FSX

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\FSX

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X SDK

C:\Users\{name}\Documents\Flight Simulator X Files

C:\Users\{name}\Documents\Flight Simulator Files

 

Bryan

I just searched around and found this again.  And there are other ways to protect yourself from the aggravation of losing your FSX, I would pay you to do some reading and research on this topic.

http://forums1.avsim.net/topic/291959-do-you-have-fsx-insurance/

 

I maintain, and original FSX clean install (this really helps me locate and ensure I have a set of FSX original files handy - can find out what has changed or if files have been overwritten etc.).

 

I maintain a complete backup of my FSX in addition to the original both on separate HDs.  I only had to experience, once, the reinstall of FSX and all its addons to learn the hardway the spending a few buck on extra HDs was worth every penny I have invested in FSX backups.

 

 

Been looking at UD4, but don't know anyone who uses it. So what is your opinion, if I may ask.

 

Definitely go for UD4 - it's a light-weight application (10Mb) with an intuitive UI and a a simple logic, as opposed to OO & Dsikeeper, It's also considerably fast - if my memory serves me right, it took me less than 4 hours to defrag ~30Gb of FSX stuff. But pls note that it takes that long only on the first run - subsequent (monthly) defrags will take only minutes.

 

PS: Btw, it's rumoured that the developer is also a fellow simmer. So, that's gonna be a plus!  B)

Thanks. Looking to change my MB & CPU after Xmas. So will give it a try when I do that. Still using Diskeeper but went back to 2011 edition...its good but alas it will not Optimize files unless you pay extra for the corporate edition. Could get a couple of high end Airports for that price !!

 

Not impressed with SSDs JvE. I know they load things faster initialy but that's where the benefits end. Life expectancy (read/write) is much shorter, capacities smaller and still expensive in so far as $ per GB. Will stick with my Vraps. Can buy 2x1TB Raptors for about the same price as 1 Crucial M500 960GB, in the UK. 

I have Windows 8. I want to install FSX. I have a WD External Hard Drive 1.5 TB. Can I install FSX there and all the add ons ? If I install it on my C Drive instead, do I really need to keep it out of my (X86 ) Program ?

There are numerious articles on the subject , but I want to hear what your opinion is. Thanks

 

External drives are less efficient. So if you use a second hard drive, make sure it's internal.

 

As for installing, just use C:\FSX or D:\FSX if second drive. There is no benefit to burying it in the Program Files. It's just harder to get to.

External drives are less efficient. So if you use a second hard drive, make sure it's internal.

 

As for installing, just use C:\FSX or D:\FSX if second drive. There is no benefit to burying it in the Program Files. It's just harder to get to.

 

 

Good point, I use a second internal 2TB SATA drive for my FSX.  Works great.  And I backup the FSX onto an external drive.