Install FS9 on hard drive

[Gringo6]

Some readers say they install FS9 direct on the hard drive rather than in the default location. They say they get better performance. Is this true when running Windows Vista ?


All comments appreciated

[Fozzer]

I'm not sure that it actually has any effect on; "performance".... ....

...I think its more to do with; "permissions".

Installing in the default location; "Program Files", sometimes gives problems when attempting to modify the Flight Sim files, eg: "Administrator rights required".!

Installing directly onto the the "C" Drive usually prevents these problems.

(Tip: Make sure that you are logged on as; "Administrator" on your computer).

Paul....FS 2004 and FSX.... ...!

[garymbuska]

Some readers say they install FS9 direct on the hard drive rather than in the default location. They say they get better performance. Is this true when running Windows Vista ?


All comments appreciated

This is a fact any program will work better if not installed on the same drive as the operating system. The reason is obvious. Any hard drive excluding solid state drives which are sometimes refereed as RAMDISKS has a moving head that has to read the data off the platter or disk and it can only do one task at a time so when you start any program it first has to find the subroutine that will do this than go find the needed file. If the file is on the same disk the system has to divvy up the tasks reading from the OS and than reading from the program. If the program is on a different disk than there is no competition. The system hard drive is left to do the system work and not try to do two things at the same time.
Now mind you the time saved depends on the program that you are running some like FSX and FS9 use more disk space than others so it takes longer to read that data because it has to go back and forth. This does not happen when the program is on a separate disk.
The bottom line is that your system will run faster if you can put programs on a separate disk
Sorry to rattle on like this but just trying to explain so others can understand.
This is one of the reasons why I prefer to build my system rather than buy a store bought system as some store bought systems do not allow you to put two or more hard drives in them as there is no place to put them. And even if there is the power supply might not support them
But buying a different case can change that. I have room for Four Internal hard drives. You will not see that on most store bought systems.

[zswobbie1]

Well, I'm running an i5 4GB laptop with FS9 (2x versions) & P3D all installed into their default directories, with never a problem. I turned the UAC setting right down & everything runs perfectly! (Fact!)

[Fozzer]

The main problem which sometimes occurs when the Sim is installed to "Program Files" location, is when you wish to "edit" or modify a file within the Sim.
Sometimes you are refused!
In that case, it is necessary to drag the file onto the desktop, edit it, then drag it back again into its correct place.

(Its also very important to ensure that you have FULL administrator rights in Windows if you wish to modify something!).

That's the main reason for the preference to install the Sim to a location OTHER than "Program Files".

Otherwise the Sim runs fine.

I have my Sims in both locations, Programs Files, and main "C" drive, and they are both run fine independently, with FULL Admin rights.

Paul.... ...!

[Hagar]

I've installed all versions of FS/CFS outside the default Program Files locations for a long time.* For example, my FS9 was installed to a directory named C:\FS9. My original reasoning (on Windows 98 & XP) being that the shorter the path, the easiest it is for both Windows & myself to locate. Also, it's more efficient if you can use a different HDD (either a separate drive or a partition) from the one the OS is installed on to avoid the constant fragmentation caused by simply running Windows.

Is this true when running Windows Vista ?


All comments appreciated

This is even more important with Windows Vista & Win7/8 to avoid problems installing addons due to the security features described by Fozzer.

*PS. I'm sure this is one of the reasons I have never experienced any of the problems with the MS sims reported on this & other FS forums.

[Capt_Cronic]

i have a dedicated drive for my flight sims
keeping my sims on a sepperate drive from the O.S.
reduces load time and runs more stable

[ViperPilot]

Capt. Cronic,

A question, if I may...

Do you Install Add On Scenery via the Default Folder in the Root FS9 Directory, or do you have a separate Folder for the Scenery?

If you have a separate Folder for Add On Scenery, is it located on the same Drive as your FS Install, or in your OS Drive?

Thanks!

Alan

[Capt_Cronic]

my addon scenery installs in the game folder on my sims ssd drive

[OldAirmail]

Gringo6, you haven't said if you have a laptop or a desktop so this could be totally useless info.


I'll also have to makes an assumption or two.

As you're talking about FS9, I'll have to guess that you may have an older laptop/desktop.

I'll also have to assume that FS9 is probably already installed, and that it's installed in the standard location, "Program Files", as dictated by the install software.

So if it's working under Vista then you've probably haven't had the problems that others have had.

Personally, I never had a problem with FSX in the "Program Files" directory. Or if I did, it was a very minor problem as changing permissions can, (usually) be very simple.



If you have a desktop computer instead of a laptop computer

Simply re-installing FS9/FSX to a different directory on the same hard drive may, or may not, work "better" in so far as permissions go.

But Gary, garymbuska, is 100% correct: "This is a fact any program will work better if not installed on the same drive as the operating system."


How you do that is the question.

Standard hard drives (WD Blue 1TB - $55) are relatively cheap and can offer more space than FS9 will EVER need.

Assuming, that you don't want a new system, my advice would be to buy a new hard drive and clone your old drive onto the new drive.

The newer hard drives alone will probably be FAR faster than your older drive. Also, this idea will work if you only have a laptop.

A 1TB hard drive with 32 - 64gb of cache is a great place to start. You will be amazed how fast, if you have an older drive.


Or for $60 - $70 you could buy a 120GB SSD drive just for FS9.

That depends on how much space you have devoted to FS9 on your hard drive, of course.

Personally, I have an SSD for the OS, a 1TB hard drive for my programs, and another SSD just for Prepar3d.

[ViperPilot]

my addon scenery installs in the game folder on my sims ssd drive

Thanks, Capt.!

[garymbuska]

If you are going to clone a hard drive than Be careful . If you have a brand new hard drive that is bigger than the one you want to clone it will make the new hard drive the same size as the old one. Even if the new drive is say 1 TB if the old drive is say 500 GB than the I tb drive will only have 500 GB of space. You have to use what is called extended option to see the rest of the drive.
I just did this a few weeks ago. I cloned my C drive which was a 80 GB drive to a new 1 TB drive and when done the New drive only had 80 GB of space on it to use. I had to open up a option and use extend the drive to make it where I could see the full 1 TB.

[Jean Loup]

I "only" have a Lap with a 21cm X 33cm flat screen, with THREE versions of FS 2004 installed: Standard 2004, Silver Wings & Golden Wings. I have them in stalled in My Personal file, their simulator files in My Documents and 3 CFG files in App Data\Roaming\Microsoft\FS9- files. All are running with all sliders fully to the right, and I also UNDiD the "index this drive for faster searching". All this plus what you recomend in this 2004 forum, at "Flight Simulator 2004 FAQs \ How do I tweak my fs2004 config file?" & Flight Simulator 2004 FAQs \ XP-Vista-Windows Setup, System Optimizing and Drivers" wich, by the way, not only was atacked by the APACHE NOT FOUND, but is not listed any more.. (I copied everything in my notebook just in time!!) I have this conect for Vista Tweaks that make a BiG HUGE difference (it was recomended in this forum!!): http://www.simforums.com/forums/topic30437_post174126.html#174126 and follow instructions TO THE LETTER, like Don't mess with anything else. IMPORTANT (if you are not used to configure things, FORGET iT!! Or, get help from a tech savy friend).

HOPEFULLY some day those "Flight Simulator 2004 FAQs" will be operational again.. THEY ARE PRiCELESS!! Specially for Vista: NOW, my "only" have a Lap (7 years obsolete HP Pavilion Entertainment, a 3 years ago gift from my son when he got his Mac) is behaving like Windows Seven BUT much better!!

All this I learned in this forum, when connections where connected & the Apache did not even dare to exist..