How to backup FS9 perfectly

F

FengZ

Pilot
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
 
Thanks Feng,

I have been having a wierd feeling I should do this. I copy/pasted your post to a TXT Notepad file and will drop it in my FS9 folder, and start on this later tonight.

Ive learned to trust those weird feelings...



Bill
 
Excellent! :medals:

I've been thinking of doing that for a while now, in anticipation of when I get my next computer. You've saved me a lot of pondering just how to go about it.

Thanks! :guinness:
 
Thanks, made a text grab of your guide. Note to self, "make sure you actually get around to doing this dumbass" :ernae:
 
Good post.
Like others, I am finally getting round to saving stuff - just in case.
This will go into the ever-growing Word doc that already has all those scenery tweaks for best display.
Be good to hear from others in the "settings and how-to" department.
Here's my contribution:
to get rid of ALL banners and messages, get language.zip from flightsim.com
 
Thank you Feng for this excellent piece. What a generous community of humanity Flight Simmers continually demonstrate themselves to be.

Cheers
 
fleurdelys said:
THANK YOU, FENG...:kilroy:

I agree with Austerjock wholeheartedly !!! :engel016:

Cheers,

Fleurdelys
Click to expand...

thanks guys for the kind words. Just trying to share information so others can save the hassle of trying to figure it out.

as an additional note, i just want to add that once you copied something over, but the program or plane doesn't work, you can always use the re-name method to restore the install. For example:

if you have ActiveSky 6.5, it installs into the Modules Folder. I don't use it's graphics or the radar, so i've deleted those folders and removed the module (the only folder i have in Modules is ASv6).

Once you copy these files to your backup drive, and re-copy the files to your new machine, Active Sky will no longer work (it needs the correct registry entries). All you have to do is rename ASv6 to ASv6xxx, then re-install Active Sky. Once Active Sky is done, delete the folders, the module, and rename ASv6xxx back to ASv6 and all your settings, etc will all be restored.

You can use this method for aircrafts as well. :)

-feng
 
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