Installed program in XP Mode and no shortcut Windows 7

StevieM · 22 May 2011

Ok this is what you can do:-
On the first start of FSHot on XP you are asked to input the path to Flight Sim so it can pick up and register all the aircraft within the sim. I manually entered the path (before the file sharing) and it worked starting up FSHot.
This is where the problems start, when you boot Flight Sim when all software was on XP, FShot shows it is connected to the sim and also reads the FSUIPC version and displays the info on its front screen. However in windows 7 the booting of Flight Sim does not appear to be registered by FSHot although both programs are running happily all be it one in virtual XP the other in Win 7.
From this I can only assume there are some path registrys that require info to go from Win 7 (flight sim / fsuipc) to XP (FSHot).
The fact that both programs run correctly it can only be a path recognition problem ? Or am I being overly optimistic ?

severedsolo · 22 May 2011

That sounds promising. We may be in business here then.

Ok then:
From the XP virtual machine, open the shared FS directory. (the one which has your fs9.exe in it)
Click the address bar, and copy/paste the path into FsHot when it asks you for the path.
With a little bit of luck, it should then work. (fingers crossed)

StevieM · 23 May 2011

No luck

FSHotSFX runs under virtual XP and seems to recognise path to FS on Win7, reads all aircraft and adds lines into their config.

FS9 runs under Win7 but I cannot seem to get it to 'talk' to FSHotSFX on virtual, cannot seem to get the path right in FSUIPC. Path has been tested and opens ok.

FSHotSFX has the following text file and the lines highlighted seem the problem:-

5/23/2011 3:10:41 PM - FSHS_SYS
CPU: Intel Pentium
CPC: 1@3104 MHz
LDM: 40%
TRM: 511.5MB
ARM: 305.2MB
TVM: 2.00GB
AVM: 1.94GB
TPM: 1.22GB
APM: 1.06GB
OSP: Windows XP
OSV: 5.1
OSB: 2600
OSS: Service Pack 3
LAS: 1033
LAL: 1033
HSV: 1.1.61
CKS: DABDEF39DF87F35B01CEFA13940966A1
5/23/2011 3:10:41 PM - FSHS_DS1:C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\FSHotSFX\sound\splash.mp3/No Vendor Info Provided
5/23/2011 3:10:41 PM - FSHS_DS2:MPEG-I Stream Splitter/No Vendor Info Provided
5/23/2011 3:10:41 PM - FSHS_DS3:MPEG Layer-3 Decoder/No Vendor Info Provided
5/23/2011 3:10:41 PM - FSHS_DS4

efault DirectSound Device/No Vendor Info Provided
5/23/2011 3:10:41 PM - FSHS_Primary Sound Driver,Sound Blaster 16/44100:1/0:0/0
5/23/2011 3:10:41 PM - FSHS_FLT=C:\Documents and Settings\XPMUser\My Documents\Flight Simulator Files
5/23/2011 3:10:41 PM - FSHS_CFG=C:\Documents and Settings\XPMUser\Application Data\Microsoft\FS9\FS9.cfg
5/23/2011 3:10:41 PM - FSHS_FSPath \\tsclient\C\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Flight Simulator 9
5/23/2011 3:10:41 PM - FSHS_ObjOk
5/23/2011 3:10:41 PM - FSHS_MainOk
5/23/2011 3:10:43 PM - FSHS_IPCvr_3.99
5/23/2011 3:10:43 PM - FSHS_IPCty_Type+
5/23/2011 3:10:43 PM - FSHS_IPCra_10
5/23/2011 3:10:43 PM - FSHS_IPCsc_10
5/23/2011 3:10:43 PM - FSHS_ACFol:273
5/23/2011 3:16:14 PM - FSHS_AIRd:331.7 3/270/267
5/23/2011 3:16:14 PM - FSHS_AIOk
5/23/2011 3:16:14 PM - FSHS_InitOk
5/23/2011 3:16:14 PM - FSHS_LdTm
5/23/2011 3:16:15 PM - FSHS_IPCwrn_Cannot link to FSUIPC or WideClient (FSState=False)
5/23/2011 3:20:44 PM - FSHS_P0 R0 A0
5/23/2011 3:20:44 PM - FSHS_AGA:0/0
5/23/2011 3:20:44 PM - FSHS_CPX: 0
5/23/2011 3:20:44 PM - FSHS_-1

I can manually change them in this text document but I think a CFG file is overwritting them back to default shown above. I am not sure where they get their info from but on an old pc I had the paths differently so I can only assume that FSUIPC or the fact WIn 7 puts things in different locations is affecting this.

severedsolo · 23 May 2011

Ah, I didn't think of that. It's looking for the FS saves and data on the VM rather than the main machine. Ok we can fix this (I hope)

From Windows 7:
Open C:\Users\<Your Username>
Press Alt>Tools>Folder Options
From the view tab make sure that "Show Hidden Files and Folders" is selected.
Share Appdata (and all sub folders) and My Documents with the XP Machine (tutorial I linked to before)
Get the shared path for My Documents and AppData from the XP Machine,

From XP:
Open C:\Documents and Settings\XPMUser.
Again, check "SHow hidden files and folders" is enabled.
Right Click My Documents, then click "Properties"
Find "Location" and copy and paste the "My Documents" shared path.
Repeat for AppData.

Note

This will now cause ALL files/folders saved to My Documents or Appdata on either machine to be saved to the Windows 7 one. With Appdata this may/may not cause problems, (as 7 does it differently to XP) so just be warned.

Seriously, think about this carefully before doing it. I honestly have no idea what the effects will be of doing this. AppData in particular is worrying me, as XP has a different method. If you are using a XP Program that is looking for a XP path, Windows may not redirect it properly. In truth, I have no idea what will happen, but it may break some programs, although it is easily reversed.

StevieM · 23 May 2011

Ok now I'm worried, new pc cost fair amount of money that is not spare. I don't want to mess it up. Is it worth it for one piece of software ??

severedsolo · 23 May 2011

It won't break your PC, worst case scenario, you may have to just undo the XP bits, and delete the extra created folders.

I'm just pointing out to you the dangers and pitfalls. As you say, is it worth it for one piece of software?

I leave the decision in your hands, but it wouldn't sit right with me if I just said "yeah do this" without pointing out what could (potentially) go wrong.

This is new territory for me too, so I honestly have no idea whether it will work or not, or whether it will break anything, I'm just thinking ahead to a logical outcome.

Tepid · 23 May 2011

You might want to look into Symbolic Links and Junctions.
I have no idea if they will work, but that is what is redirectling Documents and Settings to Users in 7.

Just a thought.