14 minutes ago, turbomax said:

it has touched the Community folder for me, once. I think all my Community content got lost because the install program created a new one, thereby deleting everything that was in my heavily filled original Community. renaming or moving the Community takes but a second and is 100% install-proof.

@Dominique_K

" to shape up a clay figurine, call it CTD and pierce it with needles. It works every time"

didn't know that, I'll have to try it.

Do you have an exotic install ? Like the C folder tucked  outside the main nest ?    

I have also seen people redownloading the whole game instead of only the update thanks to the totally user-friendly updating process that the MSFS team has designed for the MS Store or the use of the verify files with Steam. 

In any case, a backup instead of just renaming the C folder is using a sledge hammer to kill a (non-existent IMHO) fly.

I've never "backed up" either the community or the official folder. If you've messed around with core sim files, which you shouldn't be doing to begin with, restore the original ones, which, I'm hoping you have "backed up".

10 hours ago, sd_flyer said:

Back up your official folder? Really? Why? 

Because that's the offical recommendation from Asobo/Microsoft. If your community folder is full of third party addons while you perform the update, then some of those addons may conflict with the update and create problems.

Edited November 17, 20214 yr by Rockliffe

26 minutes ago, Rockliffe said:

Because that's the offical recommendation from Asob/Microsoft.

nope , this what they said for all the last updates, bold by me

Download Instructions

For PC users: Some packages in your community folder may not have been updated and, as a result, may have an unexpected impact on the title’s performance and behavior. Please move your community package(s) to another folder before relaunching the title if you suffer from stability issues or long loading times.

The safe mode btw makes it even unnecessary.

Edited November 17, 20214 yr by Dominique_K

12 minutes ago, Rockliffe said:

Because that's the offical recommendation from Asobo/Microsoft. If your community folder is full of third party addons while you perform the update, then some of those addons may conflict with the update and create problems.

I was talking about official one store folder if you read carefully 

24 minutes ago, sd_flyer said:

I was talking about official one store folder if you read carefully 

Apologies, I read official for community!   that's old age creeping in!

Edited November 17, 20214 yr by Rockliffe

12 hours ago, sd_flyer said:

Back up your official folder? Really? Why? 

In order to complain about CTD after overwriting the official folder with a previous build backup in the attempt to fix unfixable stuttering 🙂

I have used Macrium for many years, backs up all my Hard Drives every 15 days. It has saved me twice when a HD crashed. Bought a new one, Macrium put everything on the new one, and i was good to go in about 2 hours. It also saves individual files, in case a file gets corrupted. 

No need to ever back up Community if you use Addon Manager.

I have learned no matter what I do things end up having to get re-installed.  It's really annoying.  Once the connection is broken between the sim and the something in the community folder, simply putting it back isn't always enough.  The biggest culprits are airports.  That's why my new approach is just to install the update then look for issues if they occur.

On 11/17/2021 at 2:57 PM, Bobsk8 said:

I have used Macrium for many years, backs up all my Hard Drives every 15 days

Macrium backup tool total cost of ownership: zero

time: depends on hard disk size, ca. 30 minutes incl. verify

total cost of hard drive crash: ymmv

Edited November 18, 20214 yr by turbomax

I've only got 2 things in there: FBW A320neo & Navigraph. Each has an installer so thankfully I can just delete & reinstall them so a backup isn't required in my case. Thanks for the tip anyway!