Downloaded Map Files? - Guild Wars Forums

Cradiak The Mystic · Aug 12, 2008, 12:04 AM // 00:04

Hi, I've had to clear Guild Wars from my computer multiple times for various reasons, and each time, I have to redownload all the maps. I heard someone say once that they found the file/s with the maps so they saved them and didn't have to redownload them. Does anyone know anything about this?

tijo · Aug 12, 2008, 12:09 AM // 00:09

All the maps, areas etc. are stored on your Gw.dat file. Just backup the file and you won't have to download everything else again. the default path for the file is C:\Program Files\GUILD WARS\Gw.dat

TheodenKing · Aug 12, 2008, 12:15 AM // 00:15

Gw.dat

It's a very large file. Take that into account when deciding how and where to put the copy. Your skill templates are also worth copying.

gotloot · Aug 12, 2008, 12:23 AM // 00:23

You need something to save the Guild Wars data file(s) on: a blank DVD, USB flash drive with 4GB+ capacity, external hard drive with 4GB+ free space, or another partition or hard drive in the same computer.

Open My Computer, Local Disk (C), Program Files. Select the Guild Wars folder and click File->Copy. Go to the destination folder (blank DVD, USB flash drive, external hard drive, etc). Click File->Paste. If you're using a DVD, close the window; the operating system should ask if you want to burn the folder to the DVD. Say yes. Go grab a snack; the data transfer will take a while.

After you reformat and reinstall, insert the DVD (or connect the USB flash drive, external hard drive, etc). Open My Computer, go to your storage gizmo (whichever one you picked earlier) and select the Guild Wars folder. Click File->Copy. Then go to Local Disk (C), Program Files. Click File->Paste. Go grab another snack. When the copy is finished, open the Guild Wars folder and select gw.exe. Click File->Create Shortcut. Drag the shortcut onto your desktop or Start menu. Launch the shortcut (double click on it); it should start Guild Wars. It will start up with the downloader/installer interface, but after connecting briefly, it should start up normally (without downloading a bunch of updates).

This will save all your skill and equipment templates in addition to all the Guild Wars data (maps, textures, music etc). Your account data (characters, inventory, quest/mission progress) is saved on the ArenaNet servers; you don't have direct access to that stuff, so you cannot back it up. The kind folks at ArenaNet handle that for us.

This technique (copying an application's entire folder in Program Files) only works for software like Guild Wars, where the data and settings are not stored in the Windows Registry. It will not work for things like Microsoft Office.

Baratus · Aug 12, 2008, 04:34 AM // 04:34

The data file is only 3.57GB in size. You don't need 4GB or more space to back it up. Also bear in mind that configuration of video and audio devices are stored in that data file, so if you back it up, swap hardware out, and restore it, you may experience crashes and such. I copied the file to a DVD+RW for a friend who only has dial-up out in the country and it caused his computer to blue-screen randomly while playing. We both had Audigy soundcards and nVidia video cards, but he had a newer 8800GTS compared to my 7800GS and he had an Audigy IV compared to my Audigy II.

Everything is stored in that file, so backing it up for use on the same system is fine, but changing monitors or other hardware can yield odd results. The file size is 3.57GB, or 3,752,416KB to be exact. This is with everything in the file, obtained by calling "gw.exe -image". If you have not done the image parameter before, yours may be smaller in size.

Aug 12, 2008, 12:04 AM // 00:04	#1
Cradiak The Mystic Academy Page Join Date: Nov 2007 Guild: Yahweh Is The Only [WAY] Profession: W/Mo	Downloaded Map Files? Hi, I've had to clear Guild Wars from my computer multiple times for various reasons, and each time, I have to redownload all the maps. I heard someone say once that they found the file/s with the maps so they saved them and didn't have to redownload them. Does anyone know anything about this?

Aug 12, 2008, 12:23 AM // 00:23	#4
gotloot Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Oct 2007	You need something to save the Guild Wars data file(s) on: a blank DVD, USB flash drive with 4GB+ capacity, external hard drive with 4GB+ free space, or another partition or hard drive in the same computer. Open My Computer, Local Disk (C), Program Files. Select the Guild Wars folder and click File->Copy. Go to the destination folder (blank DVD, USB flash drive, external hard drive, etc). Click File->Paste. If you're using a DVD, close the window; the operating system should ask if you want to burn the folder to the DVD. Say yes. Go grab a snack; the data transfer will take a while. After you reformat and reinstall, insert the DVD (or connect the USB flash drive, external hard drive, etc). Open My Computer, go to your storage gizmo (whichever one you picked earlier) and select the Guild Wars folder. Click File->Copy. Then go to Local Disk (C), Program Files. Click File->Paste. Go grab another snack. When the copy is finished, open the Guild Wars folder and select gw.exe. Click File->Create Shortcut. Drag the shortcut onto your desktop or Start menu. Launch the shortcut (double click on it); it should start Guild Wars. It will start up with the downloader/installer interface, but after connecting briefly, it should start up normally (without downloading a bunch of updates). This will save all your skill and equipment templates in addition to all the Guild Wars data (maps, textures, music etc). Your account data (characters, inventory, quest/mission progress) is saved on the ArenaNet servers; you don't have direct access to that stuff, so you cannot back it up. The kind folks at ArenaNet handle that for us. This technique (copying an application's entire folder in Program Files) only works for software like Guild Wars, where the data and settings are not stored in the Windows Registry. It will not work for things like Microsoft Office. Last edited by gotloot; Aug 12, 2008 at 12:30 AM // 00:30..

Aug 12, 2008, 12:09 AM // 00:09	#2
tijo Jungle Guide Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Montreal Guild: [CDDR] Profession: R/	All the maps, areas etc. are stored on your Gw.dat file. Just backup the file and you won't have to download everything else again. the default path for the file is C:\Program Files\GUILD WARS\Gw.dat

Aug 12, 2008, 12:15 AM // 00:15	#3
TheodenKing Jungle Guide Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: DoA Guild: Dark Order of Retarded Knights (doRk) Profession: N/Me	Gw.dat It's a very large file. Take that into account when deciding how and where to put the copy. Your skill templates are also worth copying.

Aug 12, 2008, 04:34 AM // 04:34	#5
Baratus Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Elizabethtown, NC Guild: Deathkings of The Dark Citadel Profession: D/Me	The data file is only 3.57GB in size. You don't need 4GB or more space to back it up. Also bear in mind that configuration of video and audio devices are stored in that data file, so if you back it up, swap hardware out, and restore it, you may experience crashes and such. I copied the file to a DVD+RW for a friend who only has dial-up out in the country and it caused his computer to blue-screen randomly while playing. We both had Audigy soundcards and nVidia video cards, but he had a newer 8800GTS compared to my 7800GS and he had an Audigy IV compared to my Audigy II. Everything is stored in that file, so backing it up for use on the same system is fine, but changing monitors or other hardware can yield odd results. The file size is 3.57GB, or 3,752,416KB to be exact. This is with everything in the file, obtained by calling "gw.exe -image". If you have not done the image parameter before, yours may be smaller in size.