shanemckay · Nov 07, 2008, 03:36 PM // 15:36

Hi guys, I have all 4 GW products. I plan on purchasing a new pc around Christmas which will mean i need to reinstall GW too. Do I have to reinstall all 4 GW games seperatrly? Or will I simply be able to reinstall the Guild wars client and all my GW games will remain?

Thanks

shane

nkuvu · Nov 07, 2008, 04:07 PM // 16:07

The client software is the same for everyone. So you won't need to reinstall all games.

The simplest thing to do is to copy the gw.dat and gw.exe files from your current computer to your new computer. Then when you run gw.exe it will prompt to "install," which just writes to the registry. This method allows you to skip downloading the newer files.

The alternative, if you don't have an easy way to copy the file over, is to install the game from the latest CD you have. For example, install from the Eye of the North CD rather than the Prophecies or Factions CD. You'll still have to download some files since there have been updates to the game since EotN was released, but fewer than if you'd installed from an earlier CD.

You won't need to add CD keys, just log in with your normal account.

Also keep in mind that skill and equipment templates are stored locally on your computer, so if you have any of those you'll want to copy them to the new computer.

imnotyourmother · Nov 07, 2008, 06:02 PM // 18:02

or just down load the whole game from the GW.com web site. It takes forever but not that long if you consider that Load runner took me 12 hours to download on to a Tape Player back in the day.

So you will be looking at less than 1 hour from when you plug it in to when you can play. Not that bad just grab a couple of brewskies and enjoy the drunk.

gremlin · Nov 07, 2008, 06:28 PM // 18:28

Easiest and fastest way to set it up on the new pc.

Burn the whole game folder to a DVD rw preferred so you don't waste a disc.
Or a memory stick a 4 gig one should do it they are about ??7 in the uk.

Unless you have access to an external hard disk then you can do all your other important files too.

Copy the folder to the new computer and run the exe file

note you could just copy the dat file from your old machine then install from your gw dvd and copy in the data file to replace the one just installed.

Whatever works for you but if you preserve a current gw dat file it will save you a lot of time.

ps don't forget your templates folder so you keep any builds you have saved.

this works because I did all this in January when I got my new machine

Edit
Note to self, read the other replies before saying exactly the same as they did

Painbringer · Nov 07, 2008, 10:03 PM // 22:03

I just loaded a copy to my new laptop and it took 15 minutes from start to ready to play via wifi. Of course I was in awe at this because on my desktop it took over 40 minutes with a direct broadband connection. behold the power of dual cores??? Then every zone after the initial load will have to download its self. It is not that bad. Unless you have a slow connection like dialup. If you have dial up...phone you family and friends before you start. Otherwise they may think you died on the phone. After it is installed it is like a link to a portal you can jump from this system to that system with no problems. You can copy it to any system that meets the specs of GW

GL Have Fun

Zebideedee · Nov 08, 2008, 09:26 AM // 09:26

When I reinstalled GW on my newer pc all I had to do was install main, the other campaigns seemed to be attatched to my account, I just had to dload all the thingymebobs for each area again, didn't take long, it might do if you on dial up tho :P

Hollygen · Nov 08, 2008, 03:08 PM // 15:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zebideedee

When I reinstalled GW on my newer pc all I had to do was install main, the other campaigns seemed to be attatched to my account, I just had to dload all the thingymebobs for each area again, didn't take long, it might do if you on dial up tho :P

That's cause what you're installing isn't your account, it's the game client. The client can access the whole game in its entirity, and will download all the thingymebobs (sections of the .dat file) that aren't currently locally saved on your PC as you need them

Your campaigns are attached to the email and password you log in with

shanemckay · Nov 08, 2008, 05:09 PM // 17:09

thanks.

shane

Brawn Over Brains · Nov 08, 2008, 06:42 PM // 18:42

...I don't see why everyones saying to burn it onto a DVDR?
Uninstall then reinstall on your new PC..?

illidan009 · Nov 08, 2008, 08:58 PM // 20:58

Online, use the client...it'll take some massive loading time first time or even the few times after that, but then it'll be running just as smoothly as your other comp...probably better since it's a new comp

vandevere · Nov 09, 2008, 02:06 AM // 02:06

I've been reading this, but I'm not very technically minded. I also have all the games-Prophecies,Factions,NF, and EotN-and will probably be getting a new pc in the near future.

Somehow, I lost the key to Prophecies, but have all the access keys to the other games...

Would I have any trouble reinstalling the games?

Doofledust · Nov 09, 2008, 09:01 AM // 09:01

You'll have no difficulty . You need only the name of your account and the password. Enter them and you're good to go.

nkuvu · Nov 09, 2008, 02:32 PM // 14:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brawn Over Brains

...I don't see why everyones saying to burn it onto a DVDR?
Uninstall then reinstall on your new PC..?

If you use the -image switch (which downloads and decompresses everything in the game), the .dat file is over 3 GB. So if you just reinstall from a CD or the website, you'll have a long download ahead of you. Although honestly I don't know the size of the .dat file if you don't use -image.

It's simply faster to copy the .dat file from the old computer to the new computer.

vandevere · Nov 09, 2008, 04:42 PM // 16:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doofledust

You'll have no difficulty . You need only the name of your account and the password. Enter them and you're good to go.

Just so I'm sure, my email addy and the password?

The Red Messenger · Nov 09, 2008, 05:27 PM // 17:27

theres 2 easy steps to getting guildwars on a new pc.

1) go to guildwars.com and find the "download the game" button, click and click a few more times when it asks you questions about where to put it.

2) double click on guildwars icon, log in.

you dont need any disks or cd keys of any sort

Quaker · Nov 09, 2008, 08:32 PM // 20:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by vandevere

Just so I'm sure, my email addy and the password?

You need the account name and password. When you first setup the account, they ask you for an e-mail address, which becomes the "account name", but it's best if you think of it as an account name instead of an e-mail address. You can change the e-mail address that's linked to the account, but the account name doesn't change (whether or not it's still a valid e-mail address.) Be sure to write down the account name and password somewhere - too many people try to come back to GW and can't remember their old "e-mail".

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brawn Over Brains

...I don't see why everyones saying to burn it onto a DVDR?
Uninstall then reinstall on your new PC..?

You don't necessarily have to burn it onto a DVDr, you could use a Flash RAM stick, or an external hard drive, or you could hook the 2 computers together via a LAN or USB cable, or you could temporarily hook the old hard drive into the new computer (or you could use a big stack of floppies or CDr's

). There are many ways of transferring the files, but the point is that, gw.dat is a very large file (4gigs or so) and it's faster to copy it from one computer to the other than to download it.
P.s. - there's no need to "uninstall" it from the old computer.

Nov 07, 2008, 03:36 PM // 15:36	#1
shanemckay Pre-Searing Cadet Join Date: May 2007	Reinstalling my GW account on new pc? Hi guys, I have all 4 GW products. I plan on purchasing a new pc around Christmas which will mean i need to reinstall GW too. Do I have to reinstall all 4 GW games seperatrly? Or will I simply be able to reinstall the Guild wars client and all my GW games will remain? Thanks shane

Nov 07, 2008, 06:28 PM // 18:28	#4
gremlin Furnace Stoker Join Date: Oct 2006 Guild: GWAR Profession: Me/Mo	Easiest and fastest way to set it up on the new pc. Burn the whole game folder to a DVD rw preferred so you don't waste a disc. Or a memory stick a 4 gig one should do it they are about ??7 in the uk. Unless you have access to an external hard disk then you can do all your other important files too. Copy the folder to the new computer and run the exe file note you could just copy the dat file from your old machine then install from your gw dvd and copy in the data file to replace the one just installed. Whatever works for you but if you preserve a current gw dat file it will save you a lot of time. ps don't forget your templates folder so you keep any builds you have saved. this works because I did all this in January when I got my new machine Edit Note to self, read the other replies before saying exactly the same as they did Last edited by gremlin; Nov 07, 2008 at 08:12 PM // 20:12..

Nov 07, 2008, 10:03 PM // 22:03	#5
Painbringer Furnace Stoker Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Minnesota Guild: Black Widows of Death Profession: W/Mo	I just loaded a copy to my new laptop and it took 15 minutes from start to ready to play via wifi. Of course I was in awe at this because on my desktop it took over 40 minutes with a direct broadband connection. behold the power of dual cores??? Then every zone after the initial load will have to download its self. It is not that bad. Unless you have a slow connection like dialup. If you have dial up...phone you family and friends before you start. Otherwise they may think you died on the phone. After it is installed it is like a link to a portal you can jump from this system to that system with no problems. You can copy it to any system that meets the specs of GW GL Have Fun Last edited by Painbringer; Nov 07, 2008 at 10:10 PM // 22:10..

Nov 07, 2008, 04:07 PM // 16:07	#2
nkuvu Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Dec 2005	The client software is the same for everyone. So you won't need to reinstall all games. The simplest thing to do is to copy the gw.dat and gw.exe files from your current computer to your new computer. Then when you run gw.exe it will prompt to "install," which just writes to the registry. This method allows you to skip downloading the newer files. The alternative, if you don't have an easy way to copy the file over, is to install the game from the latest CD you have. For example, install from the Eye of the North CD rather than the Prophecies or Factions CD. You'll still have to download some files since there have been updates to the game since EotN was released, but fewer than if you'd installed from an earlier CD. You won't need to add CD keys, just log in with your normal account. Also keep in mind that skill and equipment templates are stored locally on your computer, so if you have any of those you'll want to copy them to the new computer.

Nov 07, 2008, 06:02 PM // 18:02	#3
imnotyourmother Desert Nomad Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: in a house Guild: The Knitters Guild Profession: W/R	or just down load the whole game from the GW.com web site. It takes forever but not that long if you consider that Load runner took me 12 hours to download on to a Tape Player back in the day. So you will be looking at less than 1 hour from when you plug it in to when you can play. Not that bad just grab a couple of brewskies and enjoy the drunk.

Nov 08, 2008, 09:26 AM // 09:26	#6
Zebideedee Jungle Guide Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: 55?? 57' 0" N / 3?? 12' 0" W Profession: N/Me	When I reinstalled GW on my newer pc all I had to do was install main, the other campaigns seemed to be attatched to my account, I just had to dload all the thingymebobs for each area again, didn't take long, it might do if you on dial up tho :P

Nov 08, 2008, 05:09 PM // 17:09	#8
shanemckay Pre-Searing Cadet Join Date: May 2007	thanks. shane

Nov 08, 2008, 06:42 PM // 18:42	#9
Brawn Over Brains Krytan Explorer Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: England Guild: X Devils Rejects X Profession: W/Mo	...I don't see why everyones saying to burn it onto a DVDR? Uninstall then reinstall on your new PC..?

Nov 08, 2008, 08:58 PM // 20:58	#10
illidan009 Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: May 2008 Location: Volterra, Italy Profession: A/	Online, use the client...it'll take some massive loading time first time or even the few times after that, but then it'll be running just as smoothly as your other comp...probably better since it's a new comp

Nov 09, 2008, 02:06 AM // 02:06	#11
vandevere Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: The Great State of Denial Profession: W/Mo	I've been reading this, but I'm not very technically minded. I also have all the games-Prophecies,Factions,NF, and EotN-and will probably be getting a new pc in the near future. Somehow, I lost the key to Prophecies, but have all the access keys to the other games... Would I have any trouble reinstalling the games?

Nov 09, 2008, 09:01 AM // 09:01	#12
Doofledust Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Jun 2006	You'll have no difficulty . You need only the name of your account and the password. Enter them and you're good to go.

Nov 09, 2008, 05:27 PM // 17:27	#15
The Red Messenger Krytan Explorer Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: America	theres 2 easy steps to getting guildwars on a new pc. 1) go to guildwars.com and find the "download the game" button, click and click a few more times when it asks you questions about where to put it. 2) double click on guildwars icon, log in. you dont need any disks or cd keys of any sort