Question on installing PlugY

[Bearak]

I only just discovered this mod, hoping to try out some of the online/ladder features otherwise unavailable offline, namely Uber Tristram. However, I'm apparently doing something wrong installing this mod, as nothing appears to be happening. I've searched as best as I'm able both Phrozen Keep and Google for instructions, but haven't found anything resembling step-by-step directions for installing & using the mod. I've DL'd the latest version of the mod, 10.00 for D2:LoD 1.13 from Johan's site, and installed it using the installer version. However, neither clicking the PlugY shortcut on my desktop nor loading D2 via my usual shortcut seems to do ANYTHING - none of the features or options discussed in the readme file are available in-game.

The PlugY.ini file is in my Diablo 2 directory, and I haven't changed it in any way. I installed the mod into my D2 directory...should I not have done this and instead installed it into it's own directory? Any help and instructions for a noob will be greatly appreciated!

[inferno-hero]

does the game load? or does the the disc arrow spin then disappear?
where is your diablo II directory?
do you run multiple versions of D2?

[Bearak]

Thanks for your reply, inferno-hero.

If I click on the PlugY shortcut, I get a loading icon for a second or so, but nothing else happens...D2 doesn't load, nor does PlugY. If I click on the D2 shortcut, the game launches and plays as normal...but nothing related to PlugY is part of the game and I get none of the options/functions the readme says should be there.

I run only a single copy of D2, and the game is installed to "C:\Program Files (x86)\Diablo II\". I'm running Windows 7 64-bit Home Edition, if that matters at all.

[kingpin]

make sure you have set administration rights to run d2. that's a common problem in win7.

[Bearak]

D2 IS in fact set to run with Admin rights. D2 itself runs perfectly fine, I just can't get PlugY to DO anything.

[inferno-hero]

i had a similar problem, however my diablo II install was on my E drive.
i had to change the registry files for it to work.
im not sure about this on windows 7 but try:

start > run
type regedit > enter key
window should open.
expand HKEY_CURRENT USER
expand Software
expand Blizzard Entertainment
click Diablo II
double click InstallPath
the text that popops up should match your install directory if not change it.

however if another patch comes out, this is the directory where it installs, but shouldnt matter if your running 1.13 already

hopefully this works for you...
im not to sure of anything else that could cause this.

[Bearak]

inferno-hero, I double checked the registry entry as you suggested, and it does match up with my D2 install directory exactly, so that's apparently not the issue.

A couple questions:
1 - Should PlugY be installed in the same directory as D2, or in a seperate directory location of its own?
2 - Should firing the PlugY shortcut launch the game, or does PlugY run separately from D2, in which case I would need launch one and then the other. If the second case is what should happen, which program should be launched first?

[inferno-hero]

yes plugy should be located in the D2 directory.
clicking the shortcut should open d2 with plugy.

i would try to uninstall. reinstall.
also make sure that all contents are there.
includes plugy.dll, config, plugy folder, exe, etc.

[Bearak]

I had already uninstalled the mod, since it didn't appear to be working, and I have just reinstalled it using the ZIP file on Johan's site, rather than the .exe installer. Launching the PlugY.exe file is now also launching the game, and I now see the version tag for PlugY on the start screen.

Thank you very much for answering my questions and helping as best you could!