Simviation Forum - Running FSX off an ExHD

Feb 21^st, 2013 at 9:44am

U4EA Offline
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I looked around a bit but couldn't find a definitive how-to, so I hafta ask the smart folks around these parts.

(plus, we're looking at a snow day so I have a bit of freetime today)

I would like to see if someone could give me a hint or two, or guide me to a tutorial if there is one, on how to run FSX off of an ExHD.

After quite a long time putting up with PC maladies, I finally have a new internal HD, new graphics card, power supply, etc.....basically gutted the old stuff and finally got things back to the way they were.

But I would like to run FSX off a 500GB ExHD and need a bit of guidance to effect this change the first time around instead of thinking I'm smarter than this silly PC and pretty much screwing it up at some point during the process.

If I did miss a tutorial somewhere I apologize. In that event, could someone steer me in the right direction?

Thanx in advance for any assist! It's very nice having a lot of smart people to ask for help!

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Reply #1 - Feb 21^st, 2013 at 12:32pm

OldAirmail Offline
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I suspect that you're talking about an external hard drive?

Next I would assume (often a bad thing to do) that you have an internal HD?

Me, I would use the external as a backup drive. That way if you need to restore your system you've got it made. Have problems with your flight sim? No problem, just restore it from the backup drive.

But that's me. Why do you want to set it up that way? It would help if we knew.

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Reply #2 - Feb 21^st, 2013 at 6:24pm

U4EA Offline
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I do have a brand-new 2TB internal HD, and have an external 1TB HD that I use for backup(s). But I seem to recall seeing some posts about running FSX off of an external HD and was curious what, if any, advantages there are.

My new internal is perfectly awesome in and of itself, and operates at blinding speeds, but my biggest curiosity is that if I have something like a 500GB external that has nothing but FSX on it, does that have any advantage?

I'd sorta think that an 'uncluttered' drive containing only FSX would possibly help the sim run a bit better, but that may be my noob showing. Huh

I have a Western Digital 500GB ExHD that I won in a raffle and was thinking on using it to run FSX.

Is it possible to run FSX off an external drive?

Thanx in advance for any advice!

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Reply #3 - Feb 21^st, 2013 at 7:45pm

CHUCK79 Offline
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FSX must be installed on a bootable harddrive. It won't install or run on an external HD as far as I know Wink

"Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth and danced the skies on laughter silvered wings. Sunward I've climbed and joined the tumbling mirth of sun split clouds.....and done a hundred things you have never dreamed of.....wheeled and soared and swung high in the sunlit silence. Hovering there, I've chased the shouting wind along and flung my eager craft through footless halls of air.

Up, up the long, delerious, burning blue I've topped the wind swept heights with easy grace where never Lark, nor even Eagle flew. While with silent lifting of mind I've trod the high untrespassed sanctity of space, put out my hand and touched the face of god"

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Reply #4 - Feb 21^st, 2013 at 8:44pm

FoMoCo63 Offline
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Trying to run FSX thru a USB connection would prove to be a very slow performing FSX, you would be very unhappy with the reults I would imagine.
Possibly a external SATA, or SSD, with a USB 3.0 may be fast enough, trial and error.

I don't think much of a man that doesn't learn something new everyday.

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Reply #5 - Feb 21^st, 2013 at 10:43pm

U4EA Offline
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Thanx Chuck and FoMo!

Never thought of the bootable drive aspect, and definitely never thought of the "throttling" aspect that a USB connection would pose.

I appreciate the help! Was just thinking of this on the way to work the other day as something to do with my raffle prize.

In all actuality, after having a potfull of PC maladies over the last couple months, and overcoming them one or two at a time, things run and look the best they ever have.

Still tweekin' a bit though.....was hoping to have it all operating well enough to get a shot into the new screenie contest but I'll hafta catch the next one.....it's sorta like wrenching on a hotrod. It's oh-so-close, but not quite there just yet.

Thanx again for the replies! Cool

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Reply #6 - Feb 23^rd, 2013 at 4:37pm

gee Offline
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Hello,

I have my FSX on an HP external drive and it works great. I used to have FSX on the internal HD in my Dell computer with Windows 7 Home Premium. But after reformatting the drive I decided to put FSX on an external drive, just in case the internal drive needs formatting again and I don't want to go through the hassle of reinstalling FSX and all the addons again. As for speed, there is no difference if FSX is on the internal HD or the external HD. Hope this helps anyone thinking of putting FSX on an external HD.

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Reply #7 - Feb 24^th, 2013 at 12:01am

U4EA Offline
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Thanx for the insight! I'm gonna try it and see how, or if, it works. I'm gonna do a copy from the internal to the external as opposed to doing a from-the-disk install.

If it doesn't work, then all I've lost is just a bit of time doing the C&P.

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Reply #8 - Feb 24^th, 2013 at 7:47am

Bass Offline
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Its ok to copy FSX folder to another folder/drive, and then change the sortcut. But if you somehow, in the future, gets serious problems that need a reinstall, you have to do it on the bootable HD.

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Reply #9 - Feb 24^th, 2013 at 8:44am

RAFSB Offline
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I'm running FSX on my external hard drive and have no problems at all.
Just make sure that your shortcut points to the external hard drive.
Oh and I installed it from the disc. Just make sure you change the directory from "C" drive to the external drive.

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