Hi everyone,Those of you with the FSX Demo installed might like to try this to confirm that there may be a problem if you have both FS9 and FSX installed.I have a shortcut on my desktop linked to the file "Previous flight.FLT" in FS9. This file is in the folder Documents and SettingsMikeMy DocumentsFlight Simulator Files. If I interrupt a flight by exiting the sim rather than ending the flight I can rejoin the flight at that point by clicking on the desktop shortcut....or at least I could before the FSX Demo was installed.Now, whenever I click on the Previous Flight Desktop shortcut, FSX loads (!!?) Why? There is nothing in the Previous flight.FLT to link with FSX and yet it insists on loading every time. This is not a show-stopper by any means, but it is annoying :(It would be helpful if others could confirm this. It may be that the development team are already aware of this issue and why it occurs. My guess is that the FSX demo install has modified a registry setting since I can find no other explanation.BTW, I understand that when you uninstall the FSX demo you could lose all your Saved Flights in FS9, so it might be wise to back them up before running the uninstaller. Apparently this happened in FSX beta 2.Mike

Hi,When FSX was installed it took away the association of the .FLT files, thus when you click it you are getting FSX. Right click on a real .FLT file, and choose Open With... Change the association from FSX to FS2004.Hope this helps,--Tom GibsonCal Classic Propliner Page: http://www.calclassic.comFreeflight Design Shop: http://www.freeflightdesign.comDrop by! ___x_x_(")_x_x___

Thanks Tom, that's the answer!Now, why didn't I work that out :(Hope they fix this before the release.Regards,Mike

Nothing to fix. The FLT files will associate with the program when it installs, like most programs do. Although I guess it might be possible to program it only to make the association only if it didn't already exist...Otherwise, FS-newcomers (there's an add on no one has made, FS-Newcomer) would have no file assoc at all.

Hi Andy,"Nothing to fix. The FLT files will associate with the program when it installs, like most programs do. Although I guess it might be possible to program it only to make the association only if it didn't already exist..."Unless I am misunderstanding you, I beg to differ. As things stand, the FSX Demo latches on to the FS9 .FLT files during installation. These report an error during loading in FSX if you have saved the flight in FS9 with a non-default aircraft.I appreciate that the solution/workaround is quite simple but, if nothing is done to preserve the .FLT file association with FS2004 then it just seems a bit messy and unnecessary. I am assuming this problem arises simply because any saved flights in FSX are also in the form of files with the .FLT file extension.Mike

The answer is quite simple, actually. The Demo is "sharing" the same flight folder as FS9......this will NOT be the case with the release product though.

Are you talking about the fsx demo or the fsx beta? I never had that problem with the demo but havent even bothered flying fs2004 since the beta was installed. The beta is beautiful and the scenery is out of this world.

"Are you talking about the fsx demo or the fsx beta? I never had that problem with the demo but havent even bothered flying fs2004 since the beta was installed. The beta is beautiful and the scenery is out of this world."It rather depends to what extent you have customized FS9. Out-of-the-box FS9 compared to FSX, definitely no contest. I agree what we are seeing in the demo is a huge leap forward, but things are not quite so clear cut when I am comparing with my highly customized FS9 installation. What I am clear about is:1. I will be purchasing FSX and will certainly enjoy exploring our world in the new sim and also the process of gradual and careful customization, just as I have done with FS9. This is inevitable, but it is also likely that the default FSX will satisfy for much longer before that urge to enhance can no longer be resisted ;)2. FS9 will continue to be my faithful workhorse and provider of much pleasure for some time to come. Mike

Hi Bill,I remain skeptical for the simple reason that the .FLT will be associated with either FS9 or FSX. If the association is currently with FSX then double-clicking an FS9 saved flight situation will launch FSX.I suppose the answer is to always load saved flights from within their respective running sim. It will mean, however, that as long as I have FS9 installed, I won't be able to use the "Previous Flight" desktop shortcut unless I first ensure that the .FLT file is associated with FS9. Or maybe I should shutup and go back to sleep..LOL!Cheers,Mike

>I suppose the answer is to always load saved flights from>within their respective running sim.You are correct about the file association issue; I've not suggested otherwise. What I was speaking of is that the FSX "Demo" shares the same folder as FS9's flight files. This means that if you shut down FSX Demo and then launch FS9, it will try to load the FSX version of the 'previous.flt' file... which clearly won't work... ;)That's what I always do... I've never lauched FS(any version) from a desktop shortcut to the 'previous.flt' file... ;)

Edit your desktop shortcut to include the FS9.exe and it's file path.Right now your desktop shortcut tells your computer to open a .FLT file and open that file with which ever program is associated with .FLT files. There can only be one .EXE associated with a file extension.Changing the properties of the shortcut to launch the PREVIOUS.FLT file with a specific .EXE should solve your problem.However, I'd suggest you rename the shortcut to "FS9 Previous Flight"

I found out the hard way, about the influence of FSX,over FS9. Any add-on flight's,from add-on scenery's,were taken over by FSX Demo. The flight's would load in FS9,but would time-out,like FSX. I also started having weird problems with FS9 not fully loading add-on aircraft panel functions,like the lower three inches of the window. Thus I would have no control of most of my panel switches,and controls. I still(after removing FSX)have troubles with the "KneeBoard" while in flight,creating bleedthrough of random screens of,maps,settings screen and other distracting background flashes. Yes I could re-install FS9,but with all the enhancements on the system,it will take days to straighten this out! I know we all took our own chances at downloading this Demo program,but come on. This is only a marketing ploy for the die hards that are hooked on Flight Simulation.(Like myself)At least they could have protected us,just a we bit! So be warned. Ken

I haven't had any of those problems. The FSX Demo and the FilePlanet beta have neither impacted my FS2004 - except for the file association as noted above.