Is it possible to install the game more than once on your system?

The reason I ask is because I'm not that windows savvy! I'm a Mac guy but, I use windows for gaming and, modding. I would like to have a clean game install to build my mod and, another for playing the game. I want to add mods like "The Requiem for the Capital Waste" but, I'm afraid it would cause issues while working on my mods. (I don't want to accidentally use or, tie into assets that I'm not allowed to share.)

My goal is to have a "game setup for modding", another "game setup for playing the games!" Which I could freely add other peoples mods to without worrying about my mod. I would like to do this for both FO3 and, FNV, I have more than enough hard drive space to install both games multiple times but, I haven't figured out how to do it if it's at all possible.

When I trie to do another install to a different directory the installer only asks if I want to uninstall.

thanks in advance for any help,

cev

There is a way to have 2 copies of the game, but have both playable while not bypassing steam, don't think so.

You could make a copy of your fallout folder and name if something else, and just swap folders for when you are playing modded or playing clean.

I'm by no means trying to bypass Steam, I own both games outright.

I don't understand what you mean by "Swap Folders", could you clarify how I might go about doing that? Not a copy/paste, that would just bring me back to where I am now and, take a lot of time, wouldn't it?

thanks for any advice.

cev

Correct me if im wrong but, I think he means move the initial install folder into something like "fallout dev". Then reinstall the game, and move this new install into another folder called like "fallout play". Both folders could be in the steam common folder.
Depending on what you want to use, move that folder into the steam common folder. You would have to "move" out the previous folder however to prevent overwriting. Keyword here is "move" not copy/paste.
The move command operates on the FAT since you're just moving files around so there is no need to physically move them on the drive. The command wouldnt take long at all. You could imagine writing a script even.
Instead of using move you could also rename the folders. Just rename the one you want to use.

Some mods modify the .ini files in the save games folder too. THose might have to be swapped as well depending on what you're using. There are also the saved games. Each with different saved content. You might see the message "some items may not be available."

I wonder if you can use wrye bash to load mod profiles as well. I don't remember the program that well to be certain.

I use an external HD it takes me about 5 minutes or so to copy my data folder (~9gb) to or from that drive. I just make copies of the different data folders for modding and gameplay, store them on the external HD, and swap them whenver I want. The rest of my New Vegas and Steam stuff I just leave as is. It's a simple solution that works.