FS2004 install from a cloned disk?

I cloned FS2004 (W7) as a back up.

I would now like to install FS2004 in W10 x64 in a newer PC on a dedicated HDD. Can I use the clone directly?

How best to proceed? I would like to utilise many of the addons on the clone.

Thanks!

I'm fairly sure this subject is covered in the FAQ's, but briefly … install FS9 "as usual", in the required location, including any updates and patches and check it all works! Then copy the whole of your cloned original into this location, overwriting everything. For 'insurance' and if you've got the disk space, you might care to re-name the new FS9 folder to something else and copy the old files separately. This'll give you a "one step back" if everything goes horribly wrong and you want to start again, without having to go through the process of re-installing from CD.

The new installation will have set up your registry details, after that most settings will be covered by your copied files.

You'll also need to copy over your original 'Flight Simulator Files' folder from your user\Documents folder and your FS9 configuration files from your C:\Users\'user-name'\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\FS9 folder. Some paths within the original .cfg files will likely need editing.

That should cover it except for any individual commercial packages that'll need re-registering. Herein lie the potential problems in that some old installer programs won't run under W10 .. 'security' issues! For some packages there are fixes, either official or "workaround", some simply don't work :( You'll need to deal with these on a case-by-case basis if necessary.

Good luck and enjoy :)

Thanks, chris_eve.

That's very helpful. It'll get me started I hope.

I'm fairly sure this subject is covered in the FAQ's, but briefly … install FS9 "as usual", in the required location, including any updates and patches and check it all works!

Therein lies the problem. FS2004 will not install 'as usual' from the CDs. It gets a certain way then it aborts with this error message: 'MS Flight SImulator 2004 cannot create the directory G:\FS2004\aircraft\b737_400\texture.x'

I am trying to do a clean install of FS2004 on a new HDD in W10 x64. Not sure where to go from here. The patches are all on the cloned disk.

EDIT: I see now. Must be C: I'm short of space on that SSD boot but enough for the basic install. Addon stuff elsewhere.

You can just copy your existing files to where suits. The only thing that won't be there is the registry entry for FS, which some installers need. You can fix that with the Flight One Registry Repair Tool - https://www.flight1.com/view.asp?page=library .

As was mentioned above, some existing commercial scenery may require re-registration.

John

I'm not sure that tool works in W10? Anyone?

It works ;)