I'm assuming that just copying the aircraft folder from the old computer, putting that folder onto a temporary flash drive and then placing that folder back into the appropriate place within the new clean install on the new computer is all that's needed, correct? Or are there going to be hidden files like purchase or license keys that will prohibit the aircraft from working?

No! In some cases, including payware stuff, you also must consider the gauges folder, texture, sound folders, & also the effects folder. Maybe there are some DLL's that need to be moved/copied.

 

So, not so easy & not plug 'n play.

Try installing into a temp dummy folder & you can see what needs to be copied/moved.

Payware & also others, using auto installers, also look for registry entries.

Won't work, even for freeware aircraft.

 

At the very least you'll also need the "Gauges", "Sound", "Effects", "Fonts" and "Modules" folders and any associated entries in dll.xml.  Some aircraft or gauges - even freeware - also hold data in the main FSX folder and may even place dll's in the Windows system folders.

 

And that's even before you get to licensing issues.

 

But really, why mess up a clean install with all the rubbish that accumulates over time in an old installation?  Re-install everything one by one from the original installers, for technical as well as legal reasons!

Yes a clean install of each is the way to go. One exception I can think of is if you have any A2A stuff -- you'll want to copy over any .bak files if you want to keep the current 'state' of your a/c. There are details on the A2A forums how to do this.

I agree with the clean install. I'd also redownload payware installers, so you know you are installing the most recent version.

 

Assuming that you backed up your aircraft folder, you can save a little time. Once the aircraft is installed, you can copy over the aircraft texture folders (texture.xxx) and copy the flightsim sections from the old aircraft.cfg to the new aircraft.cfg.