V. Serious problem with FlyByWire install

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1

Not sure if this is the best place for this cry for help, so forgive me if I got it wrong.

Been using the FlyByWire A320 quite a lot last couple of months with no problems.

SO: This morning (12 April) I went to update my Experimental version of the A32NX. As I have done on numerous occasions before, I deleted the folder from the community first then do a fresh install.

But today was refusing to work (I use the installer). It downloaded the necessary, but then told me “Failed To Install”. So I tried again. And again. Same every time. Hmmmm. No problem I thought… I have a back-up that I made from the day after installing the latest ‘standalone’ version. Popped it into the community folder, then run the installer to do the update. Installer now informs me that it is “Not Installed” ?? So I selected the ‘Install’ button. It appeared to download the files, but then nothing!

So I pop along to the website and download the Xperimental version manually and then put that into the community folder. The files are all appearing correctly in the community folder, and the installer now informs me that it is indeed installed. So I breathe a sigh of relief and run FS. But the FBW is nowhere to be seen!

Long(er) story short, I have now tried 3 back-ups that I have - the standalone and 2 earlier MOD back-ups. I have downloaded all 3 versions manually and tried them. I have un-installed the installer and re-installed it and tried that several times on all 3 versions. Sometimes it shows as being installed, sometimes its just informs me of an ‘Error’ (no messages or numbers etc).

Could this be me doing something wrong (its not like I haven’t done it numerous times before!) ?
Could it be some kind of problem with the FBW install files?
Could it be something wrong with MSFS - YES would be my best guess here, although it was all working just fine yesterday. I have in no way applied any updates to FS for a while now, and the only changes I have made in settings was to tinker with some volume settings yesterday (and all was still working fine afterwards)

To really upset me, I have just paid out £165 on the Thrustmaster Airbus sidestick & throttle quadrant, spent 2 days setting them up and sorting out some minor problems, but have not yet actually used it on a flight!

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated, so many thanks in advance.
Glenn

2

So when you start the sim and look to your aircraft list.
Do you see the FlyByWire Simulations A320neo (LEAP) as a standalone aircraft?

Or do you only see the default Airbus A320?

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Only the bog standard ASOBO version.

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The aircraft are listed in alphabetical order, so this is under “F” for FlyByWire, and further along than the default A320 (which is now also present).

Presumably you have downloaded the new installer, and not used the original one (from before the update) as this is now obsolete.

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Hello @GlennAir1953,

I moved your topic to #third-party-addon-discussion:aircraft because your issue is about 3rd party content.

The #community:general-discussion-feedback category is the place for general MSFS-related discussion and feedback, so your post doesn´t fit there.

Thank you and stay healthy!

6

Nothing under ‘F’ (or any other place in the list). In the ‘Hanger’ (Airliners) all that shows is the default A320 and the 2 Boeings - 747 & 787.

The installer was updated at time of the standalone and has been succesfully used several times since. However, as I mentioned above, today I did un-install it and re-install it from the website just to be sure. Made no difference!

Unfortunatel, I have to run an errand shortly, so may be away from the PC for couple of hours.

Glenn

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Something else that occured to me - It may be worthwhile checking that you do not have any of the old A320nx mod liveries in the Community folder, as these may cause a problem with the new version.

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Try this:

  • Remove ALL mods from your community folder.
  • Launch the sim.
  • Once loaded to the menu, exit the sim.
  • Run the FBW installer to install whichever version you want, then launch the sim again.

If it works, then either you had a previous/discontinued version of the FBW A320 sitting in your Community folder, OR you had another mod in your Community folder that was conflicting with it… in which case, you’d need to add them back in one at a time to reveal the one causing the issue.

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And if @ChiefSniper08 s’ suggestion didn’t work. Try reinstall the installer itself.

1 Like
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Well, thanks for those replies. My community folder is actually quite sparse. 99% is all default aircraft plus the Cessna Longitude and the Working Title CJ4 (plus some Navigraph bits and the Rolling Cache). I have double checked and there in nothing else even remotely connected with the FBW. The Installer has now been un-installed and re-installed 3 times today. The PC has been re-booted more times than I can count (fortunately I have the OS on a 1TB NVME drive and it boots up in around 20 seconds).

There is over 600 GB free space on the C: drive. All of my FS2020 is installed on a separate 1TB NVME drive (nothing else, FS only) and the is more than 525 GB free space on that.

In desperation, I downloaded a completely different airplane, picked at random on flightsim.to (just happened to be an A330). Popped it in the community folder and… that doesn’t work either! I might try another one later but I have a feeling the result will be the same. Therefore, I am now 99.9% convinced the fault somehow lies with FS2020… or does it? I have been trying to check all the community folders properties etc but as of the moment I can see nothing out of place.

Re-Install MSFS202? Format my E: drive first? I.m not quite sure how to go about such a task at the moment. By the way, it was not installed through Steam. Think I done it through Microsoft store (at least it shows up in there). But I can’t find any serial numbers or whatever might be required to re-install it.

The saga continues…

Glenn

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Does any default aircraft work? (the A330s don’t work anyway, since we separated the A32NX).

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Here’s is a very quick update that has me even more baffled. I just opened the MS Store so as to double check for any updates… and FS has disappeared from the list!!! It was there yesterday. Yet I am still able to run it from a shortcut on my desktop…!!!

Yes defaults all seem to be working OK…

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My well-founded (:wink:) statement is: There’s something strange going on with your installation.

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14

That about sums it up!

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I am unable to find anything worthwhile on Google or any of the forums. I am now starting to think that maybe it’s time to write off the £110 I paid for MSFS plus the £165 I paid for the Thrustmaster kit and just call it a day. This whole FS stuff is slowly dragging me down with all it’s problems. Lots of posts on Google confirm there are problems with MS Store, but none are able to suggest a fix. I’m not usually a one for giving up easily, but constantly banging my head against a wall is starting to hurt!

16

This is how it is with this hobby. With x-plane I was also constantly tweaking and updating addons. You have to be a hobbyist and willing to get your hands dirty with flight sim. For some reason it is different from other game categories.

If you just want to run the game and fly, you probably should stick to a no addon game.

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Well, the good news is that I refused to give up and now I have the FlyByWire A320 back and in working order.

First, I zipped (7 zip) up the entire contents of the community folder onto the desktop. Then deleted the community folder and all of it’s contents. I fired up FS and rebuilt the rolling cache which automatically made a new community folder. Then I run the FBW installer, and HEY PRESTO! it worked/ I haven’t yet restored the rest of the contents - I’ll do that later, one at a time.

Have not yet been able to solve the fact that FS is still missing from the MS Store list of installed app’s - I guess that means that I won’t be able to install any updates now? A Google search reveals that there are indeed problems with the store app, but so far I am unable to find a solution.

I’m not doing anymore today. It’s been a long day, my butt is starting to tingle and there’s a big hole in my face wants feeding.

Many, many thanks to everyone for tips and suggestions

Glenn.

18

Good morning. Just to point out: some of us don’t understand all your ‘technical jargon’. Can you dumb it down for us? Thanks:)

1 Like
19

Not sure which part you have trouble with. There is not really much ‘technical’ jargon in there. FS = Flight Simulator. MS = MicroSoft. FBW = FlyByWire (the name of the group that are working on a version of the Airbus A320). The FBW installer is a simple small app downloaded from the website that takes care of installing any one of 3 versions of the plane, plus it takes care of regular updates. The ‘Thrustmaster kit’ is a combination joystick (known as a sidestick) and the throttle quadrant.

If you would care to point out which jargon bits you are struggling with, then I will be more than happy to break it down and explain in more detail.

Glenn

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So sorry about that. I was kidding re: Watsi01’s post. Normally, I can resist, but his post was too much for me. Please accept my apologies.