Installation Someone help a noob with his add-ons?

[TickleMeKillmo]

Okay, so I have a variety of add-ons (ships, specifically) that I want to install and I've yet to find a procedure for how to properly do this. My main problem, though, is how to properly install various required add-ons, like Vinka's Spacecraft2 and Spacecraft3 add-ons. Can somebody please break this down into steps I can follow so I can get the hang of it?

 

[Ripley]

Said Vinka?
http://orbiter-forum.com/showthread.php?t=21687

 

[PhantomCruiser]

For my own installation(s) spacecraft3 and multistage2 (with patched stage.dll) all get unzipped to the orbiter directory maintaining the file structure (so that modules wind up in the modules folder for example). Along with those go Orbiter sound, UGCO and DGIV.
This is my "baseline".
From that point I use the Jonesoft Mod Enabler. It created a MODS folder. All further mods find themselves there, each in there own folder. JSGME (when ran) allows the user to activate/deactivate mods as they wish. This can also very helpful for troubleshooting, as you can always "uninstall" everything to get back to the baseline to see what is causing a CTD.

I've got a few dedicated installations for a few projects; one for all things AMSO/Skylab 1873/1980, another for Wet Workshops, one for the Space1999 worlds, WO2001 and a beta to play around with.

 

[Belisarius]

I don't use JonesMOD but I probably should. Otherwise I recommend the same thing: unzip the Multistage and Spacecraft files into the Orbiter Folder.

This is where you originally installed Orbiter. We call it Orbiter Folder or Root Folder, like that.

If you open that, using Windows like every other folder. You see various subfolders.

The unzip should have put the vinka files in Modules (spacecraft3.dll, multistage2.dll) and in Config (spacecraft, stage and multistage I think). There will be additional files in Config folder Spacecraft. These are the new spaceships Vinka installed with the addon.

Also you have Docs (read them, they're short. Any questions ask us.)

And scenarios - Lots of scenarios. Vinka wans to show you what Spacecraft3 is about. Play them to see.

 

[TickleMeKillmo]

Okay, I've gotten a better idea of what I'm supposed to do through tinkering, but I've still had some failed installations, mostly of addons with odd folders.

 

[Ripley]

I always unzip add-ons in a new empty folder, just to check its content before merging it into Orbiter's folder.