One month into FS, pretty steep learning curve right now. I have added a number of the " must have"scenery and texture files (thought I did anyway). Then the other day, I happened onto a site, fsnordic.net, where there are tutorials at my level. Don't take this wrong, the turorials here are great, but it will be a while before I'm copying, altering, deleting the fs9.cfg file without considerable trepidation, I'm just not there yet. The fsnordic tutorial on installing (non self-installing) scenery and texture files blew me away. I didn't know the proper procedure before reading this tutorial, and I did look for the procedure, everything I read said just do what the "read me" says, and that's what I thought I did. So when I installed the S&T files, I think I botched it bad. I took out all the add-on files from their folder and put them in the main scenery and texture folders in FS9. That is what I thought the "read me"s said to do. I had been wondering how the program would know to use them and why they weren't showing up to red check and prioritize them in the scenery list. One did and I don't know how, but it's there (maybe it was self-install).So 2 questions. First, I put a lot of stuff in the S&T files that I don't think are doing anything except taking up (a lot) of space. I don't know one file from another in there by its name, so I can't go in and manually pull out the files I added, and there are hundreds of them. How do I get that stuff out, get the space back and clean up the folders, without messing up the whole game? And second, is there a really good tutorial for installing add-ons? Or several tutorials, in addition to the fsnordic one. I want to be sure I know what I'm doing this time. Actually, here's a third question. Some add-ons apparently replace the OEM FS9 files, for airports in particular, example aeu7 (I have it waiting, not installed yet). So how does that work? I like the idea of supplementing, but replacing stuff I know with stuff I don't know (along with the time, effort, anxiety, i.e., potential for fouling it up) seems a little... less than prudent. I see in the aeu7 "read me" that I'm supposed to copy the whole OEM airport folder to somewhere, install the aeu7 folder where the airport folder was, and then see what I think. If I don't like it, I can reverse. Man! You have to be some kind of advanced techy geek to wade through all this. Seems as precarious as a fat old man on roller blades carrying ice cream cones through a forest of hidden demons. Inelegant at best, a disaster at worst.I just want to fly. If nothing else, this type of file is improperly named an "add-on", its a replacement and should be clearly described as that, IMHO. So my question finally: Is that just how it is and I have to live with it, or am I totally missing the easy and safe way to get this add-on stuff done? Thanks for a prompt response, or any response. (I guess I got a little carried away. I'm frustrated.) I really like FS. I figure about the time I get it figured out, FSX will be here and then I'll have to do this all over again.......... But then, so will everybody else. Ha! Remember, 3 questions: 1) How to safely remove improperly installed S&T files?, 2) add-on installation tutorial(s)?, 3) Is there a safer and easier way to get add-ons installed? Some kind of simple "put add-ons where they need to go, check to see if they're working, keep track of them and remove them if you don't like them" program. ((I see in FSManager, the Scenery section is designed to be completely inaccessible unless you're an expert. (That should have clued me in right there). So I'm looking for something ike FSManager, but simple for beginners like me. Or someone within 300 miles who could show me how to do this stuff, directly. Like a seminar/seminar series or ongoing personal assistance for noobs. I swear, someone with the knowledge who can actually communicate it (not many have both skills) should offer this service. There's good money to be made.))Thanks, Rob

Firstly I'd say relax and enjoy what you have before you start installing all kinds of addons, it really is a nice sim default if you have just gotten into it (enjoy the performance as addons bring that down). We have all started out wondering how things work and what goes where and I would gather to say most of us learned it all by trail and error.For files that overwrite such as AEU, just make backups of the default folders for future reference, you will need them eventually due to dislike of an addon or a faulty installer. Yes, being able to install FS addons requires a higher level of PC knowledge at times, but nothing like brain surgery, LOLFor scenery I would suggest keeping all your scenery files OUTSIDE of the FS9 folder. You can activate them from the scenery library from anywhere on your system, just make a folder called FS scenery and add them to that. If you keep them seperate it makes it easier to manage.As far as having to do it all over again when a new version comes out, welcome to the club, LOLRegards, MichaelKDFWhttp://www.calvirair.com/mcpics/mcdcvabanner.jpgCalVirAir International

Thanks Michael, Good stuff. And there you go, I didn't know about keeping scenery files OUTSIDE of the FS9 folder. Simple, easy, I like that. However, I think I've read that FS9 and the OS should be on the same HD, yes? (I have 300 GB external HD) So keep scenery files that are going to be activated also on the same HD as OS. Yes? Michael said, "just make backups of the default folders for future reference, you will need them eventually due to dislike of an addon or a faulty install." So how about making a complete copy of the whole FS9 and then modifying stuff in "test" mode on the copy, as knowledge and confidence improve? Yes? Or maybe having a working copy, a clean copy and a test copy, like FS9wc, FS9cc, FS9tc. This I suppose is no revelation to anyone but me....As for brain surgery. I first assist surgeons (I'm a Physician Assistant, not the primary surgeon except on occasion for minor suurgery), general surgery not brain, sometimes close though, neck, face, GSW to the head, etc. I once commented to a brain surgeon about the complexity of his discipline. He replied quite humbly, "Well, you know, son, it's not rocket science!" So if anyone wants to explain how to get that junk out of the Scenery and Texture folders, I'm here. Waiting.

"As for brain surgery. I first assist surgeons (I'm a Physician Assistant, not the primary surgeon except on occasion for minor suurgery), general surgery not brain, sometimes close though, neck, face, GSW to the head, etc. I once commented to a brain surgeon about the complexity of his discipline. He replied quite humbly, "Well, you know, son, it's not rocket science!""LOL, to funny. As for getting the junk out of your already installed FS, just stick in one of the discs and extract a copy of the default texture folders that you need and start from scratch (I can't remember which disc or files you need, but hopefully someone will chime in)You can make more than one copy of FS9, although I haven't done it (I run 2 systems, one for gaming and the other for designing) Try here for more info ob doing multiple installs http://www.goldenwings.info/Regards, MichaelKDFWhttp://www.calvirair.com/mcpics/mcdcvabanner.jpgCalVirAir International

Yes as the guys have said before, take some time to think where you want your scenery located.You can also folder it up by continent - I do it this way. Then I make 6 or 8 scenery.cfg's and swap them depending on where I am flying in the world.Also, while you're at a pretty default stage **MAKE A COPY** of your whole FS9 NOW as it stands and move it to a safe place. You'll need to bring back files you accidentally erase or lose - it will save your life.Study up how the folder structure looks and what each folder does, and every file is for. That way you can start adding with confidence knowing what files you are replacing and changing.

I'll echo what was said, with the additional comment that you actually have a degree of flexibility where you choose to install addon scenery files, there is no obligation in many cases to install into the main scenery folders (there are exceptions and textures are different, but mostly you can install scenery into the addon scenery folder and locate tat scenery folder anywhere on your hard drive,not necessarily on the same drive letter as your FS installation).The best first step is to make a backup of any file that you are about to install into, as has been said, then make sure you keep a note of the process by which you installed, so you can backtrack if necessary. After that, it really is simply a process of familiarity and practice.Allcott

These are all very useful suggestions. They make some of this addon stuff more logical and manageable, thanks very much. Here is a specific question about addon scenery. I added R. Taburet's scenery for Mount St. Helens, or tried. The readme says, ""Simply extract the sthelen folder in your main FS9 folder.When extraction is completed: - Start Microsoft Flight Simulator- Go to the settings tab- click "Scenery Library" - Click "Add Area"A new window will now open. You will be located in the main folder of your Flight Simulator installation.- In the window, doubleclick the folder "sthelen".- Now you should see the "sthelen" folder listed in scenery library.- Mark this folder by clicking on it once (so it turns blue)- Click Ok- Restart Flight Simulator, and installation is completed.""Well, I did the first part, the sthelens folder was in the main FS9 folder. But then I looked in the sthelens folder. There was a scenery folder and a texture folder, so I put the sthelens scenery folder into the main FS9 scenery folder and the sthelens teture folder into the main FS9 texture folder. I think I also took all the files out of the sthelens scenery folder and put them individually into the main scenery folder and did similar with the sthelens textures, I put those files individually into the main texture folder. When I opened FS9, the sthelens folder was already in the Scenery list, with a red check and the sthelens space was already blue, I think. When I clicked on the "add" button, and then clicked twice on the sthelens folder (which was empty at that point since I had unloaded it into the main scenery folder), it said sthelens is already in the scenery. But I don't know/think it is actually functioning.This is a pretty good example of how I have "installed" a number of addon sceneries and textures. It seemed reasonable at the time that a folder full of addon textures should go into the main texture folder and similar with addon scenery, despite what Taburet's and other's "readme"s said, because, I reasoned, if I keep putting "scenery" or "texture" folders into the main FS9 folder, how will FS9 know which folder I'm talking about when I "add" scenery/texture. Now I realize it would have known because the main addon folder was named "sthelens", different than any other addon name. But I still don't understand how/why the sthelens textures subfolder goes together with the sthelens scenery subfolder into the main scenery folder. Among the several addons i thought I added, sthelens is the only new scenery that has showed up on the main scenery list in FS9. So I take it from the responses to my question above that I should remove the main scenery and texture folders and then reinstall new/clean ones from the disks. I am a little uncomfortable with that but if I can get an unqualified, "That's what you have to do,", I will try.So, yes or ?

In FS9, the main Scenery folder should contain a set of (37 for a full install) subfolders. Any files not in one of these 37 subfolders can be deleted.The main texture folder is a holdover from earlier versions. Today it consists mainly of textures which are not associated with any specific scenery area, or for textures which might be used in multiple scenery areas. Think of it as a fallback folder. If you overwrote one of the default textures in this folder, obviously you would have to pull it back out of a cab on the cd, but if you accidently put extra textures in there, it shouldn't cause a problem.The reason for not putting all the textures into a single texture folder is for safety. Say I design a scenery .bgl file with some buildings, including a barn. I create a nice texture for my barn which I name redbarn.bmp. By having scenery and texture folders paired WITHIN my new scenery folder, FS9 can read my scenery .bgl file and will look for redbarn.bmp in the associated texture folder. This way, if some one else designs a different scenery, and also happens to use a texture named redbarn.bmp his texture and mine won't conflict. In addition, it is possible to create new scenery in the same location as other scenery. If all the scenery files were placed in one folder, it would be difficult to determine which object should displayed. And, as you now see, removing scenery files that are all jumbled together is a big PITA. this happens enough with aircraft gauges and effects, we don't need to add to our woes with scenery messes!scott s..

Hi,An important part of following the instructions in a text file is to NOT DO ANYTHING THAT IS NOT LISTED THERE. While it may seem reasonable to you at the time, it rarely is. His instructions are entirely correct, although I too don't like putting addon folders into my main FS folder (all of mine are in the Addon Scenery folder - as separate folders).I'm afraid there is not much you can do at this point other than what has been already suggested - get the original folders from the CAB files on the FS CD and use those instead of your now stuffed S&T folders.Hope this helps,--Tom GibsonCal Classic Propliner Page: http://www.calclassic.comFreeflight Design Shop: http://www.freeflightdesign.comDrop by! ___x_x_(")_x_x___

All this is good/valuable info. for a noob like me, i.e., how to organize/ manage FS files/folders sanely. However, scott967 generated a new question. In his response (2 above this), he said, "In FS9, the main Scenery folder should contain a set of (37 for a full install) subfolders. Any files not in one of these 37 subfolders can be deleted."I have a total of 16 subfolders in the FS9/scenery main folder. They are Afri, asia, Aust, Base, Cities, Eure, Eurw, Generic, Namc, Name, Namw, Ocen, Props, Same, Vehicles, World. This a full install or I thought it was.Could scott967 or someone else list (at least some of) the 21 folder names I'm missing and suggest where they might have gone, how to find them and get them back. I know I can go to the disks and copy/paste them, but I want to find out where they went/what happened. (My guess is western South America is one of the missing scenery folders since I don't see Samw in the file names...) Thanks, Rob

Rob, With my FS9 I have 20 sub folders in the main scenery folder but 4 of them are definitely from addon sceneries. The other 16 are the same as yours. I am certain mine was always a full install but I don't see the name samw, until I look at my FS8 installation, there is a similar name to that within a Westhem folder, which does not exist in FS9. I'd say your installation folders' names are correct for a full install. Edited to update incorrect information.