Advanced Mann-Conomy: How to idle with multiple accounts

[japanimater]

First, this is how I have it set up on my Vista laptop. On my desktop I created this directory of files, desktop-Sandboxie\x where "x" is a folder of each idle account made named after the username, one folder per account. In each of the idle account folders I made 2 .bat files, one named after the account name "USERNAME.bat" with the following contents in each.
"start /low C:\program files (x86)\steam\steam.exe -login USERNAME PASSWORD -applaunch 440 -textmode -novid -nosound -noipx -nojoy -nopreload -sw -width 640 -height 480 +map itemtest
"
The other .bat file titled "Trading&EverythingElse.bat" in each folder with the following contents in each.
"start /low C:\program files (x86)\steam\steam.exe -login USERNAME PASSWORD
"
In each of those folders I also followed instruction for if I didn't move Steamapps and created a shortcut through the CMD of the parent Steamapps folder and put one into each desktop-sandboxie\x folder. I also copied the entire contents of the parent Steam folder for each desktop-sandboxie\x folder except for the steamapps because I had the shortcut, so that's about 500-ish mbs a folder.

Also please note this Desktop-sandboxie folder I created on the desktop isn't the one that the program created in my program files. In the desktop-sandboxie folder I created the idle.bat file with the following contents
"Start C:\"program files"\sandboxie\start.exe /box:USERNAME1 "c:\users\MyName\desktop\sandboxie\USERNAME1\USERNAME1.bat"
Start C:\"program files"\sandboxie\start.exe /box:USERNAME2 "c:\users\MyName\desktop\sandboxie\USERNAME2\USERNAME2.bat"
Start C:\"program files"\sandboxie\start.exe /box:USERNAME3 "c:\users\MyName\desktop\sandboxie\USERNAME3\USERNAME3.bat"
Start C:\"program files"\sandboxie\start.exe /box:USERNAME4 "c:\users\MyName\desktop\sandboxie\USERNAME4\USERNAME4.bat"
Start C:\"program files"\sandboxie\start.exe /box:USERNAME5 "c:\users\MyName\desktop\sandboxie\USERNAME5\USERNAME5.bat"
Start C:\"program files"\sandboxie\start.exe /box:USERNAME6 "c:\users\MyName\desktop\sandboxie\USERNAME6\USERNAME6.bat"
Start C:\"program files"\sandboxie\start.exe /box:USERNAME7 "c:\users\MyName\desktop\sandboxie\USERNAME7\USERNAME7.bat"
"

I also did create a sandbox for each account named exactly after the respective account name with both settings outlined in the tutorial, both the Restrictions and Resource Access steps, though for the Resource Access I just clicked "ADD" and chose the entire C:\ drive

Now before I tried messing with the Trading&EverythingElse.bat files, I figured I would try the Idle.bat file to see if that worked in launching all 7 of my idle accounts in textmode and such. However, when I double-clicked Idle.bat I just get 7 pop-up windows with each saying
"Could not invoke program:

"C:\users\MyName\desktop\sandboxie\USERNAME\USERNAME.bat"

System Error Code:

The system cannot find the file specified.
(2)"

I'm pretty much at a loss of how to fix this, can someone help me please.

Update:While I was waiting for a reply I found that the USERNAME.bat file wasn't written correctly and upon fixing it THAT works. However, now in the Idle.bat file when I moved the folders into program files and change the .bat to reflect that with 2 sets of quotations, one around "program files" and the other around the entire directory "c:\"program files"\sandboxidle\USERNAME\USERNAME.bat", and I try to run it from the idle.bat, it'll open up only C:\ from within the sandbox. Now that i've taken Program Files out of it by moving my sandboxidle folder up one to just C:\sandboxidle and change the .bat files to reflect this, I just get the same error code i've listed above. Can I get some help with this?!

[[Green]]

Nevermind.

The Steam I launch in the sandboxie updates and then goes dead. The process itself is alive but no login screen appears, ever. I have to manually end the fucking thing from resource management after waiting for like 30 minutes. Usually it takes like 10 seconds to get ready for a game.

This makes me age faster than I'm supposed to.

[japanimater]

Disregarding my previous post, since it seemed after many several hours of tweaking that I wasn't going to get the Idle.bat file to work that would start the other 7, I was just going to be content with just selecting each of the 7 .bat files individually since it would still be an improvement over old methods. However, even though TF2 loads up correctly without a sandbox, inside a sandbox whether with a .bat or not, upon starting TF2 after saying "maxplayers set to 24" for about 5 seconds I just get a "hl2.exe has stopped working" error. I correctly did the mklink step for steamapps and copied the contents of the entire Steam folder except for steamapps in the account file but I don't know what else to do.

[ric20007]

[QUOTE=japanimater;35573827]Disregarding my previous post, since it seemed after many several hours of tweaking that I wasn't going to get the Idle.bat file to work that would start the other 7, I was just going to be content with just selecting each of the 7 .bat files individually since it would still be an improvement over old methods. However, even though TF2 loads up correctly without a sandbox, inside a sandbox whether with a .bat or not, upon starting TF2 after saying "maxplayers set to 24" for about 5 seconds I just get a "hl2.exe has stopped working" error. I correctly did the mklink step for steamapps and copied the contents of the entire Steam folder except for steamapps in the account file but I don't know what else to do.[/QUOTE]

Try this: [url]www.facepunch.com/threads/1161862[/url]

[japanimater]

[QUOTE=ric20007;35574123]Try this: [url]www.facepunch.com/threads/1161862[/url][/QUOTE]

The exact same thing happens, in the box first it reads
"Both Convars must be marked FCVAR_REPLICATED for linkage to work <r_VehicleViewDampen>" then the
"maxplayers set to 24"
Then it gets the hl2.exe has stopped working.

But I will say this much that the program made it more simpler to get to that point.

Additionally:I don't know if this is the problem but this part confused me from the tutorial
"1.Make a copy of Steam without the steamapps folder for each account.
a.Decide your main steamapps folder. Generally it should be the one with most games.
b.If you want, you can move the steamapps folder somewhere else and rename it (mine is D:\Games\Steam for example).
c.Remove all the other steamapps folders."

What I did is make a mklink of the entire steamapps folder and put one into each duplicate steam folder along with the other contents. The mklink goes to the overall steamapps folder with all the gcf files and not a specific user account folder. I didn't delete or modify the original steamapps folder. What confuses me the most is substep c. since it makes it seem like either I should've mklinked a user account folder or I may of had more than one overall steamapps folder. Did I do this step correctly? I would appreciate any help

Additionally:I tried the "Start TF2" button to start it without the extra launch options and even though the resolution+windowed stayed the same it did get as far as the Valve splash page "Valve in back of head logo" then crashed with the hl2.exe has stopped working error.

[soulquarian]

I had a browse through the forum, I kept getting the errors most people get because of the "full access" in the sand box settings, make sure you do "full access" and not "direct access", that screwed me majorly,

Also another thing I would like to add which can be added to the tutorial is, what I do to see what drops I am getting is use the site tf2b.com, that shows you what is in your back pack, but what it also does is everytime you get a drop it auto refreshes and shows you the new item/s up the top, which is awesome, so I run 3 alternate accounts in sand box and then 3 browsers with tf2b.com also, I can then easily check in lik 5 seconds whats dropped.

[ric20007]

[QUOTE=soulquarian;35576526]I had a browse through the forum, I kept getting the errors most people get because of the "full access" in the sand box settings, make sure you do "full access" and not "direct access", that screwed me majorly,

Also another thing I would like to add which can be added to the tutorial is, what I do to see what drops I am getting is use the site tf2b.com, that shows you what is in your back pack, but what it also does is everytime you get a drop it auto refreshes and shows you the new item/s up the top, which is awesome, so I run 3 alternate accounts in sand box and then 3 browsers with tf2b.com also, I can then easily check in lik 5 seconds whats dropped.[/QUOTE]

This is a much better solution: [url]www.facepunch.com/threads/1161862[/url]
It is easier to set up and it shows the drops

[UnrealCanine]

I set up a free account, but haven't found anything in 2 hours. No idea why it's not working

Also it is possible to log into my sandbox account without having to log out of my normal (I have my normal on auto-login)

[soulquarian]

ric, you want people to put there username and password AND there steam community profile into your software, I can run sandboxie without my steam profile, what is that for?

Canine, sometimes you have to wait abit longer, took me 3 hours on one of my alt accounts once.

[critein_protein]

Got my 10 idle accounts all set up and ready! Out of all the weapons the idle accounts get for me, I can craft 1-2 hats a week :D

[AlfieGroove]

[QUOTE=critein_protein;35595136]Got my 10 idle accounts all set up and ready! Out of all the weapons the idle accounts get for me, I can craft 1-2 hats a week :D[/QUOTE]
don't craft hats, get metal and trade it for hats. you'll get the ones you want quicker, and cheaper. you can get most hats for under 3 refined.

[GreenDolphin]

TF2 April 17th Beta update:

[quote]Play time in the Team Fortress 2 Beta counts towards earning drops in the regular version of Team Fortress 2[/quote]
[url]http://wiki.teamfortress.com/wiki/April_17,_2012_Patch_(Beta)[/url]

Is this really what I think it is? If so then I'd have to assume that both together would still add up to the normal weekly item cap per account.

[editline]18th April 2012[/editline]

[QUOTE=AlfieGroove;35598009]don't craft hats, get metal and trade it for hats. you'll get the ones you want quicker, and cheaper. you can get most hats for under 3 refined.[/QUOTE]

This. Any hats you get from drops (and will get quite a few hats over time with 10 accounts) you can keep for crafting fun or for selling.

[japanimater]

Can someone please help me with what I explained above? I've spent countless hours over several days trying to get this to work.

[alcblue]

Hi all,
after configuring all the paths and *.bat's and running MAID, I see [B]no CDM window[/B] with 'X connected' info, as this one:

[IMG]http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l288/desirenator/tf211.png[/IMG]

Everything seems to be fine, [B]Steam is logging, Sandboxie is showing hl2.exe and steam.exe process[/B]...

[IMG]http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l288/desirenator/tf2.png[/IMG]

what's wrong?
any ideas?

Win7, Sandboxie 3.50 full, 3 free tf2 accounts

[MrBalrog]

[QUOTE=alcblue;35640938]Hi all,
after configuring all the paths and *.bat's and running MAID, I see [B]no CDM window[/B] with 'X connected' info, as this one:

[IMG]http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l288/desirenator/tf211.png[/IMG]

Everything seems to be fine, [B]Steam is logging, Sandboxie is showing hl2.exe and steam.exe process[/B]...

[IMG]http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l288/desirenator/tf2.png[/IMG]

what's wrong?
any ideas?

Win7, Sandboxie 3.50 full, 3 free tf2 accounts[/QUOTE]

It's as if you read my mind. The same thing is happening to me, I idled overnight yesterday with only my main account showing that CMD window, and thus it was the only one who got some weapons...

[Boben]

How much premium acc's worth nowadays? Wanted to sell some unnecessary of mine.

[soulquarian]

alcblue, you have to tell tf2 how to idle, you need to put in parameters, I would just use tf2idle, works good.

Boben, how much?

[MrBalrog]

[QUOTE=soulquarian;35652090]alcblue, you have to tell tf2 how to idle, you need to put in parameters, I would just use tf2idle, works good.

Boben, how much?[/QUOTE]

What do you put in the Idle Launch Settings? I put in this:
[url]http://puu.sh/qBJO[/url]
Yet whenever I launch tf2, it opens normally without the CMD window.

[Sae]

[QUOTE=Boben;35646371]How much premium acc's worth nowadays? Wanted to sell some unnecessary of mine.[/QUOTE]
Considering it costs $5 minimum to set up, something less than $5 each.

[DeltaEcho]

[QUOTE=MrBond;35652415]What do you put in the Idle Launch Settings?[/QUOTE]

I use these parameters myself
[QUOTE]-32bit -textmode +exec idle.cfg -single_core -low -sw -width 640 -height 480 -noshader -nopix -novid -nopreload -nosound -replay_enable 0 +sv_password 5678 -sw +map itemtest
-nojoy -sw +maxplayers 2 -heapsize 131072 +exec idle.cfg -dxlevel 80[/QUOTE]
Also just use the idle.cfg that is included in the tutorial. It ends up using less resources for some weird reason.

If anyone is NOT using [URL="http://facepunch.com/threads/1161862?p=34583257&viewfull=1#post34583257"]TF2Idle[/URL] yet then please do.

I'll eventually get around to making something to setup the folders and such. But for now you will need to do it manually.
-Delta

[MrBalrog]

[QUOTE=DeltaEcho;35654062]I use these parameters myself

Also just use the idle.cfg that is included in the tutorial. It ends up using less resources for some weird reason.

If anyone is NOT using [URL="http://facepunch.com/threads/1161862?p=34583257&viewfull=1#post34583257"]TF2Idle[/URL] yet then please do.

I'll eventually get around to making something to setup the folders and such. But for now you will need to do it manually.
-Delta[/QUOTE]

Hey, thanks! One tiny problem though, when I click "Start Idling", yeah I can see on my main account that the idling account is in TF2. But it doesn't join the map, nor do I see the CMD window as described above. Yesterday I ignored these 2 facts and went to bed with it running, but I didn't find anything the next morning. I know it isn't the drop cap, since I tried booting up tf2 the normal way on there and left it on trade_plaza 2, and I got some stuff afterwards. I just don't want to keep doing that since it takes up so much memory, and apparently text mode via SandBoxie hates me, since it works fine when I'm not using Sandboxie.

[DeltaEcho]

[QUOTE=MrBond;35654167]Hey, thanks! One tiny problem though, when I click "Start Idling", yeah I can see on my main account that the idling account is in TF2. But it doesn't join the map, nor do I see the CMD window as described above. Yesterday I ignored these 2 facts and went to bed with it running, but I didn't find anything the next morning. I know it isn't the drop cap, since I tried booting up tf2 the normal way on there and left it on trade_plaza 2, and I got some stuff afterwards. I just don't want to keep doing that since it takes up so much memory, and apparently text mode via SandBoxie hates me, since it works fine when I'm not using Sandboxie.[/QUOTE]

Maybe your Sanboxes aren't set up properly so it can't apply the command. Make sure it is hooked up fine. TF2Idle has a option where it can setup the sandboxes and clean them out when needed. Try it.

[MrBalrog]

[QUOTE=DeltaEcho;35660449]Maybe your Sanboxes aren't set up properly so it can't apply the command. Make sure it is hooked up fine. TF2Idle has a option where it can setup the sandboxes and clean them out when needed. Try it.[/QUOTE]

I can't find that option...

[Boben]

[QUOTE=soulquarian;35652090]Boben, how much?[/QUOTE]
That what i asked.

[QUOTE=Sae;35652983]Considering it costs $5 minimum to set up, something less than $5 each.[/QUOTE]
Right, i truly doubt it can be more, lol.

Also, still looking for some nice inventory manager, preferable with crafting feature.

[lolerx]

hey, do you guys also losing connection to steam server / crash lately with your idle accounts? i have perfect connection and thats not the problem. its stupid updates from time to time now that disconnects the accs. anybody else?

[DeltaEcho]

[QUOTE=lolerx;35660835]hey, do you guys also losing connection to steam server / crash lately with your idle accounts? i have perfect connection and thats not the problem. its stupid updates from time to time now that disconnects the accs. anybody else?[/QUOTE]

Make sure that +maxplayers it set to the minimum of 2. If this is set to 24 it may create an unstable connection. If the item scheme is updated it should auto download and apply. Not a whole lot you can do about it.

[QUOTE=MrBond;35660689]I can't find that option...[/QUOTE]
[IMG]http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/5886/10771824.png[/IMG]

As for Item Managers here's 2 mentioned in the thread:
[url]http://sim.didrole.com/[/url] - Has auto crafting
[url]http://www.jengerer.com/item_manager/[/url] - Doesn't have auto crafting

[Boben]

[QUOTE=DeltaEcho;35661263][url]http://sim.didrole.com/[/url] - Has auto crafting
[url]http://www.jengerer.com/item_manager/[/url] - Doesn't have auto crafting[/QUOTE]
Used first already - pure shit. Too many problems and craft fails like "there is no blueprint".
Will try second.

[DeltaEcho]

[QUOTE=Boben;35662900]Used first already - pure shit. Too many problems and craft fails like "there is no blueprint".
Will try second.[/QUOTE]

It doesn't take that long to craft stuff yourself.
Takes me 20 minutes to craft 300 items.

[lolerx]

wtf is item-scheme update for message?

[Joe88]

I keep getting problems with my idle

this is the batch file

cd "D:\Program Files\Steam"
start steam.exe -applaunch 440 -textmode -nosound -noipx -novid -nopreload -nojoy -sw +sv_lan 0 +map "itemtest"

now its stays connected for maybe an hour or so then disconnects
and keeps looping a message about item schema over and over never reconnecting

[IMG]http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/5627/41936372.jpg[/IMG]