How do I run two instances of GW on one computer?

I have 2 CD keys. I want to be able to run GW twice at the same time in two seperate windows. I've seen this thread before but couldn't yield anything in the search and went back about 5-6 pages in this forum without finding the thread.

(no edits)

Originally Posted by Kenai
Here's a guide for running 2 accounts on 1 PC.

This might not exactly seem handy but it does allow you to do it and once you get used to it, it's quite simple and fast. I use this for rushing myself if I need too.

I'm not aware of any other ways to do this. After I made some extensive searching on the area I came up with this solution.

**I will not be held responsible if anything goes wrong, so use this guide at your own risk!**


1: Prerequisites:
#1: You will need 2 copies of the game (2 accounts) for this to work.
#2: You will be Editing your Regedit.
#3: You will need 2 user accounts under your Windows - Windows XP was used for this.


2: Editing Regedit - Windows User Account 1:
#1: Go to your Regedit by - 'Start > Run > Type regedit'.
like this

#2: You have your Guild Wars installed at a certain location (e.g cGames\Guild Wars)
#3: These regs are located in 2 places in your reg database you only need 1.
#4: Export this to your desktop - call it whatever you want (e.g gwregs)
like this

#5: Open the file you exported with Notepad.
#6: Go to your Guild Wars Directory.
#7: Copy what you have in your Guild Wars Directory (you dont need the screenshots folder).
#8: Create a new folder and paste it into a new Folder e.g Guild Wars 2.

Right, you now have 2 Folders with the same game but you still can't run 2 instances - hang in there

#9: You need to create a Second Windows User Account now - This is done under Start > Control Panel > User Accounts.
#10: Switch to that new Windows User Account now by doing 'Start > Log Off > Switch User'. Give it some time to Load the first time.
#11: Go back to the original Windows User Account.

Alright this is the tricky part. We have 1 reg file now called gwregs (#4).
like this
Notice how this file points to the first folder with GW.


We need another Reg file that directs the database to the second "installation" - The folder we created and copy/pasted GW into (#6-#8). Make it like the picture below with notepad.
like this
Notice how this file points to the second folder with GW.

I save both my regs files in the second folder with GW.


3: Finishing up and preparing for PLAY!:
By switching user and playing with the regdatabase we can succesfully run 2 instances of Guild Wars at the same time.

#1: Go ahead and delete this in your reg database (regedit) [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE] > Software > ArenaNet **Make sure you have both regfiles saved properly as .reg before doing this**.
#2: Double-Click on your gwregs (first one we made) and confirm to add it to your database.
#3: Run Gw.exe in your original Guild Wars folder.
#4: Switch Windows User Accounts (the one we created in #2:#9).
#5: Run regedit and delete this in your reg database [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE] > Software > ArenaNet.
#6: Double-Click the second .reg file we created (gwregs2.reg) and confirm to add it to your database.
#7: Run Gw.exe from your second GW folder. It will now give you a notification about choosing your Install directory. Press OK.

The second instance should now connect to ArenaNet and then load up and Voila

You are now running 2 instances of the game and you switch between them by simply switching Windows User Accounts. I found it NON laggy on my system but performance might be noticibly decreased on other systems.

I'm well aware this, for most will not seem very user friendly at all and I do hope someone comes up with another way, like I intentionally intended with running 2 instances from the same Windows Account and GW directory, but it'll do for now.

** Remember you have to delete and add the reg files whenever you quit the game (e.g Windows User Account #1 for gwregs and Windows User Account #2 for gwregs2)**

Hope you enjoy this guide.

NICE guide you got here. that will help lots as i'm getting a 2nd account.

I saw a posting where someone actually ran two GW accounts on one computrer using 2 monitors. It did not require switching windows accounts or anything. I know it involved create duplicate entries into the registry pointing one to the primary GW directory and the second going to a GW2 director. The only draw back was if Anet patched the game you had to update the second directory manual or somethinglike that.

use VMWare install two windows in your pc

Thanks for the help Dralspire but this is what I was looking for. I already have it set up with my laptop next to my computer, but I'm also running dual monitors and would like to have two instances of GW running in the same profile.

I tried searching keyword "regedit" but couldn't yield any results regarding this. I remember seeing a pic where one guy had 2 instances of windowed GW on his monitor.

Unless there's a free copy of VMWare and if it's one of those secondary OS then that takes up too much memory.

Photoshopped?

Mybe whatever.

The guy took a pic with a digi cam, not a screenshot.

did this work AncientPC?

i dont understand wat u mean by
#6: Go to your Guild Wars Directory. is that where i installed the game? eg. C/Program files/guild wars) if so ya i am there if not....??)
#7: Copy what you have in your Guild Wars Directory (you dont need the screenshots folder).
#8: Create a new folder and paste it into a new Folder e.g Guild Wars 2. like this C/Program files/guild wars2 or C/Program files/guild wars/guild wars 2?

HERE IS THE OTHER ONE


http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=70999

does this mean you have to do this and then reverse it EACH time you run 2 at once?

ALSO WOULD IT BE A GOOD IDEA TO DO A RESTORE POINT BEFORE ATTEMPTING THIS?

yup it works

lol to complicated for me i got 2 accounts tough, would be nice if it was easier for a non-computer expert :'(

if u got msn messenger i can help u out

Is anyone else having delay issues with running two GW processes at the same time on a single core (non-Hyperthreading) CPU?

Just a quick question, why would you want to run two versions of gws on the same computer anyway. Surely you would not be able to play both of them at once ?

the only reason IS to play both at once for

A trading between accounts (not characters on the same account)

B using a higher level character on account 1 to run a lower level character on account 2.

I run gw on 3 23" flat panels side by side, 2 account on one machine its nice and can be very useful, although my second account has not left pre searing yet!! So i dont really use it all that much!! Waste of time and money for me!!!


HUmbly,

I farm UW using both accounts but this lag issue is making things difficult.