How To Update Minecraft Properly With Mods?

[Arnoxthe1]

I'm having some pretty darn basic yet amazingly undocumented trouble here. I updated Minecraft through the launcher normally and now all my mods (Forge, Optifine, and Single Player Commands) no longer work anymore. Am I screwed at this point and have to reinstall my mods again? How do I update my version of Minecraft while keeping all of my mods? Is there even a way?

 

[Marc Wyzomirski]

You have to apply any mods again once you update. All of minecraft's important files are stored in one big file (minecraft.jar). That file is deleted and replaced with the updated version when updating, so any mod you applied to it will also be lost.

I would recommend using MultiMC (http://www.minecraftforum.net/topic/1000645-multimc-43-windows-linux-mac/). Basically it stores copies of the older versions, and all the mods needed to run each instance you make. You can save many configurations, and do not have to modify the "minecraft.jar" directly. This way you can never accidently update over it or anything, or ruin a mod build permanently. It takes a little getting use to using, but once you do you'll wonder how you ever modded Minecraft without it!

 

[Mocmocman]

That's the fun of updating, reinstalling all your mods! Personally, I use magic launcher. It allows me to just have a folder with my mods in it, and it will put them into Minecraft for me. The folder doesn't go away when I update, so THEORETICALLY I could just play the updated version with my old mods. However, there is often compatibility issues with mods programmed for older versions, so I have to go download the new version. It is just putting the mod file directly into a folder, though, so it's not too hard. It will also let you know if there are any issues with your mods before you play the game.

 

[Marc Wyzomirski]

I use to use Magic Launcher but MultiMC is basically the next step above it. You don't lose any of your original configurations. You don't need to worry about updates breaking your old profiles. It saves everything separated and contained. No cross contamination, worrying about version mismatches on older versions you've had already, or having to sort through and select from a giant list of mods each time you have to update and make a new profile.

Even better, you can copy a whole "instance" folder and send it to a friend and their MultiMC will accept it as a whole configuration, completely setup and ready to go, without ANY setup on their part.

 

[Arnoxthe1]

You have to apply any mods again once you update. All of minecraft's important files are stored in one big file (minecraft.jar). That file is deleted and replaced with the updated version when updating, so any mod you applied to it will also be lost.

Ew. That is terribly unfriendly to modders. I know Mojang doesn't support mods but seriously now. Oh well, Best be off reinstalling everything...

But thanks everyone for their suggestions. I will probably pick up MultiMC later.

 

[BloodSquirrel]

You have to apply any mods again once you update. All of minecraft's important files are stored in one big file (minecraft.jar). That file is deleted and replaced with the updated version when updating, so any mod you applied to it will also be lost.

Ew. That is terribly unfriendly to modders. I know Mojang doesn't support mods but seriously now. Oh well, Best be off reinstalling everything...

But thanks everyone for their suggestions. I will probably pick up MultiMC later.

Keep in mind that some of the mods might not work until an updated version is released.

Mojang does a lot to support mods- the new launcher they're working on and the new resource pack system are both designed specifically to make mods easier. But they're also committed to constantly updating the game in significant ways, so mods are naturally going to fall out of date.