Advanced Mann-Conomy: How to idle with multiple accounts - Games

[QUOTE=Gordon Frohm;33763168]Is anybody else getting thousands of "Reference Count for Material" errors that make hl2.exe "stop working"?[/QUOTE] Read the last posts before posting. [QUOTE=gambler;33748120] By the way, if anyone is having crashes on tf2 startup after the last update, delete the folder account/team fortress 2/bin , then run again and it will work.[/QUOTE]

Working on the next 'big' update now. Hopefully an installer on the way :s

[I]The "reference count" isnt an [U]itemtest[/U][/I] specific error, and it is easily fixed by deleting both bin folders that exist in the common steamapps. If you have followed the initial tutorial, after starting your idling clients, the common steamapps folder will be populated with a few folders... In my example, I had several idle accounts, and their folders were: idl001 idl002 idl003 Browse each of them, and delete the bin folder from: idl001/ idl001/tf/ Restart idling clients, let them shortly update. Voila. No more errors. Tested with my 20 idle accounts. Drops are fine for a double-drop weekend. Getting 21-24 items per account... Proof: 3 hr period [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/d2UCT.jpg[/IMG]

[QUOTE=gambler;33764151]Read the last posts before posting.[/QUOTE] Please don't assume I'm an idiot noob that didn't read this thread or tried any of the possible solutions before posting about my problem.

[QUOTE=Gordon Frohm;33765770]Please don't assume I'm an idiot noob that didn't read this thread or tried any of the possible solutions before posting about my problem.[/QUOTE] I have a suggestion to delete each of your account folders in Steamapps. Just 'might' work.

im getting the "file is too big to copy into sandboxie" error. any fix? Read somewhere about deleting the sandboxie content and then update, but I still get the same error EDIT: If I choose to "hide" that error, steam starts up just fine, but then it validates the game files when I try to run the game, then giving "steam servers are too busy to handle your request"- If I run this account outside of sandboxie, it runs fine

[QUOTE=DeltaEcho;33765891]I have a suggestion to delete each of your account folders in Steamapps. Just 'might' work.[/QUOTE] I deleted everything in my Idle folders except for the steamapps shortcut and steam.exe and the bin folders in the steamapps (what irukandji said) Now it seems to work again Which is weird, because I basically deleted everything (except the truly neccessary stuff) multiple times and it didn't work then. Oh well, at least it works and I can score some items.

Sup, idlers. I'm back after 3 months of real life trouble and I see some cool stuff going on. And of course people not reading the OP. [QUOTE=Kaze1;33766165]im getting the "file is too big to copy into sandboxie" error. any fix? Read somewhere about deleting the sandboxie content and then update, but I still get the same error EDIT: If I choose to "hide" that error, steam starts up just fine, but then it validates the game files when I try to run the game, then giving "steam servers are too busy to handle your request"- If I run this account outside of sandboxie, it runs fine[/QUOTE] Resource access->Full access First page go and read it.

[QUOTE=irukandji;33765287]Tested with my 20 idle accounts. Drops are fine for a double-drop weekend. Getting 21-24 items per account... Proof: 3 hr period [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/d2UCT.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE] I do NOT doubt irukandji findings. Rather, i believe it highlights an interesting "idling" topic worth mentioning. (And stats during "double drop week" is the best time to discuss it considering NoochLand always produces double week drops, just much quicker during DDW 8+ hours vs. 14+ hours) I run 16 accounts in NoochLand simultaneaously. During DDW, I find at 8+ hours 100% of acounts have 18-21 items. I agree 25% of said 16 accounts may have 24 item drop potential during another 3+ hours, yet about 75% of accounts most likely will not have any additional drops. Thus, if you have plenty of time to run all your accounts in 1 week for 11+ hours then do it! but, for serious "farmers" like Nooch who have a small Army, consider switching your accounts at 8+ hours so ALL your Steams are always producing item drops.

How does nooch get the money for all these gaming machines and the probably ridiculous electricity costs? My new idea is to rent some server and set up a remote idling box but I have no idea how to do it and how much it would cost. Considering that I have to get a certain number of accounts to cover the account and server costs.

[QUOTE=Gurkenpirat;33766472]Sup, idlers. I'm back after 3 months of real life trouble and I see some cool stuff going on. And of course people not reading the OP. [/QUOTE] So glad to meet you! Is there by any chance once I release a "decent" version of my program you can add it to the OP? Thank you so much for the tutorial. :edit On the server subject. How much is 4gbs for a month? I wouldn't mind getting a 24/7 idle source. Would also save some usage since I am limited to 15gbs instead of my normal 500gbs :/ :edit2 Nooch doesn't need to pay for heating apparently. :P So I guess a bit of money would be saved there?

[QUOTE=DeltaEcho;33766816]So glad to meet you! Is there by any chance once I release a "decent" version of my program you can add it to the OP? Thank you so much for the tutorial. :edit On the server subject. How much is 4gbs for a month? I wouldn't mind getting a 24/7 idle source. Would also save some usage since I am limited to 15gbs instead of my normal 500gbs :/ :edit2 Nooch doesn't need to pay for heating apparently. :P So I guess a bit of money would be saved there?[/QUOTE] Sure thing. That's what I meant with cool stuff. Actually I wanted to do this myself but I was too lazy to learn this NetFramework stuff. Just tell me when you finish your "decent" version.

[QUOTE=Gurkenpirat;33766926]Sure thing. That's what I meant with cool stuff. Actually I wanted to do this myself but I was too lazy to learn this NetFramework stuff. Just tell me when you finish your "decent" version.[/QUOTE] Alright, thanks. It's not to hard. Just takes a few days to get the grips of it. Can someone please murder my friend. He just got his 3rd unusual in his 30 keys :/ He bought 1 key. That 1 key got him an unusual. **** him. :)

[QUOTE=Gurkenpirat;33766780]How does nooch get the money for all these gaming machines and the probably ridiculous electricity costs?[/QUOTE] I have no justification for why i ended up with a farm of gaming machines? Some people build model airplanes, i built PC's. In a desperate attempt to not part with my beloved machines, i irrationallly created LAN Heat. Girlfriend was warm, the computers stayed. Then i started running TF2, and instead of blowing money in the Mann Store i spent it on game licenses. About $2000.00 later, VALVe wins. (i would have spent that money on Beer and bad food, so at least i'm not fat and in jail for DUI) ironically, I posted these numbers on SPUF about LAN Heat today: Home Heating Oil not purchased, and not including this winter (ie 100 gallons Season1, 200 gallons Season2, Season3 not included): 300 gallons * $3.50 = $1050.00 Extra electricity consumed thru November this year (ie Season1, Season2, Season3): 7297 kilowatt hours * $0.11 = $802.67 So, I pay the electric company less to be warmer, instead of paying the oil company more to be colder.

[QUOTE=DeltaEcho;33759333]I think I can. Just trying to unpack stuff right now. And just a heads up connecting to a listen server uses less resources since you are only supporting 2 players instead of the average 24-32.[/QUOTE] When Tf2 starts up it connects to item_test or something and it says Players 1/2 so I just keep it at that? It keeps saying validating files though.. then when it gets to 100% it says Steam servers too busy or Game not available. I read the readme and it says nothing about it.

I am now getting the # sign at the beginning of each word on the buttons within the main TF2 menu screen. Anyone have an idea why this might be please? Also is found when Alt+Tab menu's in TF2.

[QUOTE=zackattack187;33772575]I am now getting the # sign at the beginning of each word on the buttons within the main TF2 menu screen. Anyone have an idea why this might be please? Also is found when Alt+Tab menu's in TF2.[/QUOTE] I had that issue when I had some reskins / weapon mods installed. Is this the only alteration you've made to your TF2 setup?

[QUOTE=Render Case;33772722]I had that issue when I had some reskins / weapon mods installed. Is this the only alteration you've made to your TF2 setup?[/QUOTE] Yeh, no mods at all. I do have a few accounts though but no mods. In fact, I found this so absurd that yesterday I uninstalled TF2 from my pc and then reinstalled TF2 (2 hours!) and still have the same problem. It's beginning to freak me out a little.

[QUOTE=Errorproxy;33770548] It keeps saying validating files though.. then when it gets to 100% it says Steam servers too busy or Game not available. I read the readme and it says nothing about it.[/QUOTE] It happens when you have multiple accounts opened at the same time, the steamapps folder is shared and the game starts to update. It causes some kind of conflict. The easiest way to fix it is closing all the Steams and copying the -already updated- TF2 files from your main installation (if you have one) to the shared steamapps folder. To avoid this problem from happening again, always check is there's a TF2 update before running more than one account that shares the steamapps folder.

I can install a fail safe for the idle? Should be as simple as show.dialogue (Have you updated your TF2 yet?) I MIGHT have something out later today. The update after this will maybe have an installer. Then after that there might be non-.bat system implemented once I figure out how to launch the selected link with parameters on the end. Shouldn't be very complicated, just a few nights messing around with it. [url]http://www.mediafire.com/?9z0as65vmmbcm37[/url] There is the link to 2.20 Please report any bugs to me. I didn't test it with my friend yet. But I am 99% sure I cleaned all the bugs.

uh, I just managed to get one of my old idle accounts back, and for some reason it's not premium. how the fuck can it not be premium if i paid for tf2 on it? (i have playtime on it from before the f2p update, hell i even have a merc badge with the join date dec. 27th 2010)

[QUOTE=Psycho_Shadow;33775576]uh, I just managed to get one of my old idle accounts back, and for some reason it's not premium. how the fuck can it not be premium if i paid for tf2 on it? (i have playtime on it from before the f2p update, hell i even have a merc badge with the join date dec. 27th 2010)[/QUOTE] Send steam support a message with the transaction ID (If you have one) They should sort it out for you.

[QUOTE=DeltaEcho;33775628]Send steam support a message with the transaction ID (If you have one) They should sort it out for you.[/QUOTE] now that i looked im p. sure I gifted the alt from my main. and whatever the fuck they did I can't bring up a list of who I gave what to anymore, just what gifts I have...

I gifted a Orangebox from Steam after TF2 gone f2p, the account received a "Proof of Purchase" hat, but it remained not Premium. Not sure if you had the same problem.

[QUOTE=gambler;33779288]I gifted a Orangebox from Steam after TF2 gone f2p, the account received a "Proof of Purchase" hat, but it remained not Premium. Not sure if you had the same problem.[/QUOTE] It seems that gifted TF2's don't get premium. Unless something was bought from the store beforehand. This might be a problem...

Is there any information on when exactly the weekly cap resets? I have exhausted four accounts this week and it would be nice if I knew when I could start them off again. *EDIT* Sorry, stupid question, the wiki says 00:00 GMT Thursday, does that mean like 11:59 Wednesday or 00:01 Friday? Im never sure when they dont specify this, because loads of stupid companies say 00:00GMT when they actually mean 24 hours later.

[QUOTE=Lilolia;33781318]Is there any information on when exactly the weekly cap resets? I have exhausted four accounts this week and it would be nice if I knew when I could start them off again. *EDIT* Sorry, stupid question, the wiki says 00:00 GMT Thursday, does that mean like 11:59 Wednesday or 00:01 Friday? Im never sure when they dont specify this, because loads of stupid companies say 00:00GMT when they actually mean 24 hours later.[/QUOTE] Thursday means Thursday. 00:00 is only once a day. After 23:59 comes 00:00 of the next day. Seriously...

Im in the USA so my time to start idling is 5pm MST every Wednesday if that helps.

Has anyone actually calculated if this is a way to make money? Nooch seems to do it just for the fun, the weapons and the hats. I read trough this whole thread and the wiki entry and my impression is, that he isn't trying to turn it into a profit. Now there is probably no way to make money with this, otherwise some chinese warehouse would already have burned down because hundreds of old computers were running. Piled around one guy who is nifty enough to automate everything. But maybe it's just not profitable enough. Nooch mentioned that he is getting one refined metal every hour with 16 machines running. I was never into trading. But I could see two ways of making money. The first one is trading for keys, opening crates and hoping for a unusual. The second one is undermining valves store by having an easy way to buy everything that is available in the store for a lower price (probably even the keys?). Valve made this a bit harder, now that bought items aren't worth less than their crafted or found counterparts due to the trading restriction, but still... A key seems to be worth around 2 refined. If one could find a steady supplier, nooches army would spill out a key every two hours. Having no idea if hoping for unusual is actually a good idea, let's just assume the store undermining idea is a better way to go. Instead of 2.50$ we sell every key for 1.50$. Low enough to make unusual hunters jump on it. In 24 hours we would have 12 keys to sell for 1.50$ each. Sums up to 18$ per day. I suppose that is ignoring all the other stuff one could sell. Like paint. But are hats also excluded? He had 510 hats dropped over nearly a year. Some of them could probably be worth something too. Is the amount of money one could get out of this really so low? That would mean that the worth of even the newer weapons and hats is actually so retartedly low, that the markup in valves shop must be somewhere in the 10000% to 30000%. What's the use of buying a weapon for several dollar if even it's worth in the virtual trading market is in the cents?

[QUOTE=Gurkenpirat;33781714]Thursday means Thursday. 00:00 is only once a day. After 23:59 comes 00:00 of the next day. Seriously...[/QUOTE] I know that, but I have seen so many people (And companies) use it like saying 00:00 on Thursday when they mean 00:00 Friday that I always clarify it.