HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY INSTALL FSX FRESH on Windows 11 (and newer WIN 10 versions)

[JJ FSX]

FSX Just crashing after the splash screen after a fresh install? Getting a black screen when you hit fly? Well here are the reasons/solutions.

The first issue is all due to the STEAM CLIENT (Steam.exe) not running as administrator DURING the install.......EVEN IF THE USER RUNNING the STEAM CLIENT, after a fresh install of WINDOWS & STEAM, & during the install IS an ADMINISTRATOR!*****

So....assuming a good install of Windows 10 or 11 and Steam, before you install FSX (if you are too late go back and uninstall FSX, then start over with the instructions below);

1. Shutdown your STEAM Client.
2. Find "Steam.exe" (usually in c:\program files(x86)\Steam)
3. Select Properties of "Steam.exe" and on the "Compatibility Tab" check the "Run as Administrator" checkbox then click OK.
4. Now start the Steam Client and it will "complain/warn" that it's being run in compatibility mode but allows you to continue with option to not be warned again. Continue but don't suppress warning.
5. Re-install FSX but don't run it yet.

Because of new issues with Win10 and Win11 deprecating DX9....

6. Run the DXSETUP from the Steamworks Shared DirectX folder and it will either install or tell you it doesn't need to be. (C:\Program Files(x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Steamworks Shared\_commonRedist\DirectX\June2010\DXSetup.exe)

it DID actually install, did not say it was already installed as it usually does when it is.

7. Find FSX.exe and set it to "run as administrator", no need to set a compatibility mode.
8. Run FSX for the FIRST RUN and when it gets to the Menu, Quit(exit) FSX now before starting any flight or changing any settings, avoid any "crash" so that that the newly first initial run folders and DATA (fsx.cfg, scenery.cfg etc.) get created and SAVED.
9. Restart FSX and go Fly!

At this point a fresh install of FSX should be in good shape. AND you can go back and "remove" the administrator rights from STEAM.exe because it only needs those permissions during the install of FSX (due to newer OS security tech. i.e. WPFS and UAC).

Addendum:

IF after everything checks out with basic FSX anyone (as of this date) who installs ASN (Active Sky Next) DLC, from Steam, BEWARE it now requires an UPDATE from the HiFi technologies website or it WILL crash with "ambient control error" and shut down.

If you use FSIUPC, I now know that at least with windows 11, it requires version 4.977, earlier versions will not install.

Hope you all find this useful, Happy Flying!

JJ FSX

[leonele758]

Thank for the tip! I ended up bringing back windows 10 FSX Steam Edition is now working as before no problems! Take care

[YOUGETNOTHING]

After that do you keep steam in compatibility mode or do you change it back to normal

[JJ FSX]

Originally posted by YOUGETNOTHING:

After that do you keep steam in compatibility mode or do you change it back to normal

Back to normal is what the very last sentence of the guide says.

It appears I should revise and make that last sentence STEP 10, huh.

And technically we didn't set a compatibility mode, we used the compatibility TAB to give "run as admin" permissions.