How do I completely uninstall FS2004 from Windows?

To completely uninstall Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 (FS9), back up any add-ons and saved flights, run its normal Windows uninstaller, restart, then remove the leftover Flight Simulator 9 installation folder, the per-user FS9 data folder and stale shortcuts. Edit the registry only if the uninstaller failed or a reinstall still detects FS2004.

What should I back up before uninstalling FS2004?

Back up anything you may want after a clean installation before deleting the FS2004 folders. The safest approach is to copy the entire Flight Simulator 9 installation directory to another drive, then restore individual add-ons selectively rather than pasting everything over a fresh installation.

• Aircraft and add-ons: preserve any required content from folders such as Aircraft, Addon Scenery, Effects, Gauges, Modules, Sound and Texture.
• Saved flights and flight plans: copy %USERPROFILE%\Documents\Flight Simulator Files. If Windows redirects Documents to OneDrive or another location, use the actual Documents folder shown in File Explorer.
• Configuration: copy %APPDATA%\Microsoft\FS9 if you want to preserve settings. Our FS9.cfg location and backup notes explain what is stored there.

For a truly clean reinstall, keep these files outside the simulator and test the fresh installation before restoring them. An old module, gauge or scenery entry can otherwise reintroduce the fault that prompted the uninstall.

How do I remove FS2004 and all its leftovers?

A complete FS2004 removal requires both the Windows uninstaller and manual deletion of files that the uninstaller deliberately leaves behind.

1. Close FS2004 and its utilities. Exit weather programs, traffic tools, editors and any other software connected to FS9.
2. Uninstall separate add-ons first. Remove products that have their own entries in Programs and Features. Deleting the FS2004 directory alone will not remove their uninstall records or files stored elsewhere.
3. Run the FS2004 uninstaller. Open Control Panel, select Programs and Features, find Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 and choose Uninstall. On Windows 10 or 11 it may also appear under Installed apps, but the classic Control Panel often presents older software more reliably.
4. Restart Windows. This releases files that were in use and completes any pending removal operations.
5. Delete the installation directory. The usual 64-bit Windows location is C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Flight Simulator 9. Older 32-bit installations commonly use C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Flight Simulator 9. If you selected a custom location, delete that folder instead. Do not delete the whole Microsoft Games directory if it contains another game.
6. Remove the FS9 user-data folder. Enter %APPDATA%\Microsoft in File Explorer and delete the FS9 folder. This removes FS9.cfg and other per-user data.
7. Remove saved flights if they are not required. Delete %USERPROFILE%\Documents\Flight Simulator Files. Leave it intact if you want to retain flight plans or saved flights.
8. Check Windows VirtualStore. Add-ons that tried to write inside Program Files may have been redirected to %LOCALAPPDATA%\VirtualStore\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Flight Simulator 9. Delete the corresponding FS2004 folder if it exists. A 32-bit or differently located installation may have a slightly different mirrored path.
9. Remove stale shortcuts. Delete any remaining Flight Simulator 2004 shortcuts from the desktop and Start menu.

If the normal uninstall entry is missing or broken, repairing FS2004 from the original installation media and then uninstalling it is safer than deleting random installer records. We also maintain a detailed FS2004 manual-removal checklist for installations whose standard uninstaller no longer works.

Should I delete FS2004 registry entries?

Do not edit the registry after a successful uninstall unless Windows or the FS2004 installer still believes the simulator is installed. Registry deletion is mainly a repair step for an incomplete or damaged uninstall.

The principal FS2004 installation key is normally found in one of these locations:

Open Registry Editor with administrative rights, export the key as a backup, and verify that its values refer to Flight Simulator 2004 and the removed installation directory. Delete only the 9.0 key that clearly belongs to FS2004; never remove the entire Microsoft or Microsoft Games branch.

The ordinary uninstaller should remove its Windows uninstall registration. Do not guess at unidentified Windows Installer keys or use a registry cleaner. Shared DirectX components, runtime libraries, system DLLs and the Windows Installer cache may be required by other programs and should remain installed.

Why does a reinstall still detect FS2004?

A lingering FS2004 setup-path registry value is the usual reason an installer still detects the simulator after its files have been removed. A surviving fs9.exe, a VirtualStore copy or a separate add-on registration can also cause confusion.

• Search the former installation location for fs9.exe.
• Check both registry locations above for a key pointing to the deleted directory.
• Inspect VirtualStore for a mirrored Flight Simulator 9 folder.
• Remove remaining add-ons through their own uninstall entries.

Once those remnants are gone, restart Windows before reinstalling. For a new setup on a modern system, follow our Windows 11 installation procedure for FS2004 rather than restoring the old installation wholesale.

How do I confirm FS2004 is completely removed?

FS2004 is fully removed when it no longer appears in Programs and Features, its installation folder and fs9.exe are gone, and neither %APPDATA%\Microsoft\FS9 nor its VirtualStore mirror remains. Saved flights may remain intentionally, but they are not part of the executable simulator installation.