Microsoft Flight Simulator compatability with MS 8, 8.1, and 10.

Microsoft Flight Simulator Comparability problems with Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10. Windows XP to the rescue.


If there are any of our membership who have experienced comparability

issues with installing Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002, FS 2004, or FSX in Windows 8, 8.1 or Windows 10 (from error messages to a freeze) there is a way to install these Simulators under Win 8, 8.1, and 10. The installation method is lengthy but works (most of the time anyway). However FSX Steam Edition install in this manner is more a throw of the dice.


Now assuming that either Windows 8, 8.1 or 10 is your day to day Operating System.


Ok, basic tools.


Oracle Virtual Box with it’s additional tools package. VMware is the other

virtual machine package that can be used.


Your install CD for Windows XP 32 bit. The provenance of your install CD or ISO of XP is a matter for you. 


Your install media of whichever version of Microsoft Flight Simulator you have that worked perfectly under XP, Vista, or Windows 7 all of these either 32 bit or 64 bit. That does not matter.


A 16Gb USB stick formatted as NTFS.


Steps:


Install the Virtual Machine with fixed Virtual Drive C:\ size of 40Gb for safety’s sake.


Don’t fret about how much RAM to allow the Virtual Machine to have. Set about 1024Mb to 3172Mb. The amount of RAM is not critical to the process.


Install the Flight Simulator into the Virtual Machine. Install to a folder you have created on the Virtual Drive C:\. Do not allow the install process to

install to it;s own default settings. With the Flight Simulator there is no need to make any setting higher than the default for graphics, hardware etc.

Install any patches, upgrades as needed in a regular install. Test run if only to prove that the program (Flight Simulator) will run as intended.


So far so good. Now make a cup of coffee or which ever beverage is your

favourite.

Either adjust the Virtual Machine settings to recognise your USB and, if

available, transfer of files bi-directional between Host and Guest. Or, get ready to enjoy your beverage when you set up copying your Flight Simulator Folder from Virtual Machine to USB or from Virtual Machine to the host

systems’ drive C:/.


Little issues after this rather lengthy process. FS 2002 and FS 2004 should start as normal and create its’ own sub folders as usual. FSX will quite often tell you that a default path to a folder does not exist. Just write down the full syntax for the folder or folders and create these yourself.


All going well you now have your favourite Microsoft Flight Simulator

running under Windows 8, 8.1 or 10 and ready for all of the tweaks and

add-ons we put into Flight Simulators.


Success rate. The Irishman, Murphy has a few observations on how things work. Another Irishman, O’Neill said Murphy was an optimist.


Success rate for this whole process I would put at around 90%.


XP to the rescue.


Good Luck,


Aunty Jack (Mark).