Hi all.

I'm just getting back into flight simming again after a long break (years). I've quickly become very confused! 🤔. Not being too sure of system requirements, and not wanting to go too mad too soon, I bought the Steam edition of MSFS. This was the last version of a sim I used. Having recently thrown away my old tower computer, I'm now using a Dell laptop. So, having also binned my Saitek controller I installed and started it up using just the keyboard - all went better than expected. It was at this point that confusion rose it's ugly head. My favourite plane of all time is the Twin Otter so, I went looking for it on the Steam list - not there. Looked on the web, first it's there and then it's been removed?! I noticed at this point also that there seemed to be quite a lot of movement on  the MSFS front so decided to rejoin Avsim (old details long lost), and here I am 😊.  I suppose my first question is is MSFS still available to use on computers and if so how? I only really bought the Steam version for Otter so it's a bit of a bummer. It's also a bit sad that software I've got on disk such as MSFX Gold; loads of expensive scenery etc is now useless, but I guess everyone here is in a similar boat?

Any help tips or suggestions gladly welcomed and digested 

Max

Only a guess, but I'm not sure if a laptop will handle MSFS's demanding graphics?  I remember  that MSFS had an app that checked the specs of a PC to see if your system is viable (before purchasing the flight sim). 

Welcome back to this crazy little hobby,,,

 

1 hour ago, overspeed3 said:

Only a guess, but I'm not sure if a laptop will handle MSFS's demanding graphics?  I remember  that MSFS had an app that checked the specs of a PC to see if your system is viable (before purchasing the flight sim). 

Welcome back to this crazy little hobby,,,

 

Many thanks! Having just had a few hours wrestling with two Microsoft laptops I remember why I swapped to Apple! Yes, I like that description, crazy indeed!!

If, by MSFS you mean the latest (2020) version of MSFS, I think you'll find running that on all but the most powerful laptops a real challenge.  And with that version of the sim, you are correct that most of your existing add-on software will not work.

That said, from reading your original post closely, I am wondering if, by "MSFS" you are really referring to FSX?  In addition to the Steam version of MSFS (often referred to as MSFS 2020), there is also a Steam-based version of FSX, and it will run your FSX add-ons just as FSX Gold did in nearly all cases.  FSX:SE (Steam Edition) was released in 2014 under a contract with Dovetail Games, 5 years after ACES Studios was closed by Microsoft, and has since been taken back under Microsoft's wing after the contract with Dovetail expired.  FSX:SE was recompiled for the final 32-bit Windows platforms (Win 7 & 8), repackaged to incorporate all of the FSX service packs, and eliminates some of the config tweaking we had to do in the old days.  It installs directly from Steam online without disks.  Even a modest modern gaming laptop with a discrete GPU should be able to run FSX:SE quite well.

 

Hi Bob

Many thanks for very detailed reply! I quote:

there is also a Steam-based version of FSX, and it will run your FSX add-ons just as FSX Gold did in nearly all cases.  FSX:SE (Steam Edition) was released in 2014 under a contract with Dovetail Games, 5 years after ACES Studios was closed by Microsoft, and has since been taken back under Microsoft's wing after the contract with Dovetail expired.  FSX:SE was recompiled for the final 32-bit Windows platforms (Win 7 & 8), repackaged to incorporate all of the FSX service packs, and eliminates some of the config tweaking we had to do in the old days.  It installs directly from Steam online without disks.  Even a modest modern gaming laptop with a discrete GPU should be able to run FSX:SE quite well.

Having just looked at my receipt it would appear as if I have the above version. I already had a Steam account so I just purchased the bog standard version and downloaded it. The machine in point is a DELL Latitude 7390, I 7 8650,16GB, 256GB NVME, FHD, Backlit Kybd,Thunderbolt, W11. Not really intended for flight sims! But it was just too hot at home today to investigate further. 
I have to say I'm intrigued about your mention of being able to use my previously owned software with this version, how does that work please?

Max

The most important piece of missing info above is the type of GPU in the laptop.  To run *any* flight sim acceptably, you need a discrete graphics processor, e.g. RTX3070, 4060 etc.  An Intel "integrated" GPU (e.g. one built into the CPU chip) is not going to be powerful enough.  Many laptops have both.

As to installing FSX add-on software, provided you didn't already have FSX Gold installed on the laptop when you installed FSX:SE on the computer, it should look just like FSX to most applications.  If FSX is already there when FSX:SE is installed, the registry settings are changed and things get more complicated.  If it's not already there, it uses the same registry settings as FSX Classic and is (mostly) indistinguishable.  Some add-on installers are written to install to either FSX:SE or FSX "Classic", and will ask which you have....however if you don't have both installed, it's usually more straightforward to install as FSX and not FSX:SE.

 

Hi again Bob

Once again I'm indebted to you for your detailed reply. I realise now that I'm going to have to totally reconsider what I want to do here. The laptop that I mentioned above I realise now is inadequate. I now have to decide if I want to start over and buy a specialised gaming laptop or stick with sim apps I'm already using on my iPad Pro. The biggest reason for wanting to use MSFS or one of it's flavours was to fly the Twin Otter again, but now that I find it's no longer available I might have to call a halt.  The Twin Otter was my favourite plane of all, yes it did have problems but I loved being in the cockpit of that plane. Oh well, I'm now going to cogitate. Thanks again for all your help. 
Max

On 9/7/2023 at 11:39 AM, FenStranger said:

I have to say I'm intrigued about your mention of being able to use my previously owned software with this version, how does that work please?

If you have a backup of the products, you may be able to move some of them over.. like sceneries for example.

Most airplanes have to be "installed", so you need to have a copy of the installer..