Multiple oblivion installs ?

Is this possible

I am sure Copy and Paste doesnt work

Registry edit?

.bat ?

anything to have Vanilla and a Modded Oblivion on same PC/System ?

Found this but this is confusing for newbs of .bat can anyone spell it out or make us a .bat to switch oblivions




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 or your mistakes, my mistakes 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...y/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.

Meh, for me it's far easier to just rename my Data folder and .ini files and swap them with new ones.

How do you do that if you already modded Data and other folders ?

hahahaha, why must you guys try to make something so simple so complicated?

It's best off to do a vanilla install, and add all the updates and basic things things that you will use anyway, regardless of mods (like unofficial patches and certain basic mods that change certain things, but won't be likely to affect any other mods). Then, simply make another folder in your game folder. Instead of Oblivion, call it, for example, oblivion modded. Then simply paste the contents of the Oblivion game folder to your new folder. All your saves and whatnot will still call to the same places, so you don't have to change anything else. Simply make a shortcut to the new oblivion.exe (or whatever launches the game, I can't remember what it is for oblivion...) on your desktoip, and name it "Oblivion Modded" instead of Oblivion. Then, you just choose which one you want to play, vaniulla or modded, and you're set. Do this for as many versions of the game as you want.

On second thought... you might have to have two folders, one named "Oblivion (blah)," where "Blah" is either Vanilla or Modded, whichever you are NOT using. Whichever one want to play with (Oblivion Modded for example), change the name of that folder to Oblivion. When you want to change, simply change the name of the modded folder back to Oblivion Modded, and then change Oblivion Vanilla back to Oblivion. I can't remember which of these work best with Oblivion, but it would just take a min or two of trial and error to figure it out again. I'll leave that up to you Whatever the case, you can add as many folders (versions) as you have hard drive space. If you screw one of your modded folders up, simply delete the contents, and copy the guts back from the vanilla folder to it, and reinstall those mods.

And since you've already modded yours, this is what you have to do (if you want to keep your saved games). Copy your ini files and saved games like you do normally during backups (just to make sure you have the latest versions). If you don't know how to do this, google a bit about how to recover saved games in Oblivion. It's easy to do and easy to find, but I'll spare the long explanation here to save space since that would be off-topic for this thread. Then, rename your Oblivion folder to something, or move it to another directory (whichever you prefer, so it doesn't get written over). Then install the game just as you normally would (with patches and whatnot). Then you have your vanilla folder, and just use your existing (old modded) folder as I mentioned above for (one of) your modded folder(s). And then, of course, restore your saves (again, you might need to google how to do that).

See? It's incredibly simple. Just a matter of copy and paste and some renaming and you're all set. Cheers!

@BethesdaFanBoi,

Might work but Oblivion will read the

C:\Documents and Settings\[NAME]\Local Settings\Application Data\Oblivion\Plugins.txt

C:\Documents and Settings\Matt\Local Settings\Application Data\Oblivion\DLCLIST.txt

C:\Documents and Settings\[NAME]\My Documents\My Games\Oblivion\Saves etc.....

plus the registry key entries which will not allow a second install

after the first or your registry would be corrupted.






what I think your saying (For 1st Install not after modded install)

1. Install Oblivion (Stock)

2. Name Oblivion Folder C:\Program Files\Bethesda Softworks\Oblivion(Stock)

3. Copy Oblivion Folder to C:\Program Files\Bethesda Softworks\Oblivion(Modded)

4. To play Stock Erase the words Stock [so to C:\Program Files\Bethesda Softworks\Oblivion]

5. To play Modded Erase the words Modded [so to C:\Program Files\Bethesda Softworks\Oblivion]

6. To switch back to stock go to step 4


You also would have to call the C:\Documents and Settings\[NAME]\Local Settings\Application Data\Oblivion\Plugins.txt to Oblivion(Modded)\Plugins.txt

and change C:\Documents and Settings\[NAME]\My Documents\My Games\Oblivion\Saves to Oblivion\Saves(Modded) and switch them out

when changing from Stock to Modded Versions.

Copy your Data folder and .ini to a new location. Redo your mod list and generate a new .ini.

If you ever want to play an older character with an older mod list, simply rename the existing Data folder (adding "1" or "2" onto the end will do) and copy the old Data folder and .ini into your Oblivion folder and My Games\Oblivion folder. You can repeat this process as many times as you want, for as many mod lists as you want.

I have also copied a "virgin" install (Ob+SI+DLCs) to a safe location.This allows me to easily start fresh without losing old content.

I've no experience with this, but http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1119357-wipz-mtes4-manager/. Might be exactly what you're looking for.

-Decrepit-

thanks for the link :foodndrink:


You should not create clone copies from an existing game install that has already been modded unless you want those mods and (associated glitches!) to carry over to your new clones! Instead, it is recommended that you establish a clean clone that you can make copies from.

@Gaticus


Link worked and program worked :foodndrink: