Downloading P3d V3.4

gray eagle

gray eagle

SOH-CM-2024
I think I will just go for the P3D V3.4 (academic) but need to know what to expect for the download size; do they offer the whole program in one file or in chunks and what is the total D/L Size?

I wanted to blister it to a few DVD's like FSX did with their multi CD install disks. Any info on the D/L experience is appreciated.

Thanks.



EDIT: Does P3d try to auto install during the initial download? I hope that it's just a file(s) download and then a subsequent install by me.
 
A few pictures to show how it will work and what numbers you should expect :)

In the first screenshot below, this is what you will see once I have entered your licence number and licence password in the "Downloads" page of the Prepar3D.com webpage. The licence number and password are generated and sent to you by email after purchase. You MUST keep these emails, don't delete them. Anyways, you can see in that screen the first option to download the sim: a link to a 9.95 GB zip file.

daube_image0319.jpg



However, this is not the only option to download P3D. You can also download the individual packages (client, scenery, content and related subpackages). The total size will be bigger though. To see these links, you have to click on the black line saying "+ Individual Components Downloads". If you click on that, you will get all the links to download package by package. It will look like this:

daube_image0320.jpg


I hope this answers your question :)
 
I just purchased P3d V3.4

Okay Daube,

I just purchased P3D V3.4 (Academic) and am downloading:

All the individual file components you listed.

I did it that way so that I can burn these files to install DVD's

My rig can take two more HD and so my son is looking for a good HD that I can dedicated to P3D - I plan on keeping FSX/A installed at least for the time being.
Thanks Daube et al for your help on this topic - appreciate it :adoration:


Edit: Do I need to D/L the SDK file? What is it for?
 
I also haven't downloaded the SDK :)

PS: concerning the DVD backup, how will you proceed concerning that scenery file that is more than 6Gb ? It's too big isn't it ?
I think it would be easier, faster and safer just to save these files to an external hardrive (or even a USB key)
 
I am saving them to my external HD and a USB is good idea I may do as I have a couple laying around getting dusty :biggrin-new:

I just had this idea that perhaps I could create installation dvds like microsoft did for their FSX program. I know one dvd = 4.7 GB
so it might be a feat to stack the files on disks where I could make install DVDs.


Edit: I think I will take your suggestion and just copy the files to a USB (Less hassle) - I also have them on my external HD as backup.

Now my son is looking shopping around for a good quality HD that I can use as dedicated to P3D. I suppose that some of the P3D files will go to my C drive like FSX did.

Daube said:
I also haven't downloaded the SDK :)

PS: concerning the DVD backup, how will you proceed concerning that scenery file that is more than 6Gb ? It's too big isn't it ?
I think it would be easier, faster and safer just to save these files to an external hardrive (or even a USB key)
Click to expand...
 
"Now my son is looking shopping around for a good quality HD that I can use as dedicated to P3D. I suppose that some of the P3D files will go to my C drive like FSX did."


Get a Solid State Drive for your P3D, things will work much better/faster. Yes, some files will be loaded to your C:/ drive, just like FSX, same structure and basic location. As mentioned earlier, don't put your add-on scenery on your P3D disc. You can point to any location, just like FSX. A 250GB one will hold a lot of info. If you use Junction Magic, you can keep your aircraft on a separate drive, also.
 
I'm kind of paranoid so I have my P3D installers on an external HDD and am currently also copying them to DVD. I am using dual layer discs which hold twice as much as a regular DVD, around 8 GB. As I am copying the full installers I am using a zip program to create zip archives that are split in to multiple parts so they fit on the DVDs.
 
DVDs, just like CDs, are a thing of the past. They are slow as hell, and unreliable (one scratch and all is gone... and sometimes, even no scratches at all, and all is gone nevertheless...).
I would also recommend a SSD instead of HDD, if possible.
 
Daube said:
DVDs, just like CDs, are a thing of the past. They are slow as hell, and unreliable (one scratch and all is gone... and sometimes, even no scratches at all, and all is gone nevertheless...).
I would also recommend a SSD instead of HDD, if possible.
Click to expand...

In the scheme of things P3D installers are not that important to back up, but HDDs and flash drives are also not infallible. A DVD is just a backup of the backup in a different form.

I also don't believe that DVDs are a thing of the past. I buy DVDs and CDs all the time. I would much prefer watching a TV series or doco on DVD rather than streaming it.

Each to his own.
 
This might be different in your country than in mine.
Here in France, if I buy a movie on a DVD, it takes forever before I can actually watch the movie itself. Before that, I'll have to go through numerous stupid warnings against piracy, and I don't know how much advertisments and other stupid animations and menus I can't skip at all. I hate that format and I wish I could kick the people who made it in the teeth :) Several times :)
If I buy a movie, I wish I could just get it as streaming, or just download a single .AVI file, with no menus, no ads, no animations, no partitioning, nothing else but the movie and the subtitles...
Of course, when it comes to data DVDs, the problem is different.
 
Welcome to P3D gray eagle. Backup is a good thing, but you do not need to get paranoid about it. You will always have access to download the latest version of P3D through your P3D account and activation codes you received with your purchase. Make sure you keep those codes safe.
 
Thanks Dimus,

I don't know where P3D will go from their v3.4 to another update within the three series or just go to the V4 series. If they do the latter then I would hope that access to V3.4 would still be avail then.
I hope to get a new dedicated HD to install it on and go from there.




Dimus said:
Welcome to P3D gray eagle. Backup is a good thing, but you do not need to get paranoid about it.

I'm just trying to cover my six. :encouragement:
Click to expand...
 
It will depend which licence number you will use to log in the prepar3D.com website.
You have bought the v3 and you have a licence number and password for the v3 now.
When you buy the v4, you will get another email containing another licence number and password specific to the v4.
Depending on which licence number/password you use to log in the Prepar3D.com, you'll get the links to one version or the other.
 
modelr said:
"Now my son is looking shopping around for a good quality HD that I can use as dedicated to P3D. I suppose that some of the P3D files will go to my C drive like FSX did."


Get a Solid State Drive for your P3D, things will work much better/faster. Yes, some files will be loaded to your C:/ drive, just like FSX, same structure and basic location. As mentioned earlier, don't put your add-on scenery on your P3D disc. You can point to any location, just like FSX. A 250GB one will hold a lot of info. If you use Junction Magic, you can keep your aircraft on a separate drive, also.
Click to expand...


I second Don's remark. A SSD makes a big difference. If you need a large drive though, and a Terabyte SSD is too expensive, at least get a SSHD, which is not really more expensive than a standard HD.


Cheers,
Mark
 
As Daube says, you will have access to the latest version of each major version. I still have access to 2.5 and of course 3.4. Of course, a covered 6 is always a good idea.:encouragement:
 
My son was helping me locate a new HD that will be P3d dedicated and this is what I purchased, should have it in a few days and installed over the weekend.
After he looked through a ton of HD's, He thought that this might be a good one.. speedy at least with fairly decent reviews. Of course, all hard drives are land mines.. don't know which ones are reliable (safe) or not until you step out on the 'field'.
The Enterprise hard drives are generally more reliable but cost 3-4x more (200-300 dollars) for the same capacity.

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822236345
 
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