Installing GW without a huge download...

Is there an easy way to install guildwars (on vista, when I get it in a few days) without having to download the whole huge .dat again? I have a spare harddrive that won't be getting wiped I can put my current .dat file on.

yep, as you mentioned, copy the .dat file over and then run an -image, it should be fairly quick, unless your unlucky enuf that a huge update happens

just copy the whole folder.

that would do it, but install the game first, then copy it over the top

Heyas,
I am wanting to do the same thing. I've done reinstalls before and read about the -image but i'm not totally sure on how to do it. Could anyone give the quick step by steps on copying the folder over and where to do the -image? Thanks for the help. Here's praying for good things with Vista

Ok, I've actually now written this out on notepad so I can copy and paste it...

Firstly, make a copy of the Guild Wars icon on your desktop

Right click on the copy icon and goto Properties.

In the properties window, in the Target box you should see: "D:\Games\Guild Wars\Gw.exe" or similar depending on where you installed the game

Now add -image after that so it reads: "D:\Games\Guild Wars\Gw.exe" -image

now apply the changes, and double click the icon you just made to start the image cycle

As an added reccomendation, click and drag that icon into the startup folder in your Start menu and it will automatically check for updates when you load up windows, don't worry though, it doesn't hog any resources as its just the client updater

k, thx

("your message is too short, please lengthen to at least 12 characters" - wtf? Never seen that on a forum before :s)

In vista, in the "My Games" of the start menu.

GuildWars will show up in the game list, if you right click, you can add 4 or 5 custom versions of the shortcut off the main icon.

The effect is, click on the game to launch, or right click and choose and launch "switch" you want, such as image after you set them up.

Don't install Vista!! /end sarcasm

I think you can play the game just running gw.exe; doesn't matter if you do it from another Windows installation; I hope that help.