Hi, maybe it’s too beginner’s question. I have searched the forum and I have seen related topics, but it is not entirely clear to me. I have done a clean install on a secondary drive of the simulator. I install it from the XBOX application and I see that at the root of the hard drive where I install it, it adds three folders: Program Files, WindowsApps and WpSystem. I’m a neat freak and those folders there… Some of them can’t even be entered. And, I understand, that I should not delete them. This is normal? Do we have to live with those folders at the root of the hard drive where we installed the browser? On the other hand, both the game launcher from the XBOX application and the necessary content of the game whose path it asks you for the first time you start the simulator I selected to be installed inside a folder that I called FS2020 inside that secondary drive in the one I want to be installed. Am I sure that nothing is installed on any other drive? I’m worried about other things being installed on my primary hard drive, which I have the OS on, since it’s a low space M.2 that I only want to have Windows installed on. Thank you very much for your help.
If you install a store or Xbox app on a drive other than the system drive, these folders are always created.
With MSFS its better to let the store portion of the sim install in the default store location on the system drive ( only a couple of GB), then, when you launch the sim, it will prompt you as to where you want the main files to be saved. In my case, i have created E:\MSFS\ so i point it at that folder. This is where the files are stored (170+ GB etc).
Many thanks. You help me very much. You’re very kind. I’ve had the sim for a while, but it’s now that I’m getting into it and I’m really excited. Cheers
For MS Store version:
FS2020 always installs itself on the boot (where Windows is installed) drive.
And installs the FS2020 files (Installed Packages = ~ 270GB) on the boot drive.
-
Unless you tell it to install FS2020 on another drive/folder in which it will
install Symbolic Link folders on your boot drive. -
You move FS2020 via the FS2020 app “move” command.
Reference:
Thank you very much for your help.
Sorry, again. One more question. I read somewhere that those folders that are created when installing the simulator: Program Files, WindowsApps and WpSystem are hidden. But, in my case, they are visible, even though I have the option to show hidden items disabled in Windows. Should they really be hidden? Thanks.
On my boot drive, C:\Program Files]Windows Apps.
WpSystem is not hidden. On my D: drive as D:\WpSystem.
Thank you very much
They are only hidden on the system drive as that is the default location of all windows store apps. When you move an app (any app, not only MSFS) to another drive the folder will be visible.
The FS2020 app on C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\ is so small
that it doesn’t make any useful purpose in moving it.
But, move it and then try to run FS2020.
Supposedly, it will not run.
But, you will need to give yourself permission to access it to move it.
Why go to all the trouble?
Thats exactly what i have said in my earlier post.
You cannot move apps using file explorer, there is a process for relocating windows Store Apps using the UI, and this will manage all of tge permissions etc, but as we have both said, there is little point as the take upnsuch a smapp amount of space.
If you do want to change the location of a Windows Store app….
Change Microsoft Store Apps Install Location
- Go to the Settings app and navigate to System > Storage.
- Under the More Storage Settings heading click on the link that says Change where new content is saved .
- Click on the drop-down menu under New apps will save to and select the drive where you would like new apps from the…
- Click Apply to bring the changes to effect. While you’re here, you may also want to change the default download location…
Thanks you.