Quick and Easy Guide: Downloading, Installing and Playing WoW...For Free

[xTHExDUDEx]

First off I apologise if this is in the wrong section, I read all the stickies and I did not see anything that so much as implies that the following content should not be posted here. This started as a quick post to help someone out but I figure it has grown enough to be a usefull guide for others as well.
It's not incredibly detailed like my other guides but it's a start and I'm sure it will help a lot of new comers who aren't sure where to start.


So, as it stands, you can either download via torrent or usenet.
Depending on what ISP you are on, you may find you have a substantial usenet database on your ISP servers, if not you can always pay for a service such as giganews, usenext etc etc etc.
You can use a trial of usenext for free, or $1 if you use paypal for 3GB a pop. Just keep using the trial service under differant emails etc if you do not want to order the full service.
Your ISP's usenet will have about a 2 week retention time so WoW may not be there just now but it probably has been before and will be again if you keep checking. WoW will be on usenext constantly I would imagine.
If you use the usenext trial, if the file you are downloading oversteps the 3GB limit it will infact keep downloading until it is finished that download, so you could use 2.99GB then go download WoW which will be at least 2.5GB.
You will also have the use of a search function, very handy and beats wading thru headers yourself.
But if you are like 12 years old, don't have a paypal account or have any idea what I'm talking about then below are the most active torrents for WoW at the moment.
Keep in mind that you will have to download the appropriate updates in order to play, these are VERY easy to find.

I recommend using uTorrent as your downloading client.

This first link is not displaying properly, copy the ENTIRE link, including the orange text:
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ][isoHunt]%20World%20of%20Warcraft Seeders = 655 Leechers = 1837

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] Seeders = 197 Leechers = 646

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] Seeders = 177 Leechers = 632

All 3 of these torrents carry the same ISO files, 4 CDs in total which you mount on virtual drives with a program such as DAEMON TOOLS which is free to download. Mount all 4 discs and you are ready to install.
It either comes with a key or you do not need to enter one, the latter if I remember correctly.
Install, apply the included patch then download the rest of the patches you need up till 1.12.1 as most private servers use this version.
Once you're done, bookmark this site: www.wowstatus.net , here you will find hundreds of the best private servers with links to their sign up pages which may have specific instructions on how to join their server.

I highly advise installing WoW-FE (Front End) which can be found at www.wowstatus.net as it works in conjunction with the site. It allows you to add a server you have found to your favourites list, store it and load up your list later, click play and it will start the game and connect to the chosen server once logged on.

Date of torrent information: 29/11/06 14:40 GMT +0

Hope this has helped some of you.

[zragon]

what version is that client?

eu or us?

thx

[donny_v1]

you can just download wow from fileplanet.... the trial version is actually full version. just trial account u create,.

[xTHExDUDEx]

True but there is a small differance, a couple of files are modified (I think) to allow for private server play, don't quote me on this, I'm not that sure as I'm pretty new to WoW myself.
Have a look at the torrents to find out which version it is...

[MastaSlaya]

You dont need anything modified to play on WoW Servers, just the correct patch and a simple change of the realmlist file.

[xTHExDUDEx]

Cool, well, if the official servers are slow, use the torrents.

Hi,
I usually play maple, but I'm thinking of playing WoW now. By free you mean no monthly pay right? What's the downside to this? I checked the servers and there were only, at most, 90 users online. Is the lack of users to interact with the downside?
Thanks.

Hi,
I usually play maple, but I'm thinking of playing WoW now. By free you mean no monthly pay right? What's the downside to this? I checked the servers and there were only, at most, 90 users online. Is the lack of users to interact with the downside?
Thanks.

[donny_v1]

wat the? u double posted and it says posts : n/a.... glitche??

[stgermaine]

The downside is that the private servers are buggy, not even half of the stuff works, the GM's can be power-happy jerks, the servers go down a lot, and yeah, you dont get the player-player interaction stuff. I found a couple of good ones I play, but you have to stay away from the crappy ones.