HOW TO: Multiple D2R Instances (requires two accounts)

General Discussion
42

Hey, the script worked fine until i had to install the latest Windows 11 Security Update KB5029263 and KB5028948. Now i can’t run the .bat file as admin anymore. it says
ERROR: RE-RUN PROGRAM AS ADMINISTRATOR

Is there a fix for that? thx a lot?

43

You can uninstall the updates and it will work again.

44

Couldn’t End Task the “Check for Other Instances” anymore after the most recent update. Anyone else experience this problem?

45

Check for and uninstall the Windows 11 Security Update KB5029263 and KB5028948 and it will work again.

I removed the two updates above and it worked as it normally did before the updates.

46

I’m having this issue. After runnning the D2R_1 instance, I run the script to close handle, I run the D2R_2 instance, and after logging in, Diablo 2 Resurrected appears as “Playing Now” so I cannot execute it again… Am i doing something wrong? My OS is Win 10.

47

found a nice yt video yesterday.

basically → settings in your battlenet app to → not auto log in, close when game starts → use process explorer to close handle → start second launcher.

48

Best way here:

  1. You have to install a clone of d2r installation with another shortcut on desktop;
  2. download and install procexp64.exe;
  3. run it and search d2r instance - navigate to find it and then, click right mouse and choice “close handle”;
  4. now, you can run another istance by previous shortcut of D2R .
    and…ENJOY! There is no limits to run d2r instances, with others installations clones :blush:
1 Like
49

Ok Some notable things After I finally got both accounts running :
I actually got two games running but the second account wont go online. It says cannot connect to server

I figured it out. As the second game is loading, when its still on the Home Screen graphics loading and You just opened it, go to Process Explorer and close the “Event” link again on that one as well so it doesnt search for the First game You opened and realize You’re already on Bnet and not let You go Online. After closing it, once you click past the menu screen You can now go online on both. If You dont do this, it will say “Cannot connect to server” as it knows You’re already online. Also, I have two games running on 16 GB of Ram . I set scaling to 50%, Windowed the second game so it is small and very low quality. I also closed everything else running on my PC to open up as much CPU Usage as possible ( I just have two internet tabs open at the moment nothing else ) . This will do the trick enough to allow You to mule to Yourself even if Your comp is worse than mine. I’m running a 1060 GTX 6GB Nvidia ( No Legacy mode required and both games are running fine ) . The graphics are blurred on my second account because of the 50% scaling, my CPU Usage is at 40% and Memory is at 67% and honestly the games arent even lagging at all. I can definitely play the one and BO myself on the other, I dont need to be able to see well on the second one, I can see good enough to get to a WP and BO myself which is all it requires. Very viable to play two D2R at once with 16 GB of Ram as long as the second account is on all lowest settings and lowest scale etc. GL and hope to see yal in Hardcore Season 5 Ladder.

50

I am having this issue too. Did you find a method that works?

51

Thanks for your .bat script, but any plans on providing your handle64.exe source code? …
The .bat does not work with procexp64.exe directly since it require more parameter which you handle in your magic handle64 application. And I don’t feel safe running a stranger’s application with elevated rights without knowing the source code ^^

Edit: i found the Original Handle64.exe from Microsoft here
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/handle

52

It’s really overthinking it by running any extra files beyond battle net, your two d2r installs, and process explorer.

There’s nothing else to it, you just have to juggle it so you know which order to load what in. EDIT: Not to mention if you start running extra executables, etc, then you’re going into a gray area where Blizz can and will ban. They’ve done it for something as simple as loot filters.

I didn’t see the post with the bat file, but definitely DO NOT do this.

It’s one thing if you’re running a mod in single player, entirely another to run a batch file as you said, which you have no idea what it’s going to do.

And this message isn’t for you, since you’re obviously from the DOS days, but for anyone else reading the thread.

Take care.

53

Does anyone got any idea how to get this running for Win11 Pro? Can’t find the file “close other instances” - so far, googled, probably an issue with win 11 when using processexplorer -.- with win10 no problem

Fixed

Needed to change the layout in ProcessExplorer and now found it… still not as easy as in Win 10 but works in Win11, too!!!

54

For those who are using Windows 11 and has problem with “invalid handle” when using the batch script, try downloading handle64 version 5 and it should solve the problem.

If the above does not work, you can try to download the Process Explorer v17.05 and manually close the “Event” handle “DiabloII Check For Other Instances”.

55

Does anyone know if this still works? I have followed all of these steps, and am able to get 2 instances running together for just a moment. They both log in fine, one character can be in lobby and one in a game. But once my other character Joins the others game, it crashes. It doesn’t appear to be a resources issue, my machine seems to be handling it okay. It doesn’t appear to be an account issue either for both characters can sit online in lobby at the same time without issue. It is odd.

56

I don’t know if I understand correctly, but it seems you are trying to run two characters from the same account. You cannot do this, you need two accounts for two characters.
If you already are using two accounts, then I don’t know.

57

this method works, but i do not bother making seperate directories. that part is a waste of time and space. i have one d2:r directory and i run 5 copies using this method.

one thing it doesn’t mention. is if the play button is in playing now. go into regular task manager, and find battle net update agent, end that. and it takes about 8-10 seconds and you will be able to press play.

1 Like
58

.BAT works 100%. I open my first instance then run the Bat file, then open the next instance *2nd account) and repeat this for all four of my accounts. If you accidently drop from one of the games, but have all four handles blocked ahead of time it should reload from the launcher. Thanks for your .BAT file!

Of course if you drop from two accounts or more at once you will need to start all over again.

59

It works, thank you.

Suggested edits:

  1. Have people download handle from Sys Internals (Microsoft)

  2. Link an article on how to set it us an environment variable by putting it in a folder at C:\Users\Them\Desktop\Tools then adding that to the environment variables.

  3. I would take out everything in the script above the FOR /F because that’s what’s flagging as malicious. Just instruct them to run it as admin.

  4. There’s a mistake in your script on line [-5], you need a space between “echo” and “!!!..” or it’ll fail since “echo!!!” is not a recognized windows command. Script will not run without fixing it.

60

Thank you for this! I was using a 2nd windows account, so just ending the task for battle net update agent works perfect for that.

1 Like