The A2A Simulations Community

Need some guidance here. Been using FS2004 for several years with some add on scenery and a few add on aircraft. All works well. I have noticed that most new aircraft additions and a lot of extras are only for FSX. I am wondering if I do purchase FSX and install it what happens to 2004 ? Are my aircraft and extras usable , Does FSX run entirely separate ? Also are the aircraft on FSX the same ones as in 2004 ? Really kind of confused here and wondering what I gain with a change.
I believe my system meets all the requirements from what I have read for FSX. Have 8GB of memory with a 1 TB hard drive and INTEL Core2 duo CPU, 2.93 Ghz processor.
Would appreciate some advice. Thanks Budo

In my experience, FSX will run most aircraft from 2004 with minimal problems. I have never tried FS2004 scenery in FSX, so I don't know if it will work, but I doubt it. Your computer should run FSX well.

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FSX is the next flight sim in the series.
I have two different FS9s and one FSX Acc. currently installed on my computer.
Yes, I use many FS9 aircraft in FSX, there are some issues with props and glass.
FSX uses much better textures, quite a difference over FS9. Also Acceleration adds even more.
You might be a little disappointed with the performance on your machine, FSX needs a very fast processor. A lot of tweaking is needed.
But, now there is also P3D. http://www.prepar3d.com/

The simple answer is, consider FSX as being completely seperate from FS2004. Some FS2004 addons can be used in FSX--with varying results-- but FSX addons can't be used in FS2004.

You can have both versions of Flight Simulator on your computer at the same time. In fact, sometimes having both installed is the easiest way to get your old FS2004 aircraft into FSX because you can copy/paste your aircraft folder into FSX. Sometimes this is all you have to do but often there is a little more work involved like renaming files or possibly downloading a patch. Be forewarned, however, that you'll often see a few glitches or experience some small incompatibilities when you try to use FS2004 aircraft in FSX.

Sceneries like third-party airports usually don't port over to FSX very well, especially older and highly complex sceneries, unless the developer issues a patch that makes their scenery compatible with FSX. The two versions of Flight Simulator use different kinds of files for features like ground traffic. Also, you'll probably see structures missing walls, ceilings, textures, etc. -- if FSX doesn't crash outright.

The good news is that FSX is more refined in its core features and offers developers a more versatile platform to work from. This is why developers like A2A Simulations have been able to redefine the limits of Flight Simulator, offering products like AccuSim and AccuFeel.

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I like Thunderbolts! (Link to MySpace tribute page)


120th Fighter Wing, Montana Air National Guard

Thanks guys for the info. Still am not sure yet if I will make the change or just add FSX. I was really a little confused about the differences and what happens to FS2004 with a change. Been very happy running FS9 but I guess as we all do we are always looking for some improvements.
Flight Simulator has added many hours of enjoyment to my life. I use to fly the small stuff many years ago and this is about as close to getting back in the cockpit as I can get - and a lot cheaper.
Thanks again guys
Budo

FS2004 is still a great sim but it feels numb to me now ever since the AccuSim line of aircraft were introduced for FSX. Check out the AccuSim videos on YouTube that are linked on this forum and at the A2A Store.

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I like Thunderbolts! (Link to MySpace tribute page)


120th Fighter Wing, Montana Air National Guard

Skycat, Did check out that those videos. Very impressive. Decision is still up in the air about FSX.
Thanks, Budo

Go Air Force !

One additional question. I found this review of FSX on the Amazon page :

I would plan on keeping FS9 on my computer with FSX so question is anyone else have any thoughts or experience about this ? Budo

I have no idea why that Amazon customer had that problem. By default, FS2004 and FSX install to differently named root folders. They each have their own unique shortcut icon. They save their records to differently named subfolders in your documents folder.

I have no problem launching FSX, closing out, then launching FS2004 -- and vice versa. For fun I just tried to run both at the same time to make a 'side-by-side' screenshot for you as proof, and I discovered that if one version of Flight Simulator is already running then you can't open a second version of the sim. That makes me think that the Amazon customer was using a third-party program linked to FS2004 or had been running a disk image of FS2004 using a virtual drive, something like that.

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I like Thunderbolts! (Link to MySpace tribute page)


120th Fighter Wing, Montana Air National Guard

Hi Budo,
I have both FS9 and FSX on the same computer. With no issues.
They are two independent programs, and do not interfere with one another.
FSX does not look or care if FS9 is there or not.

Convinced !
Thanks guys
Budo


Go Air Force

Yes many FS2004 flyers also fly FSX. My PC's filled with all manner of sims, though I must admit I didnt reinstall the ole FS2004 on the last system build.

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