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

If you have a spare computer that you can expand the memory on (and a network card that is on the VMware ESXi Hardware Compatibility List, which is absolutely required for this), you can use the free VMware vSphere Hypervisor for idling too. I usually can run [URL="http://dl.dropbox.com/u/17563997/vmware_tf2_idling.jpg"]~14 idlers concurrently[/URL] on a [URL="http://dl.dropbox.com/u/17563997/vmware_summary_page.jpg"]cheapo HP desktop[/URL] that's running VMware vSphere Hypervisor. That first screenshot was after I had started shutting down idlers this morning, but, usually I can run all of them comfortably in memory (16 GB total), because of VMware's memory oversubscription capabilities. I'll see if I can boot them all up later to get a screenie of how much memory is used after everything is up. Also, it doesn't use that much disk either, since each vm is just a clone of the original base image, where the shared base disks are mounted to each vm as a shared independant non-persistent volume. Having fast SSD disk for the base disks is highly suggested, as loading tf2 requires a ton of I/O intially. All in all, this only cost me ~$300 to set up. I had a spare computer, paid ~$150 for 16 GB of ram, and ~$150 for a network card that was on the VMware HCL.

Thank you for this guide, it worked fine.

Can anyone help me? I can't put any money into the steam wallet on one of my alts, every time I do it automatically declines my card. I know I have enough money in there as I JUST PURCHASED SOMETHING ON MY MAIN ACCOUNT TWO HOURS AGO. I've been trying four or five times a day for the past couple of days and it just won't go through.

[QUOTE=Doomish;30816871]Can anyone help me? I can't put any money into the steam wallet on one of my alts, every time I do it automatically declines my card. I know I have enough money in there as I JUST PURCHASED SOMETHING ON MY MAIN ACCOUNT TWO HOURS AGO. I've been trying four or five times a day for the past couple of days and it just won't go through.[/QUOTE] It's some sort of built-in defense mechanism steam/credit card companies have. What I do is put all the steam wallet funds on my primary and just gift whatever games to my alt from friends list. If you're trying to do something other than that I think you'd have to talk to Steam Support or your bank to authorize it going through.

That's the thing, though. I'm trying to buy TF2 on my idling alt, but I can't go with your method because you [I]can't[/I] gift premium TF2.

[QUOTE=Doomish;30817210]That's the thing, though. I'm trying to buy TF2 on my idling alt, but I can't go with your method because you [I]can't[/I] gift premium TF2.[/QUOTE] Ah yeah, I understand your issue. You'd have to talk to either Steam Support or your credit card company to tell them it's you trying to do the transaction and let it go through. I'm not sure who you'd talk to but the same thing happens to me.

I asked support about it, we'll see what they can do. The thing is, if they transfer the account rights over, I won't be able to make any purchases on my MAIN account until they transfer it back, which would require a whole new support ticket and therefore a few more days of waiting until I can buy things on my normal account again. I'm HOPING there's a way for them to allow me to share the info with the account, because I do plan on using it for more than just TF2. [editline]30th June 2011[/editline] I emailed Robin asking if there's a way to gift premium TF2 planned, because now I'm sort of interested. We'll see if he replies.

[QUOTE=Doomish;30817365]I asked support about it, we'll see what they can do. The thing is, if they transfer the account rights over, I won't be able to make any purchases on my MAIN account until they transfer it back, which would require a whole new support ticket and therefore a few more days of waiting until I can buy things on my normal account again. I'm HOPING there's a way for them to allow me to share the info with the account, because I do plan on using it for more than just TF2. [editline]30th June 2011[/editline] I emailed Robin asking if there's a way to gift premium TF2 planned, because now I'm sort of interested. We'll see if he replies.[/QUOTE] They shouldn't do a switcheroo like that, they'd probably just take note that your primary and the alt you told them about are both going to be authorized to take your credit card. I wouldn't worry about it. Good idea about emailing robin by the way, he should definitely have something to say about gifting premium.

Pretty sure the last time we had command prompt idle programs was the last time the halo apocalypse occured

Good thing these aren't idle programs then! :buddy:

[QUOTE=Doomish;30817488]Good thing these aren't idle programs then! :buddy:[/QUOTE] It's still running in command prompt, I'm pretty sure there's a way we will get busted if we do this Luckily, I am in no need to do this, as I have a few shit comps I can do it with

[QUOTE=VenomousBeetle;30817603]It's still running in command prompt, I'm pretty sure there's a way we will get busted if we do this Luckily, I am in no need to do this, as I have a few shit comps I can do it with[/QUOTE] Then in that case it's a good thing we're not using any external programs that interfere with TF2 outside of a windows process that comes built into the operating system and is supported by Valve and TF2 itself through '-textmode' in the first place! :buddy: :buddy:

[QUOTE=Doomish;30817809]Then in that case it's a good thing we're not using any external programs that interfere with TF2 outside of a windows process that comes built into the operating system and is supported by Valve and TF2 itself through '-textmode' in the first place! :buddy: :buddy:[/QUOTE] I thought there was a script here, and the command prompt was in the last thing that caused it. What was in the last thing then?

[QUOTE=VenomousBeetle;30817467]Pretty sure the last time we had command prompt idle programs was the last time the halo apocalypse occured[/QUOTE] No, those programs were actually cheating the system. This is simply running TF2 in a way that uses less memory. Completely fine.

[QUOTE=VenomousBeetle;30817824]I thought there was a script here, and the command prompt was in the last thing that caused it. What was in the last thing then?[/QUOTE] There... Is no script? You start a singleplayer game in textmode. That's all you do. Literally. The .bat files are used to launch the steam accounts on their respective boxes so you don't have to do it yourself. You could easily do that with a Steam shortcut on your desktop.

I need to activate this so I can use 3 accounts

If anyone got any plans to buy new idle accounts and upgrade them to premium, but got no one to give the Prof Speks, then feel free to let me know(PM/add me), I'd love me some Prof Speks. I'd appreciate it, a lot! :buddy:

Got a response from Support. [img]http://i55.tinypic.com/n6okyw.png[/img] I think Steam Support Tech Thomas might be mentally retarded. YOU CANNOT BUY PREMIUM ON AN ACCOUNT THAT YOU CANNOT PUT FUNDS INTO AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE A PREMIUM PURCHASE FOR ANOTHER ACCOUNT, YOU DUMB, ANNOYING AUTOMATIC RESPONSE.

Why not just use a Paypal account to buy stuff on a separate account. That's basically what I did.

The worst part? I tried many times then realizing that i don't have enough ram. i need to upgrade it soon. Still rocking 2gb ):

To those who don't want to waste HDD space copying over the files a few times: Run your Idle.bat files separately, one after another, instead of running the .bat that launches them all at once. Launching them all at once is what causes steam to have the "process in use" error, so if you wait one or two seconds while the account logs in and move on to the next, it will work fine. [editline]1st July 2011[/editline] I've noticed a flaw in the method I just put forward: You have to go to Run Any Program for that account's box and choose the .bat from Sandboxie, otherwise it'll launch it on your non-sandboxed computer. [editline]1st July 2011[/editline] I have 4 GB of ram and somehow I can only run six accounts before my computer starts warning me about low memory (altogether I'm using 96% of my physical memory just posting here and idling on all six accounts), is there any way that I can make them use less memory? I'm positive I should be able to run more, at least eight.

[QUOTE=Doomish;30822021]To those who don't want to waste HDD space copying over the files a few times: Run your Idle.bat files separately, one after another, instead of running the .bat that launches them all at once. Launching them all at once is what causes steam to have the "process in use" error, so if you wait one or two seconds while the account logs in and move on to the next, it will work fine. [editline]1st July 2011[/editline] I've noticed a flaw in the method I just put forward: You have to go to Run Any Program for that account's box and choose the .bat from Sandboxie, otherwise it'll launch it on your non-sandboxed computer. [editline]1st July 2011[/editline] I have 4 GB of ram and somehow I can only run six accounts before my computer starts warning me about low memory (altogether I'm using 96% of my physical memory just posting here and idling on all six accounts), is there any way that I can make them use less memory? I'm positive I should be able to run more, at least eight.[/QUOTE] I also get memory warnings when idling but it doesn't affect computer performance at all. Did you try my config? Disabling Steam community in-game can lower the memory usage a bit.

I have three accounts and I just run one each night and use sandboxie to trade between them. I don't even use text mode. I know I'm likely just being hyper paranoid but I'd rather not.

Whenever I have 2 instances open one of my main on my actual PC and one on Sandboxxie, my main steam loses connection to Steam and my loadout.

3 things I've noticed with this, not really related to the method, just the game in general 1: I'm getting very few items on any of my accounts, even a new one setup today (and upgraded) 2: The few items I do find seem to be put into my backpack by themselves 3: I'm seeing the following on each of my clients every so often [code]CClientSteamContext OnSteamServersDisconnected logged on = 0 CClientSteamContext OnSteamServersConnected logged on = 1[/code]

So if I use the one Steam directory, does that mean I'll still have to update TF2 for every account? Is there a way around that or will it just not try to download the update?

[QUOTE=Noth;30826883] 3: I'm seeing the following on each of my clients every so often [code]CClientSteamContext OnSteamServersDisconnected logged on = 0 CClientSteamContext OnSteamServersConnected logged on = 1[/code][/QUOTE] Fairly sure that just means you were disconnected and reconnected to the steam servers

I didn't read through every post so sorry if this has already been asked but is it correct that steam validates Team fortress 2 files now and then when opening a second game? it has happened twice to me now

[QUOTE=Doomish;30827703]So if I use the one Steam directory, does that mean I'll still have to update TF2 for every account? Is there a way around that or will it just not try to download the update?[/QUOTE] Just use Login.bat and wait until it's done. You could just copy the new files but this would take longer than the actual update. This shouldn't be an issue if you have fast internet. [QUOTE=Fivas;30828356]I didn't read through every post so sorry if this has already been asked but is it correct that steam validates Team fortress 2 files now and then when opening a second game? it has happened twice to me now[/QUOTE] I never have to validate anything. I'll look into that.

I tried doing something similar with VMWare but it won't let me launch the Steam instance in VMWare. I think it's because Steam doesn't allow 2 accounts logging in from one IP. Can anyone help?