I’ve tried to install MSFS2020 Standard from the set of discs (bought from Amazon). Got an error message which after reading on the forums suggests get new discs. I contacted both Amazon and Aerosoft and both sent me new discs.
Error message again, albeit further along this time, but still on disc 1.
Should I just send them back for a refund and try an online download? If so, which site should I buy from and how long roughly does it take to download and install? (I understand different internet speeds will be a factor).
The disc version is extremely outdated. It is basically version 1.0 of the sim released in August of 2020, so even if you succeeded in installing it, you would basically have to download all of the sim content anyway to bring it up to date, so you would be better off going with the download version right from the beginning and get a refund for the discs.
I suspect you have a problem with your computer’s DVD drive if two different sets of discs from two vendors both fail.
personally i recommend the steam version. it’s a little more straightforward for installing addons like airports and planes but other than that there’s no difference over the MS Store version
As far as how long it takes to download, it really does depend on your internet speeds and how good your storage is. Someone with a fast NVME and a gigabit internet connection can probably knock out the initial download in about two hours assuming no issues during the download and install, not counting world updates. Less powerful systems and internet have been known to take a day or two to complete.
I’d echo the bad ROM theory, if you are getting CRC errors then the data being read and the data being written do not much, meaning it’s a bad read/write.
Given 2 sets of Media, I’d suspect your ROM is bad. It COULD also be a failing HDD, but if you aren’t seeing any other issues, I’d start with your ROM.
Either send the discs back and get it via Steam (as mentioned you are going to have to re-download the entire updated SIM anyway) or get a new ROM.
The download speed will depend on your ISP and the load on the Microsoft servers. It’s kind of a moot point, because the disc version is so old, you would have to basically replace all of the sim content anyway. Plus, the disc version requires you to have disc 1 in your DVD drive whenever you launch it.
I would recommend getting it from Steam rather than from the MS store.
I would also send back the Discs. There is no point having physical disc: you can‘t really play the sim offline anyway and as others already mentioned - the disc version is 1.0. you have to re download the actual sim anyway (you know there are 3 years of constant updates between the disc version and the current sim version)
AND: DEFINITELY go with the STEAM version. The MS store app and all surrounding infrastructure ist quite bad and is known for making all kind of troubles, especially during updates.
And it was already mentioned: the addon handling, most importantly the folder locations, are much better via steam. With the MS store version there are areas of the sim you can‘t access as normal user, this limitation does not exist with the steam version.
[edit]: and yes, check your disc drive, it seems to be either dirty or going bad. CRC (cyclic redundancy check) errors hints that the PC can‘t read data without data errors from the disc.
Hi there, I have the box version too.
With the box version you get the license key. Try give this to the Microsoft store, which you can open in windows. If it is acceptable there, you can download the FS2020 latest version over the store.
For me installing from the disks took me about 4h and you have to stay at your PC for changing the disk. Loading the installation over the Store, it will do this automatically. No matter how long it takes, have some fun with other things or do it over night.
I don’t know why to have disk one loaded, because the license will be check over the MS Store. Aerosoft did say its because of MS, so they can’t change that. However, normally I have no dvd drive installed like many modern pc or laptops. So take disk one as image on a hard drive and start it with windows automatically as a virtual drive. That will be without problems.
Good luck.
Regards
Ralf
Well, everybody has an opinion so here’s mine. I got MSFS from the MS store about two months after the introduction and installed on a new system I built for the sim. Very modest specs, Ryzen 3800X and 5700XT, with 32 MB memory and a 250 Mbs internet connection. I’ve never had a CTD or a problem downloading. All is installed in the default locations. Just wanted you to know, despite the recommendations for Steam, some of us have had great performance from the MS store version.
it’s not so much a matter of difference in performance. They’re otherwise the exact same game. The reason why steam is recommended is because the way the MS Store installs MSFS is not the most efficient; as mentioned earlier, MS Store writes part of the game normally inaccessible to the user where as the steam version is a much more straightforward installation. This not only makes it easier to install addons but there are less reported issues when there are updates.
Of course not everyone gets these issues and about half the time it’s an ESBKAC or ID10-T error
I am currently redownloading from th ms store. I have been trying for a few days now. I have had this since it came out. I deleted it when I downloaded 2024 thinking I would need a lot of disc space. I have gotten it to install and then have a CTD everytime I hit the fly button in free flight. 2024 with all the bugs, is working great, but I can not get 2020 back on my system. I have PMDG planes I want to fly in order to make my quotas on virtual airlines I am part off. I cant do it. 2020 will not reinstall.
