Just an FYI

As I've noticed some people have been able to pre install this from the Microsoft store I thought I'd see if this was available to me.

Once I got into the store I was indeed able to proceed with an install. However the install path was C:\Xbox games this time round. Having previously owned MSFS 2020 on media I notice that this is a different default install path this time.

It was supposedly a 50GB install which strangely took less than 30 seconds (I'm currently on a 40mbit broadband connection. Soon to be 1gbit next week).

Upon examination of the Xbox folder sure enough a Microsoft Flight Simulator folder had been created containing 2.10 GB of data. Below this folder was a content folder and 6 files of various sizes the largest being 66mb.

I guess it makes sense for everyone who has preordered to be able to preinstall prior to the launch in order to reduce the rush to install on the day itself.

I'm hoping I'll simply be able to launch MSFS 2024 on the day.

Cheers all

Terry

Edited November 6, 20241 yr by Quaere Verum

On 11/6/2024 at 3:41 AM, Quaere Verum said:

Once I got into the store I was indeed able to proceed with an install. However the install path was C:\Xbox games this time round. Having previously owned MSFS 2020 on media I notice that this is a different default install path this time.

MS changed this over time... the most recent store version of MSFS 2020 also installs to this folder.

Yes, but in 2020 there was still the option to, after the core (circa 2,5 GB) is installed into "C:\Xbox games", during the install of the 2 major folders directing it to another folder/drive/partition... At least with the Alpha build the only alternative was to move the whole Xbox games to the intended destination, which ends up placing there otrher system folders I'd rather not have mixed with the root folders of my other flight simulators...

I hope they change this at release...

Edited November 7, 20241 yr by jcomm

Preordered and did the small pre-install, ms store. My c:\xbox directory is empty, you can install everything in a directory/drive of your choice. Xbox app - settings - install options - choose where you want it. Mine is all in D:\FS2024\etc

6 hours ago, ConairMSFS said:

Xbox app - settings - install options - choose where you want it. Mine is all in D:\FS2024\etc

Just a quick note (and you may already be aware, but in case others aren't), this controls the location of everything installed via the Xbox app... It's similar to the default Steam folder. So MSFS will install under D:\FS2024\etc\FS2024 (or whatever directory MS uses for 2024, I forget what it was in the alpha). If you later install Solitaire without changing the default folder, it will end up in D:\FS2024\etc\Solitaire. Unfortunately, just like Steam, the Xbox app doesn't let you install individual apps into their own folder (D:\FS2024), they are always in a subfolder.

I'll assume we will still get the option to set the content directory (which includes the community folder) into a different location during the 2024 install, but best to put your default folder on a large drive just to be safe.

10 hours ago, ConairMSFS said:

Preordered and did the small pre-install, ms store. My c:\xbox directory is empty, you can install everything in a directory/drive of your choice. Xbox app - settings - install options - choose where you want it. Mine is all in D:\FS2024\etc

That meant you could have only, say, an MSFS folder in another partition / drive. In my case system part is C:, sims F:, so I had C:\Xbox but during the install directed the installer to a folder F:\MSFS under which Community and the other BIG folder would be placed.

In 2024 Alpha the only thing I could do is what you say above, but then it replicates some system folders and "Program Files" under F: too... I don't like that 😕

Edited November 8, 20241 yr by jcomm