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Article link: Dual Oblivion

A way to have 2 Oblivions on your computer at once.
By bben46

These instructions are written using Windows XP and also using the default path for the game. If you use Vista or Win7, or you have not used the default path for installing the game, your path names will be slightly diferent.

Bethsoft made it impossible to actually have 2 copies working on the same computer. So, I had to devise a work around. The reason it is impossible is when you install Oblivion, it puts entries in the Windows registry that refer to a particular copy of Oblivion in a specific place. Installing it in a new place will just replace those entries and point to the new copy making the original useless.

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.

Before doing this make sure you have enough room on your hard drive for two or even three complete copies of your Oblivion data folder and saves folder.

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 FilesBethesda SoftworksOblivion to "PlayOblivion"
Rename "C:Program FilesBethesda SoftworksCSOblivion" "Oblivion"

Now, follow my procedure for reinstalling Oblivion - here: http://s1.zetaboards...y/topic/344290/

with the exception of renameing 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 then, copy 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 FilesBethesda SoftworksOblivion" "PlayOblivion"
Rename "C:Program FilesBethesda SoftworksCSOblivion" "Oblivion"

Rename "C:Program FilesBethesda SoftworksPlayFlag.ben" "CSFlag.ben"

Rename "C:documents and SettingsBenMy DocumentsMy GamesOblivion" "playOblivion"
Rename "C:documents and SettingsBenMy DocumentsMy GamesCSOblivion" "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 FilesBethesda SoftworksOblivion" "CSOblivion"
Rename "C:Program FilesBethesda SoftworksPlayOblivion" "Oblivion"

Rename "C:Program FilesBethesda SoftworksCSFlag.ben" "Playflag.ben"

Rename "C:documents and SettingsBenMy DocumentsMy Gamesoblivion" "CsOblivion"
Rename "C:documents and SettingsBenMy DocumentsMy GamesPlayOblivion" "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. 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 - That's what the flag is for.

If you use OBMM, you can 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.

[LHammonds]

And if you are running Vista or Win7 and lucky enough to have installed Oblivion to a folder other than the default to avoid the UAC security problems, you will need to make sure the batch files reflect the correct locations.

Example:
If you installed to C:\Games\Oblivion, you would change all occurrences of "C:\Program Files\Bethsoft Works\Oblivion" to "C:\Games\Oblivion"

Also, the path to the "My Documents" is also a bit different between operating systems.

WinXP = "C:\Documents and Settings\*YOUR-USERNAME*\My Documents\My Games\Oblivion"
Vista and Win7 = "C:\Users\*YOUR-USERNAME*\Documents\My Games\Oblivion"