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msfs storage vs operating space on SSD

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Hi everyone I am not sure what's possible and what's not when it comes to getting a new SSD for my computer because I am running out of space at the moment.  Typically if you buy a new PC some will come with a smaller storage SSD and a larger mechanical hard drive.  My question is:  Do all the MSFS files hafta be on the primary (preferably SSD) in order to run?   Can the program access info from another Drive in order for the Sim to run?  Or do all the files, community folder and such hafta be on the same drive?  

I appreciate any technical input you guys can offer and thanks!

You can create a symlink and put one or more folders (e.g. community folder) on another drive.

Bob Scott | President and CEO, AVSIM Inc
ATP Gulfstream II-III-IV-V

Sys1 (MSFS20+24/XPlane12+11): AMD 9800X3D, water 2x240mm, MSI MPG X670E Carbon, 64GB GSkill 6000/30, nVidia RTX4090FE
Alienware AW3821DW 38" 21:9 GSync, 2x4TB Crucial T705 PCIe5 + 2x2TB Samsung 990 SSD, EVGA 1000P2 PSU, 12.9" iPad Pro
Thrustmaster TCA Boeing Yoke, TCA Airbus Sidestick, Twin TCA Airbus Throttle quads, PFC Cirrus Pedals, Coolermaster HAF932 case

Sys2 (P3Dv5/v4): i9-13900KS, water 2x360mm, ASUS Z790 Hero, 32GB GSkill 7800MHz CAS36, ASUS RTX4090
Samsung 55" JS8500 4K TV@60Hz,
3x 2TB WD SN850X 1x 4TB Crucial P3 M.2 NVME SSD, EVGA 1600T2 PSU
Fiber link to Yamaha RX-V467 Home Theater Receiver, Polk/Klipsch 6" bookshelf speakers, Polk 12" subwoofer, 12.9" iPad Pro
PFC yoke/throttle quad/pedals with custom Hall sensor retrofit, Thermaltake View 71 case, Stream Deck XL button box

Sys3 (DCS/P3Dv4/ATS/ETS): AMD 7800X3D, MSI MPG X870E Carbon, Noctua NH-D15S, 64GB GSkill 6000/30, EVGA RTX3090
Alienware AW3420DW 34" 21:9 GSync, Corsair HX1000i PSU, 4TB Crucial T705 PCIe5 + 2TB Samsung 970Evo Plus,
TM TCA Officer Pack
, Saitek combat pedals, TM Warthog, TM RS300 FF wheel/pedals, Coolermaster HAF XB case

  • Author
1 hour ago, Bob Scott said:

You can create a symlink and put one or more folders (e.g. community folder) on another drive.

Thanks. I have been researching and it is all a bit confusing.  Is a symlink the same as a symbolic link?  I was informed that the MSFS addonlinker has to run on the same drive as the sim does and my goal is to get airport sceneries and liveries off of my main SSD to keep it from filling up, but at the same time allow the Sim to have access to it when I use it. 

14 hours ago, Saucey12 said:

Thanks. I have been researching and it is all a bit confusing.  Is a symlink the same as a symbolic link?  I was informed that the MSFS addonlinker has to run on the same drive as the sim does and my goal is to get airport sceneries and liveries off of my main SSD to keep it from filling up, but at the same time allow the Sim to have access to it when I use it. 

Yes, "symlink" is a contraction of symbolic link.  That's done at the OS level, so a symlink to a folder on another drive appears to a program the same as if it were physically located at the link origin.

Bob Scott | President and CEO, AVSIM Inc
ATP Gulfstream II-III-IV-V

Sys1 (MSFS20+24/XPlane12+11): AMD 9800X3D, water 2x240mm, MSI MPG X670E Carbon, 64GB GSkill 6000/30, nVidia RTX4090FE
Alienware AW3821DW 38" 21:9 GSync, 2x4TB Crucial T705 PCIe5 + 2x2TB Samsung 990 SSD, EVGA 1000P2 PSU, 12.9" iPad Pro
Thrustmaster TCA Boeing Yoke, TCA Airbus Sidestick, Twin TCA Airbus Throttle quads, PFC Cirrus Pedals, Coolermaster HAF932 case

Sys2 (P3Dv5/v4): i9-13900KS, water 2x360mm, ASUS Z790 Hero, 32GB GSkill 7800MHz CAS36, ASUS RTX4090
Samsung 55" JS8500 4K TV@60Hz,
3x 2TB WD SN850X 1x 4TB Crucial P3 M.2 NVME SSD, EVGA 1600T2 PSU
Fiber link to Yamaha RX-V467 Home Theater Receiver, Polk/Klipsch 6" bookshelf speakers, Polk 12" subwoofer, 12.9" iPad Pro
PFC yoke/throttle quad/pedals with custom Hall sensor retrofit, Thermaltake View 71 case, Stream Deck XL button box

Sys3 (DCS/P3Dv4/ATS/ETS): AMD 7800X3D, MSI MPG X870E Carbon, Noctua NH-D15S, 64GB GSkill 6000/30, EVGA RTX3090
Alienware AW3420DW 34" 21:9 GSync, Corsair HX1000i PSU, 4TB Crucial T705 PCIe5 + 2TB Samsung 970Evo Plus,
TM TCA Officer Pack
, Saitek combat pedals, TM Warthog, TM RS300 FF wheel/pedals, Coolermaster HAF XB case

  • Author
3 hours ago, Bob Scott said:

Yes, "symlink" is a contraction of symbolic link.  That's done at the OS level, so a symlink to a folder on another drive appears to a program the same as if it were physically located at the link origin.

yea I appreciate it .. I have done some research on it and I think I have the hang of it now.  I just wanted to bring it to the community here since this PC is mainly just my Sim computer.  Wanted to make sure MSFS would still operate properly if some of my community folder was on another drive. 

  • 3 weeks later...

Yes, as Bob pointed out. However IF you can afford another $100, AND feel comfortable (watch some videos) add another 2TB SSD and make it a dedicated flight sim drive.

Flight Simulator's - Prepar3d V5/MSFS | Operating System - WIN 11 | Main Board - GIGABYTE X870E Aorus Elite WIFI7 | CPU - AMD 9800X3D | RAM - CORSAIR 64GB 6600Mhz | Video Card - EVGA RTX3090 FTW3 Ultra Monitor - DELL 38" Ultrawide | Case - CORSAIR 750D Full Tower | CPU Cooling - CORSAIR H170i Elite LCD 420mm Push/Pull | Power Supply - EVGA 1000 G+ | Sound System - Definitive Technology ProMonitor 600 w/subwoofer

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