Recovering TS2013

[mojo12012]

Prior to the update to TS2014 I saved my TS2013 installation to a separate drive, or rather I changed the drive letter (from S: to O:), and just used my basic Steam TS2013 installation (no 3rd party dlc) on another drive (E:, changing it to S:) to endure the update. The update went okay, I looked at it, ran some scenarios, but without the mods (sounds, lights, occlusions, track ir etc.) I decided to go back to my 2013 version. I changed the drive letters back and started up offline. Catastrophe. Steam won't let me run my old version unless I log on. If I do that then we know what will happen when it sees I am using TS2013. I can use the basic version, ie 2014, but not the favoured installation. I've tried logging on in E: then going offline, then starting TS2013, but still get the message insisting I have to log in. Any ideas how I get around this? I understand people run multiple installations protected from the ravages of Steam updates, but how do I access my saved copy and run it?

[Ericmopar]

You should just have to open the Steam window on your desktop first, then click your desktop shortcut to your backup. That's what I've been doing.

I just set up a new folder named "Railworks.bak" and then copied my TS2013 Railworks folder from Steam to that new Railworks.bak folder.
I then went into Railworks.bak/Railworks/Railworks.exe and made a shortcut to the desktop.
After that I just have to open Steam first then I can click on my shortcut to the TS2013 Railworks.exe. It should start and run fine, although you will see ads etc for 2014.
It will not be updated either.
You will not however be able to buy DLC etc and have Steam automatically instal it there.

[mojo12012]

Thanks Eric, that's done the trick. Strange thing is that now I can't do the reverse and access TS2014. When I click on the shortcut for that it opens 2013!

[mojo12012]

Thanks for all the advice. All okay now. Seems I got the shortcuts mixed up. Now able to access both versions from their respective folders.