Install Modloader for Minecraft

Have you ever tried installing Risugami's Modloader and gotten a black error screen? Modloader will let you manage different mods that are installed on your hard drive at the same time, making it essential for many Minecraft players. The only trouble is, if you don't know what you're doing, it can be a little tricky to install. Luckily, the process itself isn't too hard, so just follow these easy steps to learn how to install Modloader for Minecraft.

Steps

Getting Started: Backing Up and Downloading Necessary Programs

  1. As is useful when installing new mods or a modloader, back up your minecraft.jar file. Locate your minecraft.jar folder in /[your username]/AppData/Roaming. Next, simply right-click the minecraft.jar file. Create a new folder (you may want to call it Minecraft Backup) anywhere on your hard drive and paste the minecraft.jar file into this new folder. Finally, rename the minecraft.jar file to something like "Minecraft Backup".
  2. Download an archive utility like WinRAR, if you haven't already. Because Modloader comes zipped, you'll need a program to unzip the file once it's downloaded. WinRAR or 7-Zip can both be downloaded and used free. (WinRar may prompt you to pay, but you can still use it without spending a dime.)
  3. Download Modloader, if you haven't already. Risugami's Modloader is a program that eliminates conflicts among mods, practically necessary if you have multiple mods installed at the same time. You can download Modloader here.
    • Remember to download the version of Modloader that matches your version of Minecraft. For example, if you have Minecraft 1.5, be sure to download Modloader 1.5.

Installing Modloader

  1. Unzip Modloader with your archiving utility. Right-click Modloader, and then select Open with → WinRar (or another archiving utility). These are your .class files. Keep this file window open.
  2. Open up the Minecraft folder using one of the following three steps, depending on your operating system.
    • In Windows XP: Click on the Start button, then click on Run. Type "%appdata%" and click on "Roaming." Minecraft should be the first folder. Open it.
    • In Windows Vista/7: Click on the Start(Windows) button and type "%appdata%" in the search bar and again click on "Roaming."
    • In Linux Ubuntu (should be the same on other Linux distributions): Open up your Home folder. Look for the Minecraft folder. Note: if you cannot see this folder, enable "Show Hidden Files". When you find it, open Minecraft.
  3. Open the Bin folder by double-clicking it.
  4. Open the minecraft.jar file with WinRar or a similar archiving utility. Right-click minecraft → Open with → WinRar.
  5. Delete the META-INF file. This step is very important. If you don't adequately delete the META-INF file, your screen will go black when you try to play Minecraft.
  6. Drag and drop the .class files, including folders, from the Modloader folder into the minecraft.jar window.
  7. Close the .jar window and run Minecraft.exe.
  8. Log in and start playing for a short duration. After half a minute, exit out of Minecraft and check your minecraft.jar window again. If you see a new folder entitled "Mods," the installation of Modloader worked. Download mods and continue to enjoy Minecraft.



Tips

  • To install (most) mods, use the same method. ModLoader is required for some mods.

Warnings

  • If you delete anything other than the META-INF folder, just delete the Bin folder and log in to Minecraft again. Unfortunately, you have to reinstall the mods again.

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