Patching behavior and another download
by Adam Holisky 
Sep 14th 2008 at 1:30AM
The PTR patch that is applied when you download and install the PTR Patch 3.0.2 files will create a completely new copy of WoW for itself, taking up approximately 7.46 Gigabytes of space. For those of us running Windows Vista, the files are stored in the location C:\Users\Public\Games\World of Warcraft Public Test. This follows Vista style guidelines set by Microsoft. We saw this same "new" behavior with the 2.4 patch files, when they saved themselves into a directory outside of the World of Warcraft program files.This PTR patching process has other odd behavior right now. When you start to patch the actual game, you'll be able to watch your system resources shoot up. I'm running a very nice laptop where I typically get between 50 and 65 frames a second in raids. The patching ground my computer to a virtual stand-still. This behavior has been reported by others. The patching program decided to use nearly every ounce of CPU power it could. This might be "working as intended" – but it is certainly something that could work better.
Additionally, once the main patch of 900 MB finishes installing, you'll have to download another 154 MB patch to install. This seems a tad redundant to have two patches install upon Day 1 of release of the PTR – but makes sense when taken with the understanding this is all testing software.
Filed under: Patches, Bugs, News items
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Xarook Sep 14th 2008 1:45AM
It works the same with the download of the Wrath Beta, too. It stores it in a separate folder and requires a few downloads before even starting to download the additional patches.
Amaxe Sep 14th 2008 2:20AM
Anyone else getting zero response downloading the 0.0.8926 patch? The first part downloaded fine. This part is as dead as when we first tried to download the PTR before they were ready
Brian Sep 14th 2008 2:37AM
Protip: use the WoW Torrent Extract (http://capnbry.net/wow/) and then use a program like utorrent to download the patches. Much more system friendly, and you have more control to boot!
Jytra Sep 14th 2008 2:48AM
Forgot to add, if your downloader is running slow, check to make sure "Don't throttle background download" is not checked, as this can sometimes cause the downloader to use as much resources as it can to make your download go faster.
Dave Sep 14th 2008 2:56AM
Well, that's odd...posted out of order...
If you notice files missing, or things in the folder not changing, go to :\Users\\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files (x86 if you have 64-bit)\World of Warcraft (or Wrath of the Lich King Beta). This is where Vista stores all potential unauthorized changes to installed programs with low security levels.
Anyway, to prevent WoW from installing or moving things to another directory in Vista, just do the following.
Go to your Program Files directory, right click on your WoW folder (or Wrath), then click "Properties" -> "Security". Hit "Edit" then select "Users" and check "Full Control". Do the same for "TrustedInstaller". Click Apply. This will tell Vista that the program and the user running it are allowed to change the contents of the folder, which includes saving screenshots, configurations, and addons.
Dave Sep 14th 2008 3:01AM
Sorry, triple post...forgot what typecodes can be used...
The path should read "your primary hard drive letter":\Users\"Your User Name"\...and so on.
Mepha Sep 14th 2008 4:55AM
7.46gb is going to cause a lot of people problems. Hardrive companies are going to be rubbing their hands in glee! ^^
Thander Sep 14th 2008 1:25PM
Haha, I put WoW on it's own 40GB slave drive. I should be fine for a long time.
Besides, most people are using 250-500GB hard drives these days. Should never run out unless you're serving out pirated movies.
Caaras Sep 15th 2008 3:12PM
I have a 500gb and currently only have 20gb free. Only about 50gb of that is movies or music, most of it's just the large amount of games installed. It's not only Pirates that have trouble with HD space. It's those of us who don't like uninstalling games, even if we only play some of them 1-2 times a month. 10-30gb game installs really add up
Skjoldborg Sep 14th 2008 6:23AM
What about the poor europeans?
How far are PTR on european servers?
conker87 Sep 14th 2008 7:08AM
I'm not sure of the status of them, but checking WoWWiki and the patch mirrors you can download them there. I'm dl'ing the torrent as I type.
Paul Verhoeven Sep 14th 2008 7:44AM
A frustrating bit of news for MAC users on the test servers...
THERE AREN'T REALISTIC SHADOWS ON MACS.
No kidding, we don't get any of the new 3d shadows.
OwlBoy Sep 14th 2008 3:46PM
Yet… Versions of them have been in the Closed beta, they are still in development, we have not heard any word that they won't be coming to the Mac…
Cow Sep 14th 2008 10:21AM
PTR EU is up. Check the forums.
Bloodletter Sep 14th 2008 10:33AM
Hah. What a joke. These downloads are nothing compared to the 5 gigabytes or so of PATCHES for the WoTLK BETA.
I was sooo happy when I got my BETA Key on Friday. After a few corrupted patches and what not, I quickly changed my mind.
Too bad I cant even try the PTR now. F****** BETA.
attackgypsy Sep 14th 2008 10:48AM
Massive, massive lag trying to get into BG's.
Sat for 5 min in WSG load screen. Sat at the end for more then 10 minutes after a win.
Charlie Sep 14th 2008 11:14AM
Ya know what would keep that from happening on vista?
if you got a mac.
;D
endjinn Sep 14th 2008 11:56AM
The WOTLK beta contains some changes to graphics options which - if they've also part of 3.0.2. (and I've no idea if they are) - could explain resource/cpu issues.
The 'distance' sliders - at their maximums - are about 50% 'further' than they were before.
You could change this yourself in the past but the game doing it just reflects that people will have that much more powerful PCs than they did 2 years ago.
So - if you maxed them now it means MUCH more work your PC than if they were maxed before - sliding them down a bit will sort that out ofc but I believe the 'default' is to leave them where they were (and thus your PC will work harder).
Amaxe Sep 14th 2008 1:33PM
Hmm, the first time I ran it it worked great. Second time ok. Third time, can't get past loading screen
Jorelos Sep 14th 2008 5:11PM
I'm in the wrath beta so it wouldn't mean much for me to do the PTR anyway but I was going to do it before I saw the size, wrath beta + ptr + live is somewhere around 20gb which while not huge compared to HDD size is quite a lot when added to the movies, the music, the other applications, the porn, the porn, even more porn....