Moving GW to a new computer - Guild Wars Forums

Iuris · Jun 28, 2011, 06:51 AM // 06:51

Well, luck willing and components arriving, I'll be screwing together a new computer come end of this week or starting the next. So, time to pack things up and move them to ext. HDDs, DVDs and similar. Including GW.

So, GW. How to move it with a minimum of hassle and downloading?

So far, it would seem best to just copy gw.dat to a DVD, install GW from the original CDs, stop downloading and overwrite gw.dat with the old one.

Anyone know if this would work? Anyone done it? Any problems encountered?

cataphract · Jun 28, 2011, 06:57 AM // 06:57

Just copy your Guild Wars folder and run gw.exe. No installation required.

Iuris · Jun 28, 2011, 08:05 AM // 08:05

Really? GW doesn't mess around with registry and stuff? Cool, other games could take a hint

Worth a shot, anyway.

EtherealSkys · Jun 28, 2011, 08:18 AM // 08:18

I have GW installed to a "storage" hard drive, and so whenever I change my computer/main C drive, I just connect up the second drive, and away it goes. It plays perfectly fine, doesn't even need any downloading; so if you have a second drive attached you use as storage, you can install GW there, and then you don't even have to worry about it.

Remember when transferring to copy the GW file in Documents - I've forgotten to do that before, and seriously regretted it, as I lost all my builds & screenshots. -.-

Xenex Xclame · Jun 28, 2011, 08:19 AM // 08:19

Well you have to install it first of course.

My suggestion is to go do Guildwars.com and download the client and then put the GW.dat in the correct folder and that's it.The CD install probably installs more then the downloaded client, all of which you don't need if you just copy the dat.

Good luck putting your new machine together.

Olle · Jun 28, 2011, 08:27 AM // 08:27

A tip, all your build templates will be lost unless you put them over aswell.

**cosyfiep** · Jun 28, 2011, 08:38 AM // 08:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by EtherealSkys

I have GW installed to a "storage" hard drive, and so whenever I change my computer/main C drive, I just connect up the second drive, and away it goes. It plays perfectly fine, doesn't even need any downloading; so if you have a second drive attached you use as storage, you can install GW there, and then you don't even have to worry about it.

Remember when transferring to copy the GW file in Documents - I've forgotten to do that before, and seriously regretted it, as I lost all my builds & screenshots. -.-

when I built my new computer last year I kept the old hd as it was still (about) the only thing that worked---so I gave it a new letter, and made sure that when I did screenshots I told it to find the new letter as well as the shortcut---no downloading, no nothing--and all of my stuff is still right where it has been for 5 years (well almost)....

Rushin Roulette · Jun 28, 2011, 10:02 AM // 10:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xenex Xclame

Well you have to install it first of course.

My suggestion is to go do Guildwars.com and download the client and then put the GW.dat in the correct folder and that's it.The CD install probably installs more then the downloaded client, all of which you don't need if you just copy the dat.

Good luck putting your new machine together.

Actually you dont need to do that. Guild Wars doesnt install in that sence. You can just copy over stuff from your old HDD into a new folder and click on GW.exe to start immediately. No need to install like other programms do (including registry update).

cataphract · Jun 28, 2011, 10:24 AM // 10:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iuris

Really? GW doesn't mess around with registry and stuff? Cool, other games could take a hint

Worth a shot, anyway.

Yes, that's a great feature of GW. I've ran out of disk space on a few occassions and ended up copying GW folder to a USB drive. Discovery that GW can run without a previous installation was made by pure chance.

P.S. Take note of what kajusbonus said - your templates and screenshots are not in GW installation folder. They're most likely in your C:\Users\%username%\Documents\Guild Wars folder.

Snograt · Jun 28, 2011, 10:42 AM // 10:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by cataphract

Take note of what kajusbonus said - your templates and screenshots are not in GW installation folder. They're most likely in your C:\Users\%username%\Documents\Guild Wars folder.

Yes, if your system was Vista or 7. If it was XP or earlier it will be in your Guild Wars folder.

As others have said, GW is truly portable. Move the entire GW directory anywhere and run gw.exe and it will ask you where it is installed. Joyful simplicity

Xenex Xclame · Jun 28, 2011, 11:13 AM // 11:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rushin Roulette

Actually you dont need to do that. Guild Wars doesnt install in that sence. You can just copy over stuff from your old HDD into a new folder and click on GW.exe to start immediately. No need to install like other programms do (including registry update).

Ah that's cool.
Makes me wonder why we have to do extra work to run multiple copies of GW then, would think that just have 2 shortcuts to two different folders would be enough.

Rushin Roulette · Jun 28, 2011, 01:05 PM // 13:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xenex Xclame

Ah that's cool.
Makes me wonder why we have to do extra work to run multiple copies of GW then, would think that just have 2 shortcuts to two different folders would be enough.

The only reason why we need to do that is because the programm has a fail safe built in to check the running tasks to see if GW is already active. The multiple client programms just stop this process so that you can start a second client.

gremlin · Jun 28, 2011, 01:25 PM // 13:25

The fact that its truly portable is something to thank anet for, makes life really easy.

Good idea to keep a backup copy on another drive if you have one and update it periodically, just for emergencies.

Chrisworld · Jun 28, 2011, 02:18 PM // 14:18

Actually, pretty much everything is portable.

Drevin Morgan · Jun 28, 2011, 02:52 PM // 14:52

I don't really get it how come a game such as GW can be installed (or copied if you will) with so much ease, and it contains one .exe, one data file and one temp file (if you don't have screenshots or templates), and other games are such burdens to install and run. Why can't all games be as simple?

Quaker · Jun 28, 2011, 02:59 PM // 14:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iuris

Really? GW doesn't mess around with registry and stuff? Cool, other games could take a hint

I think it would be more correct to say that GW(.exe) notices that there are no registry entries and creates new ones, but in any case all you need to do is to copy the entire Guild Wars folder (and the folder in Documents for Vista and 7) and run gw.exe. There is no need to "install" GW - in fact, doing so would take longer.

Xenex Xclame · Jun 28, 2011, 03:30 PM // 15:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drevin Morgan

I don't really get it how come a game such as GW can be installed (or copied if you will) with so much ease, and it contains one .exe, one data file and one temp file (if you don't have screenshots or templates), and other games are such burdens to install and run. Why can't all games be as simple?

I think its because from the start GW was made to be "easy" in that regard, it probably has to do with the download as you go technology.So GW doesn't need X file and A file and B file to work, everything is handled trough the .dat.

cataphract · Jun 29, 2011, 06:35 AM // 06:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snograt

Yes, if your system was Vista or 7. If it was XP or earlier it will be in your Guild Wars folder.

Microsoft has suspended its support for Windows XP Service Pack 3 more than a year ago.

Iuris · Jun 29, 2011, 06:46 AM // 06:46

Hmm, a point. I'll be moving from XP to Windows 7, too. Well, I'll give it a shot with a simple copy, and then we'll see if it works.

Man, so much stuff to prepare for such a simple move. Digital signatures, mail exporting,...

shillo · Jun 29, 2011, 12:36 PM // 12:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iuris

Man, so much stuff to prepare for such a simple move. Digital signatures, mail exporting,...

Did that recently. Ugh. Protip: Guild Wars will install just by starting it, which makes it great for driver testing. But more useful tip is that all Steam games can also be simply copied without re-downloading. You need to copy steam.exe and SteamApps and delete everything else in the Steam directory, then run Steam (it will update itself and reset the installation dir). Then each game will install when you first run it.

edit: Oops, edited the wrong thread.

Jun 28, 2011, 06:51 AM // 06:51	#1
Iuris Forge Runner Join Date: Nov 2006 Guild: Crazy ducks from the Forest Profession: W/	Moving GW to a new computer Well, luck willing and components arriving, I'll be screwing together a new computer come end of this week or starting the next. So, time to pack things up and move them to ext. HDDs, DVDs and similar. Including GW. So, GW. How to move it with a minimum of hassle and downloading? So far, it would seem best to just copy gw.dat to a DVD, install GW from the original CDs, stop downloading and overwrite gw.dat with the old one. Anyone know if this would work? Anyone done it? Any problems encountered?

Jun 28, 2011, 06:57 AM // 06:57	#2
cataphract Forge Runner Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Ashford Abbey Guild: Hey Mallyx [icU] Profession: Mo/Me	Just copy your Guild Wars folder and run gw.exe. No installation required.

Jun 28, 2011, 08:05 AM // 08:05	#3
Iuris Forge Runner Join Date: Nov 2006 Guild: Crazy ducks from the Forest Profession: W/	Really? GW doesn't mess around with registry and stuff? Cool, other games could take a hint Worth a shot, anyway.

Jun 28, 2011, 08:18 AM // 08:18	#4
EtherealSkys Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Apr 2010 Guild: VKO Profession: W/A	I have GW installed to a "storage" hard drive, and so whenever I change my computer/main C drive, I just connect up the second drive, and away it goes. It plays perfectly fine, doesn't even need any downloading; so if you have a second drive attached you use as storage, you can install GW there, and then you don't even have to worry about it. Remember when transferring to copy the GW file in Documents - I've forgotten to do that before, and seriously regretted it, as I lost all my builds & screenshots. -.-

Jun 28, 2011, 08:19 AM // 08:19	#5
Xenex Xclame Desert Nomad Join Date: Mar 2006 Guild: DPX Profession: R/	Well you have to install it first of course. My suggestion is to go do Guildwars.com and download the client and then put the GW.dat in the correct folder and that's it.The CD install probably installs more then the downloaded client, all of which you don't need if you just copy the dat. Good luck putting your new machine together.

Jun 28, 2011, 08:27 AM // 08:27	#6
Olle Furnace Stoker Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Ign: Miniature Julia Guild: Teh Academy[PhD] Profession: W/	A tip, all your build templates will be lost unless you put them over aswell.

Jun 28, 2011, 01:25 PM // 13:25	#13
gremlin Furnace Stoker Join Date: Oct 2006 Guild: GWAR Profession: Me/Mo	The fact that its truly portable is something to thank anet for, makes life really easy. Good idea to keep a backup copy on another drive if you have one and update it periodically, just for emergencies.

Jun 28, 2011, 02:18 PM // 14:18	#14
Chrisworld Krytan Explorer Join Date: Aug 2010 Guild: Gameamp Guides [AMP] Profession: W/	Actually, pretty much everything is portable.

Jun 28, 2011, 02:52 PM // 14:52	#15
Drevin Morgan Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Jun 2011 Profession: R/	I don't really get it how come a game such as GW can be installed (or copied if you will) with so much ease, and it contains one .exe, one data file and one temp file (if you don't have screenshots or templates), and other games are such burdens to install and run. Why can't all games be as simple?

Jun 29, 2011, 06:46 AM // 06:46	#19
Iuris Forge Runner Join Date: Nov 2006 Guild: Crazy ducks from the Forest Profession: W/	Hmm, a point. I'll be moving from XP to Windows 7, too. Well, I'll give it a shot with a simple copy, and then we'll see if it works. Man, so much stuff to prepare for such a simple move. Digital signatures, mail exporting,...