Calling all ... Holgers 🙂PC/OriginThe whole story is convoluted, but it amounts to this:I temporarily moved my ME3 install (on non-Windows SSD drive) to a different folder to "hide it", so when I created an alt, it would do a fresh ME3 dl & install to the Windows drive. That worked.But now I want to use the old install (for my original/different Origin account). I moved it back. But Origin still goes to the new install.How do I switch Windows to go to the old install?

@DoctorDAM So you moved the old game out of its location. Did you installed the new game in the same location the old one was in before? In General:Just renaming the "Mass Effect 3" gaming folder will do the trick. So for example, just renaming the folder from "Mass Effect 3" to "_Mass Effect 3" is enough. Origin or Steam need to be be closed at the moment you rename the folder.At restart the clients will not recognize that the game is installed. This way you can also switch between installations.

DoctorDAM

New Ace

5 years ago

Solved

[PC] two ME3 installs - how to switch which is used?

Calling all ... Holgers 🙂

PC/Origin

The whole story is convoluted, but it amounts to this:

I temporarily moved my ME3 install (on non-Windows SSD drive) to a different folder to "hide it", so when I created an alt, it would do a fresh ME3 dl & install to the Windows drive. That worked.

But now I want to use the old install (for my original/different Origin account). I moved it back. But Origin still goes to the new install.

How do I switch Windows to go to the old install?

holger1405
5 years ago
@DoctorDAM

So you moved the old game out of its location.

Did you installed the new game in the same location the old one was in before?

In General:
Just renaming the "Mass Effect 3" gaming folder will do the trick.
So for example, just renaming the folder from "Mass Effect 3" to "_Mass Effect 3" is enough.

Origin or Steam need to be be closed at the moment you rename the folder.
At restart the clients will not recognize that the game is installed.

This way you can also switch between installations.

5 Replies

mcsupersport
Hero+
5 years ago
??

Are you needing it to use a different account in Origin or are you wishing to use a different location of ME files to run the game?

If you are needing a different account, then sign out of Origin, and sign back into it with the correct account.

If you are needing to use a different location of ME files...why does it matter?? Is one modded?? But in Origin you should have application settings, Installs and saves and then Game Library location, change this to your desired location...copy the new install into a different folder, aka backup doesn't really matter where you put it, internal or external drive, then uninstall the game. Tell Origin to install ME again and it will do so into new location, when it actually starts downloading, pause(do not stop but PAUSE) the download, copy the files you want to use to that location and resume the install, Origin will think a bit and then check all files and be done.

If you are just wanting to use the files you had previously moved...then copy the new files to backup, and then copy the files you do want to use into the folder where ME is, and overwrite the files there.

Saves for all games will be in your My Documents folder under bioware...

IF none of this is what you want...then maybe be a tad more specific in what you need done......
DoctorDAM
New Ace
5 years ago
@mcsupersport, thanks for the quick reply!
It's for an alt account (different Origin ID).
New accounts tend to have a bad linking/connectivity problem I've documented elsewhere. This was an attempt to circumvent that by making it as new and clean a creation as possible. Alas, same problems ☹️
This new one is just EA Play basic. My "main" has all the DLC. Now when I reload my main (sign out, sign in...), it doesn't see all the DLC and thus can't load game saves.
I figured I'd have to do a new install, but was worried about messing something else up yet again. So thanks for your input. I might hold off a bit while playing the alt, but will then give it a try.
mcsupersport
Hero+
5 years ago
I do know there has been some issues on other games with DLC not working correctly. I don't know if your issue is related to this or completely separate. Once you sign into your main account, you may wish to either repair the game, or ck the Add-ons page and look at the status of the DLC content there.
holger1405
Hero+
5 years ago
@DoctorDAM

So you moved the old game out of its location.

Did you installed the new game in the same location the old one was in before?

In General:
Just renaming the "Mass Effect 3" gaming folder will do the trick.
So for example, just renaming the folder from "Mass Effect 3" to "_Mass Effect 3" is enough.

Origin or Steam need to be be closed at the moment you rename the folder.
At restart the clients will not recognize that the game is installed.

This way you can also switch between installations.
DoctorDAM
New Ace
5 years ago
@holger1405
Your simple solution worked. Actually a combination of that and @mcsupersport suggestions.
All I had to do was:
Temporarily renamed the (call it #1) G-drive "Mas Effect 3" install (main account, all DLC)
From Origin, "move" the #2 (and currently used C-drive install) to the G-drive (alt account, no DLC)
Then rename both, depending which I want it to use. Simple.
[And I did make sure I exited Origin between steps]
I'll eventually delete #2. But it's sort of nice having both as I plan to play alt for the EAPlay month. And it's nice not being pestered about missing DLC authorizations.
Thanks both!