...how often many folks reinstall FlightSim? If, as rumor purports, thay are going to require activation for FSX, either internet or 'phone, I hope they are ready for some large numbers. Especially with Vista, DX10, new hardware, etc, in the planning for many of us. This could be a nightmare if they don't do it right. Sign...oh, for the simpler days.Doug

I would think a lot of people re-install XP a lot too. I have re-installed many times, and on many computers. I have had to call in a couple of times, and it wasn't much of a problem (except one time where the person on the other line was so heavily accented that I couldn't understand them.)So, I think Microsoft has plenty of experience with re-installs from their OS and other apps. I don't think FSX would be any different.

I sure hope you're right :-) .

Except it will take a little longer with DVD discs & more data.Carmine http://forums.avsim.net/images/wave.gifhttp://img155.imageshack.us/img155/7118/phoenixtp8mg.jpg

I've never reinstalled FS9, and that includes a CPU upgrade, a motherboard upgrade, a new harddisk on which to run it, installing a fresh operating system on a different harddisk from the original (no upgrade), and more things that would normally make people reinstall things.Essentially my PC now is completely different in every respect from the one FS9 was installed on about a week after it was released to the public.The only components that haven't been replaced are the CD ROM drive, the powersupply, and the case, yet FS has not been reinstalled.

just wait until you see the activation and security requirements for their new OS - it will blow you away.

Indeed. I've already seen enough of Vista to know that I won't be getting rid of XP for a looooong time.

Unless you changed your hardware many times in one month, I doubt you'll have to worry about reactivation issues. I've had to reinstall XP about 3-4 times over the course of a couple of years and have never once needed to call.

I think that the activation and security requirements for most programs these days is outright freakin' ridiculous. What if you don't have an internet connection nor a phone, then how the he!! are you supposed to activate?Heck, IMHO, just entering an Activation Code like Windows XP is fine enough. If they keep tacking on these extra activation requirements, etc, then it's going to drive many people away from buying software.

Well this is interesting.My current Dell XPS has been running XP and FS9 since I brought it (nearly 3 years ago now), without either program needing to be re-installed yet.Its not like I don't install FS add-on's and other programs onto it. Its not a dedicated FS box, it does my OA and multi-media stuff and other games as well.FS isn't running any slower and neither is the PC since the first day I installed everything.It would be interesting to know why those of you that do, feel the need to keep rebuilding everything :)RegardsMark

> What if you don't have an internet connection nor a phone, then how the he!! are you supposed to activate?If you don't have an internet connection or a phone you probably won't have a PC so you can't buy games anyway. Activation is painless compared to inserting disc 4 everytime you start the game.

Definitely. Making the phone call takes a couple of minutes and is mostly going through an IVR (meaning you just press DTMF keys on your keypad - no human needed).And who doesn't have a phone? Even cell or rotary will be fine.

I recently reinstalled FS9 and what I've noticed is that I've lost myjet trails.I had been working my way across the country when I first started seeingjet trails and it didn't occur to me that it might be tied into how manyflight hours you've registered but here I am again with no jet trails.Its the little things.

Wait, FSX is going to require a phone call to install? Yeah, I know, it's painless, blah blah blah, but it's the principle I'm concerned with. I buy my software honestly just like I'm sure most of the people here do, but I can't stand having "POTENTIAL PIRATE!" stamped on my forehead by this nonsense. Have it "phone home" over the net, or whatever, but the idea of calling someone makes me feel like I'm having to ask permission to use the license I plunked down $60 bucks for. If that's what it's going to take to run this game, then I'm afraid Microsoft can keep it. I'll be sure to spend my money on games by developers like Stardock Systems which, by making Galactic Civilizations 2 with NO COPY PROTECTION WHATSOEVER, basically gave the finger to other developers who take the guilty until proven innocent route.

Depends on the add-ons you use I guess.There are add-on aircraft that drop a ton of gauges in the gauge directory. Drop some textures in the general texture directory. Add their own DLL's in the module directory. Drop their FX files in the central directory, etcUninstall works upto a point if for example 1 developer uses his fx file/gauge/texture on multiple add-ons and the uninstaller pulls on an uninstall of one of the planes you have a problem on the other add-ons.Also take into account the more complex scenery add-ons. The UT series makes changes in your default FS scenery and can cause problems with smaller sceneries in its area. Sometimes its just quicker & easier to do a fresh install to solve a problem.My own trick is to have a copy of a 'clean' FS install on standby. Whenever there is a problem I just do a rename and try the add-on in a clean enviroment. Ussualy I then stick with the clean FS enviroment (I can assure you that the clean enviroment runs a lot quicker then an add-on laden one) slowly adding in the add-ons I can't do without.