Double Installation

[Darkstorne]

Not so much a technical problem, but more of a theoretical question. I'm wondering if it's possible to install Oblivion twice on a computer.

 

See I currently have Oblivion running with Qarl's Texture Pack, Tamriel Visible When Distant, and a wealth of other graphical improvement mods. Thing is, even on my quad core computer and GTX280 I stutter quite a lot when running around Cyrodiil, and can get quite a low fps rate in busy cities (Yes, I also have streamline and operation optimization installed). I'm sure the main reason for this is a REALLY outdated engine, that struggles when more than 10 NPCs are visible at once, and doesn't even have building shadows, but i've been wondering...

 

How much of this stuttering is due to the improved textures? To find out i'd like to re-install Oblivion and try it without any mods and visual improvements, but I really don't feel like uninstalling everything I have right now just to find out. So if it's possible, i'd really appreciate being able to leach some knowledge! Perhaps with a hard-drive partition?

 

:thanks: for reading!

[bben46]

Oblivion does not allow you to install 2 copies. However here is a work around I developed for having a clean version to mod and a cluttered version to play. It's not for the faint of heart and please back up everything before trying - I haven't used this in quite a while as I now have a pair of removable Hard drives, each with a copy of oblivion for different purposes.

 

Dual Oblivion

 

If you want to play Oblivion with all of the mods you have, and make a mod at the same time, you will run into the problem of modding with all the other mods active. In order to be able to mod with a clean version of the game, and test your mod without any of the mods or saved games. I have created a pair of batch files that allow me to swap back and forth with a minimum of effort. You can play with SI, and a full complement of mods, then switch to Vanilla Oblivion without SI or any extra mods or saved games to test your mod.

 

The required disclaimer: It didn't break my game or fry my computer. However, use at your own risk. Back everything up first. I refuse to be held responsible for misprints, misspellings, your mistakes, my mistakes, misunderstanding, misapprehensions or anything else that goes wrong. However, I am willing to try to help you recover from them if you ask nice.

 

These instructions are based on the assumption that you are using WinXP and have installed Oblivion in the default location. If you have Vista, or have installed Oblivion to a different location, you may have to make some changes in the batch files to work properly with your system.

 

Before doing this make sure you have enough room on your hard drive for two or even three complete copies of Oblivion. (No you are not going to install 3 complete copies, this is extra space for mods, temp files, other programs and the space needed for defragging.)

 

First, you will need a clean install of vanilla oblivion, complete with the latest official patch as well as a second version with all of your mods and saved games and your modified Oblivion.ini. To get these, I recommend the following procedure:

Rename your C:\Program Files\Bethesda Softworks\Oblivion to "PlayOblivion"

Rename "C:\Program Files\Bethesda Softworks\CSOblivion" "Oblivion"

 

Now, follow my procedure for reinstalling Oblivion - here: http://s1.zetaboards.com/TheStormRavenLibrary/topic/344290/

 

with the exception of renaming the original files as you have already renamed them to match the file names in my batch files.

 

When you finish the reinstall, you will have a clean install. I recommend making a copy of the Oblivion directory in the program files directory with a new name - something like \clean-Oblivion-data and the Oblivion directory in the documents and settings section also to something like \clean-oblivion-saves. These are to be kept unchanged as an emergency back up. If you need them do not rename them, copy them to where you need them with a new name.

 

Your newly installed version will become your construction set version. And it will be the currently active version. To change to the play version run the batch file to change it.

 

Here are my 2 batch files. You may need to modify them for your own use. Please feel free to use and modify them in any way with my full permission.

 

 

To switch to the Construction set version:

Save and name this one CS Oblivion.bat

 

 

 

Rem Oblivion Construction Set Game

Rem This changes to the construction set version for testing.

 

:Start

CD C:\

 

if exist CSFlag.ben goto CS rem if you are already in the CS version jump around

 

Rename "C:\Program Files\Bethesda Softworks\Oblivion" "PlayOblivion"

Rename "C:\Program Files\Bethesda Softworks\CSOblivion" "Oblivion"

 

Rename "C:\Program Files\Bethesda Softworks\PlayFlag.ben" "CSFlag.ben"

 

Rename "C:\documents and Settings\Ben\My Documents\My Games\Oblivion" "playOblivion"

Rename "C:\documents and Settings\Ben\My Documents\My Games\CSOblivion" "Oblivion"

 

: CS

@echo off

Cls

Echo ****************************************************

Echo * Oblivion Construction Set Game Enabled *

Echo * *

Echo * Press any Key to continue *

Echo *****************************************************

Pause

Cls

Exit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This changes to the Version used to play with all of your mods and changes.

 

Save and name this one 'Play Oblivion.bat'

 

Rem Play Oblivion

Rem This changes the directories for playing Oblivion From the one used for testing a mod to to the one you use to play

 

:Start

Cd C:\

 

if exist playflag.ben goto Play

 

 

Rename "C:\Program Files\Bethesda Softworks\Oblivion" "CSOblivion"

Rename "C:\Program Files\Bethesda Softworks\PlayOblivion" "Oblivion"

 

Rename "C:\Program Files\Bethesda Softworks\CSFlag.ben" "Playflag.ben"

 

Rename "C:\documents and Settings\Ben\My Documents\My Games\oblivion" "CsOblivion"

Rename "C:\documents and Settings\Ben\My Documents\My Games\PlayOblivion" "Oblivion"

 

 

: Play

 

@echo off

cls

Echo ***************************************

Echo * Play Oblivion Enabled *

Echo * *

Echo * Press any Key to continue *

Echo ***************************************

Pause

Cls

Exit

 

 

You will need one other small change, the 'flag' that allows the batch to know which version is currently loaded.

 

create a text file in the Bethesda Softworks folder and name it CSFlag.ben Then copy the following into it.

Playflag - a dummy program used only for its name. save it and be sure it has the name csflag.ben

If the name is Playflag then you are running the version of Oblivion you use to play the game.

If the name is CSflag you are using the clean version used for testing your Mod.

 

 

After creating and saving the 2 batch files, make a shortcut to each one and place it on your desktop. (or wherever you run Oblivion from) then just select the one you need to make the change. It will run in a window and let you know if it made the change successfully. If you choose the wrong one, it will not make any changes and will leave a message in the window to let you know which version is active. - That's what the flag is for.

 

If you use OBMM, you can probably add a line to rename 2 different copies to go along with each copy of Oblivion.

 

If you have any problems or suggestions to make this simpler, please let me know.

[Hateful_kat]

I didn't read everything you wrote, bben, but judging by the length, it appears relatively complicated.

My way of having two Oblivion installations:

1. Install Oblivion, as usual.

2. Copy the game directory to another place, then mod at will either installations.

Both versions work perfectly fine, and I haven't had any problems whatsoever.

[roquefort]

I didn't read everything you wrote, bben, but judging by the length, it appears relatively complicated.

My way of having two Oblivion installations:

1. Install Oblivion, as usual.

2. Copy the game directory to another place, then mod at will either installations.

Both versions work perfectly fine, and I haven't had any problems whatsoever.

So...you mean just copy the whole damn thing to another directory? What about OBSE & OMOD?

[Hateful_kat]

I didn't read everything you wrote, bben, but judging by the length, it appears relatively complicated.

My way of having two Oblivion installations:

1. Install Oblivion, as usual.

2. Copy the game directory to another place, then mod at will either installations.

Both versions work perfectly fine, and I haven't had any problems whatsoever.

So...you mean just copy the whole damn thing to another directory? What about OBSE & OMOD?

 

 

They worked fine for me, because I use OBSE and OMOD only in the modded version.

When I want vanilla Oblivion, I just launch the game from Oblivion.exe, the one in the unmodded directory.

When I want to play the modded Oblivion, I launch it through OBSE, in the modded directory.

[bben46]

@Hateful_kat What I did was very similar, everything except the Oblivion.exe is duplicated in another folder, the batch files just rename everything needed to run whichever version I wanted to work with.

 

As I said, I got away from that when I went to removable Hard drives I just plug in the one I want to use. XP or Win7, My playable version of oblivion or my modding version. No worries about loading the wrong one as the unused one is sitting on a shelf over the computer.

 

@roquefort: Yep, I tried leaving the OBMM and OBSE behind with The oblivion.exe files, and every time I swapped I had to reselect all mods in OBMM. So I copied it too. I did not load OBSE in my modding version as I wanted to avoid having it in the mod unless it was actually needed.

[gotxbrains]

or you know just like.... copy an empty data folder to the same place the original is in and name it "backup" and then if you want to use the clean one rename "backup" to "data" and "data" to "modded data"

 

or something like that....

 

is like way easier :3

[bben46]

@gotxbrains Just copying the data will keep the same save games, the same oblivion.ini, the same OBMM. but your OBMM list will not have anything selected. I learned that swapping the data folder clears the list. -just use select all as the only mods listed will be the ones in the current data folder.

 

My old bat files allow swapping both the data folder and the save games folder. I had a newer version that swapped the OBMM also, but I coulden't find it - I think it is on an older computer.

 

If I had to do it over I think I would use what Hateful_kat recommended - if you have enough room on your HD. It's simpler than what I did. I would probably write a bat file to do the swapping for me though. Be careful when renaming folders not to overwrite the other version.

 

It will work like Rename data to data1. Then rename data2 to data. to swap back rename data to data2 Then rename data1 to data.

 

If you were to rename data1 to data before renaming data to data2 you would lose data2- it will be overwritten by data1. I have seen professional programmers make this mistake. So back them both up - data1backup & data2backup

[roquefort]

Useful info there -- thanks.

 

"If you were to rename data1 to data before renaming data to data2 you would lose data2- it will be overwritten by data1. I have seen professional programmers make this mistake."

 

I'll bet they had red faces after that :biggrin: . The required operation is `circular permutation' IIRC, a standard procedure when swapping data between two locations without losing any: you use a third holding location.

[nosisab]

Useful info there -- thanks.

 

"If you were to rename data1 to data before renaming data to data2 you would lose data2- it will be overwritten by data1. I have seen professional programmers make this mistake."

 

I'll bet they had red faces after that :biggrin: . The required operation is `circular permutation' IIRC, a standard procedure when swapping data between two locations without losing any: you use a third holding location.

You are absolutely right, because of it it's HIGHLY discouraged the use of the 'simple' solutions, hence the use of .bat files from bben's post. They will verify and rename the actually used version before renaming the second to Oblivion's patterns.

 

To everyone reading this: Think this way... May seems complicated that .bat thing, but it's not ... just copy and paste the relevant lines into a txt file, adjust the paths to reflect the actual install location and rename the file as xyz.bat.

 

This procedure will do fine but only if both installations are in the same partition (that someletter: like C:)

 

Once that is done once... using is just 'clicking' the bat file and voila...

 

In Time: It's possible to have the toggling done in just one .bat file, but having the two is more sensible and simple, since you can name them something like PlaythroughOblivion.bat and DevelopmentOblivion.bat or whatever makes sense to you.

 

A bit more complex is trying and having one patched 1.1 install and a 1.2.0416 and respective CS together, like sometime ago I did need... but that is another history.