FSX has died, help please

[DKT]

My FSX quit working, probably a virus.  When using FS9 this happened many times and uninstall/install  worked for about 20 years.  Now I use FSX and tried to reinstall using the original disks, but it only restored the program once.  Now the PC does not even see the original disks. I have used MS restore points, but no success.  Is there a limit to how many times the original disks can be used?  Any constructive help would be appreciated.  Thank you.

DKT

[ViperPilot2]

Basically, It's not the Discs that are the issue, but the OS. With W10 and above, MS made it so older Software using CD or DVD's cannot be read, for Security reasons. 

 

In reality, there are 'workarounds', but to mention them is taboo in this Venue. A more detailed explanation is here:

 

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/microsoft-safedisc/50f2130d-7da3-438e-83d1-7a8793069807

 

Apologies, but that is the current Nature of things... 

[airernie]

19 hours ago, DKT said:

My FSX quit working, probably a virus.  When using FS9 this happened many times and uninstall/install  worked for about 20 years.  Now I use FSX and tried to reinstall using the original disks, but it only restored the program once.  Now the PC does not even see the original disks. I have used MS restore points, but no success.  Is there a limit to how many times the original disks can be used?  Any constructive help would be appreciated.  Thank you.

DKT

I've used my FSX Gold discs multiple times, so I don't think there's a limit.  There is a possibility that the discs got damaged, but it's unlikely all three, or two if you have Deluxe only would be damaged at the same time.

 

Do the drives see other DVD's okay?   Try cleaning them as well as the LED in the DVD drive. 

 

[jorgen.s.andersen]

There's no limit to the usage of the DVDs, but there is a limit on the number of activations, if my memory is not too goofy.

 

I remember a cure for this issue from a while ago: copy the DVDs to a hard drive, if you have room enough, then install from there.

 

Another cure would be to get FSX:SE.

 

Jorgen

[loki]

1 hour ago, jorgen.s.andersen said:

There's no limit to the usage of the DVDs, but there is a limit on the number of activations, if my memory is not too goofy.

 

There isn't any limit on the number of activations either, though one may need to call Microsoft if it thinks you've changed too much hardware or moved to a new computer.

[Rupert]

7 minutes ago, loki said:

 

There isn't any limit on the number of activations either, though one may need to call Microsoft if it thinks you've changed too much hardware or moved to a new computer.

+1!  I had that happen.  I built a new computer for speed and multiple monitors then I had to convince Microsoft that I wasn't passing on or selling my old computer to someone else with FSX still functional.

[dlfrenchmd]

Reinstalling FSX boxed edition in Windows 10 is difficult, laborious, but possible. I published a document on it that formerly was in the "sticky" section of the forums, but it may have disappeared with the new website. Let me know if you would like it republished here. (Don't want to add a bunch of stuff people found less than useful). 

Dan

[dlfrenchmd]

Just uploaded this again to "another" site as these questions still seem very frequent. Please let me know if this is NOT useful so I will quit trying to help with it!

Dan

FSX REINSTALLATION of Gold Edition/ Acceleration out of the box with Product Keys.

1. CLEAN UNINSTALL FSX.

                a. UNINSTALL Acceleration from the Apps/uninstall on computer

                b. UNINSTALL FSX from computer apps or from the disc 1.

                c. CLOSE/REOPEN Program Uninstall and make sure all FSX components are gone.

                d. Go to C:\Program Files (86x)\Microsoft Games\ Microsoft Flight Simulator and delete this folder or whatever drive you had it on.

                e. Go to C:\Users\YOUR NAME and delete any fsx material

BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO REINSTALL FSX:

2. Reset the license key   (Cause of Error 1603)

                a. Make sure MSKB928080 is installed to drive root folder. You can download it from the web.

                b. Run the following as administrator

                b. Open cmd prompt from start menu and "run as administrator"

                c. Type  cd C:\  then hit enter

                d. Type cd MicrosoftKB928080 and  hit enter

                e. Type resetsldl -All  and hit enter.NOTE: there is a space between ldl and -

                Should get message that success in token store reset.

3. Reset Windows Installer  (Cause of Error 1722)

                a.        Click Start, Click Run and type “Services.msc” (without quotes) and press Enter.

                b.       Double-click Windows Installer.

                c.        Set the Startup type of Windows Installer to Manual.

                d.       Click Start to start the service. Note down the error message if any. Click OK.

((Method 2 [I never had to use this]: Reregister the Windows Installer. Follow these steps for the same.

                a.           Quit all Windows programs.

                b.           Click Start, All Programs, Accessories and click Run. Type “msiexec /unregister” (without quotes) in the Open box, and then click OK.

                c.           Click Start, All Programs, Accessories and click Run. Type “msiexec /regserver” (without quotes) in the Open box, and then click OK. Restart your computer.  ))

 

3. Install FSX to D:\FSX (a NEW folder completely) where D=whatever drive you will use. Create the new folder. DON"T install to Program x86 folder.

                Place CD in drive and open\run the setup as Administrator

                After Disc 2 complete, start FSX. I initiated the default flight to make sure it worked.

4. Close FSX and REBOOTcomputer

5. Go to FSX folder you just installed, right click Properties/ security and allow all permissions. I included the "Users" category.

6. REBOOT computer

7. Open as Administrator

8. In START \RUN\Services.msc\Windows Installer  Start it again if not running (as above)

9. Install FSX Acceleration. It already contains SP1 and SP2 so don't have to download/ install those

10. ERROR CODE 1-80004005 comes up on starting FSX. Yes to online query, it starts up, but only gives you the trial version.

To Fix, you have to change the registry.

Registry Disclaimer:

Important this section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

How to back up and restore the registry in Windows:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322756

EASIEST METHOD to back up: Create a System Restore Point before going any further

NEXT, edit the registry:

                a. Click Start and type regedit in the search bar and pressenter.

                b. Browse to the following location:

                HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\CONTROL\CLASS\{4D36E967-  E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}

c. Find Upperfilters listed under it, and check its value, if its 0 change it to PartMgr and click OK. Mine said partmgr (lower case) so I switched it to PartMgr

d. Restart FSX. Should get Activation screen. Choose "Activate Now" and enter Product Key.

Close, reboot, and restart FSX to be safe.

[hex314]

On 10/9/2023 at 4:56 PM, DKT said:

My FSX quit working, probably a virus.  When using FS9 this happened many times and uninstall/install  worked for about 20 years.  Now I use FSX and tried to reinstall using the original disks, but it only restored the program once.  Now the PC does not even see the original disks. I have used MS restore points, but no success.  Is there a limit to how many times the original disks can be used?  Any constructive help would be appreciated.  Thank you.

DKT

i think i have a spare fsx se somewhere, i will look, if i find it, your welcome to it.