Hi,

I am considering making a second installation of Fallout 3 to mod on a clean install.

Is there anything that I should be aware of before I do this? Or is it just a matter of installing the game again to a different folder?

I tried both Google and the forum search engine, and apparently they both hate me.

Regards,
The Nonsense Factory

I dont really think you can do this easily. The game looks for registry values, and if you tried to install it again it would detect they are already there, and it would just get messed up I think. Plus you dont need a second install for modding. Why do you think you do? What for?

Ha. This is the same thing ripple wants to try. He mentioned gary bash, but I don't know what that is other than wrye bash for fallout.

I would like to both

1) Play the game with a bunch of mods like FWE, WMK etc and not worry.

and

2) Playtest my mods with only the DLCs, FOSE and maybe one or two mods like CRAFT, CALIBR and suchlike.

I am unsure how I shall accomplish this with just one install, without a massive amount of hassle. If there is a clever quick & easy way, please let me know!

Regards,
The Nonsense Factory

The easiest way is to just copy your "Fallout 3" directory, and rename it to something like "Fallout 3 - Modding". When you want to use that version, rename the current folder to "Fallout 3 - Playing" and rename the modding folder to "Fallout 3". You can take the same approach with your "Saves" folder too if you want different sets of saves.

Cipscis

That actually is a good idea, and would work. You can just swap em out then! Good idea Cipscis!

Ack. It's so....simple! Ack I say!

Clever yet simple, the best solutions

One could even make batch files that does it automatically and use shortcuts to those to launch the two versions. And one for the the GECK of course.

Thanks!
The Nonsense Factory

Make a second Data folder after renaming Data to ';Data'. Then, all you have to do to toggle installations is rename the two data folders. Just be careful to not merge the two together while renaming (name the alternate '-Data' before renaming ';Data' back to 'Data')

All you need in a secondary Data directory to open the GECK:

• FaceGen\si.ctl
  
• Meshes\Sky\Stars.NIF
  
• Shaders\*.SDP

That's how I have my 'clean room' set up anyway...

Woudlnt it be easier to delete the registry entriries, and just copy the folder twice, and create different shortcuts for a normal and modded versions? My computer having no registry knowledge of fallout after my OS upgrade would find this much easier.

I don't really know much (anything) about registry editing, but if that would work then I don't see why not.

Cipscis