Can I install Calibre on my D:Drive?

[Rellwood]

I have an older 2TB Hard drive from my last computer installed in my current as a D: Drive - it's fully intact with all the windows and other files/folders in it.

I want a second instance of Calibre to run on my machine, and I don't want to use portable.

I know I can just download Calibre and try and install and see if it asks if I want to change the location - but before I do, is it possible to do that? Just install it on the D: Drive (which does have all the Windows folders, App Data Folders, etc)?

Im looking to install a fully running verion for plugin testing and demos, etc. I don't want to mess with my current system.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Rellwood

I have an older 2TB Hard drive from my last computer installed in my current as a D: Drive - it's fully intact with all the windows and other files/folders in it.

I want a second instance of Calibre to run on my machine, and I don't want to use portable.

I know I can just download Calibre and try and install and see if it asks if I want to change the location - but before I do, is it possible to do that? Just install it on the D: Drive (which does have all the Windows folders, App Data Folders, etc)?

Im looking to install a fully running verion for plugin testing and demos, etc. I don't want to mess with my current system.

No you can't. A second instance is what the portable version is for.

[Rellwood]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

No you can't. A second instance is what the portable version is for.

I know about portables, I have them already. I just wanted a proper setup that wasn't a portable.

I have my answer though.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Rellwood

I know about portables, I have them already. I just wanted a proper setup that wasn't a portable.

I have my answer though.

Yoiu can install the second instance under a different Windows user account. But IMO that would be far more bother than using the portable.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Rellwood

I know about portables, I have them already. I just wanted a proper setup that wasn't a portable.

I have my answer though.

There is a solution to testing plugins. Install the Backup Configuration Folder plugin. Then you can test plugins and if you need to, you can restore your configuration directory and be back to the way you were.

[Comfy.n]

You can use the attached bat script, save it somewhere, then give it distinct icon, modify the config dir path etc.

Then you can have as many calibre profiles and choose the library to work with each one.

e.g default config dir is C:\Users\Relwood\AppData\Roaming\calibre

The attached will create clean slate profile at C:\Users\Relwood\AppData\Roaming\CALIBRE-D

[Comfy.n]

It is also possible to run 2 calibres at once but this requires another user account on same Windows, and it's more involved - I occasionally do it by right clicking the portable executable existing under another user profile folder and selecting 'Run as' the other account.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Comfy.n

It is also possible to run 2 calibres at once but this requires another user account on same Windows, and it's more involved - I occasionally do it by right clicking the portable executable existing under another user profile folder and selecting 'Run as' the other account.

How do you do that? I tried, but two instances of calibre wouldn't run at the same time. The other being under another user account didn't matter.

[Comfy.n]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

How do you do that? I tried, but two instances of calibre wouldn't run at the same time. The other being under another user account didn't matter.

See these instructions:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...es#post4378032

I just tried just to check and it still works.

[BetterRed]

No need for a second install in a non-standard location, all you need is two calibre configuration folders (configs) and a means to switch between them.

@Comfy.n suggests using a bat file.

I keep 3 different configs: Normal, Minimal, Barebones in C:\_Appdata\Calibre\Configs\. When I don't want Normal I change the CALIBRE_CONFIG_DIRECTORY environment variable with the Rapid Environment Editor utility. Comfy.n's Current Paths PI shows me which one I'm using.

I do similar for other applications e.g. Sigil, IMatch, etc.

BR

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Comfy.n

See these instructions:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...es#post4378032

I just tried to check and it still works.

Attachment 224628

Thank you, it works, yes - as far as opening two calibre instances goes. But I cannot use any of my existing libraries with the instance under the other user, as it has no access privileges to my main account.

[Comfy.n]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Thank you, it works, yes - as far as opening two calibre instances goes. But I cannot use any of my existing libraries with the instance under the other user, as it has no access privileges to my main account.

As I said, it is more involved. That I never tried. Both accounts must be administrators in such case. Of course, keep in mind to never try to access the same metadata.db, but I guess accessing your libraries with the second instance should be doable. Perhaps log in there (second user) and try to explore your main user profile folder. Windows will say "Allow this?" and set the permissions.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Comfy.n

As I said, it is more involved. That I never tried. Both accounts must be administrators in such case. Of course, keep in mind to never try to access the same metadata.db, but I guess accessing your libraries with the second instance should be doable. Perhaps log in there (second user) and try to explore your main user profile folder. Windows will say "Allow this?" and set the permissions.

Yeah, I ended up just giving the other user necessary permissions from my main (admin) account. As I'm the only user of this computer anyway, it doesn't much matter. But now I must be extra careful I don't open the same library with both calibre instances.

Many thanks again.

[Rellwood]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Yoiu can install the second instance under a different Windows user account. But IMO that would be far more bother than using the portable.

Oh, Lord, I used to have three profiles on my computer because of that.

Problem is that each profile means I am locked out of my normal profile and all the programs and settings for whatever browser or things I have.

I currently have a "Calibre" user profile, but I haven't made use of it because of that.

[Rellwood]

Originally Posted by Comfy.n

You can use the attached bat script, save it somewhere, then give it distinct icon, modify the config dir path etc.

Then you can have as many calibre profiles and choose the library to work with each one.

e.g default config dir is C:\Users\Relwood\AppData\Roaming\calibre

The attached will create clean slate profile at C:\Users\Relwood\AppData\Roaming\CALIBRE-D

THANK YOU!