Curse

freekedoutfish · Sep 15, 2006, 10:41 AM // 10:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by english storm

Hi just wondering what is everyones gw.dat file size now after the update? Mine has gone from 2.5gig (i used the -image command last night so i was up to date) to 6.5gig now

I understand that they are streaming bits of nightfall but 4 gig???

I didnt even realise the GWs.dat file increased?

I assumed most of the information was stored online somewhere, not our home computers.

That doesnt seem such a great thing if its going to increase everytime a new continent is created.

majoho · Sep 15, 2006, 10:47 AM // 10:47

Dude that would NEVER work, how could you possible play the game if you had to download everything in real time.

darrylhaines · Sep 15, 2006, 11:13 AM // 11:13

Lol, I'm getting an new pc in 2 weeks.

Looks like it's gonna be plug it in, log onto guildwars.com click on the download client and then come back a week later when it's finished lol.

freekedoutfish · Sep 15, 2006, 12:15 PM // 12:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by majoho

Dude that would NEVER work, how could you possible play the game if you had to download everything in real time.

I said I didnt think everything was stored on the home computer. Obviously Id expect some information to be. But I didnt think it wud be close to 4gb worth. thats about 2gb per island.

xXa1 · Sep 15, 2006, 12:36 PM // 12:36

before the update my .dat's were around 2.4GB, now one pc has it at 3.07GB and the other has it at 2.97GB. both have d/l'd the 450MB through the log-in screen and i have used the -image switch to decompress the 25K files after

i really wouldn't worry about it, they'll shrink in time like Gaile said. of course if i had one at 4GB i'd be worried ...

kimahri · Sep 15, 2006, 12:45 PM // 12:45

Mine is 4,1gb right now but when I'm done with streaming all files 8which I'm doing right now) I should land on about 4,2 gigabyte.

majoho · Sep 15, 2006, 01:01 PM // 13:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by freekedoutfish

I said I didnt think everything was stored on the home computer. Obviously Id expect some information to be. But I didnt think it wud be close to 4gb worth. thats about 2gb per island.

Well it isn't 4 Gb as has been mentioned here several times, if it is a fix was posted as well.

english storm · Sep 15, 2006, 01:07 PM // 13:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaile Gray

I was asked about this earlier, and here's the official response from Mike O'Brien: The full Gw.dat file size is currently about 2.7 GB. Anyone whose Gw.dat file is larger than that is suffering from an old bug where space wasn't being reused efficiently. That bug was fixed in March. People with larger Gw.dat files should see them stay the same or slowly shrink over time.

Now, more info for you: If you want to, you are welcome to delete and pull a completely new .dat file. But keep in mind that if you do this, you will be downloading a lot of files, and that each time you join a mission you'll need to fetch a new map. So doing this is up to you. Reacquiring the GW.dat file will reduce the size of the file right away and by a considerable amount, if that is a goal that you feel is important. It will, however, take a bit of time and trouble on your part, and you may choose to stick with what you have, knowing it will adjust for size over time.

I hope this helps!

wohoo i feel honored my thread was graced with a visit from Gaile Gray

I know you said the bug was fixed in in March but i think it might be back. I deleted the whole guild wars folder then installed the game on the 8th September using the client from your website and the -image command just after a fresh install of XP.

Infidelus · Sep 15, 2006, 01:13 PM // 13:13

I also very recently did a clean install of GW + Factions from the CDs, and my dat file is currently about 5.8GB (was over 6 yesterday).

So, if there was a fix, I'd agree the bug's back ...

majoho · Sep 15, 2006, 01:26 PM // 13:26

I think we can conclude that the bug is indeed back.

However the fix posted doesn't take too long - but gaile should get the tech people to fix the bug again.

Lex · Sep 15, 2006, 01:47 PM // 13:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Infidelus

I also very recently did a clean install of GW + Factions from the CDs, and my dat file is currently about 5.8GB (was over 6 yesterday).

"from the CDs" - I think thats your mistake. You should have to download all data from net as there is newest version.

Infidelus · Sep 15, 2006, 02:42 PM // 14:42

I'd say it does a lot of that automatically. The first thing GW does when you install it is make a connection with the servers to check for updates .... as my firewall tells me.

[edit to add}

When I say very recently, I mean within about the last ~30 days. If the game is supposed to remove stuff over time, I'd say a month was plenty of time.

Skyi · Sep 15, 2006, 02:49 PM // 14:49

near 6GB -_- with -image option.........

dear anet, what do u think to do an optimizer utility?

now it's like a suicide to redownload if i have to do a format or if the file will be corrupt.

thanks

kimahri · Sep 15, 2006, 05:05 PM // 17:05

Ok my file just increased to 6,5gb after preloading everything... yikes!

Omega X · Sep 15, 2006, 06:55 PM // 18:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skyi

near 6GB -_- with -image option.........

dear anet, what do u think to do an optimizer utility?

now it's like a suicide to redownload if i have to do a format or if the file will be corrupt.

thanks

Do the fix on the previous page.

The dat will become 4gigs lighter.

Everyone who has a bloated dat has an archive file from BEFORE the bug was fixed.

Use the instructions on the previous page to lighten the load.

EternalTempest · Sep 15, 2006, 06:59 PM // 18:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skyi

near 6GB -_- with -image option.........

dear anet, what do u think to do an optimizer utility?

now it's like a suicide to redownload if i have to do a format or if the file will be corrupt.

thanks

They do but the image switch does decompression of all compressed files in the gw.dat + uncompressed file download of what you were missing.

If you installed from cd then just let it download on demand the gw.dat would be smaller. I had to re-install gw due to corruption in the gw.dat. I let it run over night. Came to about 4.7gb total when I checked this morning.

majoho · Sep 15, 2006, 07:09 PM // 19:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omega X

Everyone who has a bloated dat has an archive file from BEFORE the bug was fixed.

Not true in my case, as several people have said already the bug seems to back.

EternalTempest · Sep 15, 2006, 07:13 PM // 19:13

Will have to double check file size to verfy. But it was from a clean install last night.

Install GW on clean XP restore. Killed the download. Deleted the very incomplete gw.dat. And run with the -image switch and let it download from no gw.dat to complete over night. I did not use any of the cd's.

I do wish anet would release a utility that runs a repair on gw.dat fixing duplicate files or courrputed files and re-downloads any affected within the gw.dat file. It would also save bandwith at anet.

Rampager · Sep 16, 2006, 03:22 AM // 03:22

well they are right it is decreasing in time like i showed b4 almost 8 gig now its down to 6 just give it time or use the method shown b4

Omega X · Sep 16, 2006, 04:15 AM // 04:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by majoho

Not true in my case, as several people have said already the bug seems to back.

IF it is, I haven't seen it yet.