Won't the OP still need a proper Product Key to enter after doing that procedure? OP stated he has only the one key.As far as I know there is only one key required for FSX Gold. I did some Googling and could not find an answer to that.
If it does require an activation key and he cannot find it, then he'll have to install SP2 which is exactly the same as Acceleration but is missing some payware aircraft and scenery. Still, it will provide him DirectX10 functionality and updates to FSX. He will also have to install SP1 first as Acceleration contains SP1. That's incorrect.
There are some e.g. FDE related noticeable differences between SP2 and Acceleration.That's the reason why some devs specifically mention that Acceleration and not only SP2 is required.You're incorrect. Acceleration was release a few months before the freeware version - SP2. Microsoft wanted to make as much money as possible first. SP2 is the freeware version and it does not contain any of the payware products.
You cannot install SP2 and Acceleration together as the products are coded differently so that one cannot get access to the payware products installed by Acceleration. So, if you installed SP2 and then got someone to give you the payware products in Acceleration and then copied and pasted the product into your SP2 installation, then you would have major issues. Here is a link to the lead developer's comments on Acceleration and SP2. As far as I know there is only one key required for FSX Gold. I did some Googling and could not find an answer to that.
If it does require an activation key and he cannot find it, then he'll have to install SP2 which is exactly the same as Acceleration but is missing some payware aircraft and scenery. Still, it will provide him DirectX10 functionality and updates to FSX.
He will also have to install SP1 first as Acceleration contains SP1.I just dug out my FSX Gold box, and there are two separate key stickers, one for FSX Deluxe, the other for the FSX Acceleration Expansion.Regards. Bob Scott AVSIM Forums Administrator AVSIM Board of DirectorsATP Gulfstream II-III-IV-VSystem: i7-8086K @ 5.3GHz on custom water loop, ASUS Maximus XI Hero, 16GB 3600MHz CAS15, eVGA 2080Ti XC Ultra, Samsung 55' JS8500 4K TV@30Hz, 2x1TB Samsung SSD 970Pro NVMe+850 Pro SATA 3, eVGA 1KW PSUSB XFi Titanium, optical link to Yamaha RX-V467, Polk/Klipsch 6' bookshelf spkrs, Polk 12' subwoofer, 12.9' iPad Pro, PFC yoke/throttle quad/pedals with custom Hall sensors, Coolermaster HAF932 case, Stream Deck XL button box.