How can I install one game twice on one computer?

[Tyrany42]

I read several forums on this topic, but none really gave me a clear answer, or I just didn't understand them. With the survival mode for Fallout 4 coming out, I want to be VERY cautious with how I manage my game, especially after my mods had a major incompatibility with Automatron. I want to have a modless Fallout 4 to play survival mode, but I still want to have a Fallout 4 to mod. And no, I don't trust the crash-happy NMM mod profiles.

I have Nexus Mod Manager installed on my E: drive, which is where I also put my Fallout 4. I thought it would be a simple matter of copying the unmodded game folder and pasting it into my C: drive, but then I had the sense to look it up and find out it's not that simple.

I read that Mod Organizer is best for this, but I had about as much success with that as I did the NMM mod profiles. I'm not much of a computer expert, so if anyone has suggestions you might have to "dumb it down" for me.

Thanks in advance.

[Purr4me]

I read several forums on this topic, but none really gave me a clear answer, or I just didn't understand them. With the survival mode for Fallout 4 coming out, I want to be VERY cautious with how I manage my game, especially after my mods had a major incompatibility with Automatron. I want to have a modless Fallout 4 to play survival mode, but I still want to have a Fallout 4 to mod. And no, I don't trust the crash-happy NMM mod profiles.

I have Nexus Mod Manager installed on my E: drive, which is where I also put my Fallout 4. I thought it would be a simple matter of copying the unmodded game folder and pasting it into my C: drive, but then I had the sense to look it up and find out it's not that simple.

I read that Mod Organizer is best for this, but I had about as much success with that as I did the NMM mod profiles. I'm not much of a computer expert, so if anyone has suggestions you might have to "dumb it down" for me.

Thanks in advance.

it's not fallout 4 but is directly related to the answer you seek if you have the hard drive space, but know this, after you re-install..you need to copy Just the Steam apps folder and remove any other game data so not to eat up drive space.

 

the results give you access to both copies of the game If launched individually. any software used, tools and things can be accessed VIA non-steam application usage in steams setup. the only thing here is a duplication of the games.

http://forums.nexusmods.com/index.php?/topic/3776460-crashing-at-satcom-nw-05a/page-5&do=findComment&comment=34656945

 

kitty

[obobski]

Haven't done this with Fallout 4, but with New Vegas I had success copying my entire New Vegas folder out of steam, zipping it, and throwing it in storage, and then after totally cooking my New Vegas with mods, just over-writing it with that "clean" folder, and it worked again. I could not play "two separate instances" of the game that way, but it worked as an effective back-up for a damaged install due to mods. As usual, backing up save-games is done separately, and the use of a few folders can facilitate "profiles" for save-games quite easily (I've done this since at least Oblivion to keep different characters independent and not have a mess to sort through on the load/save screens).

[UhuruNUru]

Right technical details to come

First currently on my phone so links will be provided when I get on my PC.

 

Fallout 4 is a Steam game this applies to all Steam games.

Steam will only allow one copy called Fallout 4 as I guess you know this name isn't actually what Steam, that's the Steam I'D you can see in a desktop shortcut. You can't easily change the ID and that only points too Fallout 4, so it's impossible to have anything else.

 

You sound like you're at this point.

The highly technical process is this

Only the active game is called Fallout 4, rename that to anything that's not a game in Steam.

 

Fallout 4b is good enough but you need to know which is which.

 

Restart Steam and Install Fallout 4 and simply rename both too switch.

 

So not difficult at all.

 

What is more technical is too use Symbolic links to keep all your games in the root drive

 

SymLinks are like desktop shortcuts that are transparent to Steam.

 

Steam "sees" the files where it expects, that's the SymLinks doing.

 

I've written guides on this and will provide a link later today, when on my PC.

 

To be honest Mod Organizer is what you really want, but that's not officially released yet, an Alpha exists but it's for the experts like me to bug fix the game.

 

I crashed Fallout 4 when my character started recording a speech, I hadn't even joined that faction, and I was supposed to be speaking as their leader.

 

They were my enemy. Sod that FPS game, playing XCOM2 with better mod support on day 1.

 

So I can't say if MO2 is ready yet.

NMM can't handle profiles and I did use it, for F4.

Hell, I found it impossible to run just one properly, I will pass on my findings to them but the basic issue is they use SymLinksq, tools like Bodysllide use the normal system so are not profile specific.

 

Playing the stupid user role is certain breakage of the inadequate and finicky install system. It falls at the very first test. Which is the impatient repeat click.

 

If that's all it takes it's broken

 

Deleting anything manually really breaks the game. NMM simply cannot cope, but MO and Wrye Bash can, having to convert to 64-bit has delayed them.

[Purr4me]

 

Only the active game is called Fallout 4, rename that to anything that's not a game in Steam.

Not posted any where By me.

The above post is a waste of time and is not what that person asked.

 

How can I install one game twice on one computer?

He got the correct answer.

 

kitty

[UhuruNUru]

 

 

Only the active game is called Fallout 4, rename that to anything that's not a game in Steam.

Not posted any where By me.

The above post is a waste of time and is not what that person asked.

 

How can I install one game twice on one computer?

He got the correct answer.

 

kitty

 

What the hell do you mean by that, did I say you had posted such instructions, I have no idea who you may be, just from that reply. (I will look at what you've posted after writing this), can see you have a lot. I hate using my phone, saw complications when it's so simple to do it my way.

I never claimed your method doesn't work, I don't know, so made no assumptions other than the complexity, i apologise if it's due to my calling my fix "Technical, it was part jest and part referral to the SymLink methods I also use. i never intended to imply anything about your post, I'd not even read more than a line of it, before posting my own method

 

But you are absolutely wrong about my simple method, I can prove it works.

I have numerous versions of the same games using this method, here's a picture of my current Steam Folder.

 

 

 

I draw your attention to several indications that I speak the truth (Pic proves nothing, but it's accurate).

 

Two versions of Fallout New Vegas, three Oblivion's (one the Nerhim Total conversion). Two for Skyrim, the second is a fake that fools steam into downloading Workshop mods (Pointless for two files and the only practical use, is for the Creation Kit, to make an Archived Backup).

that only contains an empty Data Folder and these 3 files, it fools steam though.

SkyrimLauncher.Exe

Steam_API.DLL

installscript.vdf

 

The final multi game setup is 3 versions of XCOM: Enemy Unknown.

 

I draw your attention to the green shortcut arrows, provided by the Excellent Link Shell Extension, they are SymbolicLinks (LSE adds drag and drop link functionallity).

Why I usually link to my guide, is to warn of the dangers of using HardLink's, in your case, i think you can figure it out yourself, like I did. Others may need such warnings.

My true game locations are in many drives, but Steam runs all.

 

If you doubt me still try it, then you can say It works.

It does have the renaming issue, but it works

 

[Edit} it works with or without SymLinks, the rename is all it takes, if Steam says game is still present, verify cache tells it it's wrong.

[Purr4me]

he wanted something simple and absolutely clean, without being all to technical about it. Quick and clean.

He got what he wanted...and moved on.

I wasn't not here to educate the people on all the ins and outs.

I am not here for arguments, nor was the thread meant for it. no, I am not wrong, just went by a different approach that is cleaner and absolute.

The issue was over AKA, a waste of time, your time and viewers time. this is as it is now so Redundant, it isn't funny.

I don't need an education and to plaster all of that here is too a waste of time.

 

These kid's loose interest in 30 seconds or less..want it boring. have at it. They don't want all of that, they want quick, down and dirty, and not complicated.

again...this is a waste of my time.

responded out of politeness only. This serves no one here any more purposes.

Have fun hun.

 

Kitty

[Purr4me]

I dual boot systems "including windows 10 with windows 7", try that on hun.

[Purr4me]

 

http://schinagl.priv.at/nt/hardlinkshellext/linkshellextension.html

that's so complicated and messy, it scares the kids away, not to mention NMM would have kittens. File / director lengths come in to question and the boots just got taller...cuz it getting deep here. That kind of info scares people away. won't work on two different systems at the same time.

 

This (http://schinagl.priv.at/nt/hardlinkshellext/linkshellextension.html) way over board and way too complicated for the kids.

[UhuruNUru]

Well if you recall, I said SymLinks was Technical, so not for everyone. But that was a footnote, for the more technically adept.

 

 

The renaming is simple though and separate, nothing hard about the renaming at all.

 

 

Caveat keeping saves and load orders will require the same method.

 

One major difference between our approaches is integration with Steam (yours) and isolation from Steam (Mine).

 

What I really objected to was your assertion my method doesn't even work.

 

Even now when you appear to accept it does, you decide what's best for the end user, you never have the right.

 

Let the reader decide, maybe it's because I spent about 18 months as lead (most active) support for Mod Organizer. I advise all readers, not just the post writer.

 

My last point is for all readers.

Integrating to Steam, use Purr4me's method, mine tries to remove the interference from Steam to my modded game.

 

 

The choice is yours, not mine or Purr4me's.

 

Both give you multiple copies of the same game. Which is used, depends on what you want.

 

I want the games legally removed from Steam, that's not actually possible, but I'll use any legal method I can.

 

One final point is the best method for Fallout 4 is using Mod Organizer 2.

 

That's currently in alpha and as I don't like Fallout 4, I'm not testing it.

When it's released use MO it's multiple profiles work for everything. Not just the manager, I'm sad to say NMM will never work right with SymLinks and 3rd party tools.

This was pointed out to NMM by me in my support role for MO. Yet, they never addressed the problems of 3rd party tools, MO had issues as well, but MO fixed them.