answered ORBX Central: Install to Default drive or MSFS Sim’s installation drive?

[wingclip]

Hi folks,

I had planned to install the latest Orbx Central to the same drive I plan to install MSFS 2020.  It’s a clean SSD but I stopped when I realized that Orbx Central may be more proficient if installed in the default “C” drive location.

 

Does anyone know which way I’d be better off; both on the same drive, or Orbx Central on the default “C” drive? (or does it even make a difference?)

 

When I ran FSX, I installed the main FSX platform in a separate drive and I think I had the FTX Central installed to the default location.

 

However, I recall that there were a few instances when the FSX library and FTX Central weren’t handling things quite right for each other. …I don’t know, maybe I’m just over-thinking this.

Thanks,

Rich

[Jon Clarke]

Best let it install into your C drive where it is designed to go as it will reside in Users/yourname/Appdata/Local/Programs/Orbx-central

[wingclip]

Thanks Jon! That's what I suspected. Also, I found your info regrading custom drive installations, which is good to know.

 

I decided to buy the MSFS Premium Deluxe for PC version but I'm going to order the DVD set instead of the download. I did it that way back in 2000 when I bought FSX and I found those DVDs to be a very helpful option when I had to run some sort of repair for that platform every now and then over the years.

Rich

[Nick Cooper]

Hello,

it is of course your decision but the DVD version will be the release version and there have been massive changes to those files already.

Any future installation by the original DVDs is likely to be followed swiftly by a replacement of most of those files by mandatory update.

[wingclip]

Thanks Nick. Yes, that's usually the case (and concern), with DVD versions. However, I would expect to be able to update after the initial installation. I know it sounds unnecessarily redundant, considering a direct download version would bypass that step, but then, I was thinking in terms of a 'repair' option on the disk. That, or maybe some kind of diagnosis option to select.

 

You know, the more I think about it, the more I begin to find myself in my own argument that I could probably find the same options on line... The thing is, it appears that I have to join some sort of gaming website in order to buy the MSFS Premium Deluxe version. I found that some were having a problem with confirming which version they got as opposed to paid for.

 

I have the Microsoft Store turned off in Windows 10 and I keep renaming the MS Edge exec file as a ".bak" file to keep it from opening. However, it seems to reinstall with each O/S update. I wound up letting it stay but it's all these 'little' things that make it really hard for me to like Win 10 and why Windows 7 was so much better in my opinion, (and I'm not the only one that feels that way).

I think I can buy a digital download of that MSFS version from Walmart. At least, that's how I understood it just before I closed up the computer early this morning. Ebay may offer one as well, I'll have to check again. 

 

Thanks, I have to admit that I may just wind up downloading the program after all.

Rich

[Nick Cooper]

Hello,

you might also consider the Steam Version, which might suit your purposes better.

[wingclip]

Thanks Nick, but I'm not sure what you mean when you say 'might suit your purposes better'.

 

I just want to run MSFS the same way I ran my FSX for the last 10 years. Install, add-ons when I want them, get the best performance at the highest resolution, etc., etc. I had the double disc set of FSX deluxe installed in my other computer. I read info from some people that the FSX steam ran better then their downloaded version, but most of them didn't have near the add-ons that I ran on my platform.

 

There are so many other factors and variables that will affect how well FSX (or any other sim) will run on their systems, (as you know even better than I do!). So I never really put much weight behind that kind of comparison, at least, not w/o knowing a lot about what they were running and how.

 

I set FSX to maintain 32fps and 90% of the time, it held that frame rate. I'll be hoping for the same from MSFS. FSX held the 32fps while I flew over the highest quality landscapes, with high-resolution aircraft and 5m terrain mesh. All the resource-grabbing software running while I had a thunderstorm and fog configured to boot! LOL.

 

And all that with a 2048 resolution setting and something like 6.500000 LOD, (I've forgotten the precise references for the two settings but I'm sure you know what I mean). LOL, it was a lot of fun and I didn't always make it down in such a way that I could have walked away in one piece.

 

It's been a long time, (almost 2 years) since I flew FSX because of some significant and abrupt changes in my life, but I'm going to get back up there or die trying!

 

Do you know if the Steam version has all the same and complete capabilities that any other version would have? In addition, would you happen to know if Steam would be loading my system with ads and background programs that I don't want and have nothing to do with the sim platform?

 

I'm just worried that Steam would do what the other gaming websites do, run advertisements, track my activity regarding on line purchases and browsing. Then start emailing me all kinds of stuff. I suppose a lot of other sites do that too, (Google, for one), but I'm worried about in-game advertising interruptions.

 

Thanks for the suggestion, and I know I could have the wrong impression about Steam, but that's what I'm trying to sort out now.

Rich

[Nick Cooper]

Hello Rich,

I don't have many Steam games but I have had a licence for FSX Steam Edition for years and so far,

I have not had one e mail suggesting that I should buy anything else.

[wingclip]

Thanks Nick, that's incredibly good news!

 

I know that you've had the actual FSX download at some point, so how did the Steam version and the actual program compare? Did they perform equally well and was the Steam version as flexible to manipulate as the program? Would you have access to the FSX exec files in such a way that you could edit it?

Rich

[Nick Cooper]

Hello,

in the case of FSX, the Steam Edition installs into the same locations as does FSX Disk Edition

and the configuration files are in exactly the same place.

I am given to understand that the Steam purchase of MSFS installs into different folders but

is otherwise the same files as the Microsoft Store purchased version.

[wingclip]

Thank you Nick.