***IF YOUR FS2004 WILL NOT START UP READ THIS***

[Erik]

Hi,

Microsoft does no longer offer the FS9.1 update under the link at the very beginning of this topic.
Fortunately, the good people at Fly Away Simulation do: flyawaysimulation.com/downloads/files/2795/flight-simulator-2004-update-v91/ .

Proceeding with the steps as mentioned on a fresh Windows 10 install, I tried at each step if FS9 would start.

After the initial install from CD in a suitable folder, it would not, not even in compatibility mode and/or run as adminstrator. Simply nothing happened.

After applying the FS9.1 update, it did, but with graphics problems: the settings windows window was unstable, only partly displaying its content, and the actual sim window just black.

Both that phenomenon and the cure for it can be found in the topic Fs9 under win10, also in this forum. I downloaded (beware to decline the unwanted stuff) and installed the DirectX June 2010 redistributable et violà: there is FS9 up and running. Thanks Crimar!

Full screen works fine for me btw, without any specific tweaks so far for that. I am however someone who tweaks his OS beforehand, and I always disable a number of 'handy' automatic functions and eye candy that I don't like. The GTX1070ti video beast may help as well.

Many thanks again, Tom, for providing another 'standard work' in helping with FS9 setup!

Erik

Edit - P.S.: I rolled back the compatibility mode and Run as admin options before applying the FS9.1 update.

[Tom/CalClassic]

Hi,

Thanks, I've changed/added the links to the first post.

[phil533]

My FS2004 works perfectly on Win 8.1 with the FS9.exe no-cd.

It was sitting for about 8 years without use on this very computer I am now typing on. I other words I have just got back into MFS after a 8 year hiatus.

Maybe this will be a helpful tip for someone ..........

I did not work at first. I had to delete FS9.cfg. This means FS9 will then create a new FS9.cfg on the next start up. All was fine after that.

This was probably because I had loaded and unloaded untold Linux versions, and mucked around with partitions, all multi booting with Win8.1.

Not sure if I am game enough to try the FS9.1 update. Might be best to leave all well enough alone.

[Tom/CalClassic]

If you don’t have memory leak problems and don’t mind the missing bridges, then I guess you can do without it.

[herkpilot]

Many thanks Tom for keeping this topic front and center. I've struggled for days trying to get FS9 to run on a new computer when the answer was right here all the time. Doing a clean install from original discs on new I-7, Win 11 machine, when all is running correctly may dip my foot into new FS2020. Major improvement, FS9 loads fast, runs stable at 60fps on a HD monitor with all sliders far right. Still a lot of life left in FS9.