should I reload software

I have only downloaded this simulation game one time, the original installation. Since then I have done all updates as they come out. I am not having any real problems other than the same types everyone else is having. Overall, I can make a flight, make a landing and enjoy the scenery.

Is it worth my time to do a total uninstall, and then reinstall. would this give me any benefits?

maybe this is a stupid questions....it would take hours to reload this software and bring it back on line.

suggestions please.

Hobbitrocks

The early versions of FS2020 had some issues that many (including myself) solved by doing a full reinstall. For whatever reason, early on an updated system seemed to not be identical with a fresh install. Shortly after the 3000 series of video cards were released and Nvidia changed some of their code, I hit another roadblock and couldn’t update my video driver without FS2020 turning into a slideshow. I had never rebuilt Windows and it was installed from a very early release of Windows 10. I have FS2020 on a different drive so was able to reinstall Windows without redownloading FS2020. I rebuilt using a fresh iso from Microsoft and all my video card driver issues went away. As an aside, I found a blurb in the Nvidia release notes that the then new drivers weren’t compatible with early Windows 10 versions.

The thing is that updated software ought to be identical to full reinstalls but for whatever reason this seems to escape Microsoft. I can’t tell you whether a full reinstall of FS2020 will help you or not, or if a reinstall of Windows (depends on how old your current install is) using a fresh iso might also help. I don’t know if they’ve explained their update processes.

There’s a whole lot going on inside Windows and FS2020. Before Windows 10, the lore was to always rebuild Windows every year to clear out the junk. Since Windows 10, many think it’s not necessary. But if you add and remove software a lot, things can get messed up.

So no idea if you should reinstall FS2020. FS2020 and Windows are tied pretty close so I wouldn’t stop looking for issues at FS2020’s border. It could also be Windows tripping up something in FS2020 though that is just a mention. I don’t have enough information to suspect it.

In sum, hard to say and it could be you won’t know if you need to until you actually do if it changes anything. The point of this is just to say it may make a big difference but with all the work involved, I’d save it for a last resort which it was for me.

I for one, HATE reinstalling MSFS. As you pointed out, it is working.

Like my dad would tell me, If it ain't broke, don't fix it :)

My recommendation is to wait until the next World Update breaks it, then go from there.

I too have the ORIGINAL install, it works just fine.

All of the "packages" are always being updated, replacing the previous ones. So in effect, your getting a partial reinstall with every update. If Asobo posts a buggy update, a update update follows which replaces the files and issue.

As long as you don't mess with any of the core files, WHAT IS THE POINT OF REINSTALLING? OK for some people, it gives you peace of mind.

I have other things I can do besides wasting time with unnecessary reinstalling, that includes the OS and other applications also.

Only thing I have done is this from Nick Cooper at ORBX...

 

1. Delete any rolling cache.

 

2. Delete the Content.xml file.

 

(AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Content.xml)

 

3. Delete the simulator .dat files

 

(AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\SceneryIndexes\*.dat)

 

4. Do not add anything to the Community folder

This clears out any old data files and rebuilds next time you start the sim. Obviously for #4 only the first time you restart, then you can put your add-ons back. I usually skip step #1 because it takes too long to rebuild and I usually just fly in a new area.

EDIT: Also when asked to clear out the Community folder, it is enough to just rename it such as Community_OLD. Once you restart the sim one time, make sure the newly regenerated Community folder is empty, then delete it. Rename Community_OLD back to Community.

If you REALLY need peace of mind about your current install, just go to:

Start > Settings > Apps > Microsoft Flight Simulator > Advanced Options

Wait for it to load (which may take some time!) then scroll down to the Reset section and click on Repair - WARNING - don't click on Reset because that will delete MSFS.

I do appreciate the insight. I think at this time, since I am not having any issues, I will leave it as is. I did like the comment, If it ain't broke don't fix it.....I think that is the answer in an egg shell

Hobbitrocks

I do appreciate the insight. I think at this time, since I am not having any issues, I will leave it as is. I did like the comment, If it ain't broke don't fix it.....I think that is the answer in an egg shell

 

Hobbitrocks

I saw on a previous post you got your GoFlight Hardware working with MSFS without any additional software. Can you explain it again in detail how you did that so I can get mine going again? They never came out with a new version of software for the latest sim. Thanks in advance for doing this. I'd really appreciate it.

If you REALLY need peace of mind about your current install, just go to:

 

Start > Settings > Apps > Microsoft Flight Simulator > Advanced Options

 

Wait for it to load (which may take some time!) then scroll down to the Reset section and click on Repair - WARNING - don't click on Reset because that will delete MSFS.

Hi Tim,

This has come 2 days too late for me. From Friday, for whatever reason, every time I started sim it would crash. Research sent me on the path you suggest. My question, which may help others, clicking repair just puts a tick by it but nothing happens. Tried a couple more, still nothing so clicked reset. The sim started to reload like first ever download. Five hours later done! Not what I wanted to do, but it worked and sim now perfect. But why didn't repair do anything?

Thanks,

Roy

Repair does work, PDQ, and when the tick appears you're good to go and re-launch the sim. It doesn't spend any time re-downloading huge amounts of files, it simply resets a few system files so that the game will launch and run.

Thanks for the explanation. When I saw the tick on repair I thought something would occur! I didn't realize that was done, hence activating reset and wasting a few precious hours!

Head in the cloud, a couple of things, you have to have FSX installed and also the latest Go Flight software from their website. it is the one that will download if you click on get software.

Once it is installed, you have to program the switches, buttons, autopilot for FSX, like you were going to use it for FSX. close FSX and go flight tools down to desktop. Once you are complete You should go to the Go flight installation software installation and make a shortcut for the GFDevFSX file to your desktop. I actually put it on my task bar so that I can click on it when needed.

Once you do this start MFS and select your flight, aircraft and start the flight. Once you are sitting in your cockpit, click on the shortcut to the GFDevFSX shortcut and you should light right up. I have 17 goflight modules, and they all light up. approximatley 95% of all functions work....throttle, autopilot will work and they all light up. Once you do this the whole time you are running simulator even if you change to another flight, you should be up and running with no problem.

Hope this helps\

Hobbitrocks