How to make multiple installs of DW

[cbrown1790]

Hello,

I'm trying to make multiple installs of DW. One vanilla, and one with RA.

What I did was just just copy the whole vanilla folder, rename it to DW-RA and then install the RA files. So what I have now is two folders DW (vanilla) and DW RA. This is all using Steam, btw.

After I did this, I started the app from the RA folder, but the vanilla version ran instead...

I'm pretty sure that I followed the instructions.. clean install, ver 1.04 etc...

I was searching the forums, some people use JSGME to mod DW to RA, but I could not figure out how to do that, and there was the mentioning of having to mess with the registry files - but I did not fully understand that method either and it seems I usually get into trouble when I've previously messed with the registry.

Can someone help me with the multiple installation of DW, please?

Thank you

[Pisces]

The game needs some registry keys with proper folder locations to work. These must be added to the registry hive before you play the other gamefolder. Where to find them has been mentioned somewhere in the forum years ago. I don't remember it. And the path in 64-bit Windows is different from a 32-bit Windows installation iirc.

[cbrown1790]

Originally Posted by Pisces

The game needs some registry keys with proper folder locations to work. These must be added to the registry hive before you play the other gamefolder. Where to find them has been mentioned somewhere in the forum years ago. I don't remember it. And the path in 64-bit Windows is different from a 32-bit Windows installation iirc.

Thanks, Pisces. I’ve been searching through years of posts about the registry option. Just copying the whole file and renaming it doesn’t work.

Maybe I’ll see if yt has a video about doing it. Yt has about everything nowadays.

Thanks


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Pisces]

Ok, let's see if this helps you handle editing the registry part:

I don't know what Windows version you are using. So there may be some differences in the way you should be doing this. Just say when you loose track.

1: Open start menu and start typing "regedit"
2: Rightclick in the application that is shown "Regedit", and run as administrator.
3: Provide administrator password if User Account Control asks you for it.
4: In the tree-structure on the left unfold:
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\S onalysts Combat Simulations\Dangerous Waters
(I presume you have a 64-bit install of windows. If it's 32-bit then ignore the "WOW6432Node" level)


5: Right-click on the "Dangerous Waters" key (looks like a folder), choose menu option Export
6: Store the registry key in the folder of the DW version you initially installed. Give the file a descriptive name of the install. That is the original install. Not of the derivative DW install.
7: Close Registry Editor.
8a: Locate the original DW folder with Explorer. Make a copy/paste of it for the 2nd DW game you want to mod or whatever. Rename the folder to represent the DW version.
8b: In the copied DW install rename that copy of the registry file with an appropriate name for the intended DW derivative. (Keep the .reg part at the end intact)
9: In the new DW folder edit the exported registry file with Notepad. Do not double click on the file, but right click instead. Use Edit. Or "Open With" and choose Notepad in the wizard that follows.
10: After Notepad has opened with the file. Only in the various lines with "Install Dir" or "InstallPath" edit the folder paths to the new DW install. Keep the double backslashes intact.
11: Save the file.

Whenever you want to change to another install to play the game: Double click on the registry file in the folder of DW that you want to play first. You may get asked for administrator permission. After this you can modify the derivative DW folder to your heart's content.

To play the game in the original DW folder just execute it's own registry file to reset your system's registry back the way it was.

[Pisces]

I don't think JSMGE is very useful with the way DW needs to be modded. JSGME replaces files in the folder-structure as it enables a mod. When a mod is installed over original DW some files need to be executed in order to change the various models, textures and all. It is hard to tell which files are changed afterwards. So it is also hard to create a folder structure and pick and place all the changed files for that mod in the right order. Personally I find it easier to make a copy of the original DW root folder and execute the mod files in the newer one. A bit less efficient harddisk space wise. But quicker done.

[cbrown1790]

Originally Posted by Pisces

Ok, let's see if this helps you handle editing the registry part:

I don't know what Windows version you are using. So there may be some differences in the way you should be doing this. Just say when you loose track.

1: Open start menu and start typing "regedit"
2: Rightclick in the application that is shown "Regedit", and run as administrator.
3: Provide administrator password if User Account Control asks you for it.
4: In the tree-structure on the left unfold:
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\S onalysts Combat Simulations\Dangerous Waters
(I presume you have a 64-bit install of windows. If it's 32-bit then ignore the "WOW6432Node" level)


5: Right-click on the "Dangerous Waters" key (looks like a folder), choose menu option Export
6: Store the registry key in the folder of the DW version you initially installed. Give the file a descriptive name of the install. That is the original install. Not of the derivative DW install.
7: Close Registry Editor.
8a: Locate the original DW folder with Explorer. Make a copy/paste of it for the 2nd DW game you want to mod or whatever. Rename the folder to represent the DW version.
8b: In the copied DW install rename that copy of the registry file with an appropriate name for the intended DW derivative. (Keep the .reg part at the end intact)
9: In the new DW folder edit the exported registry file with Notepad. Do not double click on the file, but right click instead. Use Edit. Or "Open With" and choose Notepad in the wizard that follows.
10: After Notepad has opened with the file. Only in the various lines with "Install Dir" or "InstallPath" edit the folder paths to the new DW install. Keep the double backslashes intact.
11: Save the file.

Whenever you want to change to another install to play the game: Double click on the registry file in the folder of DW that you want to play first. You may get asked for administrator permission. After this you can modify the derivative DW folder to your heart's content.

To play the game in the original DW folder just execute it's own registry file to reset your system's registry back the way it was.

I was following your steps, but I don't have a Sonalysts Combat Simulations\Dangerous Waters folder located in the WOW6432NODE. It must be hidden somewhere within the steam installation.

I did find how to install different versions using the JGSME method on YT (FTSchazly). That seems to work fine for me .

Really appreciate your time and help.

[Pisces]

Ok, Steam might indeed throw a curveball in that process. I don't have a Steam DW install so I can't test other solutions.