Can't Open FS9 After Saving It To AN EXTERNAL DRIVE

[mike281]

A few months ago, i saved my entire FS9 to an external drive for backup. My computer recently had a major virus problem and after getting my email, etc fixed i tried FS9. It opened correctly from the desktop shortcut, but in checking flights, i found that scenery objects that i had added at airports, etc were gone. I had helipads built on building tops, where i had hardened surfaces. The helicopters now appear at the correct elevation, but they hang in 'space' with the scenery missing.
So i decided to replace the FS9 with the one on the external drive.
Now i have no desktop icon to launch the game. The files appear intact. I have FS2004 listed simply under 'fs9' in my files to reduce the keystrokes needed to add scenery, and that has been working very well for years. Is there any way that i can fix this problem? Thanks!

[mike281]

CORRECTION The ENTIRE Scenery is not missing at helipads, etc, only the pads themselves.

[mike281]

OK, i fixed the START FS9 problem, i forgot that the launch icon is in the 2004 file and i shortcutted it to desktop. My helipads, etc are missing in instances where i created a hardened surface.

[mike281]

ALL of the scenery that i made using AFCAD is missing. The AFCAD file looks complete. Suggestions, PLEASE! THANX, Mike

[alanmerry]

When I have had to reinstall FS I have installed from the Microsoft disc, writing to a folder FS2004, which I assume is the same as your 'fs9'. Then copy all the files from the backup, overwriting the standard FS2004 files. This then brings all the aircraft and scenery files, including scenery.cfg, back to as they were before the crash.
Then you should be able to load up and find that you are at Seattle in the Cessna as this is the default setting which is placed in your Documents & Settings folder by the install.

[mike281]

Thanks! I was able to get FS9 back, but now i have another problem which i posted here. None of my AFCAD created airports or scenery items are showing up! Thank You! Mike

[JSkorna]

Probably because you moved the files but your scenery cfg. file has them listed at the old location. Add everything back into your scenery library and all will be good.

[mike281]

Thanks, i appreciate your help! But now I notice that I have lost all scenery that I have created thru AFCAD and EZ-Scenery! I hope that there is a quick fix for that! Thank you! Mike

[mike281]

I really don't understand what you mean by Add everything back into your scenery library .

[alanmerry]

If you created scenery, you must have saved it somewhere!
By default AFCAD files are saved in FS9/Addon Scenery/Scenery
Not quite sure about EZ Scenery as I always save my scenery on a separate disk, but again worth looking in Addon Scenery.
If the files are there, then check the entry for Addon Scenery in the scenery.cfg, round about Area.038.
If these are not on your FS9, then look on your backup and if they are not there, you may have some rebuilding to do!