backing up FS9 perfectly

hurricane3

hurricane3

SOH-CM-2023
Since I have reinstalled FS9 and backed the whole sim to an external hard drive, I would like to know what I should do if I have to reinstall FS9. I can run FS9 from my external hard drive but am somewhat confused about how to reinstall it on my internal hardrive if and when it becomes nessary. I also made a backup of the Application data under Documents and Settings \name\Microsoft\FS9.
Do I just copy and paste this under Microsoft in the Application Data? And what about in the post on backing up FS9 pefectly ,when he says to go to regedit and "export the entire string from HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE*SOFTWARE/MICROSOFT/MICROFT GAMES/*.*.? What does this mean? I opened regedit and went down to microsoft games ,and I assume he ment go to FS9, although he did not say so ,and there are two entries under FS9. What should I do at this point?
I'am sorry I keep saying he instead of the author but although I printed it out the authors name is too light to read.I'am running windows xp, and would also like to know how to back up under Windows 7 when I get a new puter. Once again I'am sorry this is so long but those who remeber my posts know to expect this.
Just trying to be prepared for the next time I have to reinstall FS9 as it is now completly backed up to a 2 tb hard drive along with several other flight sims. Thanks if you wade through this and answer.
 
H,

as for the reg entries, that's if you don't want to use the discs for install. If your starting from scratch, say on a new computer or you uninstalled (so no reg entries), you can reinstall a 'vanilla' FS9 from your discs, once done zip up the 'Flight simulator 2004' folder and chuck it on a DVD for safe keeping, makes grabbing default files nice and easy. Delete the contents of the same folder, and copy and past your backed up ones in. Do the same for the 'my documents/flight sim whatever' folder if you have kept it and the 'appdata/roaming....' folder also. All being well you should be back at square one, all you've done is use the discs to put the folder locations in and put the relevant info into the registry, the rest you replace with your backed up files.

Complications may arise from some add-ons that require registry entries, this would also be a problem if you used regedit to export the Microsoft entries, as some addons ain't by them, hold on, none are, lol.

hope that makes sense?
Jamie
 
If I don't want to use the disks?

I reread your post a couple of dozen times and think I understand most of it, but if I don't want to use the disks ,I don't understand what to do in regedit. Whats ment by " exporting the entire string"?Do I go to Microft Games ,then the FS9 folder an then what do I do?
Do I back them up then copy and past the two strings found under the FS9 folder back into regedit?I assume on a new install there won't be an FS9 folder in regedit, so do I put the FS9 folder that I backed up back into regedit? Thanks for your reply
 
forgot something

When you say zip up the vanilla FS9 folder do you mean make it into a zip file, then put it on a DVD?Also should I make a copy of the file in regedit and put it on a cd? Sorry for being so dumb, one more thing if I do a vanilla install could I just past all the folders over the stock folders and let them overwrite?
 
hurricane

If you have a stock install of FS9, updated to FS9.1, then all you really have to do is to copy the files from your back up FS9 and paste them into the stock install...allow the system to overwrite the files and you are good as new.

I make frequent back ups of all my installs...my modified and populated installs that is. I just copy the entire install to a archive drive. If I ever have to reinstall, I just copy the entire install back to my working HD...create a desk top short cut. Then copy over the hidden FS9 files and put them in place. I don't worry about having modified FS9 installs in my registry file....just the stock install is in the registry.

OBIO
 
ok ,think I've got it

So the best way ,is to reinstall FS9 then copy and paste the file to the stock FS9 files and let them overwrite, is that right? The only things I have other than freeware planes and scenery if Fuspic ,which is in the modules folder and FS Globel 2005. Thanks
 
This is not meant to be offensive by any means, but rather as a word of caution.
Based on the questions you asked it would appear that manually editing the Registry would be a very bad idea for you.
The registry is the systems road map to everything your entire computer does. Similar to what the fs9.cfg is for Flightsim.......but with one major difference. FS can easily rebuild a corrupt cfg file. Delete the bad one and restart the sim....viola it works again.

The registry if corrupted can generally not be rebuild other than by rebuilding the PC operating system.....unless you are really PC savvy and have all the required tools.
So I would very strongly advise against messing with the regedit.

Also do not run your backed up copy of FS...it's your safety net. Leave it alone until you either update it with a newer version...for example after updating the running copy a few times or you actually need it for it's recovery purpose. If you "play" with it you might accidentally break it and it won't be any good to you when you need it.

When the time comes to restore use the CDs to reinstall the basic simulator and then copy and paste all of the contents from your backup into the fresh install.
:ernae:

Stefan
 
I dont like to be so ambitious myself, i have an external drive where i regually back up and update a few selected folders from my install,
Add-on scenery
Aircraft
Effects
Gauges
Texture
rather than the whole install, if the worst happens, i'll reinstall using the disk's and copy the folders over from the ex-hd, one folder at a time rather than the whole lot in one go, i dont think its a problem copy and pasting all the folders in one hit, its just the way im used to doing it.
cheers ian
 
no offence takin

Don't worry about offending me, I compleatly agree, I'am not comfortable with messing with regedit. I think for me doing a reinstall from the disks is the way to go, beside after looking at the registery I realise that all my flight sims have registery entries and it be a pain as well as risky to try to put them all back.
One final question, I'am afraid that when I'am copying an pasting folders over I might accedently put a folder over the wrong folder ,like I might be trying to paste the aircraft fold and get it in the addon scenery folder. Would it be ok to just paste the whole FS9 folder over to the vanilla FS9 folder letting all files overwrite? Thanks
 
What I would do specifically is this

1. install fresh from CDs to C:\FS9 ( or what ever name you want to use )
2. Run the new installation one time to let the sim rebuild the files in the user folders (fs9.cfg etc) though you might want to replace these later if you also kept backups of these.
3. Rename that folder to C:\FS9_fresh
4. Copy your entire backup folder from the external drive to the C drive.
5. Rename that folder if it is not already called FS9
6. Copy the user files ( fs9.cfg etc back into their respective places )
7. Run the sim again to make sure it works as it should.
8. Delete the entire FS9_fresh folder
:ernae:

Stefan
 
Thanks to all

Thankyou one an all who helped me develop a plan when the time comes for a reinstall of FS9. Now I have an idea on what I should do ,and the best way to do it. Thanks again
 
darn I hate to ask another question

I just thought of this an really hated to ask another question, but when I was looking at regedit I noticed some planes and scenery make a regestery entry, one I remember seeing was the Meyers OTW ,there were others also. What happens if I copy the entire backup folder after the clean install?Will the sim crash since some planes and scenery are not in the registery? Or will they be, or do they need to be?
I really hope this is the last question ,I'am finding out backing up a flight sim isn't as easy as I hoped it would be
 
Hurricane,

that's why the forums are here, best place to ask. Sorry if my earlier reply wasn't to clear, but the rest of the guys seem to have covered all the bases.

As for this question, unfortunately there is no easy answer. It entirely depends on each individual addon. Reg entries are often anti-piracy entries and without them the addon may not work correctly, in some cases banners and large blocks appear. In some cases there is lesser effect, like Captain sim stuff, the ACE config editors may not work, but they are not essential to the plane itself. Appart from backing up the reg entries which you expressed a preference to avoid (I do not blame you, it's a minefield) the only way round is to re-install those addons that suffer ill effect. It's easier anyway as long as you still have the original exe files.

Jamie
 
so if it doesn't work ......

So I guess the best thing to do is if scenery or a plane doesn't work right delete it and reinstall from my backup cd's.
 
The only option around all of this is the use of a complete HD backup tool that has the guts to restore the entire PC. That has it's own draw backs of course.

1. The good ones cost money....but if you do have a lot of pay ware then I would seriously consider it. Even if you have all the keys and license information handy.
2. Since you probably use the PC for other things and not just FS you will make changes all over the place...in order to maintain those your backup frequency has to be relatively high...once a month.
3. Depending on which one you choose they take some time to build the BU file and even longer to rebuild.....which could be a pain if you only have a relatively minor annoyance in the sim.

All of the above means more choices to make. If you have little or no pay ware I would not get a full HD backup...just make sure you have what you need to reinstall that pay ware manually .


http://www.drivesnapshot.de/en/
This is my preferred HD backup software....best features are that the BU file is not completely locked up .... It's easily accessible through the softwares interface for viewing and or copying. So if I know I need just one file...I can get it without a full restore.
Since I use this software also on the industrial machines I work on with great success I am using it for my FS PC as well. I do a fresh BU once a month...and before major changes to the system.

The best feature of Snapshot however is that you can get the software, make a snapshot and store it. If the other recoveries we talked about before don't work for you and you don't want to build everything new from scratch....then you buy the software license for Snapshot. And three clicks later (and about 30 or so minutes) your PC is back to the last backup date.
:ernae:
Stefan
 
HTML: 
[B]so if it doesn't work ...... [/B]

So I guess the best thing to do is if scenery or a plane doesn't work right delete it and reinstall from my backup cd's.

Thats kind off what i was getting at, installing a few aircraft, scenery at a time rather than installing the whole lot in one go, easyer to track down any problems.
cheers ian
 
more complicated than I thought

When I got a good deal on my 2 TB external HD I thought I had the backup thing all sewed up. Now I realise it's not so simple, and it looks like I'am back to backing up with CD's. I have a complete backup on the external HD of FS9 with Wings of Power ,CFS2 with a bunch of addons, CFS3 , with Fire Power,IL2 Forgotton Battles with the AEP expansion pack, and First Eagles.
What was the point? I'am not made of money and can't afford more programs and stuff, frankly I'am disgusted with the whole thing.
I'am ready ,when I have to get a new computer, and it will be a while tilll I can afford it, I'd start from scratch ,maybe the new Microsoft Flight will be better. I don't know.
Like I said before it takes a speacial person to be a flight simmer and I don't know if I'am really cut out for all the work that goes into it and all the work that goes into back ups
I'd still like a vanilla install of FS9 just for the historic planes that are in that sim , but right now I don't know if I will even put any flight sims back.
 
Well it's not all that bad IMHO. The program I mentioned is not breaking any banks...and for the record I have no association with the manufacturer and had to pay for my copy. But the beauty of it is as I pointed out you can make the full backup with the downloaded software....and only buy it IF you need to restore the PC.

And aside from hardware failure if I am completely honest.....99% of all my FS problems were caused by the nut in front of the box by failing to leave a good thing well enough alone because I see some new thing in a post and just have to try it out


Stefan
 
have to agree

yes Stefan most of my problems have been cause I tried somthing new. I can't seem to get the point of if it ain't broke don't fix it, but I'am still discouraged that backing up isn't just a case of making copys to an external HD.
 
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