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I'm trying to install a 3rd copy of CFS3

I have an unmodded fresh copy of CFS3 installed in C:/Users/Me/CFS3 for use to install other mods.

I have a modded copy of CFS3 installed in C:/Users/Public/CFS3 to play which included Firepower.

I want to install another copy of CFS3 to use for BoB but I can't get anything but PLAY or Uninstall when I insert the CD.
I removed the registry key but that didn't help.
How do I get another copy of CFS3 installed? How do I keep windows from recognizing the other copies of CFS3 already installed?
 
Um, I haven't done this in years, but I think you had to rename your CFS3 install, then go to the control panel and use the uninstall command. This will trick Windows into thinking it's gone, but it is still there because you renamed it first. :wavey:
 
Um, I haven't done this in years, but I think you had to rename your CFS3 install, then go to the control panel and use the uninstall command. This will trick Windows into thinking it's gone, but it is still there because you renamed it first. :wavey:

Use the uninstall command? Before I click Uninstall, tell me what's gonna happen after I click uninstall.:blind:
 
It will remove all references in the Windows Registry to CFS3. You may not be able to play that install online anymore. Again, I don't remember how exactly you do it with CFS3, but I have done this with other games before.
 
Copy your CFS3 and rename it..

Then run the Multi-cfs3 program..
Run the config for the New renamed CFS3 and off you go..

I have 14 installs of various forms of CFS3, ETO/PTO, MAW, DPC Korea on my machine that run Great..
 
...14 installs??!!? Oh good grief! I only have 5 :mixedsmi: Too bad there's no such thing as a no cd patch.................:kilroy:.................
 
I have an unmodded fresh copy of CFS3 installed in C:/Users/Me/CFS3 for use to install other mods.

I have a modded copy of CFS3 installed in C:/Users/Public/CFS3 to play which included Firepower.

I want to install another copy of CFS3 to use for BoB but I can't get anything but PLAY or Uninstall when I insert the CD.
I removed the registry key but that didn't help.
How do I get another copy of CFS3 installed? How do I keep windows from recognizing the other copies of CFS3 already installed?

:kilroy:Richcreator, this is how.

Simply make a copy of your vanilla, fully-updated (3.1 and 3.1a) CFS3 install, right where the original is located is good.

Rename this Copy of Combat Flight Simulator 3 folder to an appropriate name.

If you have ETO installed, go into that main game folder and look for this file: MultiCFS3.exe.

If you don't have ETO installed, go here: http://www.mnwright.btinternet.co.uk/

On the home page, look to the left for a list. Find CFS3 and click on it. On the next page, click Utilities in the middle of the page, under the picture. Click on Multi Install in the list in the next page. On the next page, you will see another list. Look for MultiCFS3 on that list. Click on the yellow dot next to it, and download the file.

Once you have MultiCFS3.exe, place it in the copy of CFS3 you just made, and run it. It changes the name with regards to the folder that will be created in your Application Data folder.

I can already tell you that if you had two installs without changing the name of one of them with regards to the Application Data folder, you may be having problems with the two installs you already have, as both installs are using the same folder in Application Data.

You can fix that with no problem by simply putting a copy of the MultiCFS3 in the Firepower install and use it to rename that install, too.

I hope this helps.:d
 
It's a bit naughty, but have had reasonable success with running a clean cfs3 and two cfs3+FPower copies by putting these three on a separate physical drive to XP and naming separate drives with disc partions between each one.

Have Renamed each Directory for each copy in each drive (hopefully making it think they're all different). Have left Application Data alone, so I guess there's just one cfs3 copy left in C drive from when CFS3 used to be there. [have gotten away with just copy/paste the whole game, or send to, then delete the old one, when moving cfs3 around]

Was 'failing to load', so then renamed the .exe icons to match the name of each main folder/Directory (eg Combat Flight Simulator 3(0) and start each game from each shortcut on the desktop. Used names like: cfs3 (0), so on.
Had to 'Unhang it' a couple of times, but seemed to settle down, as now.

Bit did not even think about this yet for ETO: have just left it undisturbed in C drive with it paired clean copy of cfs3 in the Microsoft Games folder: it's more complicated and fussy and don't want potential problems.

I might be very wrong, but that's what I'm getting away with. Might add some Application Data folders manually, in future,, now I understand better how it works.
 
running muliple installs of CFS3 without running the multiCFS3-tools only works if they are identical. If you fly an airplane in one install that doesn't exist in the other, next time you start this install of CFS3, it just crashes on startup.

That's because CFS3 creates a file (uisel.xml) within the application data folder where it stores the last airfield, plane, enemy fighter/bomber etc flown in QuickCombat. Running the multicfs3 tools lets you choose a name for another appdata folder, where now this install stores its data in.

So crashes on stratup can often be cured by simply deleting the "uisel.xml" in the appdata folder. Next time you fire up CFS3, it creates a new one
 
It's a bit naughty, but have had reasonable success with running a clean cfs3 and two cfs3+FPower copies by putting these three on a separate physical drive to XP and naming separate drives with disc partions between each one.
...

Ian, read Grizzly's post above and get to know MultiCFS3 - it's in your ETO install - so you can install as many different CFS3 installs on one HD without conflicts.

It's really easy! :jump:
 
...I'm guessing that before long you'll experience a phenomenon we all go through where just when things seem inaccessibly indecipherable suddenly its really just quite simple and things start to fall into place... I haven't had to do a reinstall for many years now and instead of problems being a drag they've become an interesting challenge... I know this prolly sounds a bit sappy but its true so ''chin up'', be fearless and have a virtual beer on me... :guinness::icon29::ernae::guinness::icon_lol:
 
Ian, read Grizzly's post above and get to know MultiCFS3 - it's in your ETO install - so you can install as many different CFS3 installs on one HD without conflicts.

It's really easy! :jump:


Tom, thanks will do for each copy. See my New Q/post: any easy way to get over 'read only mode' so you can do mods?
 
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