Second Account: Need to download the whole game again?

[Ydiss]

I tried posting this on the tech support forum but haven't had a reply.

I was wondering if any of you had bought a second account and if you could help me, please.

I've just bought the game again tonight, so I can have two commanders (Ydiss is out exploring and I want to be able to play in civilisation as well). I logged in with the new account details (input the verification code) and it doesn't let you just play, despite already having the game installed. It's installing the game again and, apparently, this means the entire game.

Can anyone tell me if this happened to them? Is there a way around it? And do you know if it does actually install the whole game twice or is it just some files?

Thanks.

 

[BanzaiZAP]

That's odd. I had a friend come to my house to play. We just fired up Elite, he logged in with his account, entered verification code, and on we went. We did not have to re-download to play with a second account. When he logged out and I went to log in, I did have to re-enter a new verification code, but it switched accounts with no re-download.

 

[Erimus Kamzel]

I have two accounts now and I found the best way to do it is to have two separate installations. With two installs, you don't need to go through the email verification process either when switching between accounts. Joystick settings and keybinds are shared so there's no need to make two copies of those.

 

[Ydiss]

I have two accounts now and I found the best way to do it is to have two separate installations. With two installs, you don't need to go through the email verification process either when switching between accounts. Joystick settings and keybinds are shared so there's no need to make two copies of those.

It seems to be doing this for me.

Which would be brilliant. But I need to work out how to find the second launcher.

It might be happening because I installed in beta.

Can you remember the steps you took to explicitly install a second copy?

 

[Erimus Kamzel]

It seems to be doing this for me.

Which would be brilliant. But I need to work out how to find the second launcher.

It might be happening because I installed in beta.

Can you remember the steps you took to explicitly install a second copy?

You need to launch the Client-Installer and create your path when prompted.

Mine is D:\My Games\Elite Dangerous\Erimus

Install the game as normal and when its done create a desktop shortcut of the EliteDangerous32.exe which can be found (in my case) in D:\My Games\Elite Dangerous\Erimus\Products\FORC-FDEV-D-1001

Then launch the Client-Installer again but this time create a new path when prompted... my 2nd account path is D:\My Games\Elite Dangerous\Kamzel

Then create a 2nd shortcut to that accounts EliteDangerous32.exe


So you should end up with two installations and two desktop shortcuts.

 

[Lasse B.]

It depends on the game version that each account is registered for:
https://support.elitedangerous.com/kb/faq.php?id=108

Now you can read here for some fun things to do with the NTFS file system:
http://schinagl.priv.at/nt/hardlinkshellext/linkshellextension.html#introduction

After reading the info on these sites and if you know your way around Windows, you likely know how to proceed. Further information shouldn't be necessary.

If however reading these sites has left you with more questions than answers, chances are very high you'll reach a point where you end up with a botched installation of the game. It would be best if you let it be and accept a second installation of the game.

 

[Ydiss]

You need to launch the Client-Installer and create your path when prompted.

Mine is D:\My Games\Elite Dangerous\Erimus

Install the game as normal and when its done create a desktop shortcut of the EliteDangerous32.exe which can be found (in my case) in D:\My Games\Elite Dangerous\Erimus\Products\FORC-FDEV-D-1001

Then launch the Client-Installer again but this time create a new path when prompted... my 2nd account path is D:\My Games\Elite Dangerous\Kamzel

Then create a 2nd shortcut to that accounts EliteDangerous32.exe


So you should end up with two installations and two desktop shortcuts.

It depends on the game version that each account is registered for:
https://support.elitedangerous.com/kb/faq.php?id=108

Now you can read here for some fun things to do with the NTFS file system:
http://schinagl.priv.at/nt/hardlinkshellext/linkshellextension.html#introduction

After reading the info on these sites and if you know your way around Windows, you likely know how to proceed. Further information shouldn't be necessary.

If however reading these sites has left you with more questions than answers, chances are very high you'll reach a point where you end up with a botched installation of the game. It would be best if you let it be and accept a second installation of the game.

Thanks both.

With the link above I found the installations. I'm just copying all the files across in Windows (should save me having to download the game again). I'll set up two different launcher shortcuts and I'm off.

Lasse, I did see your account switcher and tried using it but it didn't work for me but I don't mind having two copies installed.

Edit: All done. Two copies, no need to verify each time. Thanks again.

 

[Doolittle]

Of course you have to buy the game again. That is intentional. What, you expect to play the game with more than one character on the same download. Or so that is what they'd love for you to believe. If that's the case FD is one greedy little tyrannical developer, which is becoming more apparent as time goes on.

 

[einis]

If Elite had two accounts per purchase, one account could be given to your friend free of charge, as long as they play at different times. (atleast outside steam)
and there is no subscription fees.
problem?

 

[Ken maddux]

I purchased my second account on steam . Had to open a second store account with a new email account. Now I load the second account with steam .

 

[Ydiss]

Of course you have to buy the game again. That is intentional. What, you expect to play the game with more than one character on the same download. Or so that is what they'd love for you to believe. If that's the case FD is one greedy little tyrannical developer, which is becoming more apparent as time goes on.

That's not what this thread is about. I've bought the game twice happily.

I've got my answer and have sorted it out. Now it's time to go fight in my sidewinder.

 

[nats]

You really shouldnt be doing this - buying another game just for another Commander profile. Its sending the wrong message that it pays for them to be sloppy (or greedy - one of them, not sure which yet) they should be enabling people to play with more than one profile. But buying a second game just for that is nonsense.

 

[Ydiss]

You really shouldnt be doing this - buying another game just for another Commander profile. Its sending the wrong message that it pays for them to be sloppy (or greedy - one of them, not sure which yet) they should be enabling people to play with more than one profile. But buying a second game just for that is nonsense.

They don't know it's me buying a second account. They have no way of knowing. I'm not sending any message. I'm happy to pay them again because I'm supporting them.

It was this or more skins.

If they're going to allow more than one commander (something I support), they'll do it.