1 of 1

Write now Article Tools

You've just reinstalled Guild Wars. Or you see the message "A new build of Guild Wars is available." If you don't have the fastest computer in the world, as well as the fastest internet connection, you already know what's going to happen: you log on, and you wait. And wait. And wait. Finally, the thousands of updated files stop downloading and you actually get into an area. Whew! But then you try moving to the Guild Hall. Or mapping to another continent. Or, heaven forbid, going to the next level of a dungeon. The big download starts again, and with it, that everlasting wait for new files.

If you're playing with people, when you finally connect, you may find a bunch of rude messages asking why you left the game. Or you may find that everyone else has left the game because they got tired of waiting for you to load.

Sound familiar?

There's a very simple way to solve the problem, but not many people know about it, even people who have beaten all four games. Simply download all the latest files before you start playing. Always do this after a fresh install, or when you haven't played for a couple of weeks or longer. If your computer or internet connection is particularly slow, consider doing it once the weekend event has started, or after any major update.

The easiest way to do the Great File Download, is to pull another shortcut to Guild Wars onto your desktop. RIGHT CLICK on the icon to get a menu of options. First choose Rename, and call it something like "Rebuild", so you can tell it's not the usual shortcut. RIGHT CLICK on the icon again, and choose Properties. (Guild Wars doesn't run on a Mac, so Right Click is the only option.)

If you went for the default installation, you will have a shortcut target of "C:\Program Files\Guild Wars\GW.exe". (If you customised your installation, your path will be different. Don't change it. All we're going to do is add something at the end.)

Now, at the end of that target path, whatever it is, after the closing quote mark, type in a space and then -image.

Your target should now look like something like this:

"C:\Program Files\Guild Wars\Gw.exe" -image

Click OK to save the change.

Now click on the Rebuild icon normally to run the program. It will probably not give you a logon screen, and will just shut down when it's downloaded everything. After starting the download you may as well go and do something else for a while. Write a Helium article, go to bed, cook dinner, phone a friend - whatever takes your fancy.

Once the Rebuild program with the -image command has run, start Guild Wars from the usual Guild Wars icon. Hey Presto! You'll log on as fast as you normally do. No abnormal waiting, even when zoning to new areas. Load up your favourite character, go forth, and conquer!

Learn more about this author, Janet Pieterse.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about How to reduce download times in Guild Wars?
We want to hear your view. Write now!