Can two copies of Trainz run on the same computer?

[Johnk]

I know 2006 and 2009 can, because I'm already doing it. But what about two copies of 2006, or TC, or 2009?

"Why? you ask.

Based on an idea formulated by Illinoiscentral (Woody), in another thread I suggested we hold a Route Building Competition next year where people would create a small route using out-of-the-box assets in the Trainz version of their choice. When discussing this with PEV today, he said that may be difficult because many modellers would have added stuff to their asset collection, making it impossible to know what was out-of-the-box, and what was not!

If anyone was interested in this competition, it would be great if they could install a second copy of Trainz to ensure they were only using out-of-the-box assets.

Hope that makes sense.

 

[ekin1972]

I have 2006, 2009 and TC3 all running on my computer with no problems.

 

[Johnk]

Thanks ekin1972, but the question I asked was . .

"But what about two copies of 2006, or TC, or 2009?"

By that I mean two copies of the same program. Can you run two copies of TC3 or 2006, or 2009? I know you can run different versions, but I mean the same version with the same serial number.

 

[john259]

Running two copies of the same version is very likely to give rise to registry entry clashes.

One possible solution might be to create a virtual PC for the second copy.

John

 

[sterrett]

I run TC3, TRS2009 and TRS2009 build 40704 (Beta) on my pc with no problems at all. The only thing I have to watch out for is which Content Manager opens if I select an item in the DLS, so I get round this by opening the CM I want first, and then duplicating the other download for the second CM.

I haven't come across any problems with the registry entries at all.

TRS2009 Beta is on a portable hard drive (Western Digital "My Passport" converted from FAT32 file system to NTFS.)

I also have a copy of TC3 on another Western Digital "My Passport" which I can run on a lapop if I choose, although the running is somewhat jerky on my laptop and only really useful for for Surveyor and a bit of route building.

 

[john259]

I run TC3, TRS2009 and TRS2009 build 40704 (Beta) on my pc with no problems at all.
...
I haven't come across any problems with the registry entries at all.

No you won't, but that wasn't what he was asking.

John

 

[Johnk]

sterrett and john259, I hear what you're both saying, but as john259 pointed out, we must talk about the same version exactly. Different builds may or may not make a difference. That's something I don't know at this stage.

Any competitor who has added assets to their copy of Trainz may have to install another "clean" copy of their program to enter the competition to ensure that they're only using out-of-the box assets. They obviously won't want to compromise their working copy of Trainz in any way and I don't want to be shot, sued or fore-quartered.

If it's possible, I'd like to help Woody stir up some enthusiasm amongst all Trainz users, both on and off these forums, with hopefully a teeny little bit of support from Auran who I have yet to approach. They can read about it here for the time being and get used to the idea. I'll prepare a proposal for them if it can be done and there's enough advance interest.

 

[john259]

Two different builds of the same edition of Trainz (different service pack levels or different regional versions) would conflict I think, because they almost certainly use the same registry key names.

However - how do the people beta testing TS2009WBE service packs deal with this? Posts on TrainzDev seem to suggest that some of them have got multiple builds of TS2009 on the same computer. Maybe they use the Virtual PC facility???

For the competition, life is very easy for TRS2004 users. Just move the downloaded and self-created asset folders to somewhere else, delete the dispatcher chump file, and TRS2004 is immediately reduced to built-in assets only. To return to normal just move the folders back. In TRS2006 and later CMP might have a means of disabling non-built in content but I've never explored that.

John

 

[narrowgauge]

I have three builds of TS2009, together with TC1&2 + TC3 + TRS2006 + TRS2004, all on the same drive. There does not appear to be any interaction between them. I've had no problems.

Peter

 

[john259]

I have three builds of TS2009...

Ok, that's the answer then.

(Thinks: how the heck does it avoid registry clashes???)

John

 

[sterrett]

Posts on TrainzDev seem to suggest that some of them have got multiple builds of TS2009 on the same computer.

As a beta tester, I can confirm that Auran recommend that you install the beta version entirely from your stable version install, just in case the beta version screws up all your hard work of route building or content creation, or causes some other unforseen mayhem!

 

[Johnk]

Hi narrowgauge. I'm slightly concerned about different builds, but I'm not panicking. Personally I think it wouldn't make any difference if they were different builds or not, so your comments are indeed comforting. I think I've actually heard enough to do a test and find out for myself for sure. My version of Trainz is out of the box so I've really got nothing to lose. I also seem to recall running the BETA version and the release version on the same drive myself.

Unless someone has actually done it, let's call the thread closed. Thanks to all who answered. Your imput was constructive and appreciated.

Best wishes,

John

 

[Johnk]

john259 and sterrett. Sorry guys, your posts came through while I was responding to narrowgauge.

John: Both stable versions should write the same data to the registry during install, However, if Trainz updates the registry while running, some of those updates could be passed on to the other copy. That does concern me a teeny bit.

From the little I know of Trainz, it seems to save vital stuff to the old fashioned (and I love 'em) config and ini files, thus avoiding registry clashes. That's what I think, but I could be wrong. Thus the reason for this thread.

sterrett: Yes, I agree, because beta is beta. Who knows what changes the programmers made before the last beta and the final release? It's beta to be safe than sorry!

 

[john259]

Proof's in the pudding I think. Narrowguage says it works so it works (even if we don't know how it works). QED.

John

 

[meatloaf747]

I know 2006 and 2009 can, because I'm already doing it. But what about two copies of 2006, or TC, or 2009?

Simple answer John is "yes"
Without going into the reasons why, I currently have three version of TRS2006 installed on the same hard drive. I've had no problem opening and running all three.
Where I did have a problem was when I open CMP and downloaded anything, it would automatically install the content into the last of the three versions that I had been running.

To get around this I had to go into the particular version of TRS2006 that I wanted to download stuff to and open CMP.exe from the; TRS2006\Bin directory. Eg; double clicking on the; Content Manager.exe (listed as Content Manager - 4880 Kb - Application).
The same with starting the one of the three versions I wanted to run. The easiet thing to do was to go into that particular version of 06 that I wanted to run and just double click on the TRS2006.exe (TRS2006 - KB 40 - Application) to run it.

I don't see any reason why you couldn't have/run 5 - 10 - 15 versions of the "same version" of Trainz on the same HDD as long as you understand the basic principle of opening a particular version of Trainz by it's CMP.exe to download too, or double clicking on the; TRS2006.exe to start the particular version of 06 that you want to run !!!

(In simple English, CMP (06) will default to the last version of 06 that you had running if you open the DLS)... That's why you need to use the CMP.exe of the particular version you want to download to...

Foot note; Getting abit long in the tooth in my middle age; Now I'm just running the particular version of 06 that I want to download to by first running it - opening that particular 06, and either driving a train or doing something to a layout, etc, etc then exciting. - Then opening CMP and downloading. That way I know for sure that the downloaded content is going into the version of 06 that I want it too...
It's the Irish in me, "to be sure, to be sure" !!! :hehe:
Cheers, Mac...

 

[Johnk]

Thanks Mac, That's heartening advice and valuable input. If it gets of the ground, we'll let people know because they'll probably want to use CMP on their main version of Trainz while they're wasting a year trying to win an outdated box of chocolates

Thanks again. Your advice, as always is invaluable.

 

[itareus]

John,

In TS2009 CM2 and TS2009 Surveyor there is a filter you can set:

"Built-In = True"

Which should just give you the "out-of-the box" items in selection lists....

Chris

 

[Johnk]

Chris, that's very interesting. Do you know if that exists in other versions? I can't check because all my stuff is as shipped.

Ta

 

[mjolnir]

I made a quick inspection of parts of the registry, and it looks to me like the full path is generally specified in most of the registry entries, so that multiple copies can be installed (assuming that's not a violation of the EULA). it might be safer, though to install to a separate drive, and there are thumb drives now larger than the directory in which my current 2006 installation is installed, so maybe the way to go here is to a contest copy to a thumb drive.

I'd suggest, though, that locomotives and rolling stock be excepted from the restriction to built in content.

ns

 

[itareus]

Chris, that's very interesting. Do you know if that exists in other versions? I can't check because all my stuff is as shipped.

AFAIK the filter was a new feature for Surveyor in TS2009. Might have been in CMP for 2006 but it's only really useful (in competition context) as a Surveyor feature.

Chris