First off this is only what I did and worked for me...Do this at your own risk. But this could save you lots of time. I just recently installed 5.2 and the hundreds of add-ons I have and decided against reinstalling everything this time. I have yet to test all scenery but so far everything has worked. 

1. Restart your computer
2. Log in and download the latest version of Prepar3d
3. Go to your Prepar3d folder and move every folder not installed by default outside of your Prepar3d directory. If it helps make a new folder just outside of P3d on the same hard drive called "P3d saved" and place all folders in there. As an example I moved Carenado, Flightbeam, Flytampa, iFLy, Imaginesim, ORBX, Pacsim, Qualitywings and under Addon Scenery I moved Seattle X and Chicago X scenery's. To this new saved folder.
4. Next right click on the start button and go to Apps and features. Then click and uninstall your Prepar3d v5 (Professional or Academic) Client. Then uninstall content and next scenery. (You will leave the Prepar3d v5 professional/Academic alone) DO NOT UNINSTALL, also do not deactivate.
5. Do NOT restart yet. Go to your P3d download, unzip and open the folder only. Now click Install Client, Content and Scenery in that order. (Do not click setup as we are only updating)
6. Next go back to the folder you created earlier (P3d saved) and select all the folders you moved from your original P3d directory and move them back to the now newly updated Prepar3d v5 folder.
7. Now go to "C:\Users\your computer name\AppData\Local\Lockheed Martin\Prepar3D v5\Shaders" and delete all content.
8. Now start P3d only to the start menu, then close. Do not load a flight yet!
9. Restart your computer and enjoy Prepar3d 5.3

Are points 3 and 6 necessary?   Uninstalling the Client, Scenery and Content should still leave the 3rd party content behind.. 😉

I wonder why this procedure at all, since uninstalling the official way leaves all addons untouched with only little exceptions of default textures that have been overwritten by addons. But these exceptions are not handled by the above procedure anyway. And the official uninstall/re-install is faster than this.

Dan 

An uninstall/reinstall the way LM recommends takes around 30 minutes as it is and doesn't alter your addons.

https://forum.orbxdirect.com/topic/192424-installing-a-p3d-v5-hotfix-or-update-correctly/

 

Edited December 10, 20214 yr by Dave_YVR

8 hours ago, Bert Pieke said:

Are points 3 and 6 necessary?   Uninstalling the Client, Scenery and Content should still leave the 3rd party content behind.. 😉

Interesting, I was unaware it would leave 3rd party content behind. If true I guess steps 3 and 6 are not necessary. Honestly I'm still not sure I would have taken the chance of everything being deleted anyway, even if I had know in advance lol, the extra steps only takes a min or two and worth the piece of mind in my opinion. But honestly thanks for sharing this information guys.

I do this and delete these files and it works all the time for me.

 

 

Edited December 10, 20214 yr by Samaritano

What surprises me P3D has a tips and tricks forum on Avsim which gives you the info very few appear to read it.

8 hours ago, TurboKen said:

I was unaware it would leave 3rd party content behind.

The uninstall process only removes what has been installed. I followed the LM instructions and all my add-on scenery, utilities and aircraft remained untouched.

So did all my scenery.cfg entries. I avoid the nuclear option of running the batch file (its name escapes me) that wipes all critical cfg files leaving you with a virgin installation.

I omitted one other action in the update to 5.3. I went into Orbx Central and verified my FTX Global and AUS 2 packages. I then had ground textures back to how they were.

A very easy process. 👍