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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 8 of 10)
Lemon King Oct 29th 2010 8:04PM
No, those get set to -1 after a patch. ;)
Lee Oct 29th 2010 8:20PM
Ask and thou shall receive
http://www.wowpedia.org/Console_variables
This should satisfy your craving
Bryan Dare Oct 29th 2010 6:20PM
Thanks!
I was hoping something like this would come up. =D
Frederik Tange Oct 29th 2010 6:44PM
Awesome post, tried it out but the file weren't presence in the config, but copying it works perfectly.
About the legal aspect i'm sure it's 100% legal, the only thing being done here is downloading the data required to run cataclysm, and if these files weren't meant to be tampered with they would be secured much differently
Suntamer Oct 29th 2010 7:29PM
Your going have to download all the data anyways Dec 7 anyways to just play wow. I think honestly the more people who do it now the easier it is on Blizzard on launch day.
l0lus Oct 29th 2010 7:26PM
So you are downloading partial beta files of a 4GB UNFINISHED release and then something breaks, I don't think Blizzard support covers that :P. No actual valid preload will occur until Blizzard says game is gold and puts the right files in place
LeepinLeemur Oct 29th 2010 8:11PM
No, it is valid and happening already when you buy the upgrade online.
G Oct 29th 2010 8:24PM
It's 38 days until December 7, including the Thanksgiving shutdown. The release version of a game this large has already gone GM and is in manufacturing.
Artificial Oct 30th 2010 4:22AM
@G: Possibly, but not necessarily. It's 2010. A publisher can go from pressing the gold CD to having millions of boxes of the product on shelves nationwide in under two weeks. 38 days would be pretty early these days, Thanksgiving or no. (Indeed, why would the Thanksgiving shutdown matter? They aren't pressing the CDs at Blizzard HQ, and Thanksgiving means nothing outside of the USA...)
Amaxe Oct 29th 2010 7:48PM
Bookmarked the page. May try this once I make sure the bandwidth cap is low enough. I have the disc ordered for release day but it would be good to have it ready to go as well
CVSoprano Oct 29th 2010 8:11PM
Much appreciated info!!! D/Ling at a brisk 1.4MB/sec......
Siopilos Oct 29th 2010 8:53PM
Does this change the log-in screen to the Deathwing one? Cause that'd be cool...
Tokkar Oct 29th 2010 9:24PM
Sadly, no.
Kay Oct 29th 2010 9:52PM
I have attempted this both on my win7 install and my winXP 64 install, and I've had no luck on either. The launcher simply writes the account type back to LK.
onlygamo Oct 29th 2010 9:59PM
Mine is already CT, why is that?
Darinbox Oct 29th 2010 10:14PM
People freaking out for something perfectly legal and helpful is PRICELESS!!!.
Auriel Oct 29th 2010 10:30PM
Personally, I do not see the hurry in getting this done right this moment. There is plenty of time to do the download, and while I am a fan of the game, I don't think that my life will stop if I chose to wait for a box delivery.
There's plenty of days between now and Dec 7th, to get the download done, especially on the weekends and late at night. Somehow I think this rush is a ploy on Blizzards part to make plenty of cash prior to the Christmas Shopping season in November.
Just my take on it. But I honestly do not see the absolute rush in getting this download in the next 7 days. lol
Claire Oct 30th 2010 12:53AM
Why do something later if you can do it now?
delrobia_productions Oct 29th 2010 10:52PM
I pre-ordered Cataclysm, do I have to install a whole new launcher, or can I keep the current one?
Artificial Oct 30th 2010 4:28AM
You already did, unless you haven't played since patch 3.3.5...