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Multiple BG2 Installations


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Setting up multiple BG2 installations on a single computer is easier than many people realize. You may want to do it to allow you to have games with different mods installed, or for testing purposes. Whatever your preference, here's a step-by-step installation process. This is best done on a new installation before mods. The following is written assuming that your first (primary) installation is at c:\games\bg2 and your secondary installation is c:\games\bg2alt. For your own setup, substitute the paths as appropriate.

For a Shadows of Amn-only installation

* Install Shadows of Amn and the latest patch

* Optional: Install the latest BG2 Fixpack (see notes, below)

* Optional: Set your preferences, configuration, and baldur.ini tweaks (see notes, below)

* Copy the entire c:\games\bg2 folder--except for the CD2, CD3, etc. subfolders--into c:\games\bg2alt

* In the c:\games\bg2alt folder, open the baldur.ini file. In the [Alias] section, change

Quote
HD0=c:\games\bg2

to

Quote
HD0=c:\games\bg2alt

Leave the CD1=, CD2= , etc. lines unchanged.

For a Throne of Bhaal installation

* Install Shadows of Amn, Throne of Bhaal and the latest patch

* Optional: Install the latest BG2 Fixpack (see notes, below)

* Optional: Set your preferences, configuration, and baldur.ini tweaks (see notes, below)

* Copy the entire c:\games\bg2 folder--except for the CD2, CD3, etc. subfolders--into c:\games\bg2alt

* In the c:\games\bg2alt folder, open the baldur.ini file. In the [Alias] section, change

Quote
HD0=c:\games\bg2

to

Quote
HD0=c:\games\bg2alt

Leave the CD1=, CD2= , etc. lines unchanged.

Notes on the Optional Steps

The reason why you should probably perform the optional steps is to save time. If you install the fixpacks and set your preferences and tweaks to baldur.ini before copying the bg2 folder, then your preferences will get copied along with the folder. However, some mods are incompatible with the fixpacks (or require a custom version) which is why that step is listed as optional.

General Notes on Multiple Installations

The drawback to this arrangement is that only the original install is referenced in the Windows registry, so any program that relies on the registry will only recognize the original install. For example, the default start menu shortcuts and the CD autorun menu will only "see" the original install. Other programs, such as ShadowKeeper and Near Infinity, will need to be pointed to the installation you are currently editing. Keep this in mind when editing, especially if different mods are used on different installations.

To use one of your alternate installations, you need to activate it directly with the BGMain.exe program in your c:\games\bg2alt folder. To access the configuration program, you need to open the BGConfig.exe program in the c:\games\bg2alt folder. Using the links in the start menu or the buttons in the CD autorun or the baldur.exe menu will only access options from your original installation.

Questions & comments can be handled in the associated Q&A thread.

Edited by CamDawg
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Necroposting this a bit; there's a tool called the Infinity Engine Game Launcher that can duplicate games for you.

A few updates, if you still wish to do this manually:

  • For Enhanced Edition games, simply copy the folder--no path information is kept locally.
  • For the other original games, the steps are pretty much the same as above, though the name of the ini file may be different. Baldur's Gate also uses baldur.ini; Icewind Dale and Icewind Dale II use icewind.ini and icewind2.ini respectively; and Planescape: Torment uses torment.ini.
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