FSX Upgrade - help please

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Member for

17 years 1 month

Posts: 113

This week-end I've downloaded the 90 Mb upgrade to FSX. It downloaded ok but instead of installing it, it was placed in a temp folder next to my FSX program folder.

Several times I've tried to install it but having gone throught the process, I get the message that the download was interrupted and was therefore not installed. I've even gone through the repair process on the original program disc but it stubbornly won't install.

In the upgrade blurb, Microsoft state that to be successful the SDK development kit must have been installed from the original disc of the De-luxe Edition of X but I don't know what that means. There's certainly no mention of it while the program is being installed. I just took it to mean that you had to have the De Luxe version (which I have) instead of the standard version, but I'm beginning to wonder if there's something on the disc that's hidden unless you take some action during the installation process.

As usual, Microsoft are useless when it comes to wanting to ask them a question. If they have a 'help site' it's pretty well hidden, so now I'm asking if one of you experts out there can help a reasonably good photographer and a not so good flier and golfer who knows little about computers can help please?

John Y

Original post

Member for

19 years 8 months

Posts: 13

Hey. The SDK does not get installed with the main product. You have to install it separately.

Open Windows Explorer and go to your CD/DVD drive while the FSX disk is inserted. I don't have mine in front of me, but have a look for an SDK folder and a setup file in there. Run that to install the SDK.

Then run the 90Mb file you downloaded which is an update for the SDK (and requires the SDK to be installed first).

Member for

17 years 1 month

Posts: 113

FSX - SDK upgrade

Hi Blackbird 74

Thanks for this information. I've just completed installing it but frankly can't yet see any benefit.

Why do Microsoft make everything so complicated? Surely they could have had SDK as part of the original disc installation. Why make it such a great mystery and, more particularly so difficult to find and then install.

Without your information Blackbird I would never have found out how to do it. For the life of me, I can't imagine (unless you work for Microsoft) how you knew yourself!

At least it seems this will enable me to take on any future upgrades they may throw at us.

Many thanks again.

John Y

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 4,450

I don't want to sound blunt here, but, if you don't know how to install it, don't bother. The SDK is not an "end-user" tool, and won't be needed to install FSX upgrades, nor will it add any functionnalities to the game part of FSX. SDK stands for Software Development Kit. In other words, tools for developpers.
I'm pretty sure the real game upgrades, when they come out, will be quite easy to install.

Member for

17 years 1 month

Posts: 113

FSX upgrade

Now you tell me! Thanks anyway for the info, but why couldn't Microsoft have made that clear in their home page? I don't think it was unnatural for me (an innocent) to assume from their blurb that it was a proper up-grade of the flight program.

After all the trouble I went to getting it on and not being too short on memory I think I'll keep it there for for the time being. It's not doing any harm. One day it might prove useful and I certainly wouldn't want to go through all that again!

Thanks once again to you both for your help.

John Y