Question regarding Full Install

MikeDykeLike · #1 (**permalink**) 01-08-2005, 12:23 PM

When doing a Full Install (as described in the FAQ thread) I have until know always created 3 seperate folders on the harddisk, one for each game disk (2, 3, 4).

It just occured to me, after reading a tidbit about this on another website, that it should be possible to copy all of the files in one single folder because a number of ARxyz.bif files are used multiple times. This, in effect, vastly decreases the size of the Full Install because many files are simple overwritten.

I've also noticed that most files that are the same on Disk 2 and 3 were created on the same date, while reused .bif files on Disk 4 were created half a month before the rest.

Has anyone tried this and are there any issues with doing the full install this way?

VonDondu · #2 (**permalink**) 01-08-2005, 02:48 PM

I put all of my data files in one folder (movie files, too) every time I install an Infinity Engine game. As you say, it saves a lot of hard drive space because it eliminates the redundancy. Just make you update your *.ini file to point to the correct path. It works like a charm.

fable · #3 (**permalink**) 01-08-2005, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VonDondu

I put all of my data files in one folder (movie files, too) every time I install an Infinity Engine game. As you say, it saves a lot of hard drive space because it eliminates the redundancy. Just make you update your *.ini file to point to the correct path. It works like a charm.

Are you saying this will work for the likes of BG2 SoA/ToB? And even with mods?

Vicsun · #4 (**permalink**) 01-09-2005, 02:14 AM

You might want to update your FAQ with this information - I don't believe many people knew this

fable · #5 (**permalink**) 01-09-2005, 07:32 AM

First, I'm waiting for confirmation. Second, they're not my FAQs, they're Buck's, which means somebody who's tried this will have to contact him.

Vicsun · #6 (**permalink**) 01-09-2005, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fable

First, I'm waiting for confirmation. Second, they're not my FAQs, they're Buck's, which means somebody who's tried this will have to contact him.

Wasn't VonDondu's post enough of a confirmation?

My previous post was directed at MikeDykeLike and was referring to the FAQ posted in the sticky thread, which he was quoting in his post (unless the thread is gigantically long, when I reply without quoting I'm usually addressing the original poster, not the poster above me) - there is no FAQ on Torment available on the mainpage... And I do realize the content available on the main page is Buck's

fable · #7 (**permalink**) 01-09-2005, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vicsun

Wasn't VonDondu's post enough of a confirmation?

But not of my question: "Are you saying this will work for the likes of BG2 SoA/ToB? And even with mods?"

VonDondu · #8 (**permalink**) 01-09-2005, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fable

Are you saying this will work for the likes of BG2 SoA/ToB? And even with mods?

Yes, it will work with BG1 and SoA/ToB, even with mods.

If you don't perform a full installation, the game has to read files from the CDs. In that case, your *.ini file must specify the correct path to the CDs. If you do perform a full installation, the setup program merely copies the files to your hard drive. For example, the contents of CD3 are placed in a subdirectory called /CD3, and the *.ini file specifies that path. To prevent the need to swap CDs frequently, some of the data files are repeated on each CD. By placing all of the files into one directory into individual directories, you can eliminate the duplicate files and save about 400-500MB of hard drive space.

Keep in mind that the /DATA directory and /MOVIE directory only contain files from the original CDs. I'm not aware of any mod that replaces any of those files. Usually, mods replace the DIALOG.TLK file with a new one and add a bunch of files to the /OVERRIDE directory. If you install the TotSC expansion or the ToB expansion, I don't think any of the original data files are overwritten; I think the expansion packs simply add new files (on CD6 and CD5, respectively). Any changes to the existing maps, creatures, and items are probably handled simply by adding new files to the /OVERRIDE directory. The same thing goes for official patches.

I can't remember whether there was any need to move the data files from IWD and IWD2 to a single folder (the setup program might have set it up that way to begin with), but I just took a look at my IWD directory, and all of the data files are in a single directory.