Registry entries for MSTS

[geekman]

Hi Folks,

My computer is 2 years old and it's time to do a clean re-install of my Windows 7 OS. And yes, it does need doing. My question is this: What effect on the program do the MSTS registry entries have? I have MSTS installed on my "J" drive and all my mini routes are on my "k" drive. If I reformat and re-install my OS, will I also have to reinstall MSTS? I realize most of my programs like Office, and such will need reinstalling, but since my Mini-Routes all work fine while being moved away from all Registry information, couldn't the main program act the same i.e, without reference to registry entries?

Guess I could try it and see. Wouldn't take that long to re-install it along with every thing else!

[BNSF1959]

Why do you need to re-install Window 7 on your PC? Do you have a corrupted system or a bad virus that is hard to get rid of? Is your PC all cluttered up or something? I have never re-install Windows on my PC unless I really have to. Same for my laptop with Virus since 2007 and my desktop with XP Pro since 2008.

[EricF]

Yes, MSTS needs its registry entries to work, even for mini-routes. The main path is stored there and all the settings options are stored in the Registry. That's why your mini-routes and main MSTS install will share the same graphics and sound slider settings. That being said, the MSTS Registry entry is pretty simple, and can even be backed up in a single .reg file which you can import back later if something goes wrong. The specific key is "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Microso ft Games\Train Simulator" and all of its subkeys in that branch. The application path and it's basic descriptors are in the "1.0" subkey, and the settings are stored in a child subkey of "1.0" that's named "HWRenderer".

If you have a perfectly functional and customized MSTS, you could back up your entire mini-route and main "Train Simulator" folders, then after reformatting the computer install MSTS from your CD's and then overwrite it with your backup. Afterwards, just reinstall any MSTS utilities you need, like Route Riter, Shape Viewer. Train Store, etc. This will work, even if you decide to move your main "Train Simulator" directory to a different place. Once the Registry entry is made, MSTS doesn't care where the contents of the "Train Simulator" came from; they just have to be where the Registry says they are. Remember to set the MSTS options pages sliders where you want after the reinstall -- they will be at their default settings even if you restore your MSTS files from backup, because they're defined in the Registry.

It's a little trickier if you want to preserve your "J" drive and reinstall. You might want to disconnect that drive and let some other drive be a "stand-in" on the same drive letter for the reinstall, then reconnect and re-assign "J" to the correct drive afterward. The Registry will then point to your original MSTS folder, no backup needed.

If you are comfortable working with the Registry, you can back up the entire MSTS entry in a .reg file, and just add it back after re-installing Windows. It will still point to your MSTS installation that's still on the "J" drive. If done correctly, the only thing that may go missing is the Add/Remove Programs entry for MSTS. This doesn't work for every application -- modern applications have dependencies and compex Registry structures. MSTS is very simple, though, as far as the Registry goes.

[Vince]

The Win7 MSTS registry locations are in a different location(s?) than XP

[geekman]

Why do you need to re-install Window 7 on your PC? Do you have a corrupted system or a bad virus that is hard to get rid of? Is your PC all cluttered up or something? I have never re-install Windows on my PC unless I really have to. Same for my laptop with Virus since 2007 and my desktop with XP Pro since 2008.

I continually try out new programs (utilities) to see how well they perform and if they are of any use. While I do use Revo Uninstaller, Autoruns, and CCleaner, and do defrag my disks regularly, over the months, I do notice a gradual slowing down of my computer as it accumulates more and more garbage. I've always made it a point to completely wipe my C: drive every couple years and reload everything fresh. To me, it just seems to run a lot better and for the week it takes me to do it, I feel it's well worth the time. Besides, every computer weenie I've ever known, including PC World Magazine, recommends doing it yearly.

[geekman]

The Win7 MSTS registry locations are in a different location(s?) than XP

Yes, I'm fully aware of that. I have no intention of manually altering the registry, and saving it during a house-cleaning is rather stupid, wouldn't you agree?

[geekman]

Yes, MSTS needs its registry entries to work, even for mini-routes. The main path is stored there and all the settings options are stored in the Registry. That's why your mini-routes and main MSTS install will share the same graphics and sound slider settings. That being said, the MSTS Registry entry is pretty simple, and can even be backed up in a single .reg file which you can import back later if something goes wrong. The specific key is "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Microso ft Games\Train Simulator" and all of its subkeys in that branch. The application path and it's basic descriptors are in the "1.0" subkey, and the settings are stored in a child subkey of "1.0" that's named "HWRenderer".

If you have a perfectly functional and customized MSTS, you could back up your entire mini-route and main "Train Simulator" folders, then after reformatting the computer install MSTS from your CD's and then overwrite it with your backup. Afterwards, just reinstall any MSTS utilities you need, like Route Riter, Shape Viewer. Train Store, etc. This will work, even if you decide to move your main "Train Simulator" directory to a different place. Once the Registry entry is made, MSTS doesn't care where the contents of the "Train Simulator" came from; they just have to be where the Registry says they are. Remember to set the MSTS options pages sliders where you want after the reinstall -- they will be at their default settings even if you restore your MSTS files from backup, because they're defined in the Registry.

It's a little trickier if you want to preserve your "J" drive and reinstall. You might want to disconnect that drive and let some other drive be a "stand-in" on the same drive letter for the reinstall, then reconnect and re-assign "J" to the correct drive afterward. The Registry will then point to your original MSTS folder, no backup needed.

If you are comfortable working with the Registry, you can back up the entire MSTS entry in a .reg file, and just add it back after re-installing Windows. It will still point to your MSTS installation that's still on the "J" drive. If done correctly, the only thing that may go missing is the Add/Remove Programs entry for MSTS. This doesn't work for every application -- modern applications have dependencies and compex Registry structures. MSTS is very simple, though, as far as the Registry goes.

Thanks Eric.

In view of this it makes more sense just to reinstall TS. Will take me maybe 2-3 hours to reload it along with BIN and the other updates. Not a big deal and the new registry will be fresh and up to date.

[ronaldparkin]

Hi Larry, Windows 8 is on it's way!!!

Regards

RonP

[OTTODAD]

In view of this it makes more sense just to reinstall TS. Will take me maybe 2-3 hours to reload it along with BIN and the other updates. Not a big deal and the new registry will be fresh and up to date.

If you have MSTS installed into a drive partition other than C:\ then re-installing the WIN-7 MSTS into any partition other then C:\ is recommended.

That done all the existing MSTSBin and all is't MINIs will run just like before.

If you have MSTSBin installed on drive C:\ then before re-installing WIN-7 back it up into another drive partition or external HD, to be restored into the newly installed MSTS, but first read the STEAM4ME instructions on the subject of installing MSTS into WIN-7 !

O t t o

[geekman]

Hi Larry, Windows 8 is on it's way!!!

Regards

RonP

Hi Ron,

Yeah, I know. But I ain't touching 8 with a 10 foot pole until they get all the bugs out - probably at least 6 monthjs after initial release. Anyway, I'm not sure I'm even going to install it period. I don't like the fact they're gearing it to "apps" and messing with what we're familiar with. And then there's the old idea that every second version of Windows is a bummer: ME, Vista, etc.! I like 7 and unless there is a GREAT reason to abandon it, well ........

[OTTODAD]

But I ain't touching 8 with a 10 foot pole until they get all the bugs out - probably at least 6 months after initial release.

Neither will I ever use it, not liking it's TOUCH SCREEN ability and no doubt more graphical Mickey Mouse nonsense.

O t t o

[eric]

I'm taking a totally different approach... VMWare.

I created a VM out of my trusty XP machine, and "run it" on VMPlayer. No problems with the flakiness of Win7, no fears of Win8, and I can move the VM from PC to PC without ever having to reinstall again...

[derekmorton]

MSTS won't run in a Vmware VM.
It does not implement hardware acceleration.

Cheers

[gswindale]

Going back to topic;

Whenever I've reinstalled my Windows machine (for whatever reason) - including when I replaced it with a whole new PC; all I did was export the MSTS registry key from the old system and import it into the new one.

Never caused me any problems - as long as I remembered to keep my drive mappings the same so that my MSTS installation was all hooked up correctly for my Trainstore reinstallation.

It's a 5 second job to import the registry entries as opposed to a hunt around for cds and however long MSTS takes to install. Makes sense to me

[OTTODAD]

Whenever I've reinstalled my Windows machine (for whatever reason) - including when I replaced it with a whole new PC; all I did was export the MSTS registry key from the old system and import it into the new one.

That does not work when trying to import a pre WIN-7 64-bit Registry into it.

I have a Repair MSTS REG files ZIP for importing 32 and 64-bit Registries on my web site.

O t t o