-image command line option - Guild Wars Guru Archive

Krytan Explorer

Ohm Mahnee Pedmay [Hoom]

Joined May 2005

Jul 23, 2009 at 2:30 PM • #1

Approximately how large is the gw.dat file after running -image recently, and about how long does it currently take to finish over a broadband connection?

Sharkinu

Lion's Arch Merchant

Smells Like Bear Spirit [Norn]

Joined Dec 2008

Jul 23, 2009 at 2:33 PM • #2

3.865.464.320 bytes(3.59 GB)

usually takes a few hours

spamslayer

Ascalonian Squire

SOUP

W/Mo

Joined Dec 2005

Jul 23, 2009 at 3:20 PM • #3

Hm, mine is 4,092,635,136 bytes (3.81 GB)

How long depends on many factors, your broadband connection for one,

Quote:

Originally Posted by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadband_Internet_access

Although various minimum bandwidths have been used in definitions of broadband, ranging up from 64 kbit/s up to 2.0 Mbit/s, the 2006 OECD report[2] is typical by defining broadband as having download data transfer rates equal to or faster than 256 kbit/s, while the United States FCC, as of 2008, defines broadband as anything above 768 kbit/s. The trend is to raise the threshold of the broadband definition as the marketplace rolls out faster services.

Sookie

Lion's Arch Merchant

[AKA] Guild Leader

Joined Jan 2008

Jul 23, 2009 at 3:32 PM • #4

It is huuuuuuuuge and takes at least 5 hours over a broadband connection.

No matter how fast your broadband connection is, it can only download as fast as Arena Net (Guildwars.com) is uploading.

Killamus

Guest

Joined Oct 2008

Jul 23, 2009 at 4:09 PM • #5

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enolena Sedai

It is huuuuuuuuge and takes at least 5 hours over a broadband connection.

No matter how fast your broadband connection is, it can only download as fast as Arena Net (Guildwars.com) is uploading.

Far too true. My speeds are generally 250-300 down, but I rarely get above 150 when downloading patches.

Also, for future reference, when you're done re-downloading it, save your gw.dat to an external, backup drive if possible. If not, write it to a DvD, that way you can just copy/paste it, and wait 5 minutes instead of 50 hours.

Wesyrine

Ascalonian Squire

Joined Feb 2006

Jul 23, 2009 at 4:26 PM • #6

Mine is 3,761,062 KB (3.58 GB). It's best to just let it run overnight. The window will close automatically when it finishes.

Yichi

Furnace Stoker

Dark Alley [dR]

Joined Sep 2005

Jul 23, 2009 at 4:36 PM • #7

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wesyrine

It's best to just let it run overnight. The window will close automatically when it finishes.

Was about to suggest the same thing.

kedde

Wilds Pathfinder

Kaons Banned Fecal Super Team [Ban]

Mo/A

Joined May 2007

Jul 23, 2009 at 5:39 PM • #8

For any future use, always just have a copied .DAT file lying around with other backups, and periodically overwrite it.
Saves so much time for getting gw on a new or just a different computer.

jray14

Krytan Explorer

Ohm Mahnee Pedmay [Hoom]

Joined May 2005

Jul 23, 2009 at 6:13 PM • #9

Thanks for the feedback. I decided to let it run while I'm at work, since my "overnight" is generally my game-playing time, lol.

makosi

Grotto Attendant

Requirement Begins With R [notQ]

Me/

Joined Mar 2006

Jul 23, 2009 at 6:19 PM • #10

It's most time-efficient to install using your CDs (if you bought physical boxes, manuals, CDs etc.) because you'll get the bulk of the current DAT file there. The remainder, that you want to download, will be many fewer megabytes. That's what I did after reinstalling Vista and it took less than 30 mins to download stuff using -image once I had installed using discs.