This is a list of things you need to do and install to get ISW and your Mercs to the correct versions
 

It is very important you read these instructions entirely
before starting anything!!!!

 First do a fresh install of MW4 Mercs with PR1 patch, then the Net Mech Mod (this is what is needed for the combat engine for ISW), after you have NMIV updater downloaded run it after it has ran and gotten all the updates then  download the ISW install from the ISW forums, the ISW updater requires that you have minimum version 2 of Microsoft's ".net framework" installed.


After you have ISW installed and .net version 2 or greater installed run ISW and let it update.

Register (login name can be different than your ingame tag) on the register screen when creating your ingame name
(DO NOT PUT ANY RANK, UNIT/ TEAM or any form of Davion ID IN YOUR TAG, that is done in the game by House Davion Command) no Major BattleTech or any thing like that, just your normal online gaming name or a normal new one. Only register once ISW does not allow multiple accounts, registering more than once will lock you out of ISW.

To create an ingame account you have to start the ISW program, once it updates you will see the login/registration screen. click register and when the ISW game registration comes up create an account, once done report to your CO. If you do not have a CO that is not a problem, you will get evaluated and trained in the NAIS regiment if needed.

Everyone will be first assigned to an evaluation/training unit NAIS (New Avalon Institute of Science), even if you presently belong to a group outside of ISW. (After you have been assigned to NAIS it is important that you review your personal service record ingame "personal button" service record)

 All Davion Pilots are strongly encouraged to get Ventrilo and Team Speak, get them installed, the Davion Ventrilo server is private the info for it will be sent to you, for use when in ISW. Team Speak is used to chat with Comstar for specific testing, Davion uses Ventrilo as Battle Coms.


********Note if you have any custom mechs or play in other leagues with your current install of Mercs it is very important that you make a copy of it to a new folder with a different name than the default*************

PR1 (link on left) is a MS approved patch for MW4 Mercs,  ISW is now using Net Mech (a mod for MW4 Mercs "link on the left") the Net Mech Mod needs a clean install with PR1 patch.

If you have any other mods or packs installed for mercs for leagues outside of ISW you will need to rename the folder it is installed to, update the shortcuts on your desktop to them then do a fresh install of mercs with the PR1 patch only in the default place, C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Mechwarrior Mercenaries.

Open My Computer and navagate to Microsoft Games folder to do this, if you play in other leagues or want to run other versions of mercs other than PR1 with the Net Mech mod this is mandintory as ISW WILL install security files (anti cheat) into your Mercs install that prevents you from using it for anything else but ISW !!

Many Davion pilots have multiple installs of Mercs and all will run if configured correctly. If you have problems or need help with this procedure please ask.

The only maps and variants that are needed or allowed are automatically downloaded.

NO custom mechs allowed in fact if you have any in your variants folder copy them to a safe place as when you log into ISW it will delete any that are not stock or ISW made and approved, even these can not be modified in any way.
 

Review the FAQ above for info about how to drop and host in ISW and the settings needed for MW4 Mercs to work through a broadband modem/router.

When ISW starts if you can not see the area to enter text chat in the room you are in, most probably you need to reset your desktop to a minimum of 1024 X 768 pixels and auto hide your start bar in windows, this will reveal the very bottom of the ISW interface.