Multiple installs

[robert4368]

I have three installs of FS9, one original and two GW, an original GW for prewar scenery and ac, and a GW for WW2 scenery and ac. How do I keep these three different installs from interfering with one another when I start one of the other sims? The scenery shows in all three sims.

[Glider Rider]

Hey Robert,
I only have two installs on my machine. The original FS9 for practicing modern day aviation and GW for having fun. Since the two installs have radically different sceneries I wanted to make sure that I didn't have a problem. The easiest way for me to do that (I'm on XP), was to set up different accounts for the two installs. So, when I turn on the computer, I sign on with the ID for the era that I want to fly. So far, I have not had one scenery problem with this approach.
Bill

[Admin]

I have had as many as 4 versions at different times and while using custom language.dll files avoids most conflicts, the scenery cfg has always been a minor problem. For me, that has meant that every time I start up a version different from the last time, the entire scenery cfg has to rebuild. Only once have I had and actual error message about missing scenery.

Theoretically, you could go to C:\Documents and Settings\Your Name\Application Data\Microsoft\FS9 and make a copy of the backup scenery.cfg for each version of the sim and rename the proper one before each session. It's never been important enough for me to try that so it is only a theory

[robert4368]

What Ive been doing is to delete the addon scenery cfg in the sim I want to use, and this seems to keep the other addons from interfering.

[windrunner]

I've been using what Tom explained above for years, and it's a fast and easy way to keep things as simple as breathing. No scenery.cfg changes nor scenery rebuilding needed each time you start the sim. Actually, there are only five files to change: the "obscure" IDX files, inside the "Facilities" folder (AIndex, IIndex etc). Each version has its own files, depending on the sceneries you install, so the only thing to do is to switch IDX files before firing up the sim but you have to keep a backup of those files for each version.

Create one folder inside "C:\Documents and Settings\Your Name\Application Data\Microsoft\FS9" ( I named it "backups"). Inside the "Backups" folder create other two, ( or one for each sim version you have; in my case, FS9 and GW3). All you have to do is to copy and paste the IDX files created when you start each sim inside the "...\FS9\Faclities" folder, and you're ready to go.

[robert4368]

Thanks Tom and Windrunner, I will give those options a try.

[rich12545]

Hi, what about simply putting GW in a separate partition? Would that work without any problems?