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Products Support => GSX Support FSX/P3D => Topic started by: Cfoley on November 30, 2022, 06:56:06 pm

Title: Transfering to FSX Steam
Post by: Cfoley on November 30, 2022, 06:56:06 pm
Hi,

I am trying to transfer all of my FSDream Products from FSX to FSX Steam (GSX and airports).  I was using Windows 7 but had to switch to Windows 10, but my FSDreamTeam product purchases did not transfer over because I used FSX discs in my old computer and are not compatible with Windows 10, so I had to purchase FSX Steam, but my FSDT could not be transferred over.  I tried the Universal installer and also obtained all my activation keys, but in my FSX Steam, there is no Add On Manager for FSDT.  I also saw the attached box for getting my past purchases, but I don't understand the "Computer ID" question?  What goes in the box and how do I find my computer ID, what ever that may be?  I don't know if I am missing a step in getting my FSDT Products transferred to FSX Steam and why there is no Add-on Manager for FSDT. The only thing in my Add-on" in FSX Steam is  FSUIPC.

Sincerely,
CFoley
Title: Re: Transfering to FSX Steam
Post by: virtuali on December 01, 2022, 02:52:13 am
in my FSX Steam, there is no Add On Manager for FSDT. 

This is the one and only problem. Unless you fix this, it would be completely useless to try other activation method, in your case the Offline activation.

It's not very clear what do you mean with "transfer your products" ? You mean you tried to "move" them from one sim to another ? This will never work, and will just cause a big mess. Also, there's only ONE safe way to upgrade from FSX to FSX Steam and is:

- Uninstall all your add-ons from FSX first, at least those (like FSDT) that have a proper Uninstaller.

- Uninstall the original FSX after you removed all your add-ons.

- Install the FSX-Steam version only after you are sure you removed the original FSX.

- DO NOT install any add-ons yet, but RUN FSX-Steam at least once. If you don't do that, many add-on installer will fail, because FSX Steam will create all the registry keys during its first run, this is different than the FSX DVD install.

- After you ran FSX-Steam once, you can start installing all your addons, using the own installers.

- In case of FSDT addons, be sure you use the most current version of their installer.
Title: Re: Transfering to FSX Steam
Post by: Cfoley on December 01, 2022, 03:15:06 am
On my new computer, the old  FSX is not installed. When I set the new computer up.  I purchased FSX Steam and downloaded it on my new computer.  There are no other add-on's at all on my FSX Steam.  I am trying to obtain my previous purchase downloads from FSDT and load them in FSX Steam.  The only add on manager in my Steam FSX is FSUIPC.  No other add-ons.  I did obtain my purchase "activation Keys", but don't understand how to get them into my FSX Steam.  Also,  I don't know what a "Computer ID" is or where to find it.  I hope I don't have repurchase everything because I cannot get my previous purchases into FSX Steam.

Cfoley
Title: Re: Transfering to FSX Steam
Post by: virtuali on December 01, 2022, 03:23:07 am
Please re-read the first line of my reply, to you report of lacking the Addon Manager: this is the one and only problem. Unless you fix this, it would be completely useless to try other activation method, in your case the Offline activation.

Now, I might asking something obvious but, have you installed your FSDT products ? The Addon Manager won't show up unless you do that. As I've said, be sure you use the current version of the installer, not some older download you might have downloaded in the past, and be sure the antivirus is not interfering, this way:

- Configure the antivirus to add the whole Addon Manager folder ( the one you'll install all FSDT products into ) to the antivirus EXCLUSIONS

- Run all the installers and be sure the updater that runs at the end completes with no errors.

You are supposed to have the Addon Manager menu under the "Addons" menu in FSX. From there, you only need to select "Register Serial" for each product, and insert your Activation Key.

If you lost a purchase receipt, you can get it here using the "Email License Keys" option

https://qlm1.net/virtualisoftware/qlmcustomersite/

You don't need anything else other than the Activation key to activate.
Title: Re: Transfering to FSX Steam
Post by: Cfoley on December 01, 2022, 06:19:01 am
I went ahead and downloaded GSX again and once it was completed, a new problem arises.  I launch FSX Steam, and the FSX Steam screen shows up, but once the FSX music plays, the screen disappears!  But the music is still going.  Can't do anything now regarding trouble shooting this problem.
Title: Re: Transfering to FSX Steam
Post by: virtuali on December 01, 2022, 11:24:24 am
I went ahead and downloaded GSX again and once it was completed, a new problem arises.  I launch FSX Steam, and the FSX Steam screen shows up, but once the FSX music plays, the screen disappears!  But the music is still going.  Can't do anything now regarding trouble shooting this problem.

FSX:Steam sometimes does that, you can usually bring it back by pressing Alt+Enter to exit from Full screen mode, maybe using also CTRL-TAB to first bring in focus its window. I think it's somewhat related to the fact FSX is mostly a DirectX 9 application, and doesn't play nice with modern video drivers, which are all optimized for DX11/12.
Title: Re: Transfering to FSX Steam
Post by: Cfoley on December 02, 2022, 09:57:33 pm
I was able to get FSX Steam back, but when I download GSX,  it gets hung up at the installation phase and does not install.  I waited for hours to see if anything would happen until I finally just went ahead disconnected it.  (See attached).  This was my second attempt and it just sits there at the install stage for hours.

Update:  I used my registration certificate and it stated it was now "Active", I also used the Full Installer and this time it did not get hung up, but there is still nothing in my FSX Steam add on for the download.  I don't what else I should do.  Am I missing a step? I felt like I have done everything there is.

CFoley
Title: Re: Transfering to FSX Steam
Post by: Cfoley on December 06, 2022, 07:29:58 am
I have come to the conclusion perhaps FSdreamteam products are not compatible with the latest version of Windows 10 for FSX Steam.  I seemed to have  tried everything. 
Title: Re: Transfering to FSX Steam
Post by: virtuali on December 06, 2022, 01:31:43 pm
I have come to the conclusion perhaps FSdreamteam products are not compatible with the latest version of Windows 10 for FSX Steam.  I seemed to have  tried everything.

All FSDT installer are fully compatible both with the latest Windows 10 version, and FSX:Steam.

Quote
there is still nothing in my FSX Steam add on for the download.

You are not supposed to have anything in the Steam folder, every file related to the product will always be installed in the Addon Manager folder, and the installer will just modify the FSX.CFG to add paths for the extra Simobjects added and the DLL.XML and EXE.XML files to have the two modules starting automatically with FSX.

Quote
I also used the Full Installer and this time it did not get hung up

If the installer completed with no errors, there are no reasons why it wouldn't work. But now you haven't said what the problem is: again the black screen ? Does FSX starts now ? Do you have the Addon Manager menu and the GSX menus there ?
Title: Re: Transfering to FSX Steam
Post by: Cfoley on December 06, 2022, 05:28:35 pm
I have the addon manager in FSX Steam menu bar, but the only thing in it is FSUIPC and Level-D 767, even though the 767 is not in the selection of aircraft in FSX Steam to chose from.   No FSdreamteam add-ons are there.  I tried the universal installer and the full installer.  But in FSX Steam, none of the addons are there when I open it up in the Add-on Manager. The only add on aircraft are the QW757's, but I am having issues with that too because, I forget the what it is called, the little screen in the cockpit, is black with an the word green "Error" message on .   I have been in touch with QW forum about it, but so far nothing seems to help with that issue either.

I wanted to just stay with just FSX, not Steam, but my FSX discs would not install in my new Windows 10 computer.  I had Windows 7 with FSX before Windows 10 and everything worked fine.  A friend suggested getting FSX Steam would work better in Windows 10, but I am finding out that is not the case for me, FSX Steam loaded okay, but that's about it.
Title: Re: Transfering to FSX Steam
Post by: virtuali on December 06, 2022, 10:40:36 pm
I have the addon manager in FSX Steam menu bar, but the only thing in it is FSUIPC and Level-D 767, even though the 767 is not in the selection of aircraft in FSX Steam to chose from.   No FSdreamteam add-ons are there. 

Please clarify, are you probably confusing "Addon Manager" with "Addons" ? Because, if you have the "Addon Manager", it IS an FSdreamteam add-on, and it's a certain kind of troubleshooting, while if you meant you have the "Addons" menu, but no Addon Manager or other FSDT menus there, it's a completely different issue.

Quote
The only add on aircraft are the QW757's, but I am having issues with that too because, I forget the what it is called, the little screen in the cockpit, is black with an the word green "Error" message on .   I have been in touch with QW forum about it, but so far nothing seems to help with that issue either.

Regarding the QW757, you only need to be sure you install it using the latest Flight1 installer, not an old QW installer that *used* to use a very outdated version of the Addon Manager that, if installed after anything recent from FSDT, will surely cause problems.

If you are sure the QW757 is only the Flight1 version, then it might indicate a problem with your FSX install ( possibly related to Simconnect runtimes ) that is equally affecting the 757 and GSX

Quote
I had Windows 7 with FSX before Windows 10 and everything worked fine.  A friend suggested getting FSX Steam would work better in Windows 10, but I am finding out that is not the case for me

We only test our products in Windows 10, there's a way to use them in Windows 7 if it's completely updated, but in Windows 10 they are way easier to install.
Title: Re: Transfering to FSX Steam
Post by: Cfoley on December 07, 2022, 01:27:00 am
I am sorry,  I meant to say my FSX "Add-ons" is in the FSX menu, but no "Add-on Manager" in the menu.   For the QW757,  I did to the the latest Flight1 installer from their current site, installed, twice, but with no results and still has the blank error screen.
Title: Re: Transfering to FSX Steam
Post by: virtuali on December 07, 2022, 12:18:07 pm
I am sorry,  I meant to say my FSX "Add-ons" is in the FSX menu, but no "Add-on Manager" in the menu.

You are not supposed to have the Addon Manager in the menu, it's a sub-menu of the "Add-ons" menu. What you have there, exactly ?
Title: Re: Transfering to FSX Steam
Post by: Cfoley on December 07, 2022, 05:24:14 pm
In the FSX Steam Add-on menu bar, just Level-D Simulations and FSUPC is listed in the sub menu.

Cfoley
Title: Re: Transfering to FSX Steam
Post by: Cfoley on December 08, 2022, 05:15:32 pm
I don't know what is wrong.  For whatever reasons,  my add-ons are not installing in FSX Steam. I've tried just about everything and looked at other forums for all the other issues without a single result. Even though my add on menu shoes the level-D767, the aircraft is not on the aircraft selection of aircraft link in FSX.  I have been struggling for a month now trying to get various add-ons installed, without success on any of them.  I have been flight simulating for 11 years, but all these issues has killed my desire to continue on with it.  I never wanted FSX Steam to begin with,  but had no choice because my FSX discs would not install on my new Windows 10 computer.  The last 5 years with FSX had been great without any issues at all too! I enjoyed FSDreamteam products too, but I will have to accept the fact that flight simulation is over for me.  I will greatly miss it. 

CFoley 
Title: Re: Transfering to FSX Steam
Post by: virtuali on December 09, 2022, 11:14:41 am
I don't know what is wrong.  For whatever reasons,  my add-ons are not installing in FSX Steam.

The most likely cause of this, is your registry messed up, because you first installed FSX:Steam when the original FSX was still installed ( or not properly uninstalled ), so FSX:Steam installed itself in "Side-by-side" mode, that is made to work together with the original FSX.

Then, you must have removed the original FSX, by without reinstalling FSX:Steam, so it still running in that mode, but there's no FSX anymore.

The correct procedure to switch from FSX to FSX:Steam, which unfortunately not many users follow is:

- Remove the original FSX first. Not manually, of course, by using the standard Uninstaller

- Install FSX:Steam that, since FSX is not found anymore at this time, will install itself in "Stand-alone" mode, that is using the same registry keys as the original FSX.

- RUN FSX:Steam at least once BEFORE installing ANY add-on. THIS is important, because is at this time that registry keys are set, if you start installing add-ons before you run it once, the registry keys are still missing, so every add-on installation will likely fail, or will install stuff in default folders made for the original FSX

Have a look at this thread, which explains how the registry keys should be on a properly installed FSX:Steam:

https://www.fsdreamteam.com/forum/index.php/topic,13998.msg105549.html#msg105549
Title: Re: Transfering to FSX Steam
Post by: Cfoley on December 09, 2022, 11:32:14 am
FSX is not installed on my new computer, only FSX Steam.  As I mentioned before, FSX would not install on my new computer.

Cfoley
Title: Re: Transfering to FSX Steam
Post by: virtuali on December 09, 2022, 11:40:25 am
FSX is not installed on my new computer, only FSX Steam.  As I mentioned before, FSX would not install on my new computer.

If you are sure the original FSX was *never* installed at any time, not even in a previous Windows installation you might have upgraded from, then FSX:Steam should be installed correctly.

However, fact both GSX and the QW757 are not working, seems to indicate a problem, possibly related to system libraries or Simconnect.

Maybe one of the add-ons you installed is using a very old Simconnect version ( there a 3 different versions in FSX ) and because of this, FSX is "stuck" with that version, which is preventing other add-ons like GSX or the QW757, which instead use a newer version, to work. This was reported to be happening, and it was a consequence of the very tricky Windows "Side-by-side" .DLL loading method, which in theory ( when it works ), should allow multiple programs requiring different versions of the same .DLL to run at the same time, but when it doesn't work, it's a nightmare trying to fix it.

The Level-D module running, with no aircraft available, also seems to indicate some problem.

Fact is, you are using a product that came out in 2006, updated in 2007, and marginally fixed in 2014 with the Steam version, I really strongly suggest, if you have a new computer, to check MSFS 2020 instead.
Title: Re: Transfering to FSX Steam
Post by: Cfoley on December 16, 2022, 05:22:22 pm
I checked my program apps and the only things in my computer besides Microsoft FSX Steam is the following:

Microsoft Flight Simulator X Service Pack 2

Microsoft Flight Simulator Simmconnect Client V10.0
Microsoft Flight Simulator Simmconnect Client V2.46
Microsoft Flight Simulator Simmconnect Client V1

Would any of these be the cause of my problems?

Cfoley
Title: Re: Transfering to FSX Steam
Post by: virtuali on December 16, 2022, 05:43:24 pm
I checked my program apps and the only things in my computer besides Microsoft FSX Steam is the following: Microsoft Flight Simulator X Service Pack 2

This is already an indication of a problem, and it's tells you DID had the original FSX installed in this PC at some time, then you must have removed it, but left remains of the Service Pack installed.

On a fresh Windows install, if you install just FSX:Steam, you are not supposed to see the "Microsoft Flight Simulator X Service Pack 2", because FSX:Steam is single install of a newer version that doesn't use or require the SP2.

Quote
Microsoft Flight Simulator Simmconnect Client V10.0
Microsoft Flight Simulator Simmconnect Client V2.46
Microsoft Flight Simulator Simmconnect Client V1

All these version numbers looks wrong. The 1st one a bit less wrong than the other, because you should see the correct version, like v10.0.61259.0, but the others looks completely foreign to me, are they maybe coming from very old P3D version in 32 bit ? 64 bit P3D doesn't need a separate Simconnect client.
Title: Re: Transfering to FSX Steam
Post by: Cfoley on December 16, 2022, 06:14:04 pm
Here are the complete Microsoft Flight Simulator SimConnect Clients that are in my computer:

V10.0.60905.0
V10.0.61259.0
V.10.0.62615.0
V10.0.61242.0

I don't know if any of these are bad or not, or remember how they got there.
CFoley
Title: Re: Transfering to FSX Steam
Post by: virtuali on December 16, 2022, 06:27:40 pm
You have all the versions that ever came out in FSX history:

V10.0.60905.0 - Simconnect from the Original FSX from 2006
V10.0.61259.0 - Simconnect from FSX Acceleration Pack or SP2
V.10.0.62615.0 - Simconnect from FSX:Steam
V10.0.61242.0 - Simconnect from the FSX SP1

GSX *requires* V10.0.61259.0 as minimum, but I guess it should work with just the later one from Steam. However, it's the older ones that might possibly cause problems, since sometimes those side-by-side libraries don't work all together as they should.

The issue is, you said this is a new computer: how you could possibly have remnants of previous FSX installations, dating back to 2006 ? They might have been installed by some add-ons, one that has been made for such old versions, which might well cause issues.

You can TRY uninstalling the oldest ones, V10.0.60905.0  and V10.0.61242.0, but I can't guaranteed it will work, because uninstalling Side-by-side libraries can be very complex, sometimes it's impossible without booting in Windows Safe mode so, if your system is really new, it might easier to just reinstall Windows...
Title: Re: Transfering to FSX Steam
Post by: Cfoley on December 16, 2022, 08:28:15 pm
Reinstalling windows is something I will not do, and don't know how to do.  I don't need more problems added on top of another.  When I  purchased my new computer,  I had Zinstall transfer everything over from my old Windows 7 computer to my Windows 10.   If it comes to having to reinstall windows,  my flight simulation days are over.  I will not do it.

CFoley
Title: Re: Transfering to FSX Steam
Post by: virtuali on December 16, 2022, 11:08:21 pm
When I  purchased my new computer,  I had Zinstall transfer everything over from my old Windows 7 computer to my Windows 10.   If it comes to having to reinstall windows,  my flight simulation days are over.  I will not do it.

Your saying "it's a new computer" mislead me into assuming you also had a clean Windows install with a clean FSX:Steam installation. Now I understand your new computer has just inherited all the past baggage from years of updates and related problems.

When you'll finally do what you'll eventually end up doing sooner or later for other reasons (reinstalling Windows), I'm sure you'll notice how snappy your new computer will feel like.
Title: Re: Transfering to FSX Steam
Post by: Cfoley on December 16, 2022, 11:37:09 pm
I will never be reinstalling Windows because I have other programs and files as well, not just FSX.  That is why I used Zinstall to begin with.  That would destroy all my years of work I put into it.  I will have to sacrifice flight simulation if I have to in order to protect my non-flight simulation programs and files.  Thanks for all your help, but there is not much that can be done now.

Cfoley
Title: Re: Transfering to FSX Steam
Post by: virtuali on December 17, 2022, 12:38:49 am
I will never be reinstalling Windows because I have other programs and files as well, not just FSX.  That is why I used Zinstall to begin with.  That would destroy all my years of work I put into it. 

You don't have to lose your work, because documents created by you can surely be saved separately and restored later in a new a Windows installation, there are many ways to do that.

Assuming that a Windows reinstall will wipe any of you own work is precisely what has caused your FSX installation to be messed up.

While I'm not that extreme, one of my colleagues at FSDT reinstall Windows basically after every new major project completed, or he reinstall it just because he made major hardware upgrades, and those always works best on a full reinstall. I reinstall usually every couple of years.

We obviously have TONS of VERY valuable work that needs to be transferred, never lost a file once.
Title: Re: Transfering to FSX Steam
Post by: Cfoley on December 17, 2022, 03:00:43 am
I went ahead an uninstalled everything that was Microsoft FSX and Steam, including all the SimConnect apps.
Title: Re: Transfering to FSX Steam
Post by: Cfoley on December 19, 2022, 10:03:40 pm
FSX will not uninstall.  I quit.
Title: Re: Transfering to FSX Steam
Post by: gaumond on December 20, 2022, 12:46:55 am
I really hate to break this to you but you should really do a proper backup and clean install of windows and FSX. I get it sucks and its a royal pain but migrating complex software from one OS to another OS is just asking for issues, which you have encountered.

Also I don't understand why you cant get FSX to install on Win10, it may also be related to the fact that you migrated from another PC.

One thing you can do is get another SSD and swap it out with the your existing, or disable it with bios temporarily. You can install Win 10 or 11 fresh on that drive and reinstall FSX, your other programs, and everything else and see how you fair. You'll have the old one as a backup and if all goes smoothly you can then reformat and use that as a second drive after you copy over your data files.

Title: Re: Transfering to FSX Steam
Post by: Cfoley on December 20, 2022, 06:20:49 am
I am not an IT expert.  I am through with this. Thanks for the suggestions though.
Title: Re: Transfering to FSX Steam
Post by: virtuali on December 20, 2022, 03:00:30 pm
FSX will not uninstall.  I quit.

That's to be expected.

Many users install FSX:Steam together with the original FSX, so FSX:SE will get installed in "side-by-side" mode, so it will use its own separate registry keys and preference folders.

Also, its common for many users to realize the original FSX is not really required anymore, so they want to remove it, usually by removing the whole FSX folder. This results in the FSX Uninstaller to be lost as well, resulting in the inability to uninstall it properly.

In addition to that, even uninstalling FSX in the "proper" way, after FSX:SE has been installed, is not a very good idea, but not many users are aware of this, because FSX:SE would still be left configured to operate together with FSX.

The proper way to "switch" from FSX to FSX:SE is, instead:

- Uninstall ALL FSX add-ons first

- Uninstall the original FSX with its own uninstaller. Remove the FSX folder only *after* uninstalling it with the uninstaller

- Uninstall FSX:SE. Remove the FSX:SE folder only *after* uninstalling it with the uninstaller

- Reinstall FSX:SE

- Start FSX:SE ONCE, BEFORE installing any add-ons. This first startup will create the new registry keys and preference folders in "Stand-alone" mode, so FSX:SE will ACT as it was the original FSX, the only FSX installed.

- Reinstall the various add-ons

This is the only SAFE and CLEAN way to "switch" from FSX to FSX:SE.