FSX Problems - multi-monitor setup and Games for Windows Marketplace troubles

[-Ice]

Hello!

I am a long-time flight simmer and used to fly FS2004 and did Rod's tutorials to learn a bit about flying. However, 98% of my flying is done on military aircraft -- Falcon BMS, DCS A10C, DCS Black Shark, etc. I am currently looking into introducing my 8-year old son to flight simulation and have recently purchased MS FSX Gold via the Marketplace to "return to basics," if you will.

My first problem is Games for Windows Marketplace. This is what I needed to use to download the game and install it. However, after downloading 11GB of data (cabinet files) and installing it, apparently GFWM deleted the install files. I tried copying the cabinet files but GFWM will not recognize this and insists on downloading 11GB of data all over again. Does anyone know of any way to "trick" GFWM to see the pre-downloaded files so that it sees it and allows me to install straight away? I have contacted numerous help lines from Microsoft or Xbox and nobody seems to know anything. Would I be better off downloading a ripped copy of MS FSX Gold and just use my cd keys? 11GB on a 2mb internet connection isn't really a quick process.

My second problem is configuring FSX to run as I want it on my PC. My specs - Intel i5 750 OC'ed to 4.1GHz, 8GB DDR3 1600Mhz RAM, ATI HD 6970 2GB, Crucial M4 256GB SSD OS drive, Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB Game drive, Windows 7 64-bit, TH Warthog, Saitek Pro Flight Rudders, TIR5 with Track Clip Pro. I fly with 4 monitors -- a center 24", 2 19" side monitors, and a 22" lower monitor for instruments. When I fly BMS, the "main screen" spans the top 3 monitors while the 22" displays instruments. I used SoftTH to configure the main screen in BMS.

My initial flights with FSX only displayed the main screen on my center 24". I tried using SoftTH but it would display the main screen on the right 19". I then deleted the SoftTH files but now I cannot reconfigure to my initial setup --- it would always display on the right 19" screen. So, how do I configure FSX to stretch the main display across my top 3 monitors? How do I display the flight instruments on my lower 22" screen?

Thank you very much for any help. I have used the search function but as this is my first time exploring FSX after so many years, I am not finding anything helpful.

[FraisLive]

-Ice
First of all, if you got a "Riped" version of FSX, and used your own activation key, it should be perfectly legal. The product key is showing the authenticity of your purchas...which you did purchas the game via marketplace.

Now to your next issue, I had similar troubles when jI started to run 2 Moniters. If you hit Shift+3 it will open the GPS. If you click on the outside, you can expand and Shrink the size of the instrument. Drag and resize your instruments to your bottom moniter. Then, in the middle display screen, try drag out the actual FSX display across your top screens. I have never used SoftTH, so I do not know if my way will look as good. Hope I helped-

-Tyler

[-Ice]

Thanks for your reply.

I guess no way around that annoying GFW Marketplace download then? If I download a "Gold" version, are there any updates (SP1, SP2?) to apply to that afterwards?

Regarding the view, I discovered I can drag the GPS and the radio stack to any of my other monitors. However, I needed to exit Full Screen for me to see the window of the main screen and drag it appropriately. However, dragging it across my 3 screens only resulted in the image showing on the left screen and half of the main screen. The right half and right monitor was black/dark/empty. Clicking Full Screen again did stretch the image across the 3 monitors, however, it was full screen on both left and right monitors but was only a narrow band across my center monitor. I guess this is the result because my side monitors are 19" 1280x1024 while the main screen was 24" 1920x1080.

[FraisLive]

I think you are correct with the resolutions of the screen....I'm not sure what else you could do....I would keep running FS2004. It is still a very stable game.

I'm also not to sure about your marketplace issue....I would try get Microsoft to give you a refund the buy the CD version.

-Tyler

[-Ice]

Lol yeah, the physical copy is actually £2-3 cheaper than the download, and right now, will be less of a hassle!

Unfortunately, I don't have FS2004 anymore.

[FraisLive]

Ya...I think your best shot right now would be to try get your money back

[cbear]

I am running FSX on 4 monitors. I fly in windowed mode and undock the windows and drag/resize them on the other monitors. Make sure your large monitor is set as "Main" or "primary" in your video card set up. What video card are you using?

Bruce