Windows 11

[ZDanimal]

Will this run on Windows 11? I've read about people having issues on W10 so I can't imagine 11 being very friendly with it. If it's just a DX issue that should probably be simple enough to deal with, but if it just doesn't want to run on an OS several generations newer than it, then that could get frustrating and I don't want to waste a bunch of time getting the game and some DLC and then having to try to get a refund because I wasted 10 hours trying to get it to run. Thanks in advance.

[Kronovan]

I've been running FSX:SE on Windows 10 for the past 3 years and haven't had any issues that I'd directly attribute to that edition. There can be issues for installing 3rd party addons that're caused by changes originally made in Windows Vista and carried forward. Namely security enhancements , which can prevent 3rd party installers from making necessary changes in FSX's EXE.XML and DLL.XML files which are located in the User folders. Some have reported similar issues with the SCENERY.CFG file. Note though, that such Windows problems aren't just specific to FSX, but may prevent other games and apps from installing successfully too.

Running the Steam client as Administrator can help avoid issues with the initial installation. Some have found that running FSX.EXE in Windows 7 compatibility mode can help too. As well, a number of FSX 3rd party dev studios are aware of these issues and know how to resolve them. I.e. I ran into an issue with Active Sky Next and the tech support agent had me send in the EXE.XML, which they updated manually.

I don't run Windows 11, so I can't personally comment on running FSX:SE under it. I can only say that any problem I've encountered with it running under Win10 were able to be resolved.

[Kronovan]

I'll just add, that were I looking to buy a new flight sim, with what it costs for X-Plane 11 or MSFS 2020 in a sale and what the student edition of Prepar3D now costs, I would not choose FSX:SE over either of those 3. I own all 3 and can say they're quality flight sims and are more stable and less prone to errors on newer editions of Windows. Each has strengths in different areas, but if you're new to flight simming, either of the 3 would be a good intro. Prepar3D and XP 11 are less demanding than MSFS for system resources, so if your PC is on the lower end of the system specs spectrum, those 2 would be better choices.

[ZDanimal]

Thank you for the excellent information Kronovan, I appreciate you taking the time. I've played a lot of flight sims in the past, all of the way back to F-15 Strike Eagle but skipped a few generations over the years. I've been looking at FSX for a long time on Steam, primarily because they have a TON of DLC aircraft from the 60's and 70's that I'd like to check out and the current $5 US sale made me decide to try and figure out if I could get it to run stably on an 11 install. I've also looked at the other two closely (X-Plane and FS 2020) but they don't have the depth of DLC of FSX. I've also looked at DCS but their DLC is insane and mostly a pure combat game so that wouldn't necessarily be for me either. I suppose I'll wait for either more DLC for MS 2020 (if that ever happens) or to see what X-Plane 12 is like when it launches. It's the mostly affordable depth of DLC for FSX that makes me want to buy it. I can easily run any of those games on my system, but flying around in Cessnas and commercial airliners isn't so much what I'm looking for in a new sim. Thanks again for the info.

[JJ FSX]

It runs just fine on Windows 11, the more and faster the CPU cores the better.

AND I wrote a step by step guide!

IF you follow the steps to the letter, you will have a successful install the first try:

Here it is, everything you need to know to install it, with update info for Active Sky Next and the FSUICP utility users:

HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY INSTALL FSX FRESH on Windows 11 (and newer WIN 10 versions). With new requirements for users of ACTIVE SKY NEXT and the FSUICP utility.

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 and how to get a successful advanced install THE FIRST TRY!

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, and that your user account has administrator rights as you install FSX do the following steps:

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. Install FSX (DON"T INCLUDE any DLC at first, (uncheck boxes in STEAM) AND DONT RUN IT YET! Right After the install is complete do the following to get ahead of the second problem you will have if you don't deal with it up front.......

The second issue (black screen on first flight) is because of Win10 and Win11 deprecating DX9 (no longer included in the OS by default). So....

6. Run DXSETUP from the Steamworks Shared DirectX folder and it will either install DX9 (and any other missing components) or it will tell you it doesn't need to be installed. Locate at: (C:\Program Files(x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Steamworks Shared\_commonRedist\DirectX\June2010\DXSetup.exe)

On fresh OS's it WILL actually install, if your system already has it, it will simply tell you it's already installed.

7. Find FSX.exe, select it's properties/compatibility tab and make sure it is set it to "Run as Administrator", no need to set a compatibility mode.

8. Run FSX for the FIRST RUN. When it gets to the Menu, QUIT! (Exit) NOW! BEFORE starting any flight or changing any settings. Do this to avoid any "crash" so that that the initial creation of user folders and config data (fsx.cfg, scenery.cfg etc.) get finished and SAVED correctly.

ALWAYS REMEMBER: Changes you make to any FSX settings during any session only get saved when FSX successful EXITS. If it crashes after you have made settings changes but before a good "exit", your changes will NOT be saved.)

9. Restart FSX and go Fly! (or begin installing your DLC/Addons).

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.

NOW go get STEVES DX10 FIXER and install it (the payware version is only $12 now, but you can get a freeware version that corrects everything BUT freeware DX9 only aircraft models (FS2004 conversions) where textures will show only white or gray) without Steves payware, and then go ahead and turn on DX10 preview mode for better graphics AND performance.

Hope you all find this useful, Happy Flying!

JJ FSX

[Kronovan]

Originally posted by JJ FSX:

AND I wrote a step by step guide!

Nice guide !

Originally posted by ZDanimal:

...I've been looking at FSX for a long time on Steam, primarily because they have a TON of DLC aircraft from the 60's and 70's that I'd like to check out and the current $5 US sale made me decide to try and figure out if I could get it to run stably on an 11 install. I've also looked at the other two closely (X-Plane and FS 2020) but they don't have the depth of DLC of FSX. I've also looked at DCS but their DLC is insane and mostly a pure combat game so that wouldn't necessarily be for me either...

Well there's no arguing against the huge list of quality aircraft available for FSX. X-Plane 11 does have a good number available at this point, but it's lacking in the scenery and terrain department unless you're willing to invest in the pricey ORBX TrueEarth regions. MSFS 2020 at this point is the opposite; quality terrain for the most part (its earth spikes are annoying !) and loads of scenery with surprising number of airports - even seaplane bases. But the aircraft list is short and I can't fly my favorite bush planes like the Turbo Otter or the Stationair while running it.

I can't say I'd recommend DCS. I bought the Flaming Cliffs 3 DLC and much of the targeting for its A-10A Warthog is broken, while the developer Eagle Dynamics has shown zilch interest in fixing it. They seem to operate under the premise that if you want a Warthog that works for FC3, fork out the $ and buy their A-10C - no thanks. The DCS survey jets like the F-18 are really nice, but the price tags even when on sale are pricey. There's for sure lots of nice things about its realism like the flight models for the better jets and a good attention to detail like realistic start up procedures. The maps are the biggest problem for me - just a bit too small. They're certainly not ARMA3 tiny, but small none the less for a combat flight sim that features supersonic jets.

[shadowgravy]

My two main flight sims right now are FSX and the IL-2 Battle of Stalingrad series. I agree with what was said about DCS, as I have most of its WWII content, the F-86 Sabre, and the Las Vegas map. DCS is expensive and doesn't do single player well. It has its strengths but if I want to practice flying a P-51D by the book I have some great addons for FSX and P3Dv5 that let me do that just as well, at any location on earth. And if I want to go sightseeing I have MSFS 2020.

[ZDanimal]

Thanks everyone for the continuing flow of info and big thanks to JJ FSX for the uber detailed setup guide. I do have Il-2 Battle of Stalingrad and Cliffs of Dover and those are great games I admit. Rise of Flight is always good if you're looking for some zesty 100mph acrobatic dogfighting and looks pretty nice with everything cranked up. Game On my friends!!

[Erwin Rommel]

fly dx9 saves you 12 bucks on t STEVES DX10 FIXER
if ya realy addicted to graphics on a flightsim switch to fs2020

[susanmriley]

One additional thing to JJ FSX's guide that was required to get it working on my Windows 11 system. In the Display options, make sure to turn on DX 10 Preview, this was off by default for me. Once I turned this option on, FSX now runs reliably for me, where with this option off it was black-screening after hitting 'Fly Now'

[shadowgravy]

Probably just a matter of downloading legacy DX9. Microsoft no longer supports DX9 so I don't think it is on new PCs by default.

[susanmriley]

That is correct that DX9 is not on a new PC by default, but I did install it (Either JJ FSX's guide mentions this, or I found it somewhere else) and it did not fix the problem. FSX only runs correctly for me if I turn on the 'DX 10 Preview', then it runs great.