Patch 4 & Cataclysm: How to backup the installation files ?

[fluffyze]

Hi everyone ^^

I'm wondering how can I backup any installation files with the new streaming launcher ?

Previously when you installed WoW from nothing, you has to choose a directory where to save the big setup files for WOTLK (roughly equal to the setup of the DVD)
then every patch can be viewed in WoW installation folder, like : "WoW-3.3.0.10958-to-3.3.0.11159-enGB-patch" And , you just has to save those and you were fine to go for another installation (in case of formating for example).

Now I'm starting with "WoW-4.0.0-WOW-enGB-Installer.exe" which weigh 30MB, then it installs the necessary files for the new streaming dl procedure. So no backupable setup files left !

Just saving the WoW folder doesn't sound good to me because the setup install some files in "program files/common files" and also creates shortcut in start menu etc.


So any suggestion? thanks !

edit : Also previously you could extract the .torrent file from the patch file easily, so you could use your P2P soft and could restrict upload a little bit to avoid the blizzard downloader to saturate your upload. Now it seems this is no longer possible.

[ContentsMayVary]

Ignore the stuff outside the main WoW folder, it doesn't matter.
You really do just need to back up the entire main WoW folder.

[fluffyze]

well maybe is there another "cleaner" way to do it ?
backuping apps folder isnt really the smarttest choice on windows :P

[Dalehan]

I used the online downloadable client to re-download WoW entirely to a backup folder, but won't log in with that client, only using it to download paches whenever an update is released. That way I'll always have a clean install at hand whenever I would need it.

Should I have to reinstall for any reason, I can
- uninstall WoW the proper way
- tell the download client to reinstall WoW
- after creating the folder, close the launcher when it wants to start the stream DL
- delete the WoW folder created by the installer, and replace it with the backup version (deleting the old folder or its entire contents is key here. I tried to just merge and replace files from a 4.0.1 install in a 3.X.X original folder before, which led to old and new files getting mixed, creating an error)

[ContentsMayVary]

well maybe is there another "cleaner" way to do it ?
backuping apps folder isnt really the smarttest choice on windows :P

Why make it hard for yourself? Just backup the WoW folder, it's fine like I said. Done it loads of times.