reformating/shuting down a running program?

[CessnaFlyer]

would you guys reccommend reformating a pc that has nothing wrong with it to remove junk from the harddrive? and also what about shutting down the program compatibility assistant? i installed some aircraft and that came up about 6 times. i also have some games that left a lto of stuff behind on my hard drive and in my registry. im wondeirng if a reformat would remove all that junk left behind or not? i know i will have to reinsall every thing. but i also don't want all the junk on my hard drive.

[JSkorna]

Yes, sometimes it can help, especially for folks that are not too good at manually removing things. Yes, a re-format erases everything and registry.

[CessnaFlyer]

ah ok. now is there a way to save my whole flightsim? so that if i reformat i can just take every thing as it is right now and put it back in and it would remain the same?

[fxsttcb]

After a reformat and Windows re-installation the registry will no longer have the necessary FSX locations.
FSX and SPs/Acc will have to be re-installed.

If you have a LOT of add-ons and want to make their return faster, a full back-up of all of your FSX folders and files can be made into a copy/paste restoration. If you don't have a LOT of add-ons, a straight, complete, re-install of everything may be better.
You'll need a second hard drive or seperate partition to place everything on.

Here goes the method I used to restore a 97GB FSX:

FSX file locations to back-up:
fsx.cfg and GrantedRewards.BIN, {C:\Users\User Name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\FSX}
Your control settings = Standard.xml {C:\Users\User Name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\FSX\Controls}
Logbook.BIN and flight plan files {C:\Users\User Name\Documents\Flight Simulator X Files}
scenery.cfg {C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\FSX}
Once those are stored away, make a complete copy of your FSX folder.

Do your reformat and Windows installation.
Verify that you are at the latest update level(drivers too) and everything is working properly.

Once your Windows is running to your satisfaction, install FSX with SPs or Acc to the exact same address as the original.
You can not change the location or SP level. The copy/paste restoration won't work.
If you are contemplating moving from default "C:\Program Files(x86)", or any other location change, don't bother with the back-ups.
Do a complete re-install of FSX.

Do a security sweep, defrag, reboot.

Now is the time to make a Virgin back-up copy of a pure unadulterated FSX. Main folder, files noted above, everything.
Not absolutely necessary, but highly recommended.

Once FSX is installed rename the *.cfgs etc(noted above) ie; GrantedRewards.BIN.orig, and replace with a backed up copy of the file.

You can do the FSX folder as a whole, or subfolders, one at a time, allowing overwrite.

If you don't cross every t, and dot every i, you could end up with a mess...
If you're not well versed in FSX's folder/file mgmt and copy/paste ops...
Do yourself a favor, and do a complete re-install of FSX and all of your add-ons...Don

[CessnaFlyer]

well i can save my logbooks and state cfg's which has all the time i have put on the 172 on fs9 so far. but what about the program compatibility assistant? do i need it? is it used or is it ok to shut that down? and all of the the bloat stuff should that be taken out. and a regsitry check done after words to make sure there are no errors and left over junk befor i go flying?

[abrussell]

If this is your new computer I would not recommend formatting the drive.I'm assuming you want to get rid of some of the programs that came with the computer. Simply uninstall the ones you don't want, use CCleaner to clean files and registry. Defrag and you're good to go.
Bruce

[CessnaFlyer]

ahh man. it's to late i already reformatted. sorry. was to sleepy lastnight to wait for info. but i did get every all cleaned. and defraged and updated. im rebuilding my games now. but shoot it was only 3 so it won't be long. plus i still have all the time on my cessna in fs9. sorry guys.