Running multiple instance of D2 (Windows + VMware)

Running more than one instance of D2 is useful for a number of reasons (muling, rushing, enchanting, filling up runs...).

Here is how to do this using the free vmware player software running virtual windows xp. This works under Windows (any version) or Linux (but there you could have it much cheaper and using much less resources using wine, see the linux/wine guide for this).

What you need:

• Multiple copies of D2 (you can buy cd keys and download the installer on blizzard.com). Tipp: Install/move you d2 directories to a separate drive, so that you can use them easily from other operating systems (vmware guest, linux).


• Windows XP installation CD or ISO + valid and legal Windows XP serial number


• VMware Player (free download: www.vmware.ch/products/player


• Create a Vmware virtual machine on www.easyvmx.com (recommended settings: 8GB HD, Soundcard, Directx enabled). Download and unzip your virtual machine. Note: with the current vmware player, this is no longer needed. vmware player now supports creating virtual machines directly.

How to do it

• Start up the empty vmware appliance, install windows xp, install vmware extensions, service packs and updates in it.


• Make a copy or a zip file of your fresh Windows XP Virtual machine. You can copy it anywere, run it in vmware player, and you have a new PC at your disposal.


• In your fresh virtual windows xp, install D2 or copy a D2 installation.


• If you need more than one virtual windows xp for more D2 copies, just unzip the Windows XP installation you have safed into a new directory.

|||Thanks Dyolf! I am pretty sure I can get this to work. So far I have done everything except install video card and D2 in the VM. =D

Thank you!|||Quote:








Thanks Dyolf! I am pretty sure I can get this to work. So far I have done everything except install video card and D2 in the VM. =D

Thank you!




My pleasure! I hope it runs well for you too, it's so handy running two d2 windows side by side without them minimizing all the time |||I wanted to follow up, everything is working enough to play fairly seamlessly in the virtual machine.

However, there seems to be some funny mouse behavior in the virtual machine (for instance, even though i hold the mouse button down, the VM will release the button after only a very short time).

Can you elaborate on what "install VMware extensions" means by chance? I had to install VMware tools in the virtual machine to get this to work, is that what your refering to?

But none the less, this is definitely a working solution to 2D's on 1 PC.

Thank's again!|||how does this work with 4 d2's?|||Quote:








how does this work with 4 d2's?




I have this running on my dualcore with 2gb with no problems.|||I have 2 cd keys and installed virtualbox. It tells me that the cd key is currently used by "theotheraccname". Checked the cd keys on regedit and they are different. What's causing this?|||Quote:








I have 2 cd keys and installed virtualbox. It tells me that the cd key is currently used by "theotheraccname". Checked the cd keys on regedit and they are different. What's causing this?




The cd keys are not stored in the registry, but hidden in some mpq files in the game directory. So

* Are both keys different (classic and lod)?

* Are you 100% sure that you are not running the game twice from the same directory?

Those are the only reasons why that message could come up. I only had it before i documented and grouped all my classic/lod keys to pairs.|||I reinstalled d2 in the virtualbox and it worked. I"m pretty sure i did nothing different, but then again it was pretty late at night. Anway, thanks |||doesnt support w7 =>