Advanced Mann-Conomy: How to idle with multiple accounts

[Ally]

Tried this and it seems like great idea, but some of the accounts gets "bad challenge" error when connectiong to server.

Does anyone know how to solve it, please?

[QUOTE=ric20007;36734736]Just create a server with a specific account, and make all the other accounts connect to the "server account", with this you save alot of ram.

My server account settings:

All the other accounts, they connect to the account above:

+connect 192.168.1.2:29015 You need to change this IP to match your local ip adress[/QUOTE]

Edit: Fixed it by myself.
When you get this error, just terminate that box and run it again.

[gambler]

[QUOTE=Ally;36763728]Tried this and it seems like great idea, but some of the accounts gets "bad challenge" error when connectiong to server.

Does anyone know how to solve it, please?

Edit: Fixed it by myself.
When you get this error, just terminate that box and run it again.[/QUOTE]

It doesn't solve the problem for good. Someone else mentioned earlier deleting the sandbox content would fix it.

[Ally]

[QUOTE=gambler;36764799]It doesn't solve the problem for good. Someone else mentioned earlier deleting the sandbox content would fix it.[/QUOTE]

Alright. Next time I get this error I try to delete contents.
Thank you for advice.

[gambler]

Deleting the Sandbox content really makes Steam Guard ask for email confirmation again, so if your accounts are protected, you'll have to confirm them all.

By the way, the sandbox I deleted the contents is having the gameoverlay crashed everytime I run TF2 now. Anyonw know how to fix it?

[Ohiobob1]

Hey,

the idle worked for me for 2 months perfectly.
But since pyromania update the idle doesn't work anymore.

The error the cmd gives:

Initializing Steam libraries for secure Internet server
Failed to load Steam Service
ServiceStart: failed to start
BOpenService failed
ServiceStart: failed to start

Please help to fix this.
thanks

[Thunderteeth]

Hi I've set up everything and it is working fine but when I try to run tf2 through sanboxie I get a hl2.exe crash after the text box appears and it says the server count was set to two. If I try running tf2 outside of sanboxie on any account it works just fine though.
Please help and thank you for this amazing guide.
Also I tried deleting the bin folders you said to but that did not fix the problem.

I am also using Vista btw.

[peroxide]

Hello everyone, I would like to first thank the creator of this thread as you've helped me get multiple idlers running at once and easily control them with .bat files and many others.

Personally, I found it easiest to add 'pause' between each 'start' command in the main .bat files. I'm running on an old Pentium D and 2gb of RAM so launching multiple Steam and TF2s was problematic. By using 'pause' it waits for you to hit a key before launching the next Steam/TF2.

I have a question to those using close to 100mb per TF2 process though, how are you managing that? I'm using the max FPS .cfg that was posted above on all clients, a server.cfg I found somewhere and I'll post my launch parameters here. I've tried quite a few different ones, but they don't seem to make that big of a difference so I'm at a loss. I've also disabled Steam community and everything in Steams settings as well as lowered all the settings to low manually and even enabled the performance options in the advanced options.

For the server (264mb currently, was 300mb at the start, 3 users connected)

start /low C:\idle\steam1\Steam.exe -login user/pass -applaunch 440 +exec idle.cfg -heapsize 131072 -textmode -nosound -low -novid -nopreload -replay_enable 0 -nohltv -tvdisable +sv_password 1234 -sw -port 29015 +sv_lan 1 +map itemtest +maxplayers 8 +mp_idledealmethod 0 -dxlevel 60 -h 0 -w 0 -nojoy

For the others (185mb, one was 146mb)

start /low C:\idle\steam3\Steam.exe -login user/pass -applaunch 440 +exec idle.cfg -textmode -nosound -low -novid -nopreload -nohltv -nojoy -tvdisable -width 640 -height 480 -port 23 +password 1234 +connect 192.168.2.11:29015

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[irukandji]

You already see the difference between those two command parameters.

The first creates a listen server and takes up more resources, the second connects to another server (being it a listen or dedicated).

You have your answer: a dedicated server to take up the resources load off.

Previously posted:

[QUOTE=irukandji;36455356]Here's my idle sequence

start /low D:\Idler\001\Steam.exe -login xxxxx yyyyy -applaunch 440 -dxlevel 81 -nohltv -useforcedmparms -noforcemaccel -noforcemspd -textmode -novid -nosound -noipx -nojoy -nopreload -sw -width 640 -height 450 +exec idle.cfg +password xxxx +connect zzz.xxx.nnn.qqq

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/pG9dl.jpg[/IMG]

In the pic, there are 13 accs, in vmware:
- all running in sandboxie;
- connected to a dedicated server (+sourcemod and some plugins), hosted on same vmware image;
- all minimized to taskbar, no visible windows (take more resources if windows considers them as active priority);
- dedicated server rotates only one map, with suicide waypoints activated (idle friendly);
- startup time: 3min tops;
- sharing a common steamapps folder as per the original tutorial

Average run time 12-15 hrs / day with a 3.09 GB of memory used constantly.

Let me know if this helped you out...

P.S. Idle.cfg was also posted in this thread somewhere on page 5-6, dunno exactly. You can also find it via google search.[/QUOTE]

You don't need extra commands, just a well configured dedicated server and a good idle.cfg (call it maxfps.cfg if you will).

[peroxide]

irukandji, you just explained everything I said I was trying in my previous post. :p

Anyways, after a couple hours of being minimized all the clients dropped below 50mb each with 7+server so I think I may have just jumped the gun with looking at the usage.

[bartfabulous]

A few months go, I could run 25 accounts on 8g of ram using the 1 server, 24 clients method. This is what I used in my bat files.

Server: -applaunch 440 -heapsize 131072 -textmode -nosound -low -novid -nopreload -replay_enable 0 -nohltv -tvdisable -nojoy -width 640 -height 480 +sv_password 1234 -sw -port 29015 +sv_lan 1 +map itemtest +maxplayers 30 +mp_idledealmethod 0

Clien-applaunch 440 -port 27016 -heapsize 131072 -textmode -nosound -low -novid -nopreload -nohltv -nojoy -tvdisable -width 640 -height 480 +password xxx +connect xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx:29015

Everything worked just fine. I decided to do only 20 accounts per bat file, so i made that change. None of the commands/parameters changed, just the number of accounts.
Everything was working fine until the pyromania update. Then I was having difficulty doing 20 on 8g. This was a good excuse to upgrade, so now I have 16 g of ram, and can barely do 30.

Nothing changed aside from how many accounts I was doing at once. When i started having problems, I reinstalled steam and tf2. everything was new. Still, no change. I have tried several of the different methods here, but I keep running out of ram. I do not know what my specific ram use was before, but now the server runs around 426k and the clients around 235k. I have tried it with the idle.cfg and did not see any change. Did something change I am not aware of? maybe I somehow screwed something up along the way?

[radek]

Hey guys, I have been monitoring this thread for a while now but this is the first time I actually would like you to help me. I have been idling on my laptop HP ProBook 4530s A1D23EA (which has 4 GB ram and some random 640 GB harddrive) for almost a year now, I started with running 12 accounts at once, everything was pretty smooth, some months ago I expanded my page file from 6 GB to 20 and started running 20 accounts at once, however it takes me like ninety minutes to run all the accounts, should I buy bigger RAM memory (I can expand up to 8 GB) or a SSD disk to set them all up faster? I currently have 70 premium accounts and 70 free accounts, I bought a brand new computer with 16 GB Ram from all the money I got from my metal factory and it takes me not even 20 minutes to set up 20 accounts so it kinda pisses me off when I have to wait for my laptop for that long.

[B]tl;dr[/B] more RAM or SSD disk?

[bartfabulous]

What setting are you using? my performance has gone down, big time. I am going to try the paging file thing though.

[idler9]

I've been running around 25 a session on 8gb of ram.

Been having issues with the new accounts, activated in Russia.

Every account has got 2 drops each, ran them for two 10 hour sessions too.

All my others are fine, not sure if they have been blocked or what. No emails, no bans on their profiles.

[gambler]

Maybe Steam is nerfing the drops on 0,50c accounts

[idler9]

Not sure, seems my main account only get 3-4 drops a week too.

Been happening for ages, but never bothered about it.

And my main plays for over 100 hours a week.

Might leave it until next reset, see what happens then.

[Boben]

[QUOTE=gambler;36887146]Maybe Steam is nerfing the drops on 0,50c accounts[/QUOTE]
Its fine.

[Boben]

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/vzHCC.jpg[/IMG]
330 items / 20 acc = 16,5 per

[XCloudXO1]

Awesome stuff guys, thanks for all your guides and stuff.

I've got a tip myself, Though i've yet to fully test how usefull it is, but using cleanmem after the games have loaded it seems to lower their ram usage a lot.
[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/FPJcR.png[/IMG]

[ric20007]

[QUOTE=XCloudXO1;36902534]Awesome stuff guys, thanks for all your guides and stuff.

I've got a tip myself, Though i've yet to fully test how usefull it is, but using cleanmem after the games have loaded it seems to lower their ram usage a lot.
[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/FPJcR.png[/IMG][/QUOTE]

I don't know why the values go down on the processes tab, but the mem usage will not go that far down by using cleanmem.
The total memory used will be more or less the same.

[gambler]

My accounts keep receiving community and friend invites from people I've never seen. The names of the accounts aren't published, I connect them to my private server... how's that possible? It's freaking annoying.

[irukandji]

Those invites are done via a bot. Nothing to worry about.

It's just pathetic, nothing more. I get those invites too...

[ric20007]

[QUOTE=gambler;36908667]My accounts keep receiving community and friend invites from people I've never seen. The names of the accounts aren't published, I connect them to my private server... how's that possible? It's freaking annoying.[/QUOTE]

They probably have bots that invite everyone in a specific group. You might be in the summer or christmas groups of steam, and that's how they find you.

[bartfabulous]

[QUOTE=Alkofront;36588412]I've been smoking only the best crack my ripoff-ref can get me. It's just AMAZING!!
And yeah, have you dealt with Russian vpn/proxy servers? It's not really Europe here, buddy! It's the fucking medieval times, internet-wise. BTW, it's not that i'm charging 3 Ref for a proxy, it's for a premium account.

Anyway, if you prefer to give 5 bucks for 1 account - go ahead, no one is stopping you. 3 Ref is just 3-4 weeks of waiting. Reg an account, wait a month, activate for 3 ref end enjoy your prem. If that's too much hassle - find your own damn method.

And yeah, if there are people doing what I'm offering, but for a lower price - let me know, i'll change my prices. it's just that the only alternative, I've seen so far is this: [url]http://steamcommunity.com/groups/activationTF2/announcements/detail/1587763461151188184[/url] Guys are charging much more than me, and you have to give out your passwords (and later on change them) and watch them do the activation process, which might be a little tedious if you've got many accs. And their google-translate english is not very helpful.

I think I'm done here. If anyone else thinks 3 ref is too much - go ahead and start your own activation business. With blackjack and hookers... for 2 scrap. Heck, I'll use your services myself!

Good luck![/QUOTE]

Where did this guy go? I need to upgrade a few f2p accounts.

[vmartelle]

Hello everyone, I've been following this thread and have watched this video [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JS2w6WxsJGg[/url]

But I am SO confused. I did a few of the steps and now I'm just lost.

3.Right-click the sandbox and go to settings.

-Restrictions->Drop rights->Drop rights from Administrators and Power User groups must be unchecked.

-Resource Access->File Access->Full Access and add the HDD Steam is installed on or add specific Steam folder. <--VERY important step.

4.Right-click on your sandbox and Run Sandboxed->Run Windows Explorer and navigate to Steam and log on to your alt.

Step 3 I was totally lost. Add HDD Steam, what? Anyway, I sort-of got past that I think. Went onto step 4 and when I did that, I located my steam folder for it and then...? I'm so lost. I'm not a computer genuis and slightly less than computer competent. Any help will be appreciated :O.

I also can't find a full version of sandboxie.

[crinklypaper]

[QUOTE=vmartelle;36930480]Hello everyone, I've been following this thread and have watched this video [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JS2w6WxsJGg[/url]

But I am SO confused. I did a few of the steps and now I'm just lost.

3.Right-click the sandbox and go to settings.

-Restrictions->Drop rights->Drop rights from Administrators and Power User groups must be unchecked.

-Resource Access->File Access->Full Access and add the HDD Steam is installed on or add specific Steam folder. <--VERY important step.

4.Right-click on your sandbox and Run Sandboxed->Run Windows Explorer and navigate to Steam and log on to your alt.

Step 3 I was totally lost. Add HDD Steam, what? Anyway, I sort-of got past that I think. Went onto step 4 and when I did that, I located my steam folder for it and then...? I'm so lost. I'm not a computer genuis and slightly less than computer competent. Any help will be appreciated :O.

I also can't find a full version of sandboxie.[/QUOTE]

Add the complete hard drive that steam is installed on. (ie if its in C:/Program Files/Steam you would add the C hard drive). Next you add the steam folder. For the full version of sandboxie I'd recommend buying it, but if you can't do that I'm sure you can find a "backup" on a certain website with pirates and bays. Basically in step 4 you are telling sandboxie to run your alternate steam.exe from your duplicate (the one without SteamApps folder) folder. Once you select the steam.exe it will launch steam. Just close the window and go to your idle program and launch the game from there.

Just registered now to say thanks for all the useful posts and configs. Right now my HP laptop is just running too hot to idle more than 8+ realistically. But I should be able to do at least 20 I think, I just need to buy a cooler I guess (anyone know how to deal with HP laptops and heat aside from fans?). What I noticed is that those sandboxied steams run from around 10mb to 80mb per account. Is there a way to optimize the steam.exe so it uses less memory? And is there a way to not have the steamOverayUI.exe launch with TF2?

Also I'm occassionally having my accounts when they launch run in fullscreen mode and then once it connects to my dedicated server the game goes into novid mode again. Not sure why, its a bit annoying as it steals focus from whatever I have open.

Another concern is that those intro videos when you join a map are like 800 mb (when you create the folder in the original steamAPPs folder you need to copy the whole TF2 folder right?) Can you link those like with steamAPPs folder or can I just delete them and save like 30 gigs on my computer?

After running for about 12 hours 8 of my premiums got me around 10 drops per account. I'm liking this already.

[vmartelle]

Alright I seem to have made it to the bats/idle files. I right click idle1, and I can't seem to get it to work. It always says can't invoke. I think the problem comes from the 'box:' because I have no clue what to put there, I've tried everything.

[editline]25th July 2012[/editline]

This thing is so confusing. The guy in the video acts like we all have 2 hard drive, and bases it off of that. And this thread is too vague/computer talk for me >_<. Wish someone could speak non-computer to me and give me a step-by-step thing :\. Can't get it to work.

[editline]25th July 2012[/editline]

Sorry I'm really frustrated, I've been at this for hours. I suck at computers :(

[crinklypaper]

[QUOTE=vmartelle;36933128]Alright I seem to have made it to the bats/idle files. I right click idle1, and I can't seem to get it to work. It always says can't invoke. I think the problem comes from the 'box:' because I have no clue what to put there, I've tried everything.

[editline]25th July 2012[/editline]

This thing is so confusing. The guy in the video acts like we all have 2 hard drive, and bases it off of that. And this thread is too vague/computer talk for me >_<. Wish someone could speak non-computer to me and give me a step-by-step thing :\. Can't get it to work.

[editline]25th July 2012[/editline]

Sorry I'm really frustrated, I've been at this for hours. I suck at computers :([/QUOTE]

[url]http://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1161862&p=36613624&viewfull=1#post36613624[/url] use this guide it worked for me. Another thing is I wouldn't even bother if you don't have the full version of sandboxie because when you get the full version you're going to have to uninstall sandboxie first. Basic idea is this, make a seperate folder for each steam account, link the steamapps folder with the short cut in a cmd prompt. You'll need to set the sandboxie settings correct, you shouldn't skip any settings from the guide. Basically once you set up one box the rest can use the same settings.

[vmartelle]

[QUOTE=crinklypaper;36936058][url]http://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1161862&p=36613624&viewfull=1#post36613624[/url] use this guide it worked for me. Another thing is I wouldn't even bother if you don't have the full version of sandboxie because when you get the full version you're going to have to uninstall sandboxie first. Basic idea is this, make a seperate folder for each steam account, link the steamapps folder with the short cut in a cmd prompt. You'll need to set the sandboxie settings correct, you shouldn't skip any settings from the guide. Basically once you set up one box the rest can use the same settings.[/QUOTE]

looks alright, still a bit confusing. :|

[editline]25th July 2012[/editline]

Skimmed through the link, looks equally confusing :\

[gambler]

The drop system is resetting Thursday morning PST now?

[idler9]

Not sure? About to run mine now. Hopefully get something.