Baldur's Gate is effected by Planned Obscolescence, but it STILL can be re-installed if you know how.
As I had to gather the informations from several unconnected places, here is the guide for the know-how of it all. Of course this is for those who have the original CDs, or the 4in1 DVD-pack etc, not the Enchanced Edition,Gog-version or anything which are already fixed, and likely merged the two games and their expansions in one go.
So:
#1 Have the CD/DVD/imagefile (latest in case your CD/DVD got destroyed but you preserved them in electronical format of course) of the games AND their expansions.
#2 Likely the autoruns won't work. At all.
#2a) Don't panic.
#2a I.) Insert BG2 in your drive, and start "Setu.exe". Choose full install. Change the installation's directory to anything but in the Program Files. c:\baldur2 will work.
#2a II.) Insert BG2Tobinyour drive. Start "Setup.exe". Choose full install.
NOTE: BG2 can now be played if you want.
#2a III.)
Download the two extra merchants. They are in two area-files which have to be copied in the override directory.
#2a IV)
Download the version 26498 patch. Install it.
#2b) Restart your computer. Wait until the boot-menu's screen disappears, and IMMEDIATELY press F8 to start the computer in Safe Mode. Might have to press F8 repeatedly. Restart computer if it started normally.
#2b I.) Insert BG1 in your drive. Start Setup.exe. Choose "custom" install, and tick each boxes. The installer will say you don't have enough space, but that's a false statement. Choose "install anyway". Set the installation directory to not be under Program Files, NEITHER the same as BG2! c:\baldur1 will work.
NOTE: if you only want to play BG1 w/o TotSC you may restart your computer and do so.
#2b II.) Insert BG1 TotSC. Start Setup.exe. Choose "custom" install. Tick each boxes.
NOTE: Likely you won't be able to launch BG1 anymore because "this program only runs under english version of windows", and I read it isn't even indifferent if it is US/UK windows (or the location-setting). Just to mess with you.
#2b III) Pull out the box of the game (let's hope you did not trash it, otherwise you're doomed or something). Find the age-rating ON THE DISC of BG1. NOT TotSC, but the pure game!
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If it says ESRB around a T than you have the US-version.
- If it says ELSPA around a number (eg.15+),than you have the UK-version.
- If the game does not have english language at all (but only german or french) than it is the international version.
#2b IV)
Download the appropriate version 5512 patch and install it. On the link it is called "Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast Patches". IMPORTANT: the patch won't happen if you try to apply it outside Safe Mode!
NOTE: BG1 can be played again.
#2b V.) You may restart your computer.
#3 This is optional. If you want to add Baldur's Gate II fix-pack, do it now. I personally hate patches, especially these unofficial fan-made patches which "intend to follow the programmer's intention", but a lot of places mention it, and it has to be done in the correct order if wanted so here you go.
#4
download and install WeiDu. This merges the two games without modifying them to another game like Diablo 2's 1.07 "patch".
#5 you're allowed to uninstall BG1. Its content is now copied under BG2. So you better have enough space for this whole process (
ca.10 GB free space at #1)
#6 you may install any mod you wish. Some more common mods are mentioned
at Gog.com.
IMPORTANT: although created for the same intent, Weidu is NOTthe same as Trilogy! Trilogy had many criticism for messing with the games too much, not being compatible with enough mods etc. Trilogy is practically a beta compared to Weidu everyone agrees on this.
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INSTALLING WEIDU:
- choose language of installer
- you can choose to "read" the weidu's readme. If you choose yes, it brings up weidu's homepage, not opens some file on your computer or shows text within the installer. This step is unnecessary though.
- choose install (this installs Weidu)
- confirm BG1's directory.
- I have no idea what is "biff all new resources", but unless you have zounds of mods it says recommended yes.
- the installation starts. Took 10 minutes for me in contrast to the approximated 20-60 minutes. Press enter when the installer finished.
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Playing with Weidu:
The main menu of BG2 will change so your initial choice is between BG2ToB and other.
Other offers the choice between starting a new BG1 and BG2 game. There is no option for tutorial (so you'll miss its starting exp).