backup and key questions

ran a search but didn't find what I was looking for.

Is there a way to backup your settings, keys, and interface? I was going to make a new computer but don't want to have to do all of that crap again.

Also, is there a reason why I can't bind the right control key? I use the arrow keys instead of the WASD keys and its a shame I can't bind that key to something. The right control also doesn't do anything (its the left control key that works).

Some of those settings may be stored in the gw.dat file; I deleted my gw.dat a while ago and downloaded a "clean" one using gw.exe -image, and my login info, as well as the video and sound settings were back to defaults. I hadn't customized the interface so I couldn't tell if it had also reset, but it seems likely.

Try copying the gw.dat to your new computer if you must keep the old settings. The file's a bit large but a DVD-RW, an external hard drive or a crossover Ethernet cable should do the trick.

As for the control key - some of the modifier keys, like Control and Shift, are a bit weird to write code for in Windows; in older versions of Windows (95, 98 and Me at least I think) both the left and right-side versions of some modifier keys were considered the same by the Win32 API (Application Programming Interface). This was changed later, possibly in Windows 2000, but the old stuff has stuck around to confuse programmers. As if the API wasn't bad enough already.

You login info, graphic settings and such are stored on the Gw.dat file for the most part, so backuping that file will backup your settings. As for the right ctrl key, it switched languages while you hold it i think. At least it does for me without having changed any key binding (Using french version of xp and game in english, holding the right ctrl key putts the game in french while it held down.)

thanks tijo. Too bad I cant change it.

I Logged in with my account on another computer and found that my UI was linked to the account on the GW servers so all that didnt go over was graphics and keys, and I can redo those fairly easy anyway.

On this same note, I am about to format my computer and am also wondering: Does backing up the gw.dat file will save me from downloading AGAIN all the updates and whatnot that have been done in the past?

Thanks for the help.

Yes. You can actually backup the entire guild wars directory and just copy it back after you format.

Great!

It is a good idea to back the whole file up anyway. I had forgotten about the templates and my screenshots also