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Download and install the "PlugY, The Survival Kit 8.00" version (The self-installing one, not the zip version). If you haven't installed PlugY yet, you can download it here. You should already have a working Diablo II 1.11b installation with PlugY that works. Step 1: Have an existing Diablo II 1.11b install in C:\Program Files\Diablo II with PlugY If you have any other than that, your mileage may vary. Just a vanilla D2 LOD install with PlugY.
Create shortcuts to each version of Diablo IIĭisclaimer: This has been tested on Windows Vista and Diablo II: Lord of Destruction. Optional: Explanation of a new feature in 1.12 lets you play D2 without a CD.
Create a duplicate of C:\Program Files\Diablo II in your Program Files directory. Have an existing Diablo II 1.11b install in C:\Program Files\Diablo II with PlugY. Short overview of the steps: (Each step will be over-explained below, if you require more detail. This guide will show you how to keep PlugY working with 1.11b and let you use 1.12 separately. There's no reason to deal with any of that added complexity unless you are managing multiple mods. This is a simple, straight forward guide geared toward the general public with no extra stuff about multiple mods, using -direct, txt files, registry settings and target folder paths etc. The information is available on this site, but I understand that for some, it seems arcane and difficult to follow (especially with the broken image links).