Ok - looks like people would like a page on my site explaining how to install these zip files... not a problem..
(Note to any pro's reading this...
I know that this isn't the best method, but I just put this in quick as I didn't feel like writing a book or scaring newcomers...)
First thing I usually do is that I create a directory completely aside from
the FlightSim98 stuff... an example would be C:\FSZIPS. This is done just to have
a separate storage area of the files you download, in the event you corrupt one
during an install into the game.
In this directory I have subdirectories for everything that I download.
I have one subdirectory for aircraft, one for panels, one for scenery and one for utilities.
0.) First of all, make sure you have downloaded and installed the FS98
Converter from the Microsoft Site or another reliable site.
Then, after it's installed, download the aircraft zip file you want from my site...
1.) Whenever I download a zip file for an aircraft, I save it in a separate aircraft subdirectory, or C:/FSZIPS/Aircraft.
2.) The next step is to remember the name of the file you downloaded there.
Let's say I downloaded an aircraft file called "arrow.zip" I saved it in
the Aircraft subdirectory cause it's an aircraft zip file.
3.) The next step is to now go into the Flightsim 98 Game directories and
do the installation of the aircraft. The game is (usually) installed in
C:/Program Files / Microsoft Games/Flight Simulator directory.
(Under the Windows Explorer utility, the full directory names will show up. Under the
File Manager utility, the game shows up under the following root
directory
C:/Progra~1/Micros~3/Flight~1/Aircraft
due to File Manager allowing a max 8 character filenames...
Under the Flight Simulator directory, you will notice a `NEW' directory called
`Aircraft'. Hence we now have a directory root tree being
` C:/Program Files /Microsoft Games/Flight Simulator/Aircraft ' .
4.) In THIS directory, create a directory of the SAME NAME as
the zip file (not including the `.zip' extension)
you just
downloaded. The directory tree is now;
` C:/Program Files /Microsoft Games/Flight Simulator/Aircraft/arrow ' .
5.) Ok - Now - unzip the aircraft zip file you just downloaded (for
example, `arrow.zip'), and read the internal readme.txt file to see where to
extract the files to. Usually you extract all files to the one new
aircraft directory in the game... sometimes though it's abit harder and you
have to separate files to even lower level subdirectories...
Confused yet? Well, just remember to READ the README.TXT or the
instruction document that comes with each zip file you download...
6.) Extract all the files of the downloaded zip file to the new
subdirectory in the aircraft directory of the game
(being the `arrow' directory in this example.
7.) When all the files are showing in the newly created directory in the
game, THEN start up the FlightSIM 98 Converter and lead it to THIS
location.... not where you downloaded the zip to.
8.) The aircraft files have to be in here and converted here so the game
can find them and install them, otherwise it won't realize you have a new
plane if the files aren't within this spot of the game.
9.) After you use the FS98 converter on this directory
you sometimes find that it created a whole new directory
and folder for the aircraft - having subfolders in it of model
plane, sound and texture. If this occurs, then you can erase
the directory you unzipped the files to under the Aircraft
directory of Fltsim 98. (Hope this isn't too confusing...)
10.) That should do it - restart the game and the plane should be there.
Note though that the more aircraft you load in, the longer it takes to
select a new aircraft... small price to pay for getting to fly your dreams
though!
11.) Advanced note - you can change panels, textures and alot of other
things doing this method - be careful though as once you screw up standard
files for one type of aircraft (ie - heavy aircraft jet panels), they will screw them ALL up...)
Also note that with some zip files you have to even put a scenery, panel,
texture and other subdirectry under the new aircraft directory, and place
each file within the zip file in their appropriate directories... which is
basically what the FS98 converter does...
If it still doesn't install, you may need the regular FSConverter... not the FS98 Converter...it can be gotten at the Microsoft site as well I believe...
Ok - hope all goes well and let me know if it finally works.
Take care and talk to you later.
Reeko-man