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As long as you don't put any files in the Steam game folder, no bans will occur.

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As long as you don't put any files in the Steam game folder, no bans will occur.

 

Well, the installer extracted to the IW4 file in Steam. What does that mean?

The IW4M installer does not extract any files there - the only things that will be placed there is the 'm2demo' log folder, which to my knowledge is not something VAC will scan for when you're playing the original game.

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Well I'm not going to shove anything in my Steam games folder. Have there been reports of people banned for using these? (with actual proof?)

There've been a couple of people saying they got VAC banned for IW4M, but there hasn't been any solid evidence that they didn't mess with other things.

 

Provided I just download this, run it and play, it should be fine?

Yep.

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Is there anything in the server programs that could possibly trigger a ban? Is there anything in them that is known to be detected by VAC and such?

 

Nope, there shouldn't be any.