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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsWant to preload Cataclysm without pre-ordering? Here's how
by Michael Sacco 
Oct 29th 2010 at 4:00PM
Pre-orders for the Cataclysm digital upgrade are officially open, and you can start downloading the remainder of the expansion's data the moment your purchase goes through. But what if you're awaiting a Collector's Edition or you don't have the money to upgrade online right now? You don't want to be left waiting for Cataclysm to download and install on launch night.
Thankfully, we've got you covered. There's an easy way to preload all the data you'll need to play Cataclysm the moment it goes live on midnight Dec. 7. Just follow these easy steps:
- Make sure World of Warcraft and/or the launcher and background downloader are completely closed.
- Open up your World of Warcraft folder.
- Open Launcher.wtf in Notepad and change the "accountType" line from LK to CT.
- Open Config.wtf in Notepad and change the "accountType" line from LK to CT.
Remember: This will only give you the necessary files to play Cataclysm. It will not upgrade your account and you will not be able to access Cataclysm features. You still need to buy the game if you want to play on launch day.
Thanks to Lemon King for the tip!
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm will destroy Azeroth as we know it; nothing will be the same! In WoW Insider's Guide to Cataclysm, you can find out everything you need to know about WoW's third expansion (available Dec. 7, 2010), from brand new races to revamped quests and zones. Visit our Cataclysm news category for the most recent posts having to do with the Cataclysm expansion.Filed under: Cataclysm
Reader Comments (Page 7 of 10)
Spark Oct 29th 2010 5:13PM
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Dante Oct 29th 2010 4:13PM
Can't wait for Blizz to swing the banhammer at anyone stupid enough to do what this incredibly irresponsible post suggests.
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Altering a configuration file. Yes. I'm sure Blizzard will be banning for that. One can't possibly expect a configuration file to be changed.
l0lus Oct 29th 2010 5:20PM
Well, you actually don't know what you are downloading and I'm sure Blizzard will pull the plug soon ;)
RetPallyJil Oct 29th 2010 5:24PM
Nice tip thank you :D
/runs off to do so
Malenx Oct 29th 2010 5:26PM
OMGOODNESS...
I can't believe the sheer amount of trollings crawling up through the cracks and wailing about bans. Sheesh, these files are altered all the stinkin time. There is no way that downloading the client early will do anything but offer blizzard's servers relief.
There is no way they wouldn't prefer you to get the data now in a slow and steady rate as opposed to opening morning. This is reflected in blue posts stating it's okay.
Go away trolls, nobody actually believes your snarky and annoying comments is actually doing this community any good. If you don't like the blogs here, leave.
Lucidique Oct 29th 2010 5:28PM
Is this working working on the EU servers as well? I suppose that goes for Asian servers and so on.
kunukia Oct 29th 2010 5:31PM
OMFG thank you!
kunukia Oct 29th 2010 5:35PM
It scares the bejesus out of me to do stuff like this, I am so not good with computers, but for this, it is worth it! All I need to do is pick up my games and enter the codes!
Steve Oct 29th 2010 8:57PM
I did it and it's basically already downloaded. Thanks for this tip! See ya in Cata!
To the people who think this is a ban type offense. Stop trolling and actually read the article and comments to see that they already confirmed this was ok. Second, like someone also said it will ease the pressure on the servers for people trying to download the new content.
Namus Oct 29th 2010 5:53PM
Soo... with this info able to be download before launch I wonder if those people that hosts private servers will be able to activate the .mpq and get cata early?
Namus Oct 29th 2010 5:53PM
*downloaded, dammit!
noobdeluxe Oct 29th 2010 5:54PM
I just tested this (600 Mb download) AND NOW WOW DOES NOT START AT ALL
Someone have fix to revert this?!
Tokkar Oct 29th 2010 8:03PM
It should have been 720mb download - mine downloaded fine and works fine - you may not have gotten all of the file. Try opening your launcher again and see if that does the trick. If not, get the newest launcher/client platform from Blizzard and try that. Here's the link to it:
https://us.battle.net/account/downloads/WoW-4.0.0-WOW-enUS-Installer.exe
Eddy_D Oct 29th 2010 6:00PM
Doing this may even save a little time, as the released install discs will not have the current data on them (resulting in an install *then* online update)... VS. keeping everything up-to-date all the way to the switch on of the new cata servers.
Also, realize the additional step you need to do after installing, and that is to login to battlenet and upgrade your account to Cataclysm (CT). *That* is what you are really paying for.
Overall, sounds like a great idea to me...
jsin1276 Oct 29th 2010 6:06PM
Thank you so much for providing this to us as this helps out so much. No I don't have any conflict on buying two copies just to play right away.
Rick Oct 29th 2010 6:05PM
When you edited it in Textedit, what format did you save it as?
sayling Oct 29th 2010 6:11PM
.wtf format I expect? I don't know macs, but assume they have the same format of file extension naming, so even if it was saved as a plain text file, you could change the extension to .wtf and job's a good un!
VioletArrows Oct 29th 2010 6:16PM
Just save it, it'll keep it as .wtf.
jfofla Oct 29th 2010 7:17PM
Macs don't even bother with file names.
Just save it.
Covnam Oct 29th 2010 6:09PM
Thanks for the tip! Should we change it back after? Or does it not really make a difference?
sayling Oct 29th 2010 6:09PM
Hmm
I'd love to know what all of the lines in the config.wtf file are for, what variables could be entered and what the effects would be. Silly stuff in the most part, I expect, like I have three lines in mine that say:
SET readTOS "1"
SET readEULA "1"
SET readTerminationWithoutNotice "1"
which I assume get set to "0" after a patch, meaning I have to click 'Accept' before I can play.
Interesting. Sort of. Sadly.