Installing Open Rails

[dkingsburg]

Maybe I Need to Just Download to the Default Location and then Reinstall Everything to There!
DaveK

[crstagg]

Maybe I Need to Just Download to the Default Location and then Reinstall Everything to There!
DaveK

Dave and anyone else reading this, especially anyone new to MSTS/ORTS train simulation,

1. The Open Rails executables work fine from anywhere on your computer, even from Program files folders.
2. Unlike MSTS the ORTS executable DOES NOT have to be installed in the root folder that contains sub folders containing the content files of the simulation. i,e, the Global, Routes, Trains, etc folders. It just need to be provided the path(s) to the root folder of the train simulation contents.
3. Because of the manner of how ORTS updates its executable files you should NEVER install other files in the Open Rails folder or in a subfolder.

If you want or have been advised to install Open Rails in a non-Windows protected folder follow this when running the ORTS installer:
When you get to the dialog for select the install location place your cursor in the right end of the field that shows "C:\Program Files (86)\Open Rails" and backspace then type your path or select the entry "C:\Program Files (86)\Open Rails" and then type you path. Another process is to click the "Browse" button and navigate to the folder you want to install ORTS into.

Below is a post I made on the TSRE forum when Dave was asking about moving TSRE too the OR folder.

How the Installer reacts depends on whether or not ORTS has been previously installed.
Tried installing on a "new" PC (not really new in age but one that had NEVER had ORTS installed). The installer gave me the option of Default location, Editing the path or Browsing to a path.
Tried the installer on PC that already had ORTS installed in default location and it did not give me a "choice" and installed to default..

So it appears that Dave did not get a "Clean" uninstall.

FYI went back to that "New" PC which I had just installed ORTS to C:\Open Rains 1.5, ran the installer again, found that I could not choose a second location as it defaulted to C:\Open Rails 1.5. Then I used Windows Settings to Uninstall ORTS. Then ran the installer again. Now I could choose where to install.

Again: "it appears that Dave did not get a "Clean" uninstall."

The instructions displayed prior to installing indicate that multiple versions of ORTS can be installed therefore I assume if one is installing a newer version the the dialog that allows one to choose/edit the path will be shown.

[dkingsburg]

That's Where my Problem Is. I Have MSTS and TSRE in C: in Separate Folders.
When I Run the Installer there is not A Dialog to Select the Install Location. The Only Items Listed When I R Click on the Installer is a Send to. In that Window I Have Bluetooth Device, Compressed, Desktop, Documents, Fax Recipient, Mail Recipient, DVD Drive. There is a Copy as Path But Nothing to Change the Path.
The Installer has Setup, Then Language, License Agreement then Information, in the Bottom of the Information Box it says The Default Folder is C:\Program Files\ Open Rails\ but you cam choose another Location and Multiple Installations can Co-Exist.
I Can Place my Cursor at the Right End but When I Backspace Nothing Happens.
DaveK

[crstagg]

That's Where my Problem Is. I Have MSTS and TSRE in C: in Separate Folders.
When I Run the Installer there is not A Dialog to Select the Install Location. The Only Items Listed When I R Click on the Installer is a Send to. In that Window I Have Bluetooth Device, Compressed, Desktop, Documents, Fax Recipient, Mail Recipient, DVD Drive. There is a Copy as Path But Nothing to Change the Path.
The Installer has Setup, Then Language, License Agreement then Information, in the Bottom of the Information Box it says The Default Folder is C:\Program Files\ Open Rails\ but you cam choose another Location and Multiple Installations can Co-Exist.
I Can Place my Cursor at the Right End but When I Backspace Nothing Happens.
DaveK

That is because you did not get a "Clean" uninstall when you removed the original install.

What is wrong with the default "C:\Program Files (86)\Open Rails" path?
The Open Rails team set it there and from my experience It works fine there. When I first got ORTS I put it on my D: drive but that was because my D was a SSD. Now my C is an SSD and it is in "C:\Program Files (86)\Open Rails" and works fine.

[dkingsburg]

My Default is C:\Program Files\Open Rails\. It's OK that I can Install it there and it Will Read My MSTS Files in C:MSTS and C:TSRE? Do I Have to Create a Folder in C:Program Files for Open Rails or will OR Create one?
I Did Discover that I Had OR in another Location and I Uninstalled and Deleted. When I Tried to Uninstall the System said they Couldn't Find it but did I want to Delete it. I did and now it isn't in my APPS Files.
DaveK

[dkingsburg]

Installing OR.

Just Tried the Installer and When I Clicked Next on the Information Window It Opened A New Window for Select Destination Location. Now it Lists C:\Program Files (X86)Open Rails.
Should I Stay With that and Will it Read My MSTS and TSRE Files Even Though they Are In C:\MSTS, and C:\TSRE?
Thankyou,
DaveK

[crstagg]

My Default is C:\Program Files\Open Rails\. It's OK that I can Install it there and it Will Read My MSTS Files in C:MSTS and C:TSRE? Do I Have to Create a Folder in C:Program Files for Open Rails or will OR Create one?
I Did Discover that I Had OR in another Location and I Uninstalled and Deleted. When I Tried to Uninstall the System said they Couldn't Find it but did I want to Delete it. I did and now it isn't in my APPS Files.
DaveK

OR does not search your PC for Train Sim content installs. You have to tell it where to look. Train Sim content installs should not be installed into your C:\TSRE folder.

Dave I don't know what you did to uninstall ORTS. All I KNOW is that I installed it to a "new" PC and used Windows Settings to uninstall it and then when I tried to install again I could select/edit the install path. That tells me that I got a "clean" uninstall.

[rdayt]

Open Rails is a two step process. How did we get so far afield?

Randy

[dkingsburg]

MSTS and TSRE Are in 2 Separate Folders in C:. They're not in the Same Folder. I'm not Sure What I Did but I started Checking My Files and Found it in My Programs File. So I Uninstalled and then Deleted it. Then When I Ran the Installer the Window for Select Destination Opened. That's Where I am Now. I want to Make Sure that I can Install OR to C:\Program files (X86).
DaveK

[JohnCarterOfMars]

I Don't See it On My list of Downloads or Programs. I Have A New Computer with Windows 11 and I Can't Find an Add/ Remove Programs Anywhere.
DaveKfromUP

In Windows 11, did you type "settings" in the search box, then choose Apps from the left menu, then choose Apps and Features (the top option), then type Open Rails in the Search Apps box (or just scroll down), then click on the three dots by Open Rails, then choose Uninstall?

[eric]

OK, Dave.... I'm locking all the other threads. We're going to continue in this one, and this one only....

TSRE should be in its own location.

OpenRails doesn't care where it lives as long as it can access your routes and other items, and as mentioned, you DO NOT want to have your routes in the OpenRails folders because that directory is disposable by design. I have it elsewhere out of habit, yet Charles and others have said it's OK to have it in Program Files, and if they're saying it's fine, I trust their judgement.

Your Routes and Trains should be in their own location. That used to be in the MSTS folder.

So, let's back up a few steps. Please answer the following:

1) What location did you install TSRE to? Folder name, not menu... e.g. c:\TSRE

2) What location is Open Rails currently installed to? Folder name, not menu... e.g. c:\program files\open rails or c:\orts

3) Where is your content currently located i.e. the following folders:

\GLOBAL
\ROUTES
\SOUND
\TRAINS\Consists
\TRAINS\Trainset

[pwillard]

I want to Make Sure that I can Install OR to C:\Program files (X86).

WHY? You can install it anywhere and it will work.

[dkingsburg]

OK,
I Have MSTS and TSRE in Separate Folders in C:. So I Can Install Open Rails in C: in a Separate Folder or Should I Create an Open Rails Folder?
I Hate Bothering You With These Dumb Questions but I Just want to Make Sure Everything is Where it Needs to be so Open Rails and Everything Else Will Work Properly. Then I Wont have to Ask So Many Questions.
I have Run8 and the Nice Thing About the Program is Everything is in The 1 Download.
Thankyou,
DaveK

[eric]

The questions aren't dumb as long as you answer what's being asked of you. You're asking specific questions but your own answers are generalities

You've got three different applications trying to share data. One of them is very particular about where it's installed, the other two are not as long as it can get to the first application's data content.

You keep telling us that things are in separate directories, but you're not telling us what directories they're actually in.

It may not matter, or maybe it does. We don't know because you're only sharing words and not specifics.

Sent from my SM-G981U using Tapatalk

[dkingsburg]

MSTS is in C: MSTS. TSRE is in C: TSRE. I'm not using Program Files or Program Files (X86). My Run8 is in C: Run8 Studios.
That is Why I Need to Know Where to Install OR!!!!
DaveK