Hi all, I have been out of the flight sim community for a while. I moved from the UK to Doha, Qatar last year, I just bought a new laptop. On paper it should run FSX like a dream, but... it came with Win 8 pre-installed. Still, FSX and the 737NGX and the 777 installed - and worked a treat... until I upgraded to 8.1 then it all went the way of the pear!

 

So after days - literally - of fiddling and fannying about, I finally got FSX installed, and working - or at least, I can get it to load, free flight works with the default flight loaded, and it shuts down. I have it running in Vista SP2 compatibility mode and with the Direct X 10 preview checked - it will not run any other way. I also have to reduce the screen size from the default 1366 x 768 to the standard 1024 mode - but I think that's a choke point on the graphics card - an AMD Radeon 8670M with 2 gig dedicated.  - the drawn back is its got this poxy graphic switching thing from the standard on board Intel chip to the Radeon when demand requires it... but I'm not convinced.

 

So... before I attempt to install the NGX and 777.... what advice would you guys give? Or should I give up on FSX and get Prepar3D instead?

 

Best Regards,

Drew Melia

perhaps giving up on W8 and going back to W7 would be an option?

yes... and preferable in many ways... but what a nightmare!!! and it would void the warranty. So wouldn't be my first choice. Someone MUST have FSX and PMDG working in windows 8.1, surely?

 

But thank you anyway, if I have to go that way, I guess I will.

perhaps giving up on W8 and going back to W7 would be an option?

That is what I did

 

W8 is a naughty child that locks folders, kills USB buses, and looks pretty while doing these interruptions. And 8.1 does not install FSX at all, due to DX9 not being supported (can be independently  force installed by downloading installers for DX9 from MS...?)

Never was able to install FSX under W8.1, but did in virgin W8

 

I re-installed a fresh W7.64 and everything works just fine, especially my joysticks. In W8, even with FSUIPC, registered, the pan would work hesitantly (once under FSUIPC control), spoiling its graceful movement really.

 

The primary reason I tried W8.1 is that it will support future updates of DX11 whereas W7 is reported to not be supported. Was all for a good cause: P3D V2, which works fine in W7 anyways, for now, until DX11 is upgraded and P3D V2.1 comes out(?).

 

allen

OK, thank you... so... P3D.... how does that fair with W8.1 - and the PMDG fleet, of course? Anyway... I persevered, and I now have FSX SP2, and the Real Air Turbine Duke, and the QW RJ/146 working - or at least I can open them, start them, and taxi around the default KSEA airfield..... do I dare try and install the NGX?????

 

Maybe I better sleep on it!!!

I have the following working fine in 8.1:

 

> NGX

> 777

> GSX

> ASN

> PFPX

> TOPCAT

> ORBX Scenery

> FSUIPC

etc etc etc

 

The only issue I have is the hardware not responding if I switch to windowed mode and back but this seem to affect more than just FSX.

Cheers Wes!

 

So... I made sure all my hardware and OS were fully up to date, and from a clean build, installed FSX to C:\FSX from the FSX deluxe original disc set. I had some issues with install shield, but I resolved those. Re-booted and I ran FSX and did a flight in the micro light... then patched it to SP1 - did another re-boot and flight: patched it to SP2, and rebooted and flew the flight again... so far so good!!!

 

Installed the NGX base pack , then the 600/700 extension, then the 777, then the QW146, then the real air turbine duke, Aerosofts Airbus X extended then finally Fly Tampa Dubai rebooted - following the same-reboot, fly, install, reboot fly install routine. The Airbus worried me, but it went in OK.

 

I have done absolutely NO modifications to the FSX.cfg file. I have not had to download or install dodgy retro DLL files or anything. The ONLY concession made is to use the direct X 10 Preview checked as "yes" not ideal, I know. some of the night textures do not work, and its not a good idea to switch views or use the menu's - but I don't do that anyway. I flew the 777 tutorial in real time with no issues.

 

Of course, I might not always work, but for now, I am a happy camper... flyer... bunny.... whatever!!!