Corrupt gw.dat file - Guild Wars Forums

tehshadowninjar · May 23, 2008, 02:57 PM // 14:57

Okay, Snograt told me to delete the .dat file an run it with -image or something. I'm not sure how to do this and I can't play GW >.<

The Way Out · May 23, 2008, 03:00 PM // 15:00

You know the icon that you use to launch guild wars?

right click that and go to Properties.

There, you will see a command calling out the path to where your actual executable resides. "C:\Programs Files\GuildWars\gw.exe"

(something like that)

You are going to insert the following

"C:\Programs Files\GuildWars\gw.exe" -image

Once you do this, you are going to run Guild Wars

This is going to pull down the entire image in one shot

That is going to take awhile...

Once that is done

Go back into the properties of the icon and remove the -image part.

Good Luck!

Kanna Banrai · May 23, 2008, 03:01 PM // 15:01

Its a command line that you put in the short-cut. It allows the game to download all at once in one setting. I suggest doing this while you are away from the machine for a few hours. You can read about command lineshere.

Snograt · May 23, 2008, 03:10 PM // 15:10

Here I come to save the daaaaaay! [EDIT] But I'm too damn slow with my typing as usuaaaaal!

Look in your Guild Wars folder. If your system is not showing file types (which it doesn't by default) there will be 2 files called gw. One of them will have the GW logo and will be a small file, the other will have a default icon and will be massive - this will be gw.dat.

Delete it. Grab your latest Guild Wars disk, open it (don't run it) and copy over the gw.dat from there to your Guild Wars folder.

Now, to run the program with the -image switch, do the following.

If you have a shortcut to Guild Wars on your desktop, skip to step 3.
Open your Guild Wars folder, right-click-and hold on the gw.exe icon, drag it to your desktop, release right-mouse-button and select "create shortcut"
Right-click on the shortcut and select "properties"
On the Shortcut tab, look for the TARGET box - this will say something like "C:\Program Files\Guild Wars\gw.exe"
At the end of that, leave a space after the final " and type this: -image
The target box should now show "C:\Program Files\GuildWars\gw.exe" -image

When you now double-click the icon, it will connect to ANet and download every file you need to run the game. This could take several hours - especially if you skip the bit about grabbing the gw.dat from your install disk.

When it's finished, you can re-edit the shortcut to remove the -image, or you can just leave it there for the next time you need to do an -image. You can not run the game from that shortcut unless you do remove the -image switch, though.

tehshadowninjar · May 23, 2008, 03:12 PM // 15:12

No idea what is happening here

<== Stupid

Covah · May 23, 2008, 03:13 PM // 15:13

Leave it to Snograt to screw with peoples gaming experiences

tehshadowninjar · May 23, 2008, 03:15 PM // 15:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snograt

This could take several hours

I am going to kill you >.<

Larcen · May 23, 2008, 03:30 PM // 15:30

Looks to me you right clicked the .EXE file instead of the shortcut. However, it also appears as though you have items in your Recycling Bin, if your .dat file is still there, restore it, and run the program without -image, it will attempt a repair. However, before you leave for work, go to bed, etc delete the .dat and attach the -image flag to your -shortcut- and let it re-download the entire .dat. The repair will take sometime too, but not as bad as a full -image, so that you can get back up and playing as soon as possible.

tijo · May 23, 2008, 03:39 PM // 15:39

Since it seems you are using windows vista, i will refer you to this thread.

http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10169426

Snograt's guide on how to use the -image command line works for windows xp, the thread above explains how to do it easily with windows vista.

EDIT: found that snograt's solution works in vista only if the shortcut is on your desktop.

2ND EDIT: if you have friends playing GW, you can transfer their.dat file from their computers to yours, just burn it on a DVD or use a portable HDD or a 4GB flash drive if you have one of those.

Cyb3r · May 23, 2008, 03:42 PM // 15:42

shadowninjar you clicked the exe in the gw directory what you need is the shortcut on you're desktop then add out of the brackets -image

tehshadowninjar · May 23, 2008, 03:52 PM // 15:52

Meh, I'll just re-install the whole game. Won't take long. :/

Larcen · May 23, 2008, 04:00 PM // 16:00

That will still leave you downloading a bit, and every time you go to a new place as well. Nevertheless, good luck.

Snograt · May 23, 2008, 04:12 PM // 16:12

Tut - what's with all the Snoggy-hate?

You missed the step where you create a shortcut on your desktop - the gw.exe you displayed is the program itself.

2. Open your Guild Wars folder, right-click-and hold on the gw.exe icon, drag it to your desktop, release right-mouse-button and select "create shortcut"

See? Shortcut properties =/= program properties

I still prefer this method even though I do use Vista - the other method is fine for people who like fiddling around in the annoying Games folder or those who hate icons on their desktop.

May 23, 2008, 02:57 PM // 14:57	#1
tehshadowninjar Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Dec 2007 Guild: Nite Profession: A/D	Corrupt gw.dat file Okay, Snograt told me to delete the .dat file an run it with -image or something. I'm not sure how to do this and I can't play GW >.<

May 23, 2008, 03:10 PM // 15:10	#4
Snograt rattus rattus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: London, UK GMT??0 ??1hr DST Guild: [GURU]GW [wiki]GW2 Profession: R/	Here I come to save the daaaaaay! [EDIT] But I'm too damn slow with my typing as usuaaaaal! Look in your Guild Wars folder. If your system is not showing file types (which it doesn't by default) there will be 2 files called gw. One of them will have the GW logo and will be a small file, the other will have a default icon and will be massive - this will be gw.dat. Delete it. Grab your latest Guild Wars disk, open it (don't run it) and copy over the gw.dat from there to your Guild Wars folder. Now, to run the program with the -image switch, do the following. If you have a shortcut to Guild Wars on your desktop, skip to step 3. Open your Guild Wars folder, right-click-and hold on the gw.exe icon, drag it to your desktop, release right-mouse-button and select "create shortcut" Right-click on the shortcut and select "properties" On the Shortcut tab, look for the TARGET box - this will say something like "C:\Program Files\Guild Wars\gw.exe" At the end of that, leave a space after the final " and type this: -image The target box should now show "C:\Program Files\GuildWars\gw.exe" -image When you now double-click the icon, it will connect to ANet and download every file you need to run the game. This could take several hours - especially if you skip the bit about grabbing the gw.dat from your install disk. When it's finished, you can re-edit the shortcut to remove the -image, or you can just leave it there for the next time you need to do an -image. You can not run the game from that shortcut unless you do remove the -image switch, though. __________________ Si non confectus, non reficiat

May 23, 2008, 03:30 PM // 15:30	#8
Larcen Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Southern Maryland Guild: Midnight Oasis	Looks to me you right clicked the .EXE file instead of the shortcut. However, it also appears as though you have items in your Recycling Bin, if your .dat file is still there, restore it, and run the program without -image, it will attempt a repair. However, before you leave for work, go to bed, etc delete the .dat and attach the -image flag to your -shortcut- and let it re-download the entire .dat. The repair will take sometime too, but not as bad as a full -image, so that you can get back up and playing as soon as possible. Last edited by Larcen; May 23, 2008 at 03:33 PM // 15:33..

May 23, 2008, 03:39 PM // 15:39	#9
tijo Jungle Guide Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Montreal Guild: [CDDR] Profession: R/	Since it seems you are using windows vista, i will refer you to this thread. http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10169426 Snograt's guide on how to use the -image command line works for windows xp, the thread above explains how to do it easily with windows vista. EDIT: found that snograt's solution works in vista only if the shortcut is on your desktop. 2ND EDIT: if you have friends playing GW, you can transfer their.dat file from their computers to yours, just burn it on a DVD or use a portable HDD or a 4GB flash drive if you have one of those. Last edited by tijo; May 23, 2008 at 03:44 PM // 15:44..

May 23, 2008, 04:12 PM // 16:12	#13
Snograt rattus rattus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: London, UK GMT??0 ??1hr DST Guild: [GURU]GW [wiki]GW2 Profession: R/	Tut - what's with all the Snoggy-hate? You missed the step where you create a shortcut on your desktop - the gw.exe you displayed is the program itself. 2. Open your Guild Wars folder, right-click-and hold on the gw.exe icon, drag it to your desktop, release right-mouse-button and select "create shortcut" See? Shortcut properties =/= program properties I still prefer this method even though I do use Vista - the other method is fine for people who like fiddling around in the annoying Games folder or those who hate icons on their desktop. __________________ Si non confectus, non reficiat

May 23, 2008, 03:00 PM // 15:00	#2
The Way Out Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: In my peanut brain Guild: Zomg Zombies [OMG] Profession: Mo/E	You know the icon that you use to launch guild wars? right click that and go to Properties. There, you will see a command calling out the path to where your actual executable resides. "C:\Programs Files\GuildWars\gw.exe" (something like that) You are going to insert the following "C:\Programs Files\GuildWars\gw.exe" -image Once you do this, you are going to run Guild Wars This is going to pull down the entire image in one shot That is going to take awhile... Once that is done Go back into the properties of the icon and remove the -image part. Good Luck!

May 23, 2008, 03:01 PM // 15:01	#3
Kanna Banrai Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Inman, South Carolina (-5 GMT) Guild: Gameamp Guides Profession: Mo/	Its a command line that you put in the short-cut. It allows the game to download all at once in one setting. I suggest doing this while you are away from the machine for a few hours. You can read about command lineshere.

May 23, 2008, 03:12 PM // 15:12	#5
tehshadowninjar Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Dec 2007 Guild: Nite Profession: A/D	No idea what is happening here <== Stupid

May 23, 2008, 03:13 PM // 15:13	#6
Covah Forge Runner Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada Guild: Catching Jellyfish With [소N트T ] Profession: Me/Rt	Leave it to Snograt to screw with peoples gaming experiences

May 23, 2008, 03:42 PM // 15:42	#10
Cyb3r Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Feb 2008 Guild: AFO Profession: E/	shadowninjar you clicked the exe in the gw directory what you need is the shortcut on you're desktop then add out of the brackets -image

May 23, 2008, 03:52 PM // 15:52	#11
tehshadowninjar Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Dec 2007 Guild: Nite Profession: A/D	Meh, I'll just re-install the whole game. Won't take long. :/

May 23, 2008, 04:00 PM // 16:00	#12
Larcen Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Southern Maryland Guild: Midnight Oasis	That will still leave you downloading a bit, and every time you go to a new place as well. Nevertheless, good luck.