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

[QUOTE=Byndley;30794085]Besides the obvious 5x the items, how useful is having multiple accounts for the sole purpose of getting items? Let's say you get 10 items per account, totaling 50 items. That's 2 refined and 2 reclaimed each week, and if you're lucky, a hat. Is it worth $25 to get about 3 refined a week for life?[/QUOTE] Well, you gotta do some more math. You say you get 3 refined which is one key, key's usually sell for around 2$ each, supposedly. So after 12 weeks, you'd make up what you lost, maybe 5 weeks for the occasional hat. However, if you're a scam trader, you can make up what you lost within 1 week. I give you the Billy Mays guarantee.

I was wondering how to do this for a while without getting a second computer. Thanks op, helped a lot.

This guide (though worded differently) was posted on the TF2 section of the Steampowered Forums ages ago. I just tried Googling to find it, but I think it's been deleted. Regardless, I've been using this method for months. The guide from SPUF suggested making 2 (or more, based on how many accounts you have) Steam directories. If you do so, you'll have to get the TF2 updates in both directories. If you don't, you'll have to delete your 2nd directory, update your original directory, then copy/paste directory 1 into the folder for directory 2. Repeat as many times as necessary, based on however many accounts you have. I personally run 2 accounts, and trying to run them both from one directory just didn't seem to want to work properly. After re-reading the guide on SPUF, I noticed the above suggestion to create a 2nd directory) Also, if you don't update your 2nd directory, and just run Steam through the Sandbox, Steam won't be able to update your games properly due to being run in a "virtual" environment.

[QUOTE=404UserNotFound;30794260]This guide (though worded differently) was posted on the TF2 section of the Steampowered Forums ages ago. I just tried Googling to find it, but I think it's been deleted. Regardless, I've been using this method for months. The guide from SPUF suggested making 2 (or more, based on how many accounts you have) Steam directories. If you do so, you'll have to get the TF2 updates in both directories. If you don't, you'll have to delete your 2nd directory, update your original directory, then copy/paste directory 1 into the folder for directory 2. Repeat as many times as necessary, based on however many accounts you have. I personally run 2 accounts, and trying to run them both from one directory just didn't seem to want to work properly. After re-reading the guide on SPUF, I noticed the above suggestion to create a 2nd directory) Also, if you don't update your 2nd directory, and just run Steam through the Sandbox, [b]Steam won't be able to update your games properly due to being run in a "virtual" environment.[/b][/QUOTE] Is that why it's pushing out a 2.5gb update to my second account even after I copied in some fully-updated GCFs to the second directory?

[QUOTE=triFeral;30794291]Is that why it's pushing out a 2.5gb update to my second account even after I copied in some fully-updated GCFs to the second directory?[/QUOTE] Mhm. I tried copying my GCF's as well and it kept giving me some error about the GCF being nonexistent or something. So I ended up installing TF2 from scratch in my secondary directory. As for the original guide I couldn't find...I found it, albeit not the original thread (it's been deleted). This post is from a user on SPUF named "Shambler" in a thread from November 5th, 2010. The thread was a guy asking if it's possible to multi-idle. Here's Shambler's post ([url=http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showpost.php?p=18326121&postcount=25]Click here to view on SPUF[/url]) [b]NOTE:[/b]The URL at the end of his post doesn't work. Also, I ignored step 4 and 5. Normally I just run 2nd directory Steam from DefaultBox. Works fine for me. [quote]I was actually messing with this yesterday, and I couldn't get TF2 working in a virtual machine so I did this (writing as a guide to make it easier for others): 1: Download Sandboxie: [url]www.Sandboxie.com[/url] 2: Open Sandboxie, click Sandbox->Create New Sandbox (name it SteamAlt or something) 3: Copy your entire Steam directory (selectively copy only TF2 related files from SteamApps to save space), and place it in a new folder somewhere 4: Sandbox->SteamAlt->Sandbox Settings: - Restrictions->Drop Rights->UNtick 'Drop rights from Administrators and Power Users groups' - Resource Access->File Access->Direct Access: -> Add Program (Steam.exe) -> Add directory for Steam.exe, pointing to your copy of the Steam directory (best not to use the original Steam install, in case it conflicts with other running copies) 5: Sandbox->SteamAlt->Run Sandboxed->Run Windows Explorer 6: In Sandboxed explorer, navigate to copied Steam directory and run Steam.exe 7: You can now sign in to whatever account you like, even if Steam is already open, and can load TF2. EDIT: I've actually decided to make another thread on this, since it's useful enough to warrant that: [url]http://forums.steampowered.com/forum...php?p=18326260[/url][/quote]

I think I just left out a gcf or two. Better double check before wasting more bandwidth.

[QUOTE=Byndley;30794085]Besides the obvious 5x the items, how useful is having multiple accounts for the sole purpose of getting items? Let's say you get 10 items per account, totaling 50 items. That's 2 refined and 2 reclaimed each week, and if you're lucky, a hat. Is it worth $25 to get about 3 refined a week for life?[/QUOTE] Most people got an alt during that winter sale when it was like $1-$2, so it wasn't really a waste. And besides, if you like what you bought, there's nothing wrong with it.

What I normally do is: 1. Run Steam (Original directory), update TF2, exit Steam 2. Run Steam (2nd directory) without Sandboxie, update TF2, exit Steam 3. Run Steam (2nd directory) in Sandboxie. Select "DefaultBox". Hide any errors that pop up about filesize. 4. Run Steam (Original directory) normally. 5. Check to make sure -textmode is on and that I'm set to connect to my server (both directories) 6. Run TF2 (both directories) 7. Idle 8. ??? 9. Profit! I love having two accounts. [url=http://www.tf2items.com/id/404UserNotFound]404: User Not Found[/url] and [url=http://www.tf2items.com/id/505UserNotImplemented]505: User Not Implemented, aka "404's Alt"[/url]. Gotta love it :D

I found what was wrong, turns out you have to copy [b]all[/b] gcfs relating to the source engine as well as the TF2 ones. Once you do that, you shouldn't have to update anymore than 100mb of data.

[QUOTE=triFeral;30794447]I found what was wrong, turns out you have to copy [b]all[/b] gcfs relating to the source engine as well as the TF2 ones. Once you do that, you shouldn't have to update anymore than 100mb of data.[/QUOTE] Indeed! But if copying GCF files after an update seems like too much work, just run/update TF2 on each directory without sandboxie first, then run your alt directory in sandboxie after. Much simpler :) [QUOTE=ghosevil;30789730]Who's to say? People have gotten VAC banned for some ridiculous shit outside the boundaries of cheating. Valve has said they have a system that's making sure people don't evade server bans, I wonder what else it can do (unless it's a sheer bluff; totally plausible). Maybe I should write an email to Gabe. :jewish:[/QUOTE] Yeah, as someone else here said already, enjoy wasting your time. As per the SPUF post I quoted above, it was posted back in November '10. And I've seen more posts on SPUF asking if "using Sandboxie will get you VAC banned". Answer is no, and side note: Valve doesn't give a shit. They've seen the posts, they don't care. People on SPUF whined and cried and posted generally retarded "methods to stop idlers" for months and months, and Valve didn't do shit. I laughed everytime a new "THIS IS HOW YOU STOP IDLERS!" thread popped up on SPUF, back when I actively posted there (which I don't anymore). What can I say? I run an achievement/idle/trade server. I'm part of the "Pro-Idler" clan. Anti-idlers amuse me.

Thank god I have two computers.

Another perk of this is that, since you have to spend a minimum of a fiver per account (as per steam wallet regulations), you can buy two keys for pretty much exactly five dollars. Then, once they become tradeable, you can use them on your main account.

[QUOTE=404UserNotFound;30794410]What I normally do is: 1. Run Steam (Original directory), update TF2, exit Steam 2. Run Steam (2nd directory) without Sandboxie, update TF2, exit Steam 3. Run Steam (2nd directory) in Sandboxie. Select "DefaultBox". Hide any errors that pop up about filesize. 4. Run Steam (Original directory) normally. 5. Check to make sure -textmode is on and that I'm set to connect to my server (both directories) 6. Run TF2 (both directories) 7. Idle 8. ??? 9. Profit! I love having two accounts. [URL="http://www.tf2items.com/id/404UserNotFound"]404: User Not Found[/URL] and [URL="http://www.tf2items.com/id/505UserNotImplemented"]505: User Not Implemented, aka "404's Alt"[/URL]. Gotta love it :D[/QUOTE] How do i run textmode [B]edit:[/B] also does it work if i just log in on 2 accounts and run team fortress 2? Or do I have to copy some cfg's or something

Launch options and -textmode.

Also can somebody find me a non-vac idle server. I just want to be sure :v: [editline]30th June 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=Petrussen;30797825]Launch options and -textmode.[/QUOTE] how does one use it

[QUOTE=MrCasual;30791965]I heard that adjusting your clock to make items that become tradable in a few days to be tradable is a Vac Bannable offense. This sounds pretty risky if you ask me.[/QUOTE] That was apparently fixed in this update [url]http://wiki.teamfortress.com/wiki/June_27,_2011_Patch[/url] [QUOTE]Fixed players being able to trade items early by altering their computer clock[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Joppari;30797831]Also can somebody find me a non-vac idle server. I just want to be sure :v: how does one use it[/QUOTE] Oh, in the steam window, press view and then click servers. Proceed to connect to your idling server of choice.

...did you try to simply disable the mutex in both steam.exe and hl2.exe with process explorer instead of going through the trouble of using that sandboxie stuff?

Haha, I wake up today and see in one of my four windows two random people joined, a F2Per and a Vet, and the vet ended up coaching the F2Per for quite a while. It's good to see not everyone acting like a douche to the F2Pers. :buddy:

I wonder if/when valve will ban people selling hats and shit for real money? :v

This way is the long and laborious way of doing it. I use the same steam folder for all my idle accounts and have had 7 running from the same directory at once. 1: Download Sandboxie: [url]www.Sandboxie.com[/url] 2: Open Sandboxie, click Sandbox->Create New Sandbox (name it SteamAlt or something) 3: Sandbox->SteamAlt->Sandbox Settings: - Restrictions->Drop Rights->Untick 'Drop rights from Administrators and Power Users groups' - Resource Access->File Access->Direct Access: -> Add Program (Steam.exe) -> Add directory for Steam.exe 4: Sandbox->SteamAlt->Run Sandboxed->Run Windows Explorer 5: In Sandboxed explorer, navigate to Steam directory and run Steam.exe 6: You can now sign in to whatever account you like, even if Steam is already open, and can load TF2.

[QUOTE=Darth_GW7;30799347]I wonder if/when valve will ban people selling hats and shit for real money? :v[/QUOTE] People have been doing it for ages. They're not going to.

I use a barely functioning laptop in my cupboard, piece of shit. [editline]30th June 2011[/editline] But hey, it works.

When i load up my tf2 in the sandboxie'd version of steam, half the time it "Verifies" my files and says the servers are too busy. I cant copy my steam folder over so i am stumped.

[QUOTE=Yotrig;30799871]People have been doing it for ages. They're not going to.[/QUOTE] Yes but with a huge influx of F2Pers it's possible they'll change policy.

I've been getting drops on one account but not the other.

Updated FAQ a little and I also don't get items on 2 accounts.

Can we use local servers (training)?

[QUOTE=latin_geek;30801068]Can we use local servers (training)?[/QUOTE] Yes but it doesn't work with textmode anymore.

[QUOTE=Digivee;30800233]When i load up my tf2 in the sandboxie'd version of steam, half the time it "Verifies" my files and says the servers are too busy. I cant copy my steam folder over so i am stumped.[/QUOTE] No one knows why this is?