I currently use P3Dv5.3 and I want to install v5.4 but there's a couple things I'm not sure about regarding the reinstall process because I've never had to do this yet since when I bought P3Dv5, it was already at V5.3 with HF1 and HF2 included.

1. First, when removing P3Dv5.3 off my drive do I need to or is it recommended that I delete the leftover folders?  In the P3D install guide it says to do a complete uninstallation of my current version, I need to delete these folders here:

• C:\Program Files\Lockheed Martin\Prepar3D v5 (or the modified install location)
• %PROGRAMDATA%\Lockheed Martin\Prepar3D v5
• %LOCALAPPDATA%\Lockheed Martin\Prepar3D v5
• %APPDATA%\Lockheed Martin\Prepar3D v5
• %USERPROFILE%\Documents\Prepar3D v5 Files
• %USERPROFILE%\Documents\Prepar3D v5 Add-ons

I don't believe that it's necessary to delete Prepar3D v5 Files and Prepar3D v5 Add-ons as it is only my add-ons and flight plans located there but the other three folders I don't know if I should delete or not?

 

2.  All or most of my Add-ons should not have to be reinstalled correct?  I remember from using FSX that when I reinstalled, most things like scenery and aircraft worked fine but I did need to reinstall FSUIPC6, A2A AccuFeel V2 and I think RealityXP as well, to get them working again.

 

I would also greatly appreciate any other tips or advice anyone has doing this reinstallation process, I want to make sure I do it right, thank you.

As indicated by Prepar3D here:

https://www.prepar3d.com/announcement/2023/05/128020/

To switch from P3D v5.3 to 5.4 simply uninstall the P3D v5.3 Client from the Windows Control Panel, answering NO to the question if you want to deactivate the license and install the v5.4 Client and all the add-ons installed will work as on P3D v5.3.

1 hour ago, RobPol471 said:

As indicated by Prepar3D here:

https://www.prepar3d.com/announcement/2023/05/128020/

To switch from P3D v5.3 to 5.4 simply uninstall the P3D v5.3 Client from the Windows Control Panel, answering NO to the question if you want to deactivate the license and install the v5.4 Client and all the add-ons installed will work as on P3D v5.3.

This is how I did it and it works perfectly.

10 minutes ago, Swe_Richard said:

This is how I did it and it works perfectly.

Ok, thank you.  I missed that part about just the client.

I also have a different question related to updates.  Is v5.4 the last and final version of P3Dv5 since they just rolled out v6 or will there be any more updates?  I don't plan to try v6 for a very long time yet.

Edited July 30, 20232 yr by Kalnon

24 minutes ago, Kalnon said:

Is v5.4 the last and final version of P3Dv5 since they just rolled out v6 or will there be any more updates?  I don't plan to try v6 for a very long time yet.

Impossible to say for sure, but seems very likely that 5.4 is the last of v5, although there may be the odd patch.

35 minutes ago, Kalnon said:

Ok, thank you.  I missed that part about just the client.

I also have a different question related to updates.  Is v5.4 the last and final version of P3Dv5 since they just rolled out v6 or will there be any more updates?  I don't plan to try v6 for a very long time yet.

I was a bit apprehensive as well before going 5.3 to 5.4 as the former was performing quite nicely. 5.4, however, turned out to be an even stronger performer for me. 

As for more updates I would echo @Biggles2010 above; I find it unlikely that anything substantial apart from the odd bug fix would end up in the 5.X line. That said; I would say that 5.4 has matured nicely. 

Updating just the client is the easy but lazy way and it's also incomplete. Updating it properly is very easy as well and only takes a few more minutes.

 This guide from ORBX has never let me down and works for any version of V5 and below. I can't say for v6 as I don't have it.

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

I figured 5.4 would be the last.  When I purchase a new flight simulator to try, I like to wait until development of it is pretty much done.  That way I don't have to suffer with all of the growing pains of the development process and by the time I buy the sim I will have immediate access to all the best add-ons made for it already.

@Swe_Richard One of the reasons why I wanted to try 5.4 is because of the performance optimizations that LM mentioned in the update log.  It's good to know the sim does perform better.

@Dave_YVR Thanks so much for the guide, I appreciate it, that is very helpful.  I  like Nick Cooper, he has helped me so many times in the Orbx forum.  He's a really great guy and his knowledge is endless.

Edited July 31, 20232 yr by Kalnon

I ended up using Nick Cooper's guide on the Orbx forum that Dave posted and it worked perfectly.

I'm loving 5.4 so far, it is a very nice upgrade to v5.  Performance really is much better in my opinion, I was stuck having that dreaded microstutter issue that many people complained about in the past with P3Dv5 and now it's finally gone.  I had the issue intermittently and now the sim is smooth as butter.  I'm really happy about the flight planner and GPS updates as well, I think they are way over due.  Way to go team LM!