Fix FSX DVD installation Error 1305 on Windows 11 by identifying damaged media, copying the installer locally and resolving access faults.
FSX DVD installation Error 1305 means Windows Installer cannot read a file from the disc or installation source. On Windows 11, clean and inspect the DVDs, copy both discs to a local installation folder, then run setup.exe as administrator. If copying fails at the same file, the disc or optical drive is the cause.
This applies to the boxed edition of Microsoft Flight Simulator X. FSX: Steam Edition does not use the DVD installer; an Error 1305 encountered while installing a Steam add-on concerns that add-on’s installation source instead.
What does FSX Error 1305 mean?
Error 1305 is a source read or file-access failure, not an FSX activation, DirectX or graphics error. The message normally names the file it could not read and asks you to verify that the file exists and is accessible.
Record that filename and its path. A path beginning with the optical drive letter points towards the DVD or drive, while a path under a local installation folder means the copied source is incomplete, corrupted or being blocked. A mistake we see constantly is changing compatibility settings before proving that Windows can read every file on the discs.
| What happens | Likely cause | Best next step |
|---|---|---|
| File Explorer cannot copy the named file | Dirty or damaged DVD, or a weak optical drive | Clean the disc and test it in another drive |
| Both DVDs copy, and local setup works | Optical-drive read or timing problem | Complete the installation from the local source |
| Local setup repeatedly fails on the same file | Incomplete copy or security restriction | Delete and rebuild the source, then check access |
| Unrelated MSI installers also fail | Windows Installer or system-file problem | Repair Windows components after ruling out the DVDs |
How do I repair the FSX DVD installation?
The reliable method is to prove that both base FSX DVDs can be copied before making changes to Windows 11.
- Note the failed file and disc. Select Retry once. If Error 1305 returns with the same filename, cancel the installation rather than repeatedly forcing the drive to reread it.
- Clean and inspect the DVD. Use a clean, lint-free cloth and wipe from the centre towards the outer edge, not in circles. Deep scratches, cracks or damage on the label side can make part of the disc permanently unreadable.
- Test each disc by copying it. Copy the complete contents of each base FSX DVD into separate test folders on an internal drive. A cyclic redundancy check, read error or copy that always stops at the same file confirms a media or optical-drive problem.
- Create a flat local installation source. Make a short folder such as
C:\FSX_Install. Copy the contents of base FSX Disc 1 into it, followed by the contents of Disc 2, allowing folders to merge and retaining the Disc 1 launcher if Windows reports a same-named top-level file. All uniquely named cabinet and data files from Disc 2 must be present. - Keep Acceleration separate. Do not merge an FSX Acceleration DVD into the base installation source. Gold Edition owners should install and test the base simulator before running the separate Acceleration installer.
- Run the local installer with elevation. Right-click the Disc 1 copy of
setup.exeand select Run as administrator. Install from the internal drive rather than a network share, cloud-synchronised folder or removable device.
The local source folder is not the FSX destination folder. You may choose a separate destination outside Program Files to reduce permission trouble with older add-ons, but changing the destination alone will not cure Error 1305.
What if the FSX DVD files will not copy?
If the same file cannot be copied after cleaning the disc, test the DVD in another known-working optical drive. Marginal discs are sometimes readable in one drive but not another; if that works, transfer the complete verified installation source to the Windows 11 PC’s internal drive before running setup.
If several drives fail at exactly the same place, the DVD is damaged and compatibility mode cannot reconstruct the missing data. The dependable solution is genuine replacement media matching the original FSX edition and language. Do not combine cabinet files from Standard, Deluxe, Gold or another language release, because apparently similar disc sets are not interchangeable.
What if Error 1305 remains after copying the DVDs?
If a clean local source still produces Error 1305, treat it as an access, partial-installation or Windows Installer problem rather than an optical-disc fault.
- Delete the local source and copy it again from the verified discs; do not overwrite an incomplete folder and assume every file was repaired.
- Confirm that the file named in the error exists and that your Windows account can read it. Run
setup.exeas administrator. - Check that the system drive has adequate free space for the installer’s temporary files as well as the final FSX installation.
- Review security-software notifications for a blocked or quarantined installer file. Only suspend protection briefly when it has specifically identified the legitimate FSX installer, then restore protection afterwards.
- If failed attempts have left FSX listed as installed, use our complete boxed-FSX removal steps, restart Windows and retry from the clean local source.
Only investigate Windows itself when the DVDs copy perfectly and other MSI-based programs also fail. From an administrator Terminal, run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth, followed by sfc /scannow, then restart. Our Windows installer-engine checks for FSX cover the related faults that appear when setup cannot initialise correctly.
What should I do after FSX installs successfully?
Launch the unmodified base simulator once and confirm that a default flight loads before installing patches, Acceleration or add-ons. This separates a successful base installation from any later update problem.
After that test, follow the correct FSX service-pack and Acceleration installation order for your boxed edition. Keep the verified local DVD source until FSX has launched and activation has completed, as it is useful if the installation needs to be repaired.