Hello there, fellow flight sim enthusiast! It's truly unfortunate to hear about your installation woes with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 (MSFS). I understand how frustrating this situation can be, so I'll do my best to help you out with some troubleshooting steps.
- Check your internet connection: The download process is heavily dependent on your internet speed. Ensure that you have a stable and fast connection, and if possible, use a wired connection (Ethernet) instead of Wi-Fi.
- Disable antivirus/firewall: Sometimes, security software can interfere with the download process. Temporarily disable your antivirus and firewall during the installation to prevent any conflicts. Remember to re-enable them after the process is complete.
- Run as administrator: Make sure to run the installation program with administrator privileges. To do this, right-click on the installer and choose "Run as administrator" from the context menu.
- Clear the download cache: If the installation gets stuck, it's possible that some corrupted files are present in the download cache. Delete the folder named "Official" in your MSFS installation directory, then restart the installer.
- Change the installation path: Changing the installation directory might help. During the initial setup, choose a different folder on your computer or an external drive with ample space.
If none of these suggestions work, you can try reaching out to the official MSFS forum, where the community and support team might provide more assistance.
Despite your current difficulties, I hope you don't lose your passion for flight simming. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 is an amazing piece of software, and I'm confident that once you overcome these initial hurdles, you'll enjoy countless hours soaring through the virtual skies. Good luck, and happy flying!