1) [Optional] Backup your current VTMB installation
Save games were expanded to include party information. Therefore old save games will not be compatible with the Companion Mod. Nor will your new save games be compatible with the original game. If you had other mods or unofficial patches installed, those save games will not be compatible either. Many users decide to backup their VTMB game so that they can restore it should CompMod not meet expectations or they simply desire access to those old save games.
It is possible to have two versions of the game installed on one computer. You can play either version by simply renaming the directories before starting up the game. This allows you to play VTMB with or without the Companion Mod. However, backing up the original installation requires that you have enough hard disk space for two copies of the game (Generally 10 Gig minimum is recommended). To do so:
Rename the "Vampire the Masquerade - Bloodlines" portion of the original installation directory to "VTBM - Original":
Retail\Digital Distribution CD installation folder: (32 bit OS)
C:\Program Files\Activision\Vampire the Masquerade - Bloodlines
becomes:
C:\Program Files\Activision\VTMB - Original
Retail\Digital Distribution CD installation folder: (64 bit OS)
C:\Program Files (x86)\Activision\Vampire the Masquerade - Bloodlines
becomes:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Activision\VTMB - Original
Steam installation folder: (32 bit OS)
C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps\common\Vampire the Masquerade - Bloodlines
becomes:
C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps\common\VTMB - Original
Steam installation folder: (64 bit OS)
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Vampire the Masquerade - Bloodlines
becomes:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\VTMB - Original
2) Uninstall VTMB
Retail:
- Insert the CD and select "Uninstall".
- When prompted, delete all local content.
Steam:
Open Steam, goto the "My Games" tab. Right click on VTMB and select:
"Delete local content".
The game will move to the "Not installed" area.
3) Clean up Previous Mod Artifacts
VTMB's uninstaller only removes files that were installed by VTMB. If you have installed other mods or patches, those files are not cleaned up and may present issues. Using Explorer, browse to the directory where VTMB was installed:
Default CD installation folder: (32 bit OS)
C:\Program Files\Activision\
Default CD installation folder: (64 bit OS)
C:\Program Files (x86)\Activision\
Default Steam installation folder: (32 bit OS)
C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps\common\
Default Steam installation folder: (64 bit OS)
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\
If a directory exists named "Vampire the Masquerade - Bloodlines", right click it and delete it completely from the computer.
** Do NOT delete the directory "VTMB - Original" if you backed it up in optional step 1.
4) Install a fresh Copy of VTMB:
Retail:
- Insert CD 1 and select "Install". Follow the instructions.
Digitial Distribution:
- Execute the installer that you downloaded.
Steam:
- Start Steam.
- Click on "My Games".
- Right click the VTMB game within the Steam window and select "Install Game".
** If you run into problems re-installing: "Your Steam Ticket has expired", then delete the
file "ClientRegistry.blob" from C:\Program Files\Steam. This will force steam to update
when it next starts which should fix the problem.
5) Start\Exit VTMB:
This step is mostly for Steam versions of the game. Sometimes Steam does not fully extract the contents of your game until you actually launch the game. To be certain steam does not clobber any of the mods changes, you should launch a newly installed Steam version of the game at least once before extracting the mod.
From Within Steam, right click VTMB and select "Launch Game".
- Once you reach the Load\Save menu, you can quit.
6) STEAM ONLY:
Disable Automatic Updates for VTMB:
From Within Steam, right click VTMB and select "Properties".
Click on the "Updates" tab
In the combo box, select "Do not automatically update this game"
7) Download and install 7-Zip if you do not already have it: http://www.7-zip.org/
8) Extract compmod_1.0.7z file to:
Retail\Digital Distribution CD installation folder: (32 bit OS)
C:\Program Files\Activision\Vampire the Masquerade - Bloodlines
Retail\Digital Distribution CD installation folder: (64 bit OS)
C:\Program Files (x86)\Activision\Vampire the Masquerade - Bloodlines
Steam installation folder: (32 bit OS)
C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps\common\Vampire the Masquerade - Bloodlines
Steam installation folder: (64 bit OS)
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Vampire the Masquerade - Bloodlines
** DO NOT USE WINRAR. WinRar will attempt to extract these .7z files, but it will corrupt the output. Only use the actual 7-zip program.
** Make sure that "Current Pathnames" is checked.
** Make sure "Overwrite without prompt" is checked.
NOTES : If you have VISTA and UAC enabled, extract 7z file to to desktop temp directory and copy files manually. See Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHlc4LFeUFI
If you have Vista64 and you experience problems with this mod, you may have to run "INSTALL64" under the "tools" directory. However, do not run this unless you actually experience problems.
** All skins distributed or identified by the compmod website are safe for use with this mod. If you install skins from other sites, make sure that the skin does not clobber or alter clandoc000.txt or it will break this mod.