wobbie

Best of luck. We all hoping it will come right for you.

Habit, I suppose..but it still works (for me).

Hi Mark, My laptop has both internal AMD Radeon graphics as well as a GeForce RTX 3050 GPU. My FS2004 Golden Wings I run using the internal AMD GPU & my FS2004 Silver Wings version I run using the RTX 3050 GPU. Both run perfectly, 2 years with this configuration. As I said, for me, and the payware & freeware add-ons I use, I have no issues at all. Like you, I have an Updated Windows 11. As you say, others may have different ideas & results. For me, running in compatibility mode has no issues.

A registry problem mainly with payware add-ons, but a Registry Repair Tool from Flight1.com - Flight Simulator Add-ons for FSX and Prepar3D will sort it out. I'm running 2x versions of FS2004 & P3D from a 2TB portable drive, as my laptop's SSD is only 500GB. I also have a spare 'vanilla' FS2004 install on the drive for backups, and also if I decide to have another install. For possible Registry issues, as some installations look for FS2004's default install, I have a FS2004 install in it's default install folder, with ONLY the FS9.exe in it, nothing else. Then I just copy & paste from there, to my D:\ drive, where the sims actually sit. So far, I've been running the sims of the portable drive, thats permanently plugged in to my laptop, for 2 years, now, with no issues at all, maybe a very slight delay in selecting planes or scenery.

??? Mark, a very NOT updated Windows for it to work? My Windows 11 is very much updated, on a weekly basis, & my FS2004 (& my Golden Wings version) work perfectly, subject to the usual caveats, such as.. NOT installing in it's default C:\Program Files folder Having the 9.1 update & patch installed and for me, running it in XP compatibility mode, and as Administrator. Just a thought!! If you still have FS2004 installed, even if it's not working!! Can you try install the 9.1 patch & the 9.1 crack? Try to copy the whole FS2004 folder FROM it's C:\Program Files directory, and paste it just in C:\

Maybe try install the FS9.1 update & the 9.1 patch. This should have been done years ago. That, at least will let the sim start without CD4. Instead of uninstalling & reinstalling, and deleting everything, all you have to do is to delete the fs9.cfg & then restart the sim. When in doubt, 1st thing to do is to delete the FS9.cfg The above sorts out 95% of issues. Oh, & Fs9 works very well, in fact perfectly with Windows 11. The usual caveats apply though.

Interesting that many are saying that they will buy FS2024 without hesitation, sight unseen, not knowing what the minimum specs are.. The search for the Holy Grail continues... Me? I've tried it. Yes, it is 'realistic' from a Google Earth's point of view.. eye candy et al.. But the cost of hardware to get it going!! Anyway, For me, the immersion factor is so much greater than the realistic factor that FS2020 claims. Can I fly my favourite low's 'n slow's, Can I have fun with 'fictitious' planes & scenery? --- Of course not. A very famous freeware developer & painter (now departed) always said.. "Simming is all about Fun, Fact & Fiction!" So, as the original poster says.. 'FS2020 is of no use to me!' For some, yes, but me? 'Nope!'

And it runs super smooth in Windows 11!

Mmmm interesting indeed. Sorry, I'm a bit of a late-comer, my thoughts... I obviously read, with great interest, the Questionnaire, and I've decided to just give my feelings on what has been suggested. The major point is how to differentiate between yourselves, and any other VA/club out there. Some valid points have been raised, & maybe I'm playing Devil's Advocate here. I'm a very long-time simmer, and I'm also scenery & aircraft beta tester for a couple of developers that still support FS2004. My story is as follows.. (I'll get to my VA/club thoughts shortly) There are many VA/clubs out there, all offering very similar features. Airfield bases, hubs, fleet & so on. To be honest, I did get a bit bored flying the usual point to point routes & for a long time, I lost interest in simming, because everything was basically the same. This is NOT an advert, but finding a new, for me, site with scenery & paints really got me interested in simming again. For me, things HAVE to be interesting, & my interest long ago moved from the 'Bus's & Boeings to the low's & slow's, VFR flying instead of IFR. So, this is where I've ended up with FS2004., which is probably unique, as you can multiple different themed installs. All my major stuff is freeware, & I had different installs for Golden Wings, Ford Tri-Motor Project, Space (yes, even with space scenery & spaceships, a Vintage install, (pre GW era) a heritage install (WWII) and then a 'normal' install. My favourite is my Alaska install, with Return to Misty Moorings & Tongass Fjords scenery, all populated with suitable aircraft. So, this is what I'm getting at..My flying, for me, has to be different from the usual, and maybe that is what I'm looking for in a VA/club. AS I'm writing this, my thoughts are slowly coming together.. The late Garry Smith, developer of The Ford Tri-Motor Project & texture painter of hundreds of aircraft, said that simming is all about Fun, Facts & Fiction. So, being Devil's Advocate again, why not try something different.. For those that do not know The Ford Tri-Motor Project site, have a look. There is a whole new universe out there that could be fun to explore, with very different scenery, including sloping runways. There can be many interesting flights there, with a vast range of different sceneries. Also, exploring Alaska, with Misty Moorings, could be fun, with bush flying, & very different sceneries. Sorry to rock the boat, and to throw a couple of ideas out there.. Maybe a good idea would be to have a 'Clubhouse' home base with satellite airfields. Anyway, that's just me with my thoughts & feelings about what maybe I would prefer in a VA/club,

Nope, FS2004 scenery does NOT work for FSX. FS2004 has a flat world, whereas FSX has a spherical one. (or visa versa), amongst other things. Different mesh & landclass.

Thanks, from me. It's great to have a collection of old Italian stuff.

How real can we get? Using gaming joysticks, sometimes yoke & pedals, on a 14-20' screen? We built a Avro Shackleton simulator on a trailer, using actual seats, yoke, pedals & throttle quad, with a screen in the cockpit & a projector for the scenery. All using FS2004 with a payware Avro Shackleton add-on, with freeware South African scenery. The PC was Windows 7 with onboard graphics. Re realized that it was the Immersion factor that was more important than realism, when we saw real pilots 'bump' in the seats when anticipating touchdown. So, the Real Deal? It's all about the immersion factor, and that works for any aircraft, even boats & cars, in FS2004.

I use Plan-G & LittleNavMap. Both are free & LittleNavMap is very detailed. Plan-G - Plan-G v4 Alex Projects - Little Navmap (albar965.github.io) No need for FSTranp at all.

As a great FS2004 developer once said.. Simming is all about Fun, Facts & Fiction..! That retro look is actually quite nice. It's no secret that I love, & have quite a few themed installs of FS2004. Now imagine flying in that retro scenery!! I'll be happy even with a retro city or airport.. Flying Blimps & other steampunk planes.

Yep, FS2004 rocks...