Found a WotLK private server to play on and need to download the client to get started? Look no further! Here we have a guide to not only downloading but also configuring it to connect to your private server.
Remember, don’t use the launcher to start the game, make sure you use Wow.exe inside the World of Warcraft folder otherwise it can start updating the game and making you start all over.
Update: Due to multiple reports of people having issue with the original client install, here are some additional download options.
Windows 3.3.5 Torrent Magent
Mac 3.3.5 Torrent Magnet
1) Get the WotLK Client (6.35GB) — Download
You can find the original client full download on FilePlanet, a much safer alternative than using a torrent which could have been modified in some way. The client comes in a zip file, you can use a built in zip extractor or a third party program such as 7zip.
2) Install the game
Remember where you installed the game as we’ll be going there later. When the installation finishes it will begin to try and install newer patches of the game, make sure to cancel this immediately to avoid any issues. Additionally, you should delete the desktop icon that was created as it will run the launcher instead of Wow.exe as noted above.
3) Update your realmlist.wtf file
Browse to the folder where you installed the game, from there go into Data and then there should be a subfolder based upon your language such as enUS or enGB. For example in my case it’s: D:\Games\WoW 3.3.5\Data\enUS. Delete everything and add the realmlist information for the private server you’re wanting to play on.
This can be generally found on their website, additionally, we also list all realmlist data for the servers listed here at DKPminus. For example if you check our Warmane private server entry you’ll see that your realmlist.wtf file should be empty except for: set realmlist logon.warmane.com
4) Update the client to 3.3.5a — Patch List & Downloads
Now that you have the game installed and the client setup properly you need to update the client to the version that almost all private servers use. To update to 3.3.5a you will need to start with this page that lists all the patches that were made during WotLK and provides mirrors for you to download them. As a note, patches must be applied in order from lowest version to highest.
- 3.x.x → 3.2.0
- 3.2.0 → 3.2.0a
- 3.2.0a → 3.2.2
- 3.2.2 → 3.2.2a
- 3.2.2a → 3.3.0
- 3.3.0 → 3.3.0a
- 3.3.0a → 3.3.2
- 3.3.2 → 3.3.3
- 3.3.3 → 3.3.3a
- 3.3.3a → 3.3.5
- 3.3.5 → 3.3.5a
5) All done! Fire it up (with Wow.exe) and get playing!
Assuming you’ve already registered an account at the server of your choice, you should be all set to launch the game and get going.
Originally published at www.dkpminus.com on October 15, 2016.
