FSX rig build process

[deeknow]

Hey lads. All parts for my new FSX+Win7/64 rig are finally in the house and I'm about to start the build. I couldnt find a thread here on build process specifically so if there is one let me know.

A key issue for me is this is the first time I've built a new rig and NOT upgraded MSFS at the same time. Consequently I need to restore or reinstall the hundreds of addons on my current rig to the new one with as little effort and config as possible.

So, after a decent backup of the old machine (inc installers and licence info/activations etc) the process I have in mind for the rebuild follows, let me know if I've missed anything important out..

1. install Win7 and let the windows update cycles complete
2. update hardware drivers (m/b, NVidia etc)
3. install an AV product
4. install DirectX9 and updates
5. install FSX and SP 1&2, run it up and check ok as default setup
6. install the payware or installer based addons
   * Aircraft, Scenery, Tools etc (too many to list
   (I guess I should restart FSX between installs to make sure its ok)
   restore the following folders from backup over the new base+payware FSX
   * Addon Modules
   * Addon Scenery
   * Effects
   * Gauges
   * Modules
   * Scenery/World/Scenery
   * SimObjects/Airplanes & Rotorcraft
   * Sound
   * Texture
7. manually activate the non-installer/payware based scenery (am not restoring the old scenery.cfg)

The drive letter and folder location on the new machine I'll be retaining so that file system path wont change. I'm not worried about saved flights, lessons, history, messages, missions etc so wasnt planning on restoring those.

Things I'm still wondering about...

* what have I missed in general
* should I be creating system restore points (or whatever they are in Win7) at various stages
* order of stuff, e.g. payware/installs vs manual
* complications of installing various installer based or comlex addons
* should I be doing product installs in small batches in between starts of FSX
* DirectX - will I have to explicitly disable/remove DX10 during or after the Win7 install?

[Dontcopy]

Don't forget to do a good defrag with something like Perfect disk
I personally have Windows restore off (because its saves space on my SSD) but that is up to you, I have never used it before.
Download the Windows 7 SP1 aswell, other than that, you should be fine.

[deeknow]

Cheers DNC, noted re SP for Win7, will download now.
Building on brand new optical HDDs so wont need a defrag but what do you suggest re drive formatting, sector sizes etc? (are a pair of 1TB disks)

[Nzeddy]

Don't install FSX into the programs file folder in the C drive.

[deeknow]

QUOTE (Nzeddy @ Sep 24 2011,4:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Don't install FSX into the programs file folder in the C drive.

Yep thanks Eddy, have two 1TB drives. One for FSX, the other for system and misc stuff.

progress report: PSU and motherboard are in the case, all cables terminated and tied off. Looking pretty tidy so far but ran out of light for today. CPU, cooler, GPU in the morning, and s/w intall thereafter. Not gonna be popular with her-indoors

[AndrewJamez]

QUOTE (deeknow @ Sep 24 2011,2:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Building on brand new optical HDDs so wont need a defrag but what do you suggest re drive formatting, sector sizes etc? (are a pair of 1TB disks)

I think there is a miscomunication here? If you are using optical drives you WILL NEED to defrag your dives most definately. Do not use windows utilitys to defrag as it will take an age and a half. The only drives you are not recommended to defrag are SSD drives and you have stated you are using 2 X 1Terabyte optical drives.

There are countless free HDD defraging tools that taka a fraction of the time copared to the windows defrager.

[deeknow]

QUOTE (AndrewJamez @ Sep 24 2011,7:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think there is a miscomunication here?

yeah there is, maybe you didn't notice I said theyre brand new, as in not formatted, no need to defrag

[deeknow]

QUOTE

yeah there is, maybe you didn't notice I said theyre brand new, as in not formatted, no need to defrag[/quote]
Sorry man, should of clarified. install all your programs onto the drive, then do a defrag, you will find it is heavily fragmented.

[deeknow]

Gotcha DNC, good call, so the install/tmp files leave lots of holes I guess? good stuff, noted.
BTW, re drive formatting I'm new to Windows7 so would like any input yaz might like to share. Was reading the following post at simforums which suggests 4K blocks for the OS drive and 64K for the 2nd FSX drive with the corresponding loss in overall space balanced against performance I guess. Whadyaz reckon?
http://www.simforums.com/forums/topic34141...187.html#198187

[Dontcopy]

I suppose it is up to you, I doubt it would really make a difference. I just left it as default since my disks came pre-formatted.

[deeknow]

Ruddy hell, installed Win7 last night, selected the drive I wanted it to install to, then it went ahead and installed windows on that drive but dumped the 100MB boot/bitlocker partion on the other one, gaaaahhhhh !!!!!

So now I think I'll unplug the second drive, and reinstall Win7 from DVD so it will hopefully place the 100MB partition at the front of that, and windows after it. Then I hope I can trash the 100MB partition from the previous install thats still on the second drive so I can use it entirely for FSX.

[Dontcopy]

Good luck mate, Windows is a pig of a thing

[deeknow]

Reinstalled Win7 and trashed the boot volume on the 2nd drive and all tickety-boo now much to my relief. FSX is up and running and still installing stuff into that. Jeeze lots to do...

Here's a pic of the fully assembled case, the Coolermaster HAF912 was a dream to work with, and the modular PSUs certainly help keep things tidy. Almost sad its all over now, h/w builds are a lot of fun to research and complete

Some more pics here

[Airtrainer]

Looks good, you have some similiar components there to what I plan on using for my build. Though I'm slowly buying things bit by bit. Looking forward to seeing what the GTX 560Ti produces as far as results with FSX.