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

[QUOTE=R1nzler;31481935]First off, great work on this thread. Yet I am having a slight problem. I can use Sandboxi to launch 2 Steam profiles, but I can not get both to run TF2. One will constantly validate the TF2 files and I'm not quite sure what to do about that (your suggestion didn't help out). Any help will be great!.[/QUOTE] Whenever that happens, I find a reboot clears up the problem of constant validation. [editline]1st August 2011[/editline] I found this thread while searching for a way to setup multiple idling accounts to join a single server. I'm already using Sandboxie to run multiple accounts and discovering a way to speed up the process using batch files really caught my eye. But I have run into a few problems setting up the farm, more specifically, this part: [QUOTE=Gurkenpirat;30783465] 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. d.Open cmd.exe as an administrator. e.Navigate into each Steam folder without steamapps and run the following: [code]mklink /D steamapps <main steamapps path>[/code] For example: [code]cd C:\"Program Files (x86)"\Steam mklink /D steamapps "D:\Games\Steam"[/code] Or if you didn't move steamapps: [code]cd C:\Idle\Steam1 mklink /D steamapps "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps"[/code] f.A shortcut should appear, named steamapps. Double-clicking it should show you the contents of the main steamapps folder. You should now have one main steamapps folder and one shortcut to it for each alt. Now you can run all the idle accounts while only maintaining a single steamapps folder. [/QUOTE] I've followed the instructions, but whenever I run one of my alt accounts using Sandboxie, it still creates a new folder for that account in the original steamapps folder. What am I doing wrong? (I didn't copy the Steam Folder) Edit: Actually, I should be a little more specific. What file do I run in Sandboxie to get this to work? If I use the same Steam.exe file from c:\Program Files (x86)\Steam, will it work?

Just to clarify things, mklink is done outside of the Sandbox. You didn't do anything wrong. These account folders are normal and yes Steam.exe is fine. The point of this is sharing the gcf files but I'll try to get mklink to work with the account folders when I have time. [editline]2nd August 2011[/editline] Uh no wait you got confused there. First thing you need one Steam folder for each account which all share a steamapps folder and you don't launch anything by yourself in Sandboxie if you use batches.

[QUOTE=Geist9;31327302]So gifting DOES work to get premium?[/QUOTE] How does one gift it? I only see Install Game. [QUOTE=raBBish;31223603]Slightly alternative method, instead of copying the whole Steam folder and TF2 stuff. [release] This method involves creating symbolic links instead of copying the steamapps folder. Basically, you can share a single steamapps folder between all your Steam copies, thus saving you HD space and updating TF2 multiple times. [h2]Requirements[/h2] -Windows Vista or 7 -Ability to follow instructions [h2]How-to[/h2] Step 1. Decide your main steamapps folder. Generally it should be the one with most games. Step 2. If you want, you can move the steamapps folder somewhere else and rename it (mine is D:\Games\Steam for example) Step 3. Remove all the other steamapps folders. Step 4. Open cmd.exe as an administrator Step 5. Navigate into each Steam folder without steamapps and run the following: [code]mklink /D steamapps <main steamapps path>[/code] For example: [code]cd C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam mklink /D steamapps "D:\Games\Steam"[/code] Or if you didn't move steamapps: [code]cd C:\Idle\Steam1 mklink /D steamapps "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps"[/code] Step 6. A shortcut should appear, named steamapps. Double-clicking it should show you the contents of the main steamapps folder. Step 7. You're done! Now you can run all the idle accounts while only maintaining a single steamapps folder [/release][/QUOTE] I'm having trouble with the second requirement. When it refers to steamapps folders does it mean the folder itself or the username folders inside? Right now I have a second steam folder on my desktop for trading between accounts. Is that necessary?

[QUOTE=Gurkenpirat;31485405]Just to clarify things, mklink is done outside of the Sandbox. You didn't do anything wrong. These account folders are normal and yes Steam.exe is fine. The point of this is sharing the gcf files but I'll try to get mklink to work with the account folders when I have time. [editline]2nd August 2011[/editline] Uh no wait you got confused there. First thing you need one Steam folder for each account which all share a steamapps folder and you don't launch anything by yourself in Sandboxie if you use batches.[/QUOTE] I intend to work out the batches once I get the mklink bit working, but you're saying I need a copy of the ENTIRE Steam foldier (as in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam) for EACH Idle account? So if I have like 20 Idle accounts then I need 20 copies of the entire steam folder on another hard drive?

[QUOTE=Gurkenpirat;31485405]Just to clarify things, mklink is done outside of the Sandbox. You didn't do anything wrong. These account folders are normal and yes Steam.exe is fine. The point of this is sharing the gcf files but I'll try to get mklink to work with the account folders when I have time. [editline]2nd August 2011[/editline] Uh no wait you got confused there. First thing you need one Steam folder for each account which all share a steamapps folder and you don't launch anything by yourself in Sandboxie if you use batches.[/QUOTE] Ah crap, I need to sort out my Steam folders. It's just going to be a bit to copy these folders, being quite large and all.

Q. Won’t going Free to Play mean more griefers and cheaters? We’re increasing our focus on making sure that hostile players can’t ruin your fun. Specifically, we’ll be keeping a close eye on players exploiting the ability to make infinite free accounts to bypass bans. We’ve built systems that’ll allow us to measure and track what these players are doing, and respond quickly. [url]http://www.teamfortress.com/freetoplay/faq.php[/url] GOD help you all...

[QUOTE=Dummkopfs!;31492846]Q. Won’t going Free to Play mean more griefers and cheaters? We’re increasing our focus on making sure that hostile players can’t ruin your fun. Specifically, we’ll be keeping a close eye on players exploiting the ability to make infinite free accounts to bypass bans. We’ve built systems that’ll allow us to measure and track what these players are doing, and respond quickly. [url]http://www.teamfortress.com/freetoplay/faq.php[/url] GOD help you all...[/QUOTE] yeah god help us all oh wait we aren't doing this to avoid bans Shows how in depth [I]you[/I] can read, pal!

[QUOTE=jordan10la;31487041]How does one gift it? I only see Install Game. I'm having trouble with the second requirement. When it refers to steamapps folders does it mean the folder itself or the username folders inside? Right now I have a second steam folder on my desktop for trading between accounts. Is that necessary?[/QUOTE] Gifting I think as in using gift wrap + item and giving it to the free account. Not sure though. As for the steamapps folder it means the whole thing. Save space with the mlink jazz

[QUOTE=Geist9;31498977]Gifting I think as in using gift wrap + item and giving it to the free account. Not sure though. As for the steamapps folder it means the whole thing. Save space with the mlink jazz[/QUOTE] No, gifting it as in purchasing the Orange Box and then gifting the spare copy of TF2 (which I don't know if that still works or not). And the folder itself, yes. [editline]3rd August 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=Dummkopfs!;31492846]Q. Won’t going Free to Play mean more griefers and cheaters? We’re increasing our focus on making sure that hostile players can’t ruin your fun. [i]Specifically, we’ll be keeping a close eye on players exploiting the ability to make infinite free accounts to [b]bypass bans[/b][/i]. We’ve built systems that’ll allow us to measure and track what these players are doing, and respond quickly. [url]http://www.teamfortress.com/freetoplay/faq.php[/url] GOD help you all...[/QUOTE] Not bypassing any bans here, technically we are still paying Valve too in order to premium our alt accounts so they still get money in the end.

[QUOTE=Sonic4Ever;30797903]...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?[/QUOTE] Do you know exactly what to disable in the steam.exe and hl2.exe files? If so, will you be so kind as to tell when which ones i should turn off in process explorer?

I just started doing this, I currently have 3 accounts (one is still free to play until I get a decent amount of stuff) idling. Lucky enough to have a crappy laptop that can run tf2 on minimum settings, plus 2 on my PC. And speaking of that, I have a question. If I just leave that laptop running TF2 in practice mode, can I just leave that computer running 24/7 or do I have to restart it every Wednesday when the drop system resets?

[QUOTE=Newbienice99;31507325]I just started doing this, I currently have 3 accounts (one is still free to play until I get a decent amount of stuff) idling. Lucky enough to have a crappy laptop that can run tf2 on minimum settings, plus 2 on my PC. And speaking of that, I have a question. If I just leave that laptop running TF2 in practice mode, can I just leave that computer running 24/7 or do I have to restart it every Wednesday when the drop system resets?[/QUOTE] Well since theres a weekly item cap at 8-14 items a week, it would be a waste having them idle 24/7. My advice is, every Friday or Saturday, thats right after weekly item reset, leave your laptop and pc on idling at night, you will harvest the 8-14 items on each account, and then you have idled enough for the week. It will be at absolutely 0 benefit of leaving it on after you've gained your weekly items on each account.

[QUOTE=jechtman;30866649]So, if I am to understand correctly, these are the essential files needed in the steamapps folder? [img]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/31693224/Essentials.PNG[/img] Maybe not the tf2 folder?[/QUOTE] I don't seem to have the "source engine.gcf" and "source.lv.gcf" yet everything seems to work till I start getting recovery errors with sandboxi. Recommend just copying the whole steam folder?. I can actually log in to a second account, but get the whole "steam is too busy to process your request." [B] Edit- [/B] Ok, got rid of the recovery errors. Now It just says I can only have one instance of TF2 running at a time, even If I'm not running TF2 on the other profile / validation of files. Damn, need to find a youtube video. Also, thanks for the help below. I'm going to try to work this out myself for a bit and check some other sources for help.

You didn't apply resource access rights correctly.

I'm going to edit that quoted post of mine to add info that there is an easier way. With the intent of helping others of course.

Just wanted to add that in some cases you can't run more than 2 instances of Steam or hl2.exe when Steam is downloading something, such as a game update. Pause the download and you can continue fine. Took me a bit of time to figure it out.

Setting up my PC for advanced idling. I just have one question. [code]start /low H:\"STEAMFOLDER"\Steam.exe -login ACCOUNT YOURPASSWORD -applaunch 440 -textmode -novid -nosound -noipx -nojoy -nopreload -sw -width 640 -height 480 +map itemtest[/code] Should there be quotation marks around itemtest? Other places I look at about startup things like that say that if you're starting up and want to be in a map, the map is in quotations. I got everything working, anyway. Does the textmode screen say when there are drops, or do I only find out about them when I do the normal tf2 login?

Just use [url=http://tf2b.com]TF2B[/url]

Good idea.

So I've unchecked drop rights from administrators and power user groups, and added the Steam directory to full access in Sandboxie. But when I try to login to Steam, I get this error message in Sandboxie: [B]SBIE2327 Error in COM server: [31 / 258][/B] This happens about 30 seconds after I click the LOGIN button. Does anyone know how to fix this problem? Anyway. Thanks for the guide.

What happens when that shows up, it doesn't log in? Also, Steam is being a dick. I got 3 of my alt accounts up to premium, but then when I tried the other 2 I had, it wouldn't let me add steam funds. I contacted Steam help to try to figure out why I couldn't add funds, and they said they couldn't help me because I should be making the purchases on my main steam account. Specifically, that they couldn't remove limitations (I'm wondering whether they put the limitation there or not). [editline]11th August 2011[/editline] I didn't tell them what I was doing, just that Steam wouldn't let me add funds from either credit card I tried, and not on other accounts I tried, nor from my laptop. I have some sort of a feeling that they blocked any of the accounts I made from adding funds or something. Perhaps based on my IP, so maybe I can go elsewhere and make the account/upgrade it.

[QUOTE=Newbienice99;31660826]What happens when that shows up, it doesn't log in?[/QUOTE] Yeah. I get the error message and then the "Steam has stopped working" window appears.

I have followed the instructions in the op but unfortunately i get an error message whenever i try to run the idle bat file: [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/r7mCS.png[/IMG] Can anyone tell me why this could be the case? I copied the steam directory without the steamapps folder at the beginning, now it tells me it can't change the directory. EDIT: fixed it by removing the " symbols

While it works fine for idling now, theres is still one small flaw. Whenever i use the bat to start idling with multiple accounts at once it opens up multiple instances of sandboxie as well, is this working as intended or is there something i can do to avoid this?

[QUOTE=MadMads;31507666]Well since theres a weekly item cap at 8-14 items a week, it would be a waste having them idle 24/7. My advice is, every Friday or Saturday, thats right after weekly item reset, leave your laptop and pc on idling at night, you will harvest the 8-14 items on each account, and then you have idled enough for the week. It will be at absolutely 0 benefit of leaving it on after you've gained your weekly items on each account.[/QUOTE] Um... The item cap is about 8-9 items. [editline]13th August 2011[/editline] Just one question. I have to Steam accounts, none of them are premium. Can I become premium on both accounts [with one credit card, by adding Steam funds to both of them] and then trading items between them?

[QUOTE=Peravu;31711556]Um... The item cap is about 8-9 items. [editline]13th August 2011[/editline] Just one question. I have to Steam accounts, none of them are premium. Can I become premium on both accounts [with one credit card, by adding Steam funds to both of them] and then trading items between them?[/QUOTE] the item cap used to be 8-14 fyi. not like it matters though also on your edit isn't that the point? lol you create accounts, premium them, idle, trade. OWN DEM TRADE SERVERZ

Well i just got the blob error. Sorry for the dumb question, but what are the "essential" files for the steamapps folder?

[QUOTE=gambler;31796306]Try to validate the TF2 files.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Wololo;31795456]For some reason I can't startup the game in my alt accounts anymore. Anyone have the same problem?[/QUOTE] Try to validate the TF2 files.

[QUOTE=gambler;31796306]Try to validate the TF2 files.[/QUOTE] That worked. Thanks, bro.