Changing ..\Application Data\Microsoft\FS9 folder

[Joao Paz]

Perhaps this is old news to all of you, but just in case...

I'm working on a separate install of FS9, one that I called "Gold" to which I intend to add only the best stuff I gathered through the FS9 years.

So I started up by using Golden Wings method of creating a new instance from FS9.

I think it was with GW Update Nr 1 that the tweak to the ...

..\My Documents\Flight Simulator Files

...was found by editing the languages.dll



But still we were left with the same folder....

C:\Documents and Settings\<user name here>\Application Data\Microsoft\FS9

...for both instances of flight simulator. So both would share the same FS9.CFG file and remaining stuff;

Again, perhaps you already found a fix for this and, if you did, disregard this post

But if you haven't, well, by editing FS9.EXE with an hexadecimal editor (mine FS9 was already renamed to FSG.EXE) and replacing all the internal occurrences of FS9 for FSG.....

....after launching my new "FSG" ;D a new folder was created, named...

C:\Documents and Settings\<user name here>\Application Data\Microsoft\FSG

...and also a FSG.CFG instead of the default FS9.CFG

In pratical terms I have now 2 sims installed with their own particular sets of configurations.

I don't know about future implications, as I'm just starting with it, but still I wanted to share.

Hope it helps! If not that's ok too
Joao

[Admin]

Excellent! That's one additional step in isolating seperate installs. I'll play with that when I get home in May. There are a few good things you can do in language.dll too. Hex editing and resource hacking can be fun and useful (BUT always back up!)

[Joao Paz]

Oh yes, I'm backing up everything and doing a text log of every step also

I just loaded both sims and they work ok, each with their particular settings and folders.... now I'll have to test some third party addons, but as someone here already mentioned (I think it was you Tom) you may trick those with a text file named FS9.EXE ;D

Will keep you posted,


Joao

[windrunner]

Interesting find, and probably there won't be any problem with other addons. What about the registry entries? new strings for the new "sim"?

[Joao Paz]

Hi windrunner,

Haven't checked the registry yet, but I suspect not.

But I've been playing with it for some time now and basically I can do everything. I have set up a series ok quick shortcuts so whenever I want to install/uninstall any third party addons I simply rename my regular FS9 folder to "flight simulator 9 backup" and the new one to "flight simulator 9" and perform the operations without troubles.

I'm having a blast installing FS9 from scratch again ;D

[lifejogger]

This thread is very interesting and could be beneficial in setting up more that one fs9.
One question though, where does one get a hexadecimal editor .

[Admin]

lifejogger said:

This thread is very interesting and could be beneficial in setting up more that one fs9.
One question though, where does one get a hexadecimal editor .

I recommend Resource Hacker for doing a lot of modifications.
www.angusj.com/resourcehacker/ It's much more than a hex editor

There are several free hex editors. Try a google search or look here:
www.physics.ohio-state.edu/~prewett/hexedit/

Backup Backup Backup Backup Backup Backup Backup Backup Backup Backup Backup Backup Backup Backup Backup Backup

[Deleted]

Luckily all the hex editors I've ever used automatically create a backup of the file being edited before the edited version is saved...

[Joao Paz]

Thanks for the resource hacker link, Tom!


..

With my new external HD and the extra space, here's what I did. I installed a fresh FS9, applied the FS9.1 patch and backed up the whole thing to the new disk.

It's 2.9 giga bytes, yes, but it means also peace of mind..! This way I have always at hand everything that I may come to need in case of trouble.

Then I have two instances of FS9 running on my regular disk, both - as I mentioned above - having their own folders both for the Flight Sim files and for the settings. As far as I can tell they're completely independent now - though I always rename my 2nd install folder back to "Flight Simulator 9" whenever I want to install a third party addon.. even though I have inside it one FSG.EXE and not the FS9.EXE


As for the hexadecimal editing what I did was simple:
A replacement of the all the 'Flight Simulator' (16 chrs) and 'FS9' strings (3 chrs) strings - in both unicode and non-unicode formats - taking care to replace them for strings of identical size.


So my
.. 'Flight Simulator' is now --> 'Flight Sim Gold!" (both have 16 chrs)
.. and my 'FS9' is now --> 'FSG' (both have 3 chrs)



A work in progress
Joao

[Admin]

joaopaz said:

Thanks for the resource hacker link, Tom!

It's a neat program. I found out about it from Wuhwuzdat.