Is there a way to install 2 separate versions without VM?

[BattouSaeen]

Title, basically. I want to install an instance of qb on a separate drive, but a different version to what I am currently using. Normally you can do that with many windows programs but qb's installation says immediately that it will uninstall existing installation before proceeding. As far as I remember, it will do this before asking where to install (correct me if I'm wrong).

I'd like to avoid using a virtual machine.

Any ideas on if this can be done?

Perhaps devs can repackage the installation to show the installation location or use a checkbox or something to disable uninstalling existing version, something like that?

Thanks.

[qBittUser]

... to show the installation location.

On Windows OS, official qBit setup already allows to see default recommended location and to specify a different one.

If it detects you had previously installed qBit, then reinstalling will remove previous installation, but will keep your settings and torrent files.

... you can do that with many windows programs.

Maybe all software that uses NSIS works differently than what you've tried so far. Average user doesn't even need a copy of old program installation.

If you do find any open-source software using NSIS that allows to keep old installation files, then create a feature request and maybe someone will give instructions or implement something similar to future qBit version.

Is there a way to install 2 separate versions?

Only if you modify code to rename it to avoid conflicts in your system.

I'd like to avoid using a virtual machine.

Why not run qBit in portable mode?

You can run multiple instances simultanously if you add profile folder where you have installed, copied or extracted your qBittorrent.exe. Just you can't easily run multiple qBittorrent from same location, have to keep them separately.

If you reinstall somewhere then most likely the most recent installation location of qBit will be run by default whenever you click on a magnet link or open a torrent file, but you can change them in OS settings if needed.

Portable mode instructions are in Wiki:

https://github.com/qbittorrent/qBittorrent/wiki/How-to-use-portable-mode

If you want to backup, copy or move your settings and torrent transfers, then exit qBit and read Wiki to know the default location:

https://github.com/qbittorrent/qBittorrent/wiki/Frequently-Asked-Questions#where-does-qbittorrent-save-its-settings

[BattouSaeen]

The problem I have is, as I mentioned, just launching the installer immediately warns of uninstalling an existing installation. I can't remember if it does it once I say YES to continue, or it does it once I choose location. If it waits until the end, then I'll just put in my other location where I want this test installation to be as I intended to in the first place and all should be well (I'll put the profile folder there too of course).

[qBittUser]

Warning comes only if it detects you had previously installed qBit and if you didn't uninstall it and it's clearly written there that your settings and torrent files will be kept.

Unfortunately you have to read Wiki and then decide if you want to copy your current installed files somewhere else or use 7zip program to extract setup files to avoid seeing any confusing warning and to be able to keep multiple copies.

[BattouSaeen]

Thanks. I've extracted the installer through 7zip, is it just ready to go now? Or anything I need to know and still need to read the wiki :P

[qBittUser]

Read my comments again, I had edited first one before. Then read both Wiki links, because if you wish to run multiple instances simultanously then you better add profile folder, otherwise qBit will use default user files location and will have conflicts.

To avoid more surprises, disconnect internet add profile folder, set settings right or open and exit qBit, then you'll see that there's extra folders and files added there that you can now modify with notepad or replace with another backup. Unfortunately editing or replacing while qBit is running isn't good. If you just add empty profile folder, then it will make your portable qBit start with no torrent transfers and with default recommended settings.

[BattouSaeen]

Ah it seems I erased the part in my original post where I mentioned the profiles folder, so no worries about that as I was already aware that there needs to be a profile folder.

I'm debating on whether or not I would run them simultaneously. I think I probably would. The issue I'm attempting to navigate is that coming from a very old version, a lot of torrents lost their names entirely and would show up as hashes in version 5+. So my only option now is to manually change every name from within current qB version and for that I'm guessing having older version on will help tremendously, side-by-side. I have made a thread about this describing it here #22572

Towards the end I believe some useful information was added but I'm not entirely sure I understand enough of it to do something "automatic" via scripts, so to speak, so my first option is good old manual labour.