There isn't one. The updater is the only method.
The updater downloaded so much quicker because it's tiny. All it is, is a program that downloads the game. You aren't just downloading updates right now - you're getting the entire game.
Just let it run. It tends to speed upover time.
@Roderick
First, there isn't any direct downloads.
Second, the updater will remember where it left off so don't be afraid stopping the updater. You could stop the updater and restart it. It may end up connecting to a different download server.
Third, you could try modifying the shortcut to the updater (cohupdater) to force it to use a different port. Edit the Target line and add to the end -port 13094 (space before the -) as described here. The default port is 6994 which happens to be in the usual default range of ports for Bittorrent clients so there is a chance that a router located between you and the download servers may have throttled the download.
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Quote:
Thanks for that.|
Originally Posted by Father Xmas
First, there isn't any direct downloads.
Second, the updater will remember where it left off so don't be afraid stopping the updater. You could stop the updater and restart it. It may end up connecting to a different download server. Third, you could try modifying the shortcut to the updater (cohupdater) to force it to use a different port. Edit the Target line and add to the end -port 13094 (space before the -) as described here. The default port is 6994 which happens to be in the usual default range of ports for Bittorrent clients so there is a chance that a router located between you and the download servers may have throttled the download. |
Ok adding the port brought the time down to 9 hours @ 83.1K/sec initially and now it is up to 6 hours @ 124K/sec.
This is ridiculous they should provide a direct link to download these as it would be so much quicker and GetRight does what the updater does anyway so it picks up where it last left off.
They advise in the forum to copy your directory if you are going to restore from one PC to another so that tells me that the files should be generic enough to allow a straight download.
They already have a download site http://download.cityofheroes.com so I cant see why they dont just put a zip file with the update files in there or split it over a number of zip files to make this process easier and quicker.
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I don't see how that would make it faster. GetRight I'm guessing is a download manager... most places I know of like to ban those from connecting because their methods tend to mess up their bandwidth.|
Originally Posted by Rougue Heroe
Thanks for that.
Ok adding the port brought the time down to 9 hours @ 83.1K/sec initially and now it is up to 6 hours @ 124K/sec. This is ridiculous they should provide a direct link to download these as it would be so much quicker and GetRight does what the updater does anyway so it picks up where it last left off. They advise in the forum to copy your directory if you are going to restore from one PC to another so that tells me that the files should be generic enough to allow a straight download. They already have a download site http://download.cityofheroes.com so I cant see why they dont just put a zip file with the update files in there or split it over a number of zip files to make this process easier and quicker. |
The patcher does several functions, including pre-downloads for the major content updates.
The patcher, for you right now, isn't downloading a patch, it's downloading the whole game (direct copy of the most current patched client). There system isn't like EQ (or WoW? Don't know, tried it once and didn't buy it) where it download the client, installs it, then requires you to download all the patches in sequence. And the files, IIRC, are already compressed, so zips wouldn't do much if anything.
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Yes GetRight is the most popular download manager supported by most ISP's I know of in Australia where I hail from.|
Originally Posted by Rajani Isa
I don't see how that would make it faster. GetRight I'm guessing is a download manager... most places I know of like to ban those from connecting because their methods tend to mess up their bandwidth.
The patcher does several functions, including pre-downloads for the major content updates. The patcher, for you right now, isn't downloading a patch, it's downloading the whole game (direct copy of the most current patched client). There system isn't like EQ (or WoW? Don't know, tried it once and didn't buy it) where it download the client, installs it, then requires you to download all the patches in sequence. And the files, IIRC, are already compressed, so zips wouldn't do much if anything. |
I would love it if it were downloading the entire game in one hit but it isnt I am watching it right now and it is downloading multiple copies of the same file "pigg/sound2.pig" for example and rather than just copying the latest version into the directory it appears to be "fixing" the file as it calls it over and over again. It appears to be applying multiple delta patches rather than doing direct replacements of files. It would be far quicker if they just copied the file directly over the top of the existing ones.
I have purchased many games online before and this is the first one I have had to wait at least 6 hours for it to fully download. Most games companies offer a HTTP or FTP download site to obtain the game. The HTTP link is usually 3 to 4 times faster to download than the FTP site but it is still nice to have an alternative option.
They are already providing a HTTP link for the game client / updater which downloaded for me way faster than the 120K/sec so they just have to add the additional files required for the updates to this link. It would be way faster than using this updater of theirs.
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If this is happening, then something is wrong. It should just be downloading the newest version.|
Originally Posted by Rougue Heroe
... it is downloading multiple copies of the same file "pigg/sound2.pig" for example and rather than just copying the latest version into the directory it appears to be "fixing" the file as it calls it over and over again. It appears to be applying multiple delta patches rather than doing direct replacements of files.
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Try this. Stop the download, close the updater and look in the CoH folder. Delete the Coh.checksum file, and then start the updater again. It should then take some time to verify the files it has already downloaded before starting in on the ones it hasn't downloaded.
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This.|
Originally Posted by StarGeek
If this is happening, then something is wrong. It should just be downloading the newest version.
Try this. Stop the download, close the updater and look in the CoH folder. Delete the Coh.checksum file, and then start the updater again. It should then take some time to verify the files it has already downloaded before starting in on the ones it hasn't downloaded. |
In normal operation, if the file doesn't it exist (such as with an install), it would download the new/current one.
If you know someone with an install of the game, search for the tags "Test Server" and "Install" and the guide should show up for doing it the quick way.
Also good to do if you want to use the test server
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Quote:
Ok did this, it went through the checksumming process and started to download at 15K/sec saying it will now take 32 hours to download.|
Originally Posted by StarGeek
If this is happening, then something is wrong. It should just be downloading the newest version.
Try this. Stop the download, close the updater and look in the CoH folder. Delete the Coh.checksum file, and then start the updater again. It should then take some time to verify the files it has already downloaded before starting in on the ones it hasn't downloaded. |
Is this perhaps some sort of incompatibility with the Windows7 operating system I am running?
Whoa it just changed to "piggs/Soundv2.pigg" and went to 3 hours @ 170K / sec :-)
Ok it just changed to "piggs/soundVMusic.pigg" and went to 2 hours @ 204K / sec, so it might just be the download servers are busy right now. That can only be a good thing as it shows the game is popular. :-)
Hey Rougue, welcome to COH.
Unrelated to your specific problem (yes, the updater can be a pain sometimes, but once it's downloaded the entire client once, all future updates will be a breeze), if you have Windows 7 make sure to either run the game always as Administrator, or to disable User Account Control. COH writes a lot of files to its own folder, and if you install the game in C:\Program Files, Windows Vista/7 complain every time it tries to write in there because it's a "protected folder". If you install it elsewhere, say C:\Games\City of Heroes, it will complain a lot less.
If you don't want to disable UAC, and you already started installing it in the default folder under C:\Program Files, you can move the game by doing a little bit of registry editing; the installation directory is stored in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Cryptic\Coh under the key "Installation Directory". Move the files to a place that's not "protected" by UAC and change that key to point there, and it will save you future headache.
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Yes, for knowledgeable users, it would be. However, the updater is basically a 'one size fits all' solution. It might be a bit frustrating for you, but keep in mind you only have to download the entire game ONCE. On the other hand, the updater takes care of all details and provides a 'hands off' solution for anyone who is clueless about computers. Trust me - we've seen posts in the tech section from people who don't even know how to find out how much RAM their system has. The updater program provides a viable solution for everyone.
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Originally Posted by Rougue Heroe
They are already providing a HTTP link for the game client / updater which downloaded for me way faster than the 120K/sec so they just have to add the additional files required for the updates to this link. It would be way faster than using this updater of theirs.
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Quote:
That really gets your goat, doesn't it?
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Originally Posted by Ironblade
Trust me - we've seen posts in the tech section from people who don't even know how to find out how much RAM their system has.
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"Yeah, yeah, patience! How long will that take?!?"
Seriously, let it do it's thing, as long as it takes.
This game is a metric tonne of fun, and has a great community to boot.
As this game evolves, it has gotten more customizable, larger, crazier, and with a huge variety of challenges and activities.
If you have any questions or concerns, there is the help channel.
Type /hc Where can I get a jetpack? for example.
www.paragonwiki.com is a great source of information for this game.
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Yeah, that's the most not-obvious thing right now. the normal methods for typing in help are broked, so you need to type /hc to get into the Help Channel.
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Originally Posted by Xalaqia
"You must learn patience, Ed Gruberman."
"Yeah, yeah, patience! How long will that take?!?" Seriously, let it do it's thing, as long as it takes. This game is a metric tonne of fun, and has a great community to boot. As this game evolves, it has gotten more customizable, larger, crazier, and with a huge variety of challenges and activities. If you have any questions or concerns, there is the help channel. Type /hc Where can I get a jetpack? for example. |
Orc&Pie No.53230 There is an orc, and somehow, he got a pie. And you are hungry.
www.repeat-offenders.net
Negaduck: I see you found the crumb. I knew you'd never notice the huge flag.
Sooooooo....what is with your forum handle, OP?
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I just purchased the game online and a 3 month subscription.
I downloaded the Windows client via the direct link in under a minute.
I ran it and it now says it will take 12 hours to download 2.7G worth of updates @ 67.9K per sec via the internal product updater.
I can normally download 1G in an hour so this should take a bit over 2 hours.
I have left a question for tech support.
Can someone please point me to a direct link to download these updates?