diff --git a/Quake/cl_demo.c b/Quake/cl_demo.c
index 7cd5c937..fb92b133 100644
--- a/Quake/cl_demo.c
+++ b/Quake/cl_demo.c
@@ -297,7 +297,7 @@ void CL_PlayDemo_f (void)
 	COM_DefaultExtension (name, ".dem");
 
 	Con_Printf ("Playing demo from %s.\n", name);
-	COM_FOpenFile (name, &cls.demofile);
+	COM_FOpenFile (name, &cls.demofile, NULL);
 	if (!cls.demofile)
 	{
 		Con_Printf ("ERROR: couldn't open.\n");
diff --git a/Quake/cmd.c b/Quake/cmd.c
index 18580e0f..37cc4ff4 100644
--- a/Quake/cmd.c
+++ b/Quake/cmd.c
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ void Cmd_Exec_f (void)
 	}
 
 	mark = Hunk_LowMark ();
-	f = (char *)COM_LoadHunkFile (Cmd_Argv(1));
+	f = (char *)COM_LoadHunkFile (Cmd_Argv(1), NULL);
 	if (!f)
 	{
 		Con_Printf ("couldn't exec %s\n",Cmd_Argv(1));
diff --git a/Quake/common.c b/Quake/common.c
index b9fff84e..09db0231 100644
--- a/Quake/common.c
+++ b/Quake/common.c
@@ -1109,7 +1109,7 @@ void COM_CheckRegistered (void)
 	unsigned short  check[128];
 	int                     i;
 
-	COM_OpenFile("gfx/pop.lmp", &h);
+	COM_OpenFile("gfx/pop.lmp", &h, NULL);
 	static_registered = 0;
 
 	if (h == -1)
@@ -1366,6 +1366,9 @@ int     file_from_pak;		// ZOID: global indicating that file came from a pak
 
 typedef struct searchpath_s
 {
+	unsigned int path_id;	// identifier assigned to the game directory
+					// Note that <install_dir>/game1 and
+					// <userdir>/game1 have the same id.
 	char    filename[MAX_OSPATH];
 	pack_t  *pack;          // only one of filename / pack will be used
 	struct searchpath_s *next;
@@ -1450,7 +1453,8 @@ Finds the file in the search path.
 Sets com_filesize and one of handle or file
 ===========
 */
-static int COM_FindFile (const char *filename, int *handle, FILE **file)
+static int COM_FindFile (const char *filename, int *handle, FILE **file,
+							unsigned int *path_id)
 {
 	searchpath_t    *search;
 	char            netpath[MAX_OSPATH];
@@ -1492,6 +1496,8 @@ static int COM_FindFile (const char *filename, int *handle, FILE **file)
 					}
 					file_from_pak = 1;
 					com_filesize = pak->files[i].filelen;
+					if (path_id)
+						*path_id = search->path_id;
 					return com_filesize;
 				}
 		}
@@ -1512,6 +1518,8 @@ static int COM_FindFile (const char *filename, int *handle, FILE **file)
 
 		//	Sys_Printf ("FindFile: %s\n",netpath);
 			com_filesize = Sys_FileOpenRead (netpath, &i);
+			if (path_id)
+				*path_id = search->path_id;
 			if (handle)
 				*handle = i;
 			else
@@ -1544,9 +1552,9 @@ returns a handle and a length
 it may actually be inside a pak file
 ===========
 */
-int COM_OpenFile (const char *filename, int *handle)
+int COM_OpenFile (const char *filename, int *handle, unsigned int *path_id)
 {
-	return COM_FindFile (filename, handle, NULL);
+	return COM_FindFile (filename, handle, NULL, path_id);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -1557,9 +1565,9 @@ If the requested file is inside a packfile, a new FILE * will be opened
 into the file.
 ===========
 */
-int COM_FOpenFile (const char *filename, FILE **file)
+int COM_FOpenFile (const char *filename, FILE **file, unsigned int *path_id)
 {
-	return COM_FindFile (filename, NULL, file);
+	return COM_FindFile (filename, NULL, file, path_id);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -1601,7 +1609,7 @@ static byte	*loadbuf;
 static cache_user_t *loadcache;
 static int	loadsize;
 
-byte *COM_LoadFile (const char *path, int usehunk)
+byte *COM_LoadFile (const char *path, int usehunk, unsigned int *path_id)
 {
 	int             h;
 	byte    *buf;
@@ -1611,7 +1619,7 @@ byte *COM_LoadFile (const char *path, int usehunk)
 	buf = NULL;     // quiet compiler warning
 
 // look for it in the filesystem or pack files
-	len = COM_OpenFile (path, &h);
+	len = COM_OpenFile (path, &h, path_id);
 	if (h == -1)
 		return NULL;
 
@@ -1662,35 +1670,35 @@ byte *COM_LoadFile (const char *path, int usehunk)
 	return buf;
 }
 
-byte *COM_LoadHunkFile (const char *path)
+byte *COM_LoadHunkFile (const char *path, unsigned int *path_id)
 {
-	return COM_LoadFile (path, LOADFILE_HUNK);
+	return COM_LoadFile (path, LOADFILE_HUNK, path_id);
 }
 
-byte *COM_LoadZoneFile (const char *path)
+byte *COM_LoadZoneFile (const char *path, unsigned int *path_id)
 {
-	return COM_LoadFile (path, LOADFILE_ZONE);
+	return COM_LoadFile (path, LOADFILE_ZONE, path_id);
 }
 
-byte *COM_LoadTempFile (const char *path)
+byte *COM_LoadTempFile (const char *path, unsigned int *path_id)
 {
-	return COM_LoadFile (path, LOADFILE_TEMPHUNK);
+	return COM_LoadFile (path, LOADFILE_TEMPHUNK, path_id);
 }
 
-void COM_LoadCacheFile (const char *path, struct cache_user_s *cu)
+void COM_LoadCacheFile (const char *path, struct cache_user_s *cu, unsigned int *path_id)
 {
 	loadcache = cu;
-	COM_LoadFile (path, LOADFILE_CACHE);
+	COM_LoadFile (path, LOADFILE_CACHE, path_id);
 }
 
 // uses temp hunk if larger than bufsize
-byte *COM_LoadStackFile (const char *path, void *buffer, int bufsize)
+byte *COM_LoadStackFile (const char *path, void *buffer, int bufsize, unsigned int *path_id)
 {
 	byte    *buf;
 
 	loadbuf = (byte *)buffer;
 	loadsize = bufsize;
-	buf = COM_LoadFile (path, LOADFILE_STACK);
+	buf = COM_LoadFile (path, LOADFILE_STACK, path_id);
 
 	return buf;
 }
@@ -1698,13 +1706,13 @@ byte *COM_LoadStackFile (const char *path, void *buffer, int bufsize)
 // loads into a previously allocated buffer. if space is insufficient
 // or the buffer is NULL, loads onto the hunk.  bufsize is the actual
 // size (without the +1).
-byte *COM_LoadBufFile (const char *path, void *buffer, int *bufsize)
+byte *COM_LoadBufFile (const char *path, void *buffer, int *bufsize, unsigned int *path_id)
 {
 	byte	*buf;
 
 	loadbuf = (byte *)buffer;
 	loadsize = (*bufsize) + 1;
-	buf = COM_LoadFile (path, LOADFILE_BUF);
+	buf = COM_LoadFile (path, LOADFILE_BUF, path_id);
 	*bufsize = (buf == NULL) ? 0 : com_filesize;
 	if (loadbuf && buf && buf != loadbuf)
 		Sys_Printf("LoadBufFile: insufficient buffer for %s not used.\n", path);
@@ -1713,9 +1721,9 @@ byte *COM_LoadBufFile (const char *path, void *buffer, int *bufsize)
 }
 
 // returns malloc'd memory
-byte *COM_LoadMallocFile (const char *path)
+byte *COM_LoadMallocFile (const char *path, unsigned int *path_id)
 {
-	return COM_LoadFile (path, LOADFILE_MALLOC);
+	return COM_LoadFile (path, LOADFILE_MALLOC, path_id);
 }
 
 
@@ -1801,14 +1809,21 @@ COM_AddGameDirectory -- johnfitz -- modified based on topaz's tutorial
 void COM_AddGameDirectory (const char *dir)
 {
 	int i;
+	unsigned int path_id;
 	searchpath_t *search;
 	pack_t *pak;
 	char pakfile[MAX_OSPATH];
 
 	strcpy (com_gamedir, dir);
 
+	// assign a path_id to this game directory
+	if (com_searchpaths)
+		path_id = com_searchpaths->path_id << 1;
+	else	path_id = 1U;
+
 	// add the directory to the search path
 	search = (searchpath_t *) Z_Malloc(sizeof(searchpath_t));
+	search->path_id = path_id;
 	strcpy (search->filename, dir);
 	search->next = com_searchpaths;
 	com_searchpaths = search;
@@ -1821,6 +1836,7 @@ void COM_AddGameDirectory (const char *dir)
 		if (!pak)
 			break;
 		search = (searchpath_t *) Z_Malloc(sizeof(searchpath_t));
+		search->path_id = path_id;
 		search->pack = pak;
 		search->next = com_searchpaths;
 		com_searchpaths = search;
diff --git a/Quake/common.h b/Quake/common.h
index c067b31b..1e5538d3 100644
--- a/Quake/common.h
+++ b/Quake/common.h
@@ -186,28 +186,31 @@ extern	char	com_gamedir[MAX_OSPATH];
 extern	int	file_from_pak;	// global indicating that file came from a pak
 
 void COM_WriteFile (const char *filename, const void *data, int len);
-int COM_OpenFile (const char *filename, int *hndl);
-int COM_FOpenFile (const char *filename, FILE **file);
+int COM_OpenFile (const char *filename, int *handle, unsigned int *path_id);
+int COM_FOpenFile (const char *filename, FILE **file, unsigned int *path_id);
 void COM_CloseFile (int h);
 
 // these procedures open a file using COM_FindFile and loads it into a proper
 // buffer. the buffer is allocated with a total size of com_filesize + 1. the
 // procedures differ by their buffer allocation method.
-byte *COM_LoadStackFile (const char *path, void *buffer, int bufsize);
+byte *COM_LoadStackFile (const char *path, void *buffer, int bufsize,
+						unsigned int *path_id);
 	// uses the specified stack stack buffer with the specified size
 	// of bufsize. if bufsize is too short, uses temp hunk. the bufsize
 	// must include the +1
-byte *COM_LoadTempFile (const char *path);
+byte *COM_LoadTempFile (const char *path, unsigned int *path_id);
 	// allocates the buffer on the temp hunk.
-byte *COM_LoadHunkFile (const char *path);
+byte *COM_LoadHunkFile (const char *path, unsigned int *path_id);
 	// allocates the buffer on the hunk.
-byte *COM_LoadZoneFile (const char *path);
+byte *COM_LoadZoneFile (const char *path, unsigned int *path_id);
 	// allocates the buffer on the zone.
-void COM_LoadCacheFile (const char *path, struct cache_user_s *cu);
+void COM_LoadCacheFile (const char *path, struct cache_user_s *cu,
+						unsigned int *path_id);
 	// uses cache mem for allocating the buffer.
-byte *COM_LoadMallocFile (const char *path);
+byte *COM_LoadMallocFile (const char *path, unsigned int *path_id);
 	// allocates the buffer on the system mem (malloc).
-byte *COM_LoadBufFile (const char *path, void *buffer, int *bufsize);
+byte *COM_LoadBufFile (const char *path, void *buffer, int *bufsize,
+						unsigned int *path_id);
 	// uses the specified pre-allocated buffer with bufsize + 1 size.
 	// bufsize is the actual expected size (without the + 1).  if the
 	// space is too short or the buffer is NULL, loads onto the hunk.
diff --git a/Quake/gl_draw.c b/Quake/gl_draw.c
index adc44675..321da1c7 100644
--- a/Quake/gl_draw.c
+++ b/Quake/gl_draw.c
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ qpic_t	*Draw_CachePic (const char *path)
 //
 // load the pic from disk
 //
-	dat = (qpic_t *)COM_LoadTempFile (path);
+	dat = (qpic_t *)COM_LoadTempFile (path, NULL);
 	if (!dat)
 		Sys_Error ("Draw_CachePic: failed to load %s", path);
 	SwapPic (dat);
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ extern char *get_conback(void);
 static qboolean have_mod_conback;
 void Draw_CheckConback (void)
 {
-	have_mod_conback = (COM_LoadTempFile("gfx/conback.lmp") != NULL);
+	have_mod_conback = (COM_LoadTempFile("gfx/conback.lmp", NULL) != NULL);
 }
 qpic_t *Draw_ConbackPic (void)
 {
diff --git a/Quake/gl_model.c b/Quake/gl_model.c
index 88e57ddc..3fce61b7 100644
--- a/Quake/gl_model.c
+++ b/Quake/gl_model.c
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ model_t *Mod_LoadModel (model_t *mod, qboolean crash)
 //
 // load the file
 //
-	buf = COM_LoadStackFile (mod->name, stackbuf, sizeof(stackbuf));
+	buf = COM_LoadStackFile (mod->name, stackbuf, sizeof(stackbuf), NULL);
 	if (!buf)
 	{
 		if (crash)
@@ -640,7 +640,7 @@ void Mod_LoadLighting (lump_t *l)
 	COM_StripExtension(litfilename, litfilename);
 	strcat(litfilename, ".lit");
 	mark = Hunk_LowMark();
-	data = (byte*) COM_LoadHunkFile (litfilename);
+	data = (byte*) COM_LoadHunkFile (litfilename, NULL);
 	if (data)
 	{
 		if (data[0] == 'Q' && data[1] == 'L' && data[2] == 'I' && data[3] == 'T')
diff --git a/Quake/gl_texmgr.c b/Quake/gl_texmgr.c
index 03242cee..9f0b626a 100644
--- a/Quake/gl_texmgr.c
+++ b/Quake/gl_texmgr.c
@@ -431,7 +431,7 @@ void TexMgr_LoadPalette (void)
 	int i, mark;
 	FILE *f;
 
-	COM_FOpenFile ("gfx/palette.lmp", &f);
+	COM_FOpenFile ("gfx/palette.lmp", &f, NULL);
 	if (!f)
 		Sys_Error ("Couldn't load gfx/palette.lmp");
 
@@ -1228,7 +1228,7 @@ void TexMgr_ReloadImage (gltexture_t *glt, int shirt, int pants)
 	if (glt->source_file[0] && glt->source_offset)
 	{
 		//lump inside file
-		data = COM_LoadHunkFile (glt->source_file);
+		data = COM_LoadHunkFile (glt->source_file, NULL);
 		if (!data)
 			goto invalid;
 		data += glt->source_offset;
diff --git a/Quake/host.c b/Quake/host.c
index 03b06869..9fd7cb00 100644
--- a/Quake/host.c
+++ b/Quake/host.c
@@ -834,7 +834,7 @@ void Host_Init (quakeparms_t *parms)
 
 	if (cls.state != ca_dedicated)
 	{
-		host_colormap = (byte *)COM_LoadHunkFile ("gfx/colormap.lmp");
+		host_colormap = (byte *)COM_LoadHunkFile ("gfx/colormap.lmp", NULL);
 		if (!host_colormap)
 			Sys_Error ("Couldn't load gfx/colormap.lmp");
 
diff --git a/Quake/host_cmd.c b/Quake/host_cmd.c
index 989bc75d..b0b78d67 100644
--- a/Quake/host_cmd.c
+++ b/Quake/host_cmd.c
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ void Host_Quit_f (void)
 //==============================================================================
 
 // Declarations shared with common.c:
+// FIXME: **** CLEAN THIS MESS!!! ***
 typedef struct
 {
 	char	name[MAX_QPATH];
@@ -75,6 +76,9 @@ typedef struct pack_s
 
 typedef struct searchpath_s
 {
+	unsigned int path_id;	// identifier assigned to the game directory
+					// Note that <install_dir>/game1 and
+					// <userdir>/game1 have the same id.
 	char	filename[MAX_OSPATH];
 	pack_t	*pack;		// only one of filename / pack will be used
 	struct searchpath_s *next;
@@ -129,6 +133,7 @@ Host_Game_f
 void Host_Game_f (void)
 {
 	int i;
+	unsigned int path_id;
 	searchpath_t *search = com_searchpaths;
 	pack_t *pak;
 	char   pakfile[MAX_OSPATH]; //FIXME: it's confusing to use this string for two different things
@@ -172,7 +177,12 @@ void Host_Game_f (void)
 
 		if (Q_strcasecmp(Cmd_Argv(1), GAMENAME)) //game is not id1
 		{
+			// assign a path_id to this game directory
+			if (com_searchpaths)
+				path_id = com_searchpaths->path_id << 1;
+			else	path_id = 1U;
 			search = (searchpath_t *) Z_Malloc(sizeof(searchpath_t));
+			search->path_id = path_id;
 			strcpy (search->filename, pakfile);
 			search->next = com_searchpaths;
 			com_searchpaths = search;
@@ -185,6 +195,7 @@ void Host_Game_f (void)
 				if (!pak)
 					break;
 				search = (searchpath_t *) Z_Malloc(sizeof(searchpath_t));
+				search->path_id = path_id;
 				search->pack = pak;
 				search->next = com_searchpaths;
 				com_searchpaths = search;
@@ -876,7 +887,7 @@ void Host_Changelevel_f (void)
 
 	//johnfitz -- check for client having map before anything else
 	sprintf (level, "maps/%s.bsp", Cmd_Argv(1));
-	if (COM_OpenFile (level, &i) == -1)
+	if (COM_OpenFile (level, &i, NULL) == -1)
 		Host_Error ("cannot find map %s", level);
 	//johnfitz
 
diff --git a/Quake/image.c b/Quake/image.c
index c6e9e556..c9b112de 100644
--- a/Quake/image.c
+++ b/Quake/image.c
@@ -38,12 +38,12 @@ byte *Image_LoadImage (char *name, int *width, int *height)
 	FILE	*f;
 
 	sprintf (loadfilename, "%s.tga", name);
-	COM_FOpenFile (loadfilename, &f);
+	COM_FOpenFile (loadfilename, &f, NULL);
 	if (f)
 		return Image_LoadTGA (f, width, height);
 
 	sprintf (loadfilename, "%s.pcx", name);
-	COM_FOpenFile (loadfilename, &f);
+	COM_FOpenFile (loadfilename, &f, NULL);
 	if (f)
 		return Image_LoadPCX (f, width, height);
 
diff --git a/Quake/pr_edict.c b/Quake/pr_edict.c
index 085ab615..03017e09 100644
--- a/Quake/pr_edict.c
+++ b/Quake/pr_edict.c
@@ -1026,7 +1026,7 @@ void PR_LoadProgs (void)
 
 	CRC_Init (&pr_crc);
 
-	progs = (dprograms_t *)COM_LoadHunkFile ("progs.dat");
+	progs = (dprograms_t *)COM_LoadHunkFile ("progs.dat", NULL);
 	if (!progs)
 		Sys_Error ("PR_LoadProgs: couldn't load progs.dat");
 	Con_DPrintf ("Programs occupy %iK.\n", com_filesize/1024);
diff --git a/Quake/r_part.c b/Quake/r_part.c
index 0acbe4af..e957fb9c 100644
--- a/Quake/r_part.c
+++ b/Quake/r_part.c
@@ -270,7 +270,7 @@ void R_ReadPointFile_f (void)
 
 	sprintf (name,"maps/%s.pts", sv.name);
 
-	COM_FOpenFile (name, &f);
+	COM_FOpenFile (name, &f, NULL);
 	if (!f)
 	{
 		Con_Printf ("couldn't open %s\n", name);
diff --git a/Quake/snd_mem.c b/Quake/snd_mem.c
index b9cf7bb9..7e11887e 100644
--- a/Quake/snd_mem.c
+++ b/Quake/snd_mem.c
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ sfxcache_t *S_LoadSound (sfx_t *s)
 
 //	Con_Printf ("loading %s\n",namebuffer);
 
-	data = COM_LoadStackFile(namebuffer, stackbuf, sizeof(stackbuf));
+	data = COM_LoadStackFile(namebuffer, stackbuf, sizeof(stackbuf), NULL);
 
 	if (!data)
 	{
diff --git a/Quake/wad.c b/Quake/wad.c
index fc887f89..fdda2018 100644
--- a/Quake/wad.c
+++ b/Quake/wad.c
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ void W_LoadWadFile (void) //johnfitz -- filename is now hard-coded for honesty
 	//TODO: use cache_alloc
 	if (wad_base)
 		free (wad_base);
-	wad_base = COM_LoadMallocFile (filename);
+	wad_base = COM_LoadMallocFile (filename, NULL);
 	if (!wad_base)
 		Sys_Error ("W_LoadWadFile: couldn't load %s", filename);