How to Create a Clean Install

The information in this Wiki Page applies to T:ANE, TRS19, TRS22 and Trainz Plus. It describes how to set up one (or more) alternative User Data Folders that can contain different sets of installed assets from a bare minimum Clean Install (with Built-in and Base assets only) to various specialist installs such as a DLS Install (with Built-in, Base and Downloaded from DLS assets only).

the User Data Folder, also known as the Local Data Folder, stores all your installed assets and packages, screenshots, script libraries, etc you can have multiple User Data Folders, each configured for different purposes (e.g. a current "full" install, a "minimal" install, a "DLS only" install, etc), and can switch between them when required

What is a "Clean Install"

	A Clean Install is a User Data Folder that contains only those assets that were originally installed with your version of Trainz
	There will be no assets that are Installed from DLS, Payware, Packaged or Modified but these can be added

A Clean Install will create a User Data Folder that is identical to the one that existed immediately after you first installed your current version of Trainz.

It will contain only assets that are:- Base and Built-in for the version of Trainz that you have installed. There will be NO assets that are:- installed from the DLS (or anywhere else) installed as part of DLC Payware created by you (original, cloned, modified) ... but you can still add these assets to the new install.

Notes: the new User Data Folder you create will NOT delete your current User Data Folder but will be a completely separate install and can be on a different drive you can add new assets (from the DLS, DLC, your own creations) so it will become an "Alternate" User Data Folder depending on your available storage space you can have many "Alternate" User Data Folders installed and can switch Trainz back-and-forth between them as often as you like only those assets in your currently selected User Data Folder will be available for use in Trainz

Setting Up the New User Data Folder

	the new folder can be created in a location (drive and folder tree) of your choosing
	it is strongly recommended that you record the location of your original User Data Folder and any alternative User Data Folders that you create

Steps:
1	Create a Destination Folder for the New User Data Install Steps: Open Windows File Explorer In Windows 10 and 11 you will find the File Explorer on the Task Bar at the bottom of the screen.  Left Click  on the folder icon to launch File Explorer Navigate to the Selected Location In File Explorer navigate to the drive and parent folder where the new User Data Folder will be placed. Create the folder using a name of your choice (e.g. F:\Trainz Plus\UserData)
2	Start Trainz
3	Open Trainz Settings From the Trainz Launcher select  Trainz Settings
4	Open Install  Left Click  on the Install tab This will display the drive and folder path of the current User Data Folder which will be shown under the label Local data folder The image shown is an example only. Each user and install will have a different location for their current User Data Folder
5	Copy and Save the Current Folder Address  Strongly Recommended But Not Required  Steps: Copy the Folder Address  Left Click  inside the box containing the address details then highlight and copy (press the  Ctrl  +  A  keys then the  Ctrl  +  C  keys). The address will be copied to your systems clipboard Notes: You may find that your parent folder (e.g. N3V Games\trs22) may have several "build xxxxxxxxx" folders. Each one will be a User Data Folder for a different install of Trainz - for example, you may have been running both the beta and retail versions. To avoid possible later confusion over which of these folders is the correct one, it is recommended that you save the locations of your original and any created User Data Folders Create a Text File to Store the Folder Address Use Notepad or another text editor to create a text file and paste into it the copied address of the original User Data Folder. Save it for future reference
6	Point Trainz to the New User Data Folder Steps:  Left Click  on the button next to the folder address box navigate to the new folder you created in Step:  1  above  Left Click  on the button Make sure that you add the address of your new User Data Folder to the text file that was recommended in Step  5  above. Again, this is for future reference.
7	Close the Trainz Settings Window You will be shown a message asking for a restart.  Left Click  on the button to acknowledge it.
8	Close the Trainz Launcher Dropping you back to the Windows desktop.
9	Restart Trainz Launcher You may get a dialogue window asking you to set your display options (Ultra, etc). If so select one to suit.
10  Start Trainz Select the  Start Trainz  option from the Launcher The first time you access your new user data folder you will need to reenter your username and password. This is the same username password you used to register your copy of Trainz and the same ones you use to access the Trainz Forums. From the Trainz Launcher select  Trainz Settings . Then select the MyTrainz tab and click on the link in the My Trainz Account section. After entering your username and password (and waiting for it to be confirmed), exit the launcher and restart.

On launching Trainz will scan the newly created User Data Folder and discover that it is empty. It will then copy all the required folders and files from its installation files into the new User Data Folder

Switching Between User Data Folders

	You can switch Trainz between your seperate User Data Folders at any time
	Only those assets installed in your currently selected User Data Folder will be available for use in Trainz

Once you have set up an alternative User Data Folder or Folders you can easily switch between them and the original at any time.

Steps:
1	Open the Trainz Settings Install Tab (A repeat of Steps  2 ,  3  and  4  in the section above) Steps: Start Trainz Open Trainz Settings From the Trainz Launcher select  Trainz Settings  Open Install  Left Click  on the Install tab This will display the drive and folder path of the current User Data Folder which will be shown under the label Local data folder
2	Navigate to the Alternative User Data Folder Steps:  Left Click  on the button next to the folder address box navigate to the alternative User Data Folder you are going to use The text file containing the addresses of all your User Data Folders ( you did save it, didn't you? ) will remind you where they are located  Left Click  on the button. The new User Data Folder will be selected in the Settings - Install Tab
3	Close the Trainz Settings Window You will be shown a message asking for a restart.  Left Click  on the button to acknowledge it.
4	Close the Trainz Launcher Dropping you back to the Windows desktop.
5	Restart Trainz Launcher You may get a dialogue window asking you to set your display options (Ultra, etc). If so select one to suit.
6	Start Trainz Select the  Start Trainz  option from the Launcher

On launching Trainz will open the selected User Data Folder and you will have normal access to all of its installed assets. This includes installing new assets (from the DLS, DLC, .cdp files or creating new assets yourself) as well as deleting and modifying/cloning existing assets. The changes you make will NOT affect any other User Data Folders that you may have created.

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Trainz Wiki

More Tutorials and Guides to Using Trainz How to Guides Driver Commands List Session Rules List (Alphabetical) with Parameters Session Rules List (Categories) With Parameters

Related Links How to Move Your User Data Folder

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This page was created by Trainz user pware in November 2023 and was last updated as shown below.

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