how to use a download?

[WebbPA]

Remember the tutorial?  http://www.simviation.com/acinstall.htm

I still suspect your new aircraft is in the wrong place.  It should be

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\FS200\Aircraft\Black-F-14

[rootbeer]

I think I'm correct. It's My Computer, Local Disk C, Program Files, Microsoft Games, FS2002, aircraft, Black-F-14 and if I click on Black-F-14 about 5 times, I see all the files for Black-F-14. I have to click on it so many times because it goes by multiple names, one of which is F-14 Tomcat OAQM. It goes through these several iterations, but finally does come out showing the files. But I never see it in the listing of available airplanes under Create a Flight. I see only the ones that came OEM and the abacus Warbirds Extreme add-on.

Until tomorrow, when I don't have to go to bed so early. Thanks again.

[WebbPA]

If you're sure everything is in the right place there is no reason it shouldn't work.

Read the documentation that came with it because you're eventually going to have to deal with those other .zip files.  They are probably gauges or effects.

Look in another aircraft folder and see what's different.  They all have basically the same structure.

I'm off to bed so see what you can do after you print the tutorial and play around with it on your own.

[Hagar]

My this thread has grown since I left it. I can feel your frustration from here. Pity I had to go when I did. Let's try it my way & see if we can fix this.

rootbeer said:

if I click on Black-F-14 about 5 times, I see all the files for Black-F-14. I have to click on it so many times because it goes by multiple names, one of which is F-14 Tomcat OAQM.

Here's the answer. The Tomcat is hidden inside all those other folders so FS can't find it. Go to the last one of those multiple folders, the one immediately containing the model, panel, sound and texture subfolders. Right-click on it & select Cut. Go back to your FS2002\Aircraft folder & select Paste. Now go & try it in FS2002.

If this worked as it should if you did it correctly you can delete the Black-F-14 folder. Right-click on the folder & select Delete. Click Yes if prompted.

PS. This is how I install all my aircraft to all my M$ sims. Most aircraft are configured ready to install with their correct folder names. Extract the zipfile, find the folder containing those Model, Panel, Sound & Texture subfolders & paste it straight into the sim. There's no need to mess around creating new folders in FS2002\Aircraft.

[rootbeer]

Your suggestion worked, Hagar! I see Grumman under the manufacturer list in the availables. It is not listed as Black-F-14 for aircraft model; it's shown as Tomcat F-14 OAQM. So I said, "OK, let's fly." I put in to fly, the scenery began to load, then it just froze at 26%. Normally my scenery will load fairly quickly, but this time it just stopped. My default departure is Reno/Tahoe Int'l, so it's mostly desert-- not alot of detail to throw down before we get a picture. I'm wondering if the computer is deadlocked between generating scenery for Black-F-14 and for Tomcat F-14-OAQM in which to fly?

I'll try to start it again now.

[rootbeer]

Well, now we have a multitude of problems. First, the scenery froze at 26%. I ran it again as I described; then it froze at 10%.

[Hagar]

OK. At least we're getting somewhere. Let's start from the beginning. Tell me the file name of this Tomcat & the exact page number you dowloaded it from. I'll install it myself & see if I can figure this out. I suggest you uninstall it by deleting the Tomcat folder from FS2002 \Aircraft.

In the meantime try installing another aircraft & see if that works.

[rootbeer]

I had mega-problems this morning with this airplane. It automatiucally goes into take-off roll, I have no throttle control (wide open only) and when I switch to VC or maybe it's Spot view, I find myself as if hanging upside down by my feet, directly over the nose probe. The terrain is in the right place, but the airplane is upside down. I have to essentially look down from my hanging upside down position to see it.

I am loathe to dump this airplane, considering the work that Webb, you and I have put into figuring it out. Especially Webb; he really hung in there...

I found it in FS2002 Military; Earliest Files-- it's quite a few pages back.

Here it is, on Page 16.

[Hagar]

I am loathe to dump this airplane, considering the work that Webb, you and I have put into figuring it out. Especially Webb; he really hung in there...

Don't worry about that. The point of the exercise is to show you how to install aircraft. I suggest you dump this Tomcat & try something else. For all I know there might be a bug with it. There's no point in making things difficult for yourself.

I found it in FS2002 Military; Earliest Files-- it's quite a few pages back.

This could be the problem. Why not try one of the aircraft from the newest pages?

I need the file name & the exact page number. There's a lot of Tomcats posted on this site & I don't want to waste my time trying the wrong one.

[rootbeer]

Page 16, Hagar. VX-9 or something... It's the only Tomcat on that page. It's the only black Tomcat I've seen in the downloads.

[Hagar]

OK. It's almost time for me to go so I'll check it out later.

Now please follow my advice. Try another aircraft, any aircraft.

[rootbeer]

OK, Boss. Are you out there, Webb? Time to butt my head against the digital wall again...

[Hagar]

I think Webb is leaving it to me for now. If we can't figure it out then he can have another try. When you find out how easy this is you'll be kicking yourself. Please try it my way or I'll stand back & let him do it. Too many cooks spoil the broth.

PS. Maybe I shouldn't have got involved in the first place but I thought I could help. I've been doing this for a long time. Now do I download that Tomcat or not?

[rootbeer]

I know what you're thinking. You're thinking "Did he download six airplanes or only five?" Well, to tell you the truth, in all this frustraion, I kind of lost track myself. But seeing as how this is an emachines T6212, the slowest computer at simviation.com, you gotta ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky?

I say "Go for it," Hagar...

You have been a great help. I am grateful for what both Webb and you have done. I would have just given up a long time ago and flown the OEM stuff, always wondering what it would be like to have a shot at all those airplanes in the Downloads.

But I have even more problems now. Up until today, the F-15 in Warbirds Extreme would do a snap roll so fast it would pull your teeth out. Now, with full aileron, I get no roll at all. I have maxed up the sensitivities, yet no change. Elevator and throttle work A-OK; rudder is ineffective-- will only direct airplane when I twist it to do so. When I let go, it snaps back to its original course. I don't know for sure, but that Tomcat really bollocksed things up! I deleted its folder and the folder for Black-F-14 just to be safe. I am also seeing slowdowns. Prior this excursion to download hell, my screens would paint super-fast. Now, I see the white model when the screen comes on and it paints in totally after one or two seconds. This is new just today. I am so frustrated and hosed-off, I haven't polite words to describe the depth of how I feel.

[Hagar]

I know what you're thinking. You're thinking "Did he download six airplanes or only five?" Well, to tell you the truth, in all this frustraion, I kind of lost track myself.

rootbeer. I don't mind admitting that I'm getting a tad confused myself. I have no idea how many aircraft you downloaded or tried to install. You seem to have got yourself into a bit of a mess. I suspect this is mainly caused by not being familiar with your PC. This is nothing unusual & I have years of experience helping raw beginners of all ages getting started in this hobby. We were all just like you once.

You're complicating matters by trying to run before you can walk. Taking this in easy stages will prevent all this unnecessary frustration. Once you learn how install an aircraft we can go on to the next step. Installing that Warbirds Extreme package complicates things even further. I can't help with that as I don't have it myself.

I think it might be best if we go right back to square one & start from scratch. Now please follow my instructions carefully. First, uninstall the Warbirds Extreme package from Add/Remove Programs. I assume it has an uninstall feature. Once that's done go to the Microsoft Games folder & rename the FS2002 folder to FS2002OLD. This will hide it from the registry & back it up.

Now insert FS2002 CD-1 & do a fresh install of FS2002. Install it to the default directory in exactly the same way as before. When install is complete run FS2002 & adjust the settings as necessary. Once it's running properly download an aircraft from the FS2002 section here. Tell me the file name & exact page it's posted on. I'll download it & walk you through the install. In the meantime, please visit my Lair from the link in my sig & read my Windows Basics & Working with Windows articles carefully. Then read the Aircraft Installation tute again & make sure you understand exactly what we're trying to do. This will all be so much easier once you understand the basic principles.

But seeing as how this is an emachines T6212, the slowest computer at simviation.com,

I very much doubt that. It should be impossible to run FS2002 on my antiquated machine but from what I read on this forum it runs a lot better than on some brand-spanking new monster PCs. FS9 runs very well on it too.