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JRBarrett

MD-11 appears to work in FSX-Steam Edition

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I know that most of you are eagerly awaiting the NGX and 777 being made compatible with FSX-Steam, but FWIW, the MD-11 DOES work on FSX-SE, at least when installed into a clean SE-only system.

 

The installation proceeded with no glitches or errors. The only reason that I put the proviso "appears" (to work) is because I have not actually flown it yet, but it loaded on the first run post-install with no issues, and all systems appear to be fully functional. I just updated the Nav Data with the current Navigraph cycle, and installed the FedEx freighter livery from the PMDG web site, and so far, so good.

 

I've been at my computer for hours installing and configuring add-on scenery and airports, so will put off the first test flight until later today - but it certainly appears that I will at least have a PMDG long-haul aircraft to use in FSX-SE, until the newer titles can be modified to work.

 

I'm assuming that the 747-400 will install as well on an SE-only system.

 

My apologies if this is already "old news".


Jim Barrett

Licensed Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic, Avionics, Electrical & Air Data Systems Specialist. Qualified on: Falcon 900, CRJ-200, Dornier 328-100, Hawker 850XP and 1000, Lear 35, 45, 55 and 60, Gulfstream IV and 550, Embraer 135, Beech Premiere and 400A, MD-80.

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This is good for all.  The PMDG MD-11 is one of the most amazing things ever made in the history of flight sim.  Only morons don't appreciate the PMDG md-11, and what it means.

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Jim Barrett

Licensed Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic, Avionics, Electrical & Air Data Systems Specialist. Qualified on: Falcon 900, CRJ-200, Dornier 328-100, Hawker 850XP and 1000, Lear 35, 45, 55 and 60, Gulfstream IV and 550, Embraer 135, Beech Premiere and 400A, MD-80.

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I am planning to buy the MD-11 for FSX SE, so I would like to know if you experience any issues with it "as it is now" JRBarrett. Are devs planning to create a Steam compatible version of it anyway?


 

 

Iñigo Bildarratz

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I am planning to buy the MD-11 for FSX SE, so I would like to know if you experience any issues with it "as it is now" JRBarrett. Are devs planning to create a Steam compatible version of it anyway?

I still have not yet gone airborne with the MD-11 in SE, but I have done the complete flow from starting with a cold and dark cockpit, through powering up the systems, entering a route and performance data in the MCDU, starting engines and doing all pre-taxi systems checks, to taxiing to the hold-short point at the runway. I have saved the situation at that point, and will do the actual flight later today, as we are heading out shortly for family Christmas dinner.

 

Based on what I have seen, I'm 99% confident in saying that the MD-11 is fully functional in SE. If you install SE on a computer which never had original FSX, SE will install itself with all files, folders and config files in "standard" locations, so an SDK-compliant add-on and installer should work just as it would with the original FSX.

 

Things get more complicated on a system which already has FSX installed, as SE will put its config files in non-standard folders, and its registry entries will likely not be easily found by an installer expecting "old" FSX.

 

I think that the main issue right now with the NGX and 777 not working in even an SE-only installation is the use of a more complex activation system, requiring a running service (flexnet) in order for the aircraft to load and function properly. That will indeed require PMDG to produce new installers for SE.

 

The MD-11 and 747 use a much simpler activation system, requiring only a one-time verification of order number and customer account info at the time of installation.


Jim Barrett

Licensed Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic, Avionics, Electrical & Air Data Systems Specialist. Qualified on: Falcon 900, CRJ-200, Dornier 328-100, Hawker 850XP and 1000, Lear 35, 45, 55 and 60, Gulfstream IV and 550, Embraer 135, Beech Premiere and 400A, MD-80.

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Thank so much! Md-11 is my preferred aircraft. I'll try to install in FSX-SE and see how it works.


Riccardo

OS: Windows 10-64 bit, CPU: i7-7700K @4.20 GHz, GPU: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1080 G1 8GB GDDR5, RAM: Corsair Vengeance DDR4 32GB 3000MHz, MB: MSI Z270

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How did you install MD-11? simply copying relative folders? If I uninstall FSX and try to install MD-11 installers say me there is no FSX installed and close.


Riccardo

OS: Windows 10-64 bit, CPU: i7-7700K @4.20 GHz, GPU: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1080 G1 8GB GDDR5, RAM: Corsair Vengeance DDR4 32GB 3000MHz, MB: MSI Z270

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How did you install MD-11? simply copying relative folders? If I uninstall FSX and try to install MD-11 installers say me there is no FSX installed and close.

I just used the standard MD11 installer. The problem I think you are having is this: If you just uninstall your original FSX, using the add/remove programs menu it the control panel, it will NOT uninstall cleanly. The main FSX files will be eliminated, but all the old FSX registry entries will remain, as will several config files. The continued existence of these files will prevent an add-on installer from finding SE.

 

You would need to uninstall FSX via the control panel first. Then, you need to MANUALLY remove the FSX folder in username/appdata/roaming/microsoft (where the old FSX.CFG lives). Likewise you need to manually remove the FSX folder in /programdata/microsoft (where the SCENERY.CFG lives), and the Flight Simulator Files folder in your MyDocumemts

 

Then, you need to run a registry cleaner like the free CCLEANER, to remove all FSX references, in the registry - which it should do automatically.

 

Finally, reboot your system and THEN install FSX-SE. It should install exactly like original FSX, and put the location of it's main folder in the proper location in the registry where older FSX add-on installers will look first...

 

I realize this is a bit of hassle - especially if you are not comfortable with manually looking for files and folders in Windows Explorer, but it is the only way to insure that SE will install cleanly with the same folder and registry structure as original FSX.

 

None of these steps are necessary if you install SE on a computer that never had the original FSX in the first place. Installing a dual FSX /FSX-SE system is definitely possible - the Steam installer is prepared for that scenario, but older installers like the MD11 are unlikely to work properly.

Cab you confirm its compatibility eventually guys? My credit card is ready,...

Yes, on my system it does work perfectly, from cold and dark, through take-off, cruise, landing and shutdown.

 

However, if you previously had original FSX, see my post above regarding the steps to completely eliminate all traces of the old FSX program files, registry entries and config folders BEFORE installing SE. If that house cleaning is not done, older installers like the one for the MD11 may not "see" the SE installation as being identical to original FSX.


Jim Barrett

Licensed Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic, Avionics, Electrical & Air Data Systems Specialist. Qualified on: Falcon 900, CRJ-200, Dornier 328-100, Hawker 850XP and 1000, Lear 35, 45, 55 and 60, Gulfstream IV and 550, Embraer 135, Beech Premiere and 400A, MD-80.

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Thank you Jim, yesterday nigth I cleaned manually all relative registry entries, but I got always the same problem. So I adopted a radical solution and gone to format all my system.

 

Now I'm redownloading FSX-SE and cleanly install it and report back. Do you think this solution can work either for Maddog by Leonardo SH? With dual installation it doesn't work, I'll try this evening.


Riccardo

OS: Windows 10-64 bit, CPU: i7-7700K @4.20 GHz, GPU: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1080 G1 8GB GDDR5, RAM: Corsair Vengeance DDR4 32GB 3000MHz, MB: MSI Z270

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Thank you Jim, yesterday nigth I cleaned manually all relative registry entries, but I got always the same problem. So I adopted a radical solution and gone to format all my system.

 

Now I'm redownloading FSX-SE and cleanly install it and report back. Do you think this solution can work either for Maddog by Leonardo SH? With dual installation it doesn't work, I'll try this evening.

Not sure about the Leonardo Maddog - whether it is basically compatible or not.

Jim Barrett

Licensed Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic, Avionics, Electrical & Air Data Systems Specialist. Qualified on: Falcon 900, CRJ-200, Dornier 328-100, Hawker 850XP and 1000, Lear 35, 45, 55 and 60, Gulfstream IV and 550, Embraer 135, Beech Premiere and 400A, MD-80.

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Jim thanks for reply, maddog work great on a clean alone FSX-SE installation.

 

I can't get Md-11 working on the same machine, clean FSX-SE alone, but all screen and CDU are blacks, no countdown initialization. Any help?


Riccardo

OS: Windows 10-64 bit, CPU: i7-7700K @4.20 GHz, GPU: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1080 G1 8GB GDDR5, RAM: Corsair Vengeance DDR4 32GB 3000MHz, MB: MSI Z270

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Jim thanks for reply, maddog work great on a clean alone FSX-SE installation.

 

I can't get Md-11 working on the same machine, clean FSX-SE alone, but all screen and CDU are blacks, no countdown initialization. Any help?

Not sure what may be wrong. If you did reformat your machine, and reinstall windows, that should have removed all traces of the old FSX.

 

One other step I forgot to mention - and this is especially important if you are installing on a system that never had FSX, or a freshly-reformatted machine. You need to install all three versions of simconnect from the original FSX. Steam has provided these for your convenience. Navigate to your new Steam FSX folder, then go to the SDK folder, then click on Core Utilities Kit, then Sim Connect SDK, and finally click on LegacyInterfaces.

 

Inside of this folder, you'll find three more folders called FSX-RTM, FSX-SP1 and FSX-XPACK. Each of these folders has an installer file called SimConnect.msi Run all three installers in turn. Then, fire up FSX-Steam and try the MD11 again.

 

I'm betting this will fix the problem


Jim Barrett

Licensed Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic, Avionics, Electrical & Air Data Systems Specialist. Qualified on: Falcon 900, CRJ-200, Dornier 328-100, Hawker 850XP and 1000, Lear 35, 45, 55 and 60, Gulfstream IV and 550, Embraer 135, Beech Premiere and 400A, MD-80.

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I suppose a simconnect problem. Tomorrow I'll try, before installing the three simconnect I'd like to resolve an issue with EZCA 1.18.1 that seems to have a similar simconnect problem. And then report back.

 

Thanks so much for your help Jim, very appreciated.


Riccardo

OS: Windows 10-64 bit, CPU: i7-7700K @4.20 GHz, GPU: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1080 G1 8GB GDDR5, RAM: Corsair Vengeance DDR4 32GB 3000MHz, MB: MSI Z270

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