Why is Diablo III installer downloading the whole game again when I have already downloaded during my pre-order

Question

I'd pre-ordered Diablo III quite some time back and downloaded and ran the installer which then proceeded to download the full game.

However, today when I try to install Diablo III, it's redownloading the entire 8gb set of files. I've also downloaded the new installer, yet it proceeds to download the entire game.

What can I do to make the installer recognize that I've already downloaded the game?

Asked by Sathya

Answer

Blizzard had posted this post which mentions that the initial installers had a bug. The post mentions:

• Obtain the new Diablo III digital downloader using the links below

  • EU English Installer - Windows
  • EU English Installer - Mac
  • German Installer - Windows
  • German Installer - Mac

• Point the download save at the same directory as before. The folder in question is your main game data folder. If you have the game downloaded to D:\Games\Diablo-III-8370-enGB-Installer, please point the download to D:\Games\.

  Do not use the automatically generated folder containing the installation files (i.e. do not use the directory D:\Games\Diablo-III-8370-enGB-Installer as this is the one created by the downloader). If you chose the correct directory only 50MB will need to be downloaded to fix your install, otherwise you'll re-download the entire ~7.6GB

Also, it's absolutely imperative that you download the same language & region client that you used to download the game after pre-ordering.

In my case, I had downloaded the En-GB version of installer & game after pre-ordering. However, today while downloading the new installer, Blizzard offered me the US version of the installer & because of this mismatch, it was downloading the whole game again.

After grabbing the En-GB(aka EU) install client, it was able to detect my previous download.

Answered by Sathya

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Is it possible to play Outpost on a modern OS?

Question

I have fond memories of playing Outpost in the windows 95 era, and I pulled out the CD recently and discovered that it will not install on XP and above. I believe the problem is that it utilized DOS running underneath windows 9X. It won't install on a DOS emulator, however, because it uses the windows installer.

Is there an updated version of this game anywhere, or a way to emulate the environment it needs to install and run?

Barring that, can anyone suggest any newer games with similar gameplay? E.g. semi-realistic space colonization simulation (without combat).

Asked by sjohnston

Answer

You could set up a virtual machine running Windows 95 using Virtualbox or VMWare or Windows 7's built-in Virtual PC. The only thing you'd need is a Windows 95 CD and installation key.

I have no idea how it will play out - graphics and sound may both be an issue, and require additional drivers - but I'd say it's worth a try.

Answered by Pekka

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How do I fully uninstall the Diablo 3 beta for Mac?

Question

The beta doesn't have an uninstaller, Blizzard's directions are (by their own admission) not thorough. Where are all of the D3 directories and preference files, and what is the most effective way to zap them?

Asked by sean

Answer

Uninstalling applications in Mac OS X is very different than uninstalling in a Microsoft 1Windows environment because Mac OS X has nothing like the Windows Registry.

Most Mac OS X applications (anything that ends in .app), like Safari and iTunes, are bundles. The application icon you see in Finder (typically the Applications Folder) is usually a special folder itself, made to appear as a single double-clickable file. These "folders" contain all, or at least most, of the files needed to run the application, ie they are self-contained. This means that to uninstall these applications, you only have to drag them to the Trash. If you control-click (or right-click) on an Application icon, and you see "Show Package Contents", then it is a bundle.

Source

For Diablo III Beta, you just delete the folder, because it does not create Package Content for you to delete.

But it does create fill .txt files that are not part of the installation. Here is a screenshot of my Mac with all files with "Diablo" in their name.

And here's the screenshot with the "Beta" name search:

Aside from the Diablo III "Beta Setup" that is in my Download folder, there is "diablo3_beta_enus-driverinfo.txt" that is in /Users/Shared/Battle.Net/Client/Blizzard Launcher.1454/Support

The others files are inside the folder in the applications (or in the location you selected).

Also inside /Users/Shared, there are 2 folders called: Battle.net and Blizzard. They are created after you install any Blizzard Game like WoW or SC or Diablo. I don't recommend to your remove those folders, unless you are going to stop playing Blizzard games.

Almost forgot:

There is a file that saves your preferences called D3Prefs.txt the location is: /Application Support/Blizzard/Diablo III

Answered by Michel

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Downloading World of Warcraft for multiple computers

Question

I want to install World of Warcraft on three different computers.

Is it possible to download the complete game on one machine then copy to the other PC's?

I searched the Battle Net Technical support Installations and Patches area but didn't see anything.

I also notice that they have this "Streaming Launcher" which I don't really want to have to use on all three machines. I'm limited for bandwidth and would like to download the complete game overnight then copy and install.

For example with Eve Online you can download the installer stub and the install payloads (e.g. community.eveonline.com/download/?fallback=1) directly. Is there something similar for WoW?

Asked by Kev

Answer

Yes,

World of Warcraft can run detached from the registry and is considered portable. You can copy the files in the World of Warcraft program directory to another computer and it will run right out of the gate.

Configuration files are also stored in the program directory (unlike modern games which store them in the user's home directory). It would be a good idea to use the launcher to "reset" World of Warcraft's video settings before launching on a new computer.

Answered by Resorath

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I get an error message every time I try to install Portal 2 via Steam

Question

When trying to start Portal 2 Steam starts completing the installation, aborts after a few percents and then gives the error message

Incomplete installation of Portal 2 (10)

I've verified the game cache, but that did not help. Any ideas?

Asked by Fabian

Answer

Apparently that message only means the Steam servers are busy, it worked now.

From the Steam website:

Incomplete Installation (10)

Steam servers are busy. Please try again later.

Answered by n/a

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Is it possible to play games that run off of Steam, on a Linux or Unix-based OS (other than Mac OSX)?

Question

I was wondering if it is possible to install and play Steam games like Skyrim off a Linux or Unix-base Operating System (OS), such as FreeBSD or OpenSUSE?

Update: Apart from installing through Wine, which is an emulator and would hence defeat the purpose, because it would cancel out any performance increase you might get over running through Windows. In short (as far as I am aware), running through Wine would give even less performance than running through Windows.

Asked by gameaddict

Answer

Not usually. The byte code which is the game will not normally run on other platforms (which is why a Mac program won't run on Linux or Windows, and vice versa).

If you have a fast enough computer, you can run some Windows programs via Wine, which emulates Windows (makes it like you're running the program on a Windows computer).

A lot of games are compatible with Wine, including Final Fantasy, Starcraft, BioShock, Team Fortress, Fallout, Left 4 Dead and lots more. Here is a list of applications that can run under Wine.

Answered by Nate Koppenhaver

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Am I able to install Skyrim on a second computer, provided I am using my same Steam account?

Question

I would like to install Skyrim also on my desktop. I was wondering if Steam will let me install Skyrim on another PC also? If not, I don't want to go through setting it up and downloading it, all 7 or so GB.

Asked by gameaddict

Answer

Yes, you can install steam games on as many computers as you want.

The catch, is that you may only be connected to steam from one computer at a time. For a game like Skyrim, however, running in Steam's Offline mode isn't much of an issue.

Answered by Raven Dreamer

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How do I install a Steam game from the DVD disc, and into a custom directory?

Question

I want to install a Steam game into a custom directory. For example, I want to install my new game which I activated through Stem but then cancelled the installation because I have the retail disc, into E:/Program Files/.

How do I go about installing the Steam game into a custom directory?

Asked by gameaddict

Answer

There really isn't a way to install Steam to a custom directory, as it always wants to install in the default Program Files location -- usually C:\Program Files\ or C:\Program Files (x86). However, you can use the Windows "mklink" utility to create a file system pointer from the default location to wherever you want to store the files. Typically I do this with my game data files (everything under "\Steam\steamapps\common" within the Program Files folder), since these are the files that take up the most space.

Also, installing from a DVD is another matter, so I will answer that separately.

To install Steam data to a custom directory:

• Locate your game data, usually under C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps\common or C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common (if you have 64-bit system)
• Copy it to the new location
• Delete it from the original location (make sure you have it copied / backed up first!!)
• Open a command prompt by selecting Start and typing: cmd
• In the command prompt type the following (include the quotes): mklink /J "C:\Program Files\steam\steamapps\common\GAME" "c:[new location]\GAME"
• Example: mklink /J "C:\Program Files\steam\steamapps\common\altitude" "c:\games\altitude"
• This will create what is called an "NTFS symbolic link" (sort of like a directory shortcut) which transparently links Steam's default directory to whatever directory you specify.

There is also an app which will do the heavy lifting for you, called "Steam Mover".

To install a Steam game from a DVD instead of downloading it, do the following:

• Log in to Steam and click on Library.
• Right-click on the game, and select Delete local content.
• Insert the DVD and close Steam (Steam > Exit).
• Press Windows Key + R to open Run
• Type: "C:\Program Files\Steam\Steam.exe" -install D: (Replace "C:\Program Files\Steam\Steam.exe" with your actual Steam install location if different; replace D: with your DVD drive letter if different), and click OK.
• Steam will launch and ask you to sign in if you do not have your password saved. Your installation should continue from the disc.

Answered by Ben

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Install Steam on an external drive?

Question

If I install Steam to an external drive, will it work when I plug it into other computers? Or does it depend on registry keys/some other computer-specific thing?

Asked by RCIX

Answer

Steam will work on an external drive, and will run perfectly fine as long as you're not trying to simultaneously run it from the computer's internal drive.

Note: Even though installing on an external drive means the games / client themselves are on the external drive, you may wind up with your saves or DLC on the computer, rather than the external drive. (Exact effect depends on the game.)

See also: http://gaming.stackexchange.com/questions/1580/is-it-possible-to-install-steam-games-to-two-different-locations

Answered by Raven Dreamer

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How can you install Steam games offline?

Question

My main computer that has Steam installed on it does not have an active Internet connection. I do not want this computer to have access to the Internet, but I really would like to be able to play some of the games I bought with Steam.

How can I install and play a Steam game if I don't have the Internet on my machine? Can I simply download the game on another computer with Steam, copy the local game files to a flash drive, and copy the game files to my other computer's Steam directory?

Answer

You cannot install a Steam game offline. It needs to connect to the Steam servers the very first time to confirm you own the game.

If you do not want to redownload the game, go online, click install, let it go as far as where it starts downloading, close Steam completely and copy the files from the SteamApps folder on another machine, then launch Steam again. However, this process still requires a internet connection on first play.

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Installing Starfleet Armada 2 on Windows 7?

Question

I'm trying to install Startrek Armada 2 on Windows 7 x64. When I try to install, the popup launches and I can attempt to click install.

This briefly launches a small message box, after which nothing happens.

There are no errors in any of the application logs from this time period, and running as administrator has no effect. How can I install on Windows 7, or are they completely incompatible?

Answer

Wow! Haven't heard of this game in a while. If you're going to play it though, grab Fleet Operations as it brings the game up to modern standards (in graphics and gameplay). It will require your disk but it has a custom installer that works (last i checked anyway) on windows 7.

If you're sure that you want to play the game stock, open the CD manually in explorer, then go to the Setup folder and launch Setup.exe with administrator rights (i suspect you may have been launching the autorun program as administrator instead).

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Can you run an installed Xbox 360 game off of USB flash drives now?

Question

Since you can use USB Flash Drives for data storage now, is it possible to install a game to one? Or, can you install to HDD and then copy to flash drive?

Unfortunately I'm one of those with an old 20GB HDD...so before I go buying a USB stick or two rather than a bigger HDD, I'd like to know.

Answer

I know that you can install a game to a USB drive, since I've (accidentally) done it before. The Xbox allows me to select either the internal hard drive or the attached USB drive, after I select to install the game.

I haven't tried to run a game installed to the USB drive (since I accidentally installed it there), but given that it allows you to install a game to it, I don't see why it wouldn't allow you to do so.

I don't know if you can copy installed games, though. I'd lean towards not, but I haven't tried to do so (and I can't check right now, since I'm at work).

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Unable to install Final Fantasy 8 on Windows 7

Question

I am trying to install FF8 on Win7 but I am having no luck.

The install disc opens a menu with an option to start the installation. I click on this and nothing happens. If I look in Task Manager I can see the SETUP.EXE running.

I have tried exploring the disc and running the SETUP.EXE directly, both normally and as administrator.

I am using .iso's and running on Win7 32-bit.

Answer

So I found a solution to the problem.

I created a directory on my hard drive and copied the .ISO files from my external drive to the directory I created.

I mounted the Install.iso and copied the files from there to the directory I created initially. I then ran the setup.exe in compatibility mode with the setting on Windows XP SP 2.

This worked fine and the game installed without any problems. I then followed the instructions given here.

The game is running fine and I am yet to experience any problems.

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How can I change the Install Directory of Games in Origin

Question

In preparation of the upcoming Battlefield 3 Open Beta, today I attempted to set up Origin to install to the proper directories.

My base Origin is installed at:

"E:\Games\Origin".

For some reason though, Origin wants to install all of my games to:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Origin Games\".

So I attempted to change this to:

"E:\Games\Origin\Games", or even just "E:\Games",

however I keep getting the error message: "The game installation directory is invalid. Please select a different directory." This always comes up unless I pick a directory that is in "C:\Program Files (x86)\" somewhere.

As you can see below: Red is the error message I get every time I try to change the directory, Green is the default location which can only be changed to VERY similar locations, and Blue is showing the fact that I can change the location of the installers just fine.

Is there any way (even using other programs, like a registry editor) to change the directory that Origin will install my games to?

Answer

Locate the "Origin" sub-folder in your Application Data - or simply use Start | Run | "%AppData%\Origin".

There's a settings.xml file, open it with a text editor and change the path in the line that begins with

<Setting key="DownloadInPlaceDir"

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Install / Sync Multiple Steam games over LAN

Question

I have a bunch of Macs that I'd like to install the same Steam games on (they all have separate accounts) I'd like to be able to install it on one and have Steam leach the files from that machine instead of the Internet. The games total 10GB which would be fast over LAN but slow over the net.

I know it uses some P2P tech, is it clever enough to detect nearby hosts? Or can I copy some steam install files manually?

Answer

I'd use one if the backup/restore methods discussed in other questions here (such as How do I move Steam games to a new computer without re-downloading them?). There's no reason a backup can't be restored to multiple computers, or the data copied directly from one to the others.

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Do installs of multiple-disc games to the hard drive still require you to change the disc?

Question

On the Xbox 360, along with the option to install games to the hard drive, you can also apparently install multiple-disc games to the hard drive, but I haven't tried this.

For instance, L.A. Noire and Rage have 3 discs, and Dead Space 2 has 2 discs.

I know you have to have a disc in the drive to start an installed game. If I install all discs to the drive, will I still have to switch out discs when the game gets to the portion requiring a new disc, despite the fact that they are all installed?

Answer

Yes, with a few exceptions. Forza 3, for example, comes on two discs but one of the discs is data, so if installed, disc changing is not necessary.

The reason you need to insert each disc is a way of making sure you possess the physical game disc at the time you are playing.

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Back up and restore Bejeweled 3 after HDD format on Windows 7 PC

Question

I'm going to format my Windows 7 x64 PC and I will make a fresh installation of Bejeweled 3. The problem is, I've made a big progress in the game and I don't want to lose the current state of the game (some levels are available only after a certain progress in the game).

What should I do to protect my state in the game? Are just backing up C:\Program Files (x86)\PopCap Games\Bejeweled 3 folder and restoring it enough?

Answer

Gladly that will only backup your game not all your stats...

You have to go to the c:\Users\&YourUserName&\AppData\Local\PopCap Games\Bejeweled3\Users

Note to do this you need to unhide the hidden files and folders...

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Can I play Minecraft on a USB flash drive?

Question

I've got a 4GB SanDisk Cruzer here with practically nothing on it, and I'm about to go house-sit for a friend with a computer but no internet. It sure would be nice to play Minecraft while he's away, but I'd just as soon not muck around in his Documents and Settings\Application Files folders. Is it possible to have Minecraft and my world on the flash drive itself such that I can play it directly from the drive, rather than installing to each computer I bring it to?

Answer

PortableApps hosts a Minecraft Portable launcher that will run off a USB stick, though you have to run it once for it to download and store the data and binaries from minecraft.net (as required by the Minecraft end-user license). I haven't tested it, but it claims to use the native launcher to be forward-compatible as new versions of Minecraft are released.

On the Minecraft Forums, there is a Java-based portable launcher that explicitly advertises compatibility with version 1.8.

There is also an article about creating a Windows batch file by hand that will make Minecraft look for its files and your saves on a USB key.

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How do you install the FIFA 12 Demo with FIFA 11 also installed?

Question

I just downloaded the FIFA 12 Demo, but when I start the Autorun.exe I only get a play button, none for installation. If I click it, the FIFA 11 startup menu comes up.

If I start EASetup.exe, it says the game already is installed.

Any way to fix this?

For clarification: I have FIFA 11 installed and I am looking for a way to get the FIFA 12 Demo installed without uninstalling FIFA 11.

This seems to be a general issue with the demo, I found a german article on the web pointing out this issue as well. What I want to know is if there is a workaround to get the demo installed anyway.

Answer

I now found a solution in this news article (german):

If you remove the following registry key

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Products\1DC6AEF331AE7EC47AE47AA4A4A0B7C5

you are able to install the demo while Fifa 11 stays installed.

You should make a backup though, so that you still can uninstall Fifa 11 properly later.

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Can I verify an xbox 360 game isn't damaged by installing it?

Question

If I buy a used game the first thing I do is install the game onto my hard drive. I figure that this process must read the entire disc and so will verify the disc is not damaged.

Does anyone know if I'm right?

EDIT

ChrisF has seen games that won't play from disc but will install and subsequently play. That leads me to add another sub-question:

Has anyone installed a game successfully but then been unable to play it, either due to disc damage during the startup disc check or due to some other corruption?

Answer

I don't have a reference, but from personal experience I think you nearly right.

If the disk is too badly damaged then you won't be able to install at all.

However, it appears to be that the installation process is slightly more tolerant of damage than playing directly, so you could get a disc that's too damaged to play but will still install. This could be for a number of reasons including that it does more error checking and retrys when installing than playing for example.

From personal experience there have been a couple of games that occasionally failed to load/play direct from disc. In these cases we have installed the games to the hard drive and successfully played them from there.

So your test won't verify that the disc is not damaged, but will verify that it's playable.

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