feng posted on this, in this forum
I kept a copy, and here it is:
With the recent destruction of AVSIM, and another thread here about FS9 being messed up w/out a proper backup, i thought i'd write a quick tutorial about how to make a perfect backup of FS9. Once you have this backup, you don't even need the CDs to re-install it again. I've used this method 3 times now to transfer FS9 to new/faster PCs...and it's worked flawlessly each time. *NOTE* i don't have all the stuff out there installed...so this works with the planes/sceneries i have...but it should work 99.9% for you as well.
*note* this is for Windows XP Pro. I have no idea what the folder structures are like on Vista.
1. on your backup harddrive, make 3 root folders:
- Microsoft Flight Simulator 9 Backup
- Needed Files
- Addons (optional)
2. Copy your entire FS9 folder to the Microsoft Flight Simulator 9 Backup Folder (make sure to select all hidden files)
3. If you keep your Addon sceneries outside of FS9 (i keep them on C:\Addons for defrag/name reasons), then copy these files to the Addons folder
4. Make a folder called "Directories" under the Needed Files folder
5. Copy all the following folders along with their contents to this Directories folder:
C:\Documents and Settings\yourname\My Documents\Flight Simulator Files (this is VITAL...without this folder and content, fs9 will crash on load)
C:\Documents and Settings\yourname\Application Data\Microsoft\FS9 (this is also VITAL)
C:\Documents and Settings\yourname\Local Settings\Application Data\ESDG (only if you have eaglesoft stuff installed)
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Digital Aviation\PA31 Cheyenne (only if you have the Cheyenne installed)
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\DreamFleet (only if you have dreamfleet stuff installed)
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Reality XP (only if you have Reality XP stuff installed, including the ones that comes w/ Dreamfleet planes)
6. Go to Flight1.com, and download the Registry Repair tool. Keep this file in the Needed Files folder
7. Open regedit, and export out the entire string from:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/MICROSOFT/MICROSOFT GAMES/*.* save this file as fs9_register.reg
that's all. Now, when you want to copy this FS9 to another machine, do it w/ these steps:
1. copy all the files over, including the directories (keep their directory structure exactly the same); *NOTE* you need to make the proper folder structure on your new machine @ C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Flight Simulator 9\
2. double click the fs9_register.reg and say yes (this will write the info to your virgin registry
3. run the Flight1 registry repair tool as a backup
4. if you have addons installed elsewhere, copy the files from Addons to the correct directory (make sure it matches w/ your older install, such as C:\Addons or D:\Addons, etc.)
5. FS9 should now load up fine. Certain things will not work, and require a re-install. They are usually Payware such as Flight1 stuff. However, do the re-install this way:
For Flight1 stuff, just re-run the installer (retrieve your key using your CC card), and then start the installer. As aoon as the installer starts, just cancel it. The key is already written to C:\windows now your flight1 stuff will work
For dreamfleet stuff, rename your current aircraft folder to Dreamfleet B36xxx re-install the planes and the reality XP stuff, delete the new folders, and rename B36xxx back to B36...etc (so this way, you don't need to re-install re-paints, etc.)
anyways, this step is only needed for certain payware...95% of all other stuff should work fine.
i know it looks crazy hard, but it really isn't. Besides, it gives you the security knowing that you have a perfect copy of FS9 backup up.
-feng
