Left 4 Dead How to Install Mod + Configuration – Mod Tutorial Guide

Left 4 Dead How to Install Mod + Configuration – Mod Tutorial Guide 1 - steamsplay.com
Left 4 Dead How to Install Mod + Configuration – Mod Tutorial Guide 1 - steamsplay.com

Some guides tell you to unpack and delete the pak01.vpk files. which is horribly wrong. Learn how to do it correctly here.
 
 

Foreword

Some old tutorials tell you to unpack all your vpk files and delete them to install the mods.
 
That is about the dumbest thing you can do, because it WILL cripple your game if you mess up.
 
You’ll end up needing to reinstall the game, or get the original files from someone else, or have the original ones backed up and…. its just down right idiotic.
 
 
Learn how to do it properly, without having to delete anything.
 
 
You need:
 
Left 4 Dead 1 Authoring tools – From the Steam tools library
 
Python – [python.org] 
 
This python script – [pastebin.com] 
 
 
Note: This works for ANY game that does not natively support “addons” or “custom” folders.
 
Like Portal. or Infra…
 
I decided to post it in the L4D section because there’s one infamous horrible guide by someone.
 
I want to replace that guide and spare you from a gruesome “i deleted all my original files” fate.
 
 
 

First Time Setup

Before you can install mods, you need to make a “mod” folder.
 
You need to fool the game into thinking it got an update or DLC to “inject” your mods into the game, overwriting the original game files that way.
 
 
Here’s how you make this “DLC” folder.
 

  1. Go to “steamapps\common\left 4 dead\left4dead”
  2. Open “Gameinfo.txt”
  3. Scroll down to where you can see the following:
     
     
     
     
     

     SearchPaths
     {
     Game left4dead_dlc3
     Game |gameinfo_path|.
     Game hl2
     }
    
  4. add a new line to the top, as such:
     
     
     
     
     

     
     SearchPaths
     {
     Game Mods 
     Game left4dead_dlc3
     Game |gameinfo_path|.
     Game hl2
     }
    

     
     
     

     
     
     
    This marks the folder called “Mods” as a new content folder. allowing you to just install and uninstall mods easier.
     
     
     
    Note: If at any point you verify the game files, this Gameinfo will be reset to default. so you will need to do it again.

  5. Copy your modified Gameinfo.txt
  6. Go to “steamapps\common\left 4 dead”
  7. Create a folder called “Mods” and open it.
  8. Paste the gameinfo.txt in that folder
  9. Create a file called “make_pak01.py” and paste the downloaded python script into it.
     
     
     
    its a text file. Any text editor can edit it if you right click it.
     
     
     
    Alternatively make a text file, paste the content and change the “txt” extension to “py”
  10. change the “VPK_PATH” part to fit your install location.

Now the folder should look like this:
 
Left 4 Dead How to Install Mod + Configuration - Mod Tutorial Guide - First Time Setup - 54B02F8
 
 
 

Installing mods

  1. Put all the content folders of your mods (materials, models, particles…) into the “Mods” folder you made.
  2. Run the “make_pak01.py” Python script.

 
You’ll get at least a pak01_000.vpk, a pak01_dir.vpk and a vpk_list.txt.
 
vpk_list.txt lists all files inside the pak files. you could delete it, but ignoring it is easier.
 
 
If you have a whole awful lot of mods installed, you’ll automatically end up with a pak01_001.vpk, pak01_002.vpk and more if needed.
 
Now your folder looks like this:
 
Left 4 Dead How to Install Mod + Configuration - Mod Tutorial Guide - Installing mods - E643A89
 
 
You are now done.
 
 

WARNING

 
You must delete all existing vpk files in your “mods” folder before you run the script!
 
All the content is scattered through the 000.vpk, 001,vpk… files.
 
Just running the script will sometimes end up with keeping a leftover “002.vpk” or “003.vpk” when you wouldn’t need one.
 
So there will be leftover mods that will remain installed.
 
 
 

Installing improperly shipped mods

If you ever download a mod packed in a pak01_dir.vpk, first tell the “modders” they’re stupid.
 
Then:

     
     

    Written by мяFunreal

     
     
    Hope you enjoy the post for Left 4 Dead How to Install Mod + Configuration – Mod Tutorial Guide, If you think we should update the post or something is wrong please let us know via comment and we will fix it how fast as possible! Thank you and have a great day!
     


    Be the first to comment

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published.


    *