FSX installation, on two separate hard drives but same system.

[md11nlm]

Would like two separate installations of FSX on my Computer, has two large HD's.

Short of buying two FSX from MS, I would prefer using one FSX package and install twice on my computer.

FSX - BASE: Reason, one to keep absolutely basic, for testing aircraft and after testing concluded, delete.

FSX-Complex: This will be for all the add-on's, Aircraft, free and Payware, MegaScenery, ActiveX, Traffic 2, you know, balancing the sliders until I have to buy another complete upgraded system or go completely bald, whichever comes first.

Any advice how and/or what from the Gods out there, will be sincerely appreciated.

Cheers,
Peter
(md11nlm3)

[Anubis]

Interesting... I have never done that, but I believe you could *try* the following:

1) split one HD in two partitions. You do not need to use a single HD for FSX (especially the vanilla one). Let's say you call those partitions D:\ (small partition) and X:\ (big partition) just to make an example

2) install FSX in D:\ .I do not recall anymore if FSX allows you to install in places other than C:\Program Files\... but you can always copy it there later on. There is a small exe which allows you to change/fix in the Windows Registry the FSX location so you can use it.

3) now copy over FSX to X:\ using the same folder structure, so let's say for example:
D:\Program Files\FSX
copied to
X:\Program Files\FSX

Once done, rename D:\ to Y:\ (the HD label is just a logical name). So now you have X:\ and Y:\.

If you want to play vanilla FSX: rename Y:\ to D:\
If you want to play (or install sceneries, tools, aircrafts, ...) rename X:\ to D:\

In this way, the Windows Registy will always point to the correct location (you are swapping HD labels to fool it).

However, there are a number of other FSX folders which will be shared and those are located in the main HD (C:\). To cope with that I would make copies there as well (let's call them FSX_vanilla and FSX_addons) and then write simple shell script that will copy the related folders in the right place before running either version of FSX or even better, use Hard Links if your Windows version supports them..

EDIT: In Windows 7. you should duplicate the following folders:

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\FSX
C:\Users\<your user name>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\FSX
C:\Users\<your user name>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\FSX

That's the general idea. As I said, I am not sure it would work but you could at least try.

Paolo

[md11nlm]

Hi Paolo,

Maybe if we put our thoughts together we can change the word "try" to "this will work" -Guarwonteed, as Justin Wilson used to say.

First thank you for your quick response. Perhaps I should have explained:

I set C:\ as the operating system & related, like, all drivers and related software to various hardware. This Primary drive is divided into three partitions. We'll call them C, D, & E. Second Slave hard drive is set up with 5 partitions, obviously F - J.

Intended goal was efficiency. Most folks are aware that when installing MegaScenery best be on one drive and FSX on another. Makes excellence sense, as if all put on one hard drive, loading speed slows down, and ruins a fine HD quicker in the process. Add the greater stress of including ActiveX, Traffic 2 and other major add-on's, liquid cooling also should be considered down the road.

Unless this is Intel's or AMD's fastest and hottest chip on the market, with 2 nVidia 260 GTX, 10Krpm SATA HD's, with liquid cooling and unlimited funds from bank robberies, I still suspect we can only run one FSX at a time.

Your suggestion as outlined seemed in my feeble mind, considerable work, uncertain it would work, I took liberties in modifying just a wee bit and did the following.

Yes, FSX will default to C:\Program files\Microsoft Games\FSX on install, and yes FSX can be installed anywhere of the partitions above, and we can call the folders anything we a want, i.e., FSX I and FSX II.

I attempted to install the second FSX in under the name FSX Complex, but never got that far, it will allow me to either repair or remove, stopped me cold in my tracks. Obviously and like you have written, the registry located the original installation. Grief stricken, jumping up and down, beating the walls, made me feel better momentarily, but resulted in no resolution.....

Combing your and my ideas, tried this and it worked flawlessly, ........so far.

Had already installed on E:\ as FSX Complex. Copied via Windows Explorer to D:\ to a folder named FSX BASE, while the 16.9GB copied and pasted, prepared shortcuts for both.

Guess what? They work, independently of course, testing both and bought smiles.

I thank you Paolo, you made my day.

Peter,
md11nlm3

[Anubis]

Glad to know it works.

Remember the common folders located on C:\ which I outlined above however. As long as you do not install (for example) a new scenery everything will be 100% fine, but the moment you install it in 'FSX Complex', the scenery.cfg file located on C:\ will be modified. If that file is shared (no separate copies), then 'FSX Base' will complain.

Paolo

[mgh]

Installing two copies is in breach of the FSX EULA

"2. INSTALLATION AND USE RIGHTS.
a. Licensed Device. The licensed device is the device on which you use the software. You may install and use one copy of the software on the licensed device. "(My emphasis)

[n4gix]

Technical violation? Yep, the pedant is correct. The reality however is that no one really cares, least of all Microsoft.

[mgh]

Technical violation? Yep, the pedant is correct. The reality however is that no one really cares, least of all Microsoft.

Fine, so let's all decide for ourselves what terms of an EULA we're going to violate.

[Paxx]

Installing two copies is in breach of the FSX EULA ...

Negative.
Let us quote the WHOLE (my emphasis) section if we are to be accurate.

From the FSX EULA ...

2. INSTALLATION AND USE RIGHTS.
a. Licensed Device. The licensed device is the device on which you use the software. You may install and use one copy of the software on the licensed device.
b. Portable Device. You may install another copy on a portable device for use by the single primary user of the licensed device.

Hmm, part b there is interesting. I can carry a hard drive around with ease, is that not one of the definitions for portable? Why yes it is. Is a hard drive a device? Why yes it is.

Due to this and a plethora of other copyright/IP facts that would allow a "second" copy of FSX, I think I'll decide the EULA supports what the OP wants to do.


p.s - I am not an attorney.

[mgh]

The EULA for Flight Simulator X Deluxe Edition reads exactly as I quoted, and does not mention portable devices. The EULA you quote is for Flight Simulator X Acceleration 1.0 does cover portable devices.

Adopting your approach to devices, then only Acceleration can be put on a portable device.

But, read the words carefully. A device you can use FSX on. FSX can't be used on a hard disk without a processor, memory , screen etc so it isn't a device in this context.

[Paxx]

Bah, you are seemingly correct, I was unaware FSX and Acceleration were subject respectively to two different EULAs written with the same file name in two different file formats. This is probably a result of my not caring one wit about any Microsoft EULA, something I don't advise for others.
Sue me.