Extracting SL install files instead of installing them?

I'm downloading a Cool Viewer file at the moment that needs to be extracted over top of a RC that's earlier than the latest LL RC.

I'm wondering if I download the older LL RC install file, can I in some fashion uncompress the install file into a folder rather than run it ?

Left to it's own devices, the older LL install file would overwrite the current LL RC program folder and do the usual messing around with the registry and the shortcut folders and such.

It would be simpler if one could extract the needed stuff from the LL install file without doing everything the normal installer does.

You can extract an exe using winrar. If you don't have it then maybe try 7zip which is free?

Winrar and 7zip don't seem to work.

I suppose I could create a new Windows user, install it, then copy the files. Some way.

Maybe I'll just wait.

did you try to open the archive and just drag them to a folder?
or is winrar and 7zip not running at all?

EDIT: oh i see what you are asking now..some reason i thought you were referring to a zip file lol..
i have never seen all those files in a package file like a zip before..any i have seen have been exe
i've never tried that myself before..

i just did a search on decompressing an exe file and pretty much everyone says unless you know how they compressed it..what was used to compress it ..you would have a slim chance of getting the data back out of one..

Hmm, I have two computers, one not able to run SL well enough to use it for SL, but it can be installed on it.

I wonder if I could install an SL build on the cruddy machine, then do the Coolviewer stuff to it, then copy the folder to the other machine? Cruddy machine is XP home with a crummy old nVidia card, new machine is XPpro with a mediocre old ATI card. Would those differences between the machines cause copying the program folder to the other machine to present problems?

The Cool Viewer should create a new settings file when it fails to find one, I would think.

Hi Suezanne, 7zip works to extract Nullsoft installers like SL uses. Have used that before. Other option would be Total Commander but I think you need a plugin for this.

You can also install it on another machine and copy it. CV even runs from a USB stick if you want that . All directories and settings are created automatically on first run.

Why so worried?

1. install SL.
2. copy CoolSL over the SL install.
3. try it.

If it sucks..

1. uninstall SL.
2. Delete the SL application folder.
3. reinstall SL.

Your "settings files" aren't stored in the application folder anyways, and niether your settings files, nor your IM history, NOR your cache get deleted, even if you delete c:/Program files/Secondlife.

CoolSL doesn't really change all that much, and generally I've found the interface to be easier to use, easier to build with.. and otherwise, kind of irellevant. I mean, it's great that I can pop in and out of Restrained life with a simple checkbox click and a relog... but once installed, I've had absolutely NO need (or desire) to "go back" to the previous SL. (frankly, CoolSL saved Second Life for me when they added voice and screwed up the "communicate" window.

But if you needed to, it's a simple matter of an uninstall and a reinstall.

If you just want to be super prepared just in case it sucks, and want to switch back and forth... just try this.

1. install SL.
2. copy C:/ProgramFiles/SecondLife to C:/ProgramFiles/SecondLifeOLD
3. install CoolSL into the SecondLife folder.
4. try it.

If you don't like it, rename C:/ProgramFiles/SecondLife to C:/ProgramFiles/SecondLifeCOOL (or just delete it), then rename C:/ProgramFiles/SecondLifeOLD to C:/ProgramFiles/SecondLife

/me waves at Winter

One thing to be careful with. If you install the RC make a backup of your chat and IM logs first. Installing a 1.22 RC deleted the whole application settings folder for me without warning.

The logs are in a different folder than the SL application. You can find the exact path when you look in your preferences where the cache is located. One folder up are your AV log folders sorted by name. Usually c:\documents and settings\<your login>\application data\secondlife\

I always dump new versions into their own subfolder in the SL folder, by version. It's just easier that way.

Well, I want to have the regular LL viewer, the latest LL RC, and multiple Cool Viewers, and I want custom shortcuts on the Start menu for each, and possibly shortcuts in JetStart. Plus Nicholaz viewers, Imprudence, Hippo etc.

It is well past time to go to sleep.

I have so many old SL folders it's funny.