Advanced Mann-Conomy: How to idle with multiple accounts

[gambler]

The Steam proccess is taking a lot of cpu usage after the last update while running on Sandboxie... what's going on?

[Groovu]

[QUOTE=gambler;32435632]The Steam proccess is taking a lot of cpu usage after the last update while running on Sandboxie... what's going on?[/QUOTE]

How much did you normally get? I was running 10 accounts and I get about 700MB per hl2.

[gambler]

Problem wasn't memory usage, it was cpu usage. I found out what was happening, Steam was trying to update a game with the steamapps folder shared.

[AlfieSR]

[QUOTE=Wiiunite;32420237]Just for anyone that is curious, 12 is the highest number of items you can get each week. The amount of drops you can get each week is predetermined, so it may be less. Crates don't count towards your total.[/QUOTE]

Where'd you pull that from?
It's 11 hours a week, not 12 items. This has been proved before.

[Commander49]

So I have a quick question about this.

When I launch all the .bat files (which work, the servers load up and everything.), ALL the little windows say "commander49 connected" (using an example username), rather then the usernames of all the individual accounts, it's just one of them. Is this something to be concerned about, or is that how it's supposed to work?

Thanks! :downs:

[Zavake]

[QUOTE=Commander49;32451183]So I have a quick question about this.

When I launch all the .bat files (which work, the servers load up and everything.), ALL the little windows say "commander49 connected" (using an example username), rather then the usernames of all the individual accounts, it's just one of them. Is this something to be concerned about, or is that how it's supposed to work?

Thanks! :downs:[/QUOTE]

They all should have the "*individual account nick* connected", or atleast for me it is so.
So most likely all your accounts somehow have the same nick, like for example when you create new accounts, they take your name as the nick, so if you never changed it, your accounts would all have the same nick.

[Commander49]

[QUOTE=Zavake;32453182]They all should have the "*individual account nick* connected", or atleast for me it is so.
So most likely all your accounts somehow have the same nick, like for example when you create new accounts, they take your name as the nick, so if you never changed it, your accounts would all have the same nick.[/QUOTE]

Ok, I fixed that. Now all the accounts launch with their individual account names. Now when I launch .bat to start all the files, one of them launches completely and the rest of them get the

"Steam cannot open blob archive file, the process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process."

I always have Steam closed when I start it initially, and Sandboxie shows 1 copy of steam open per sandbox. Does this mean I did the symbolic linking wrong, or is there another problem?

[Zavake]

[QUOTE=Commander49;32456620]Ok, I fixed that. Now all the accounts launch with their individual account names. Now when I launch .bat to start all the files, one of them launches completely and the rest of them get the

"Steam cannot open blob archive file, the process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process."

I always have Steam closed when I start it initially, and Sandboxie shows 1 copy of steam open per sandbox. Does this mean I did the symbolic linking wrong, or is there another problem?[/QUOTE]

Yes, there might be an issue with the copy you made of steam, or the link, you should try copying steam again and redoing the link, see if that fixes the problem.

[Evil_Knevil]

i got a problem when I want to add steam funds to have premium TF2 account on my second account, it gives an "unexpected error"

[Hippo-critical]

[QUOTE=Fartbomb222;32282436]I have a problem on the 4th step. When I go to launch steam in the Sandboxed windows explorer it just says:
"Steam.exe (main exception): Unable to write to the current steam application folder.
Please move Steam to a folder where you have write priviliges."

I have full access on C: drive in the sandbox settings.
Is it because steam is under 'C:\Users\Myname\Steam'?[/QUOTE]

Still having problems here. Can I please get some assistance here?

[Groovu]

[QUOTE=Evil_Knevil;32470644]i got a problem when I want to add steam funds to have premium TF2 account on my second account, it gives an "unexpected error"[/QUOTE]
It seems that you can only connect 1 card to 2 accounts. I tried using PayPal to get around it, but it only worked once before it gave the same error. Only solution I can think of is buying 5 dollars debit gift cards and using those.

[Deadshot47]

I've been using this method successfully for a while... unfortunately, I now find myself dealing with an error that the accounts cannot connect to Steam when I start the .bat file. I have full access set to the C: drive, the individual Steam folder and the steamapps folder but it doesn't seem to help. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated :D

[Hippo-critical]

[QUOTE=Fartbomb222;32282436]I have a problem on the 4th step. When I go to launch steam in the Sandboxed windows explorer it just says:
"Steam.exe (main exception): Unable to write to the current steam application folder.
Please move Steam to a folder where you have write priviliges."

I have full access on C: drive in the sandbox settings.
Is it because steam is under 'C:\Users\Myname\Steam'?[/QUOTE]

Retoasting because page peasant

[Zavake]

[QUOTE=Evil_Knevil;32470644]i got a problem when I want to add steam funds to have premium TF2 account on my second account, it gives an "unexpected error"[/QUOTE]
Try paypal, if the error occurs when you're using a credit card.

[Deadshot47]

Looks like my problem has resolved itself, probably just another indicator that my modem is going bad (along with the fact that idling is causing lag spikes across my network now even though I've never had a problem before)

[[ToRn]]

-snip-

[gambler]

I'm getting "connect on replay.dll failed" after the last update, when trying to run TF2 using a shared folder. This error pops up and the TF2 window closes. What's happening?

EDIT: Fixed the problem, if someone find the same problem, just delete the bin folder of your account (steamapps/username/team fortress 2/bin) and restart the game. No verification of game files needed.

[AlfieGroove]

I got the same problem as gambler. Just delete your steamapp/username/tf2 that's the solution to quite a bit of these problems that occur with alt idling.

[FF|Skyrider]

I really don't get it why mklink is needed. Simple run steam.exe (with the TF2 shortcut info) through sandboxie (or a bat) from your main steam directory and log in with your idle information (or once again, using bat). It'll create an account name in your main steamapps, adds the TF2 files and launches TF2. Why is copy/pasting multiple steam folders even needed?

The old method that I used:

- Right click on my steam.exe shortcut (using -applaunch 440 -textmode -nosound -low -noipx -novid -nopreload -nojoy -sw +map "itemtest")
- Selecting Run sandboxed from the right click menu (on steam.exe)
- Selecting the sandboxie profile
- Steam logs in with my idle account (login information saved)
- Creates idle account name map and tf2 files in steamapps
- TF2 launches, idle begins.

The bat makes it easier, so I'll be using that as well. But it's not changing anything above, just speeds it up. But I am seriously confused why mklink is required with separated steam maps while it already creates all account / tf2 folders in your main steamapps. In fact, you'll be make things cluttered by creating extra steam copies for each idle account.

[AlfieGroove]

Don't you need multiple folders of Steam to run more than one account at once? Also you're saving shitloads of space with mklink because you don't have to store all of TF2 again for each account.

[FF|Skyrider]

[QUOTE=AlfieGroove;32795026]Don't you need multiple folders of Steam to run more than one account at once? Also you're saving shitloads of space with mklink because you don't have to store all of TF2 again for each account.[/QUOTE]
How exactly are you saving space? As far as I know, all the folders are still being created:

[img]http://skyrider.esforces.com/images/idle_steamapps.jpg[/img]

^ My steamapps folder. Regardless of using mklink or not, the idle account directory + TF2 sub-directory are still being created.. So how exactly are you saving space? You are using more space by duplicating the steam directory without the steamapps directory.

I'm still trying to figure this all out though. From what I read, you guys are saying that only 1 directory can be used for all the accounts? So. 1 account directory in the steamapps map?

[AlfieGroove]

I have 2 alt accounts and 3 steam folders. 2 for my alts, 1 for my main. My 2 alt folders don't have any of the tf2 files and stuff in their steam folders. They're linked to my main's steam folder where all the shit is.

The tf2 subdirectory will still be create but inside the steamapps folder. It really does save lots of space.

[FF|Skyrider]

[QUOTE=AlfieGroove;32796427]I have 2 alt accounts and 3 steam folders. 2 for my alts, 1 for my main. My 2 alt folders don't have any of the tf2 files and stuff in their steam folders. They're linked to my main's steam folder where all the shit is.

The tf2 subdirectory will still be create but inside the steamapps folder. It really does save lots of space.[/QUOTE]
So how exactly is it different without mklink? Both my method and mklink still create the account directory + all the tf2 required files to launch the game within steamapps.

[irukandji]

After the latest TF2 update, this method is not working for me anymore.

I've spent about 6hrs following this method, twice.
I must mention it worked before. Before update, I was running 8 premium accs with no problem.

-

More exactly, there are a couple of errors that drove me crazy:
Steam.exe (main application): Can't find the files attribute. Win32 error 2: Can't find specified file

I've deleted all folders, retracing the steps from the beginning.

After setting all the stuff up, including the steamapp mklink, the accounts are emulated properly by sandboxie but:

a) Bugged files verification:
Although steamapps is updated to the latest version, everytime I log into an account and try to start TF2, it starts validating the files. I mean everytime. And most of the times, around 99-100%, it says that the steam servers are busy, as if they are related with the stored files. Stupid crap

b) Clientregistry blob fixing:
I had encountered this error a couple of times. The only way to solve this was to delete the entire steam folder content, except steam.exe and start it, for it to update and generate most of the file structure, including the clientregistry.blob

Now, I need some clarification on:
1. How to update all the steam files for every steam instance? It's time wasted otherwise;
2. How to upgrade the steamapps files using just one account, so I won't get updating windows for every other account that runs in sandboxie.

==========

Please help me out. I plan on getting several other accounts with premium by the starting of the Christmas holiday, so fixing these in time would not prove to be a headache.

[irukandji]

That's the exact blob archive error I've got.

I've deleted the entire steam folder except steam.exe

Ran the steam.exe and it autogenerated the folder structure.

@Fartbomb22: are you using Win7? If so, you must know that "C:\Users\" is admin privileged. I suggest you create the steam_alt folders on another partition, not on C:

That's what I've done:
- installed Sandboxie on "D:\", making sure I also modify the sandboxie save folder to be on "D" not on "C"
- installed one instance of normal steam, used to update the steamapps files
- installed all steam_alt accounts on "D:\Idler\" with mklink to the steamapps common folder.

My structure is:

D:\Sandboxie
D:\Steam
D:\Idler\Alt01
D:\Idler\Alt01
....
D:\Steamapps

Easy as pie. The only problem is the current update.

Right now, the only error I get is the constant file validation process.

I've deleted all the steamapps files and downloading the whole game again. Let's see if this fixes stuff up.

I will let you know the result.

[AloneEasyTarget]

I got both problems and I didn't encounter these problems before so how to solve them?

[DeltaEcho]

Uh hi Facepunch. I've been using this guide for a while and I made this just for idling a while ago. Since TF2 was down I remade it and I thought it would be very nice to post it here. Its only for 1 account so just copy and paste the launching line for each account if you wish to add more.
Please tell me if I can add something to improve it and sorry if its not the most efficient I'm very new to this.
Thanks to random people who I have gotten ideas from and a special thanks to Gurkenpirat.

[QUOTE]@echo off
title Starting Idle Process. Do Not Close Launcher, Or This Will Fail To Launch All Accounts.
@echo Starting 1
@echo off
start C:\Program Files\Sandboxie\Start.exe /box:Boxname "C:\Program Files\Steam\Steam.exe" -silent -Login "Username" "Password" -applaunch 440 -textmode +exec idle.cfg -single_core -low -nosound -sw -width 640 -height 480 -noshader -nopix -novid -nopreload -replay_enable 0 +sv_password 1234 -sw +map itemtest +maxplayers 2 -heapsize 131072
ping 127.0.0.1 -n 15>nul
\\\\\\
title Come back in 10-15 hours for best drops.
cls
:start
@echo 1 = Close TF2
@echo 2 = Close Steam and TF2
@echo 3 = Restart TF2 in Normal Mode
@echo Enter = Exit
@echo.
@echo off
set /p opt= Enter A Number Here:
@echo off
if %opt%==1 goto 1
if %opt%==2 goto 2
if %opt%==3 goto 3
cls
exit
goto start
:1
cls
taskkill/IM hl2.exe /F
exit
:2
cls
@echo off
taskkill/IM hl2.exe /F>nul
start C:\Program Files\Sandboxie\Start.exe /box:Boxname "C:\Program Files\Steam\Steam.exe" -shutdown
ping 127.0.0.1 -n 15>nul
start C:\Program Files\Sandboxie\Start.exe /box:Boxname /Terminate
taskkill/IM SbieCtrl.exe /F
taskkill/IM sandboxie.exe /F
exit
:3
@echo off
cls
taskkill/IM hl2.exe /F
start C:\Program Files\Sandboxie\Start.exe /box:Boxname "C:\Program Files\Steam\Steam.exe" -shutdown
@echo off
title Starting Idle Reboot Process, Do Not Close Launcher.
cls
@echo Starting 1
@echo off
start C:\Program Files\Sandboxie\Start.exe /box:Boxname "C:\Program Files\Steam\Steam.exe" -silent -Login "Username" "Password" -applaunch 440 +exec idle.cfg -single_core -low -nosound -sw -width 640 -height 480 -noshader -nopix -novid -nopreload -heapsize 131072
cls
@echo Collect your items and enjoy.
ping 127.0.0.1 -n 5>nul
exit[/QUOTE]

[Jechtmania]

After running back to this thread because of a replay.dll error I think it'll be useful for a quick and small diy troubleshoot thingy:

[b]replay.dll error[/b]
[i]Delete the account's respective bin folder in "steamapps/username/team fortress 2/bin"[/i]

[b]blob error[/b]
[i]Delete all files and folders in your respective offending account's Steam folder except for the Steam.exe and mklink'd steamapps shortcut and then run Steam.exe[/i]

[pollyzoid]

[QUOTE=FF|Skyrider;32796454]So how exactly is it different without mklink? Both my method and mklink still create the account directory + all the tf2 required files to launch the game within steamapps.[/QUOTE]

Running multiple copies of Steam from one folder creates problems if Steam wants to modify any shared files. Using mklink ensures that the Steam copies are separate, while the game data files (gcfs, which take the most space) are in one place to reduce used space.

e: Might work if you give the sandbox a read-only access to the folder.

[FF|Skyrider]

[QUOTE=raBBish;32811095]Running multiple copies of Steam from one folder creates problems if Steam wants to modify any shared files. Using mklink ensures that the Steam copies are separate, while the game data files (gcfs, which take the most space) are in one place to reduce used space.

e: Might work if you give the sandbox a read-only access to the folder.[/QUOTE]
But this also means all the steam directory has to be updated (if any updates are being released) while if you keep 1 steam directory, only 1 sandboxie (or your main steam) has to be updated. I never, ever had any issues with just keeping 1 steam directory, except for the fact that TF2 files had to be revalidated, but that has nothing to do with using just 1 steam map.

I don't see how exactly this reduces space as each steam directory is about, I don't know.. 20, 30mb? I'm saving 650MB by keeping 1 steam directory.