Bad Installs of MSFS X and Acceleration

[Papafox]

I have just spent weeks tracking down a video driver problem which in reality was a bad install of Microsoft Flight Simulator X and Acceleration. Since FSX and Acceleration are inclined towards bad installs, and since Microsoft has not seen fit to include any printed documentation on how to avoid bad installs, we need to keep getting the word out. My thanks to NickN for showing me what was going wrong.

Here's my short list of bad installs, and suspected bad installs. Please add to it if you think I've missed something.

* Installing FSX Service Pack 1 and then later installing Acceleration. Solution: Uninstall FSX, reinstall FSX without SP1, then install Acceleration.

* Installing Acceleration immediately after installing FSX. Solution: Install FSX, run default flight, exit FSX, reboot, and only then install Acceleration.

* Here's one I'm quite suspicious of... I own multiple copies of FSX and Acceleration, but one of those copies has been used frequently as I test a newly-built computer for a month or so, uninstall the software, and then reinstall it on a new build. I must telephone the number Microsoft has given me at every new install now, and even when the person understands that my reinstall is legitimate, I get a bad install from that DVD. Symptoms: No Microsoft Flight Sim folder is added to my Microsoft Games folder in "Applications" and I get large swings of FPS and visible flashes of artifacts when running FSX. The DVD is not scratched at all, and I suspect Microsoft is preventing a good install even though they've given me an installation number. Your thoughts?

[wsciutti]

Pappafox,

I have had to use the MS reinstall number as I too have reinstalled due to XP rebuild, etc.

I have had no problems whatsoever with the new key. This was only with FSX - I've reached that point with Acceleration but elected to go with only SP2 on that particular PC.

Jack S.