Some Guidance in Installing on New Computer Please

[Brevoort 0]

I've just started to set up a new computer and was about to install FSX when it occurred to me that I now have a machine fully capable to running P3D

 

But I am unclear on how to get my FSX addons into the new system. I have read a great number of threads about this but either I am missing something conceptually or more likely something isn't sinking in with me.

 

Do I have to resintall all of the addons from their original installation files? (aircraft, scenery, mesh etc)

 

I am aware of the so-called Estonia migration tool and it looks like a fine way to avoid a lot of work but can I use it to migrate addons out of my FSX folder and into P3D on the new computer, or does it also need the original installation files?

 

I have a great deal of ORBX scenery and it seems best with that to install from the ORBX designed P3D installation files.

 

But it would be a great help it I could just transfer my entire FSX folder into the new computer temporarily, and then migrate my existing files into the P3D environment and then delete the FSX folder.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[User72 28]

I imagine the problem you would face there would be to do with the EULA's on various things. Obviously this matters. However, for those items where the issue doesn't arise you should be able to merge folders without great difficulty. Sound to sound, aircraft to aircraft, effects to effects etc. If it were me however I would only use P3d installers or the migration tool so that I didn't run into problems where I couldn't actually tell what the cause was because I had just copy/pasted a lot of stuff at once. You could probably do what you want but it might not prove the best way in the long run.

[geolpilot 88]

I have just been through the whole nigthmare of setting up a new machine (my trusty old sim setup collapsed due to motherboard failure, requiring both new MOBO plus CPU as I could not find any older LGA1155 socket MOBOs for my i7-2600). Kept my old drives with FSX and P3DV2 intstallation intact, in the hope that I would be able to do a quick reinstall of addons.

 

What I can tell you is it will not work to just transfer addons from FSX from an older machine into FSX or P3D on a new machine (mostly). Freeware addons yes, but all payware stuff will have to be re-installed from the original installers to get the adons properly registered to the new machine. Even in the case of Flight1 wrapper addons, you have to start with the original wrapper, not an installer .exe unwrapped on the older machine. So be careful to save all your order and license details!

 

So basically, aside from freeware, its a complete build up from "naked" FSX and P3D reinstall, re-activation of both, then get all payware in (can use Migration Tool to get FSX payware into P3D from original installers, but pay attention to other users compatibilty experiences). Freeware one can copy across if you know what you are doing (need to copy aircraft, gauges, sound, effects etc). In the end its often just as quick to go to the original download for these anyhow so all the needed parts are properly identified - I had all my original .zip downloads backed up for favourite freeware addons.

 

Took me two full days to get back to nearly where I was before. At least I now have a new, leaner and faster machine. Happy now after the original "heartbreak"

 

Rob

[denali 74]

I just did what you're wanting to do.  Actually, I don't have everything set up just yet.

 

Let me give you a tight piece of advice:  Keep a log of EVERYTHING you do on your new system.  Every little change, every little addition, program, tweak that you do.  That way you'll have a clue of what might have broken something if somewhere down the line you don't get the results that you want.

 

Always use the tools provided by the developers to install if they are available.  But I found a nice freebie that will put in place the registry settings and paths needed for FSX addons to "see" fsx in the P3D location.  http://udidit.ch/products/fsxp3dswitch.html   The download location isn't the most reliable, but it is up often enough you'll get it eventually.   The one thing it won't do that the other payware migration tool will do is move the FSX aircraft, but there is a process to that you can look up.  I need to do that.  

 

The next tool I'd use is Simstarter.  It'll allow you to make tweaks to the config for different situations, and switch easily between them.  

 

If you're going to Windows 8, I can help you navigate through the Windows 8.1 upgrade and get a reasonable desktop experience.

 

Other than that, ask away.

[Brevoort 0]

Excellent. Thank you all very much. That is exactly the information I needed. It looks like I have more work ahead than I'd hoped.

 

BTW - Thanks Denali for that tip about keeping a log through the installation. That's an excellent idea and I wwill extend it to the setup of my entire computer as I move ahead.

 

 

Cheers all

[denali 74]

“When you can measure what you are speaking about, and express it in numbers, you know something about it, when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge is of a meager and unsatisfactory kind; it may be the beginning of knowledge, but you have scarely, in your thoughts advanced to the stage of science.”

― William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin [Lord Kelvin]

[Cfoley 4]

I am going to purchase a new computer (an HP with Windows 7) because my almost-4 year old computer is wearing out and cannot handle FSX add ons too well.  I started using FSX on that computer in 2011 after I purchased it and have added so many add on aircraft, airports, GSX, UT2, troubleshooting tweeks, etc.  It sounds like it is going to be a nightmare to start from scratch.  And for some of the add-ons,  I don't have a record of some of some of the purchases I made.  I just did not think of making a copy of the receipt at the time, not foreseeing any problems or a new computer in the future.

[dgraham1284 92]

I am going to purchase a new computer (an HP with Windows 7) because my almost-4 year old computer is wearing out and cannot handle FSX add ons too well.  I started using FSX on that computer in 2011 after I purchased it and have added so many add on aircraft, airports, GSX, UT2, troubleshooting tweeks, etc.  It sounds like it is going to be a nightmare to start from scratch.  And for some of the add-ons,  I don't have a record of some of some of the purchases I made.  I just did not think of making a copy of the receipt at the time, not foreseeing any problems or a new computer in the future.

 

 

I would assume you purchased most things at online stores no?

 

Backups, backups, backups. So you can later restore.  B)