Had the same problem with the black cursor but uninstalling my Deluxe version again, because I was not getting the activation block, went back with install and this time got the activation code block. Never open the basic flight so I don't know what the cursor looked like in the game; but as soon as I was able to get the Acceleration pack in there, I had to do as Mr. Zippy said in the register, I was able to get an activation block for it. Anyway cursor is white in the game. I think in installing the original two disk you have to activate the flight sim or perhaps is why the black pointer and maybe without an activation you are running a temporary version. Good luck.