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New Ace

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

@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.

3 Replies

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!