Cataclysm Digital Presale Available

[Shamora]

Thanks for the heads up Dianora

[Pizbit]

5. Run Launcher.exe and your launcher should go out of its way to grab the 700MB files. Please note that doing this will put your WoW in unplayable state until you've downloaded 320MB. Ideally, you do this before going to sleep, and in the morning, you'll have all of the new content.

It didn't do this for me, I was able to click Play and login when the download had barely started.

[KysenMurrin]

I noticed on mine that the first time I opened the launcher it had 300+MB of red download and 300+ of green, but the second time it changed to yellow and green instead.

[Noradin]

5. Run Launcher.exe and your launcher should go out of its way to grab the 700MB files. Please note that doing this will put your WoW in unplayable state until you've downloaded 320MB. Ideally, you do this before going to sleep, and in the morning, you'll have all of the new content.

It didn't do this for me, I was able to click Play and login when the download had barely started.

Same for me (but I do download at nearly 3MB/s).

[Chicken]

I noticed on mine that the first time I opened the launcher it had 300+MB of red download and 300+ of green, but the second time it changed to yellow and green instead.

It actually did a "Recalculating" for me after downloading the first 8 or so MB, and after that there only yellow and green left. I expect the behavior depends on your connection.

[Skye1013]

So, if I use the info Dianora posted, once it finishes the first 8-320Mb (whichever it happens to be) I'll be okay to continue leveling up my chars? Or once I start the cata download, I'll be taking a vacation from WoW until Dec. 7?

Would like to know, because I pre-ordered the CE version, but would like to try and get the game installed prior to having to wait for that to be mailed to me from the US (If it works, going to have my sis email me the key, but would like to have the game already downloaded if possible.)

Or do I have to purchase a 2nd digital copy, then use Dianora's post info for the download?

[Pizbit]

So, if I use the info Dianora posted, once it finishes the first 8-320Mb (whichever it happens to be) I'll be okay to continue leveling up my chars? Or once I start the cata download, I'll be taking a vacation from WoW until Dec. 7?

Would like to know, because I pre-ordered the CE version, but would like to try and get the game installed prior to having to wait for that to be mailed to me from the US (If it works, going to have my sis email me the key, but would like to have the game already downloaded if possible.)

Or do I have to purchase a 2nd digital copy, then use Dianora's post info for the download?

You sound extremely confused. Hopefully this clears things up for you.

If you use the information posted you can start the download right now *and* play as normal regardless of how much you've downloaded.
You'll simply be unable to play anything 'cataclysm' that launches on the 7th dec until you've upgraded your account with your CD key.

Buying the digital version just does both at once, sets your account to download cata, and upgrades it so you can play cataclysm content on the 7th.

[Skye1013]

Alright, you apparently managed to pull the gist from my post, despite it's lack of clarity. I appreciate the info, guess I'll try and start the download tonight .

[djlar]

The "download" isn't much at the moment.. still around 700MB and they haven't added anything more so far, perhaps they plan to add more content each week, maybe 700MB at a time.

[lythac]

There, both accounts upgraded.

Roll on 11:01 PM, 06/12/10 in the UK.

I shall miss not having the disc but logging on when servers go live is worth it.

Edit - also I was able to use my UK debit card for US account, which previously was allowed to buy Vanila online and pays the monthly account fee but not allowed to upgrade to TBC or WoTLK online.

[Flex]

The "download" isn't much at the moment.. still around 700MB and they haven't added anything more so far, perhaps they plan to add more content each week, maybe 700MB at a time.

Or the 4GB 4.0.1 patch contained most everything we need that just needs to be turned on by a future patch and the stuff we are downloading contains Cataclysm exclusive content like the starting zones.

[Skye1013]

While 700MB might not seem like much to you guys... at 10Kb/sec with a questionably stable connection, it might take awhile

[valura]

But what happens when WoW corrupts and you have to reinstall it from Disc as happened with WoTLK for me?

If you want to avoid this from happening, get an external drive (or an empty partion thereof) and re-download the game or re-install it from disc.

You might even keep more than one copy around, just to be sure (or paranoid like me).

It's also not a bad idea to keep a secured folder with your most important addons in a similar backup.

Should the game corrupt during or after the installation of Cata, just delete the whole damn thing and go try it on one of your backup copies.

The most important part is; get a clean installation. Don't just copy the version you are running on now, or it most likely won't help you one bit.

[Non]

But what happens when WoW corrupts and you have to reinstall it from Disc as happened with WoTLK for me?

You go to battle.net and download the new streaming launcher. Wait 5-10min for it to get the first 100-500MB of data. Log in and start playing.

[KillaMachine]

bought , downloaded , installed the first day it offered a pre sale