So I should have four files by the time I'm done (SOURCE (1.2), SOURCE (BI+1.6), RTW+BI, and RTR), not including future mods I install, right?
Mine are currently thus:
F:\Games\RTW\1.2\
F:\Games\RTW\1.2MM\
F:\Games\RTW\1.5\
F:\Games\RTW\SOURCE\
The version is SOURCE is the currently installed, totally untouched RTW+1.3+1.5 patched game.
When I get BI, I will uninstall it (e.g., SOURCE), and reinstall from scratch (fresh)... I'll still use the dirctory named SOURCE (just a preference, nothing magical about the name), then install BI (which is 1.4), then install the Patch 1.6. At that point, I will archive (RAR) SOURCE, and copy SOURCE to a new directory, probably F:\Games\RTW\1.6\
Later, if I want to install a mod called XYZ to 1.6, I will extract the RAR to a new location, like F:\Games\RTW\1.6XYZ\ then install the XYZ mod in that newly created directory, and play it.
At that point, I'd have:
F:\Games\RTW\1.2\
F:\Games\RTW\1.2MM\
F:\Games\RTW\1.5\
F:\Games\RTW\1.6\
F:\Games\RTW\1.6XYZ\
F:\Games\RTW\SOURCE\
And all this would consume about 18GB of hard drive space. In this future version of installs for me, the SOURCE would be the install (BI+1.6) that I would patch from.
The RAR files I keep save about 50% on space:
RTW12.rar
RTW15.rar
RTW16.rar (after I get BI).
There is no point in keeping a 1.0 or BI RAR, since you CANNOT revert back to it and install another patch on it. The ONLY place you can patch is the actual, original source path (for me, it is F:\Games\RTW\SOURCE\ ).
DO NOT delete or unistall your source files, as all the other installs will then be unplayable. Naturally, you need the RTW Disk#1 to play any installed version.