- Joined
- Feb 23, 2014
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Greetings,
After Warcraft III: Reforged launched, some people like myself either updated to the latest version by mistake or regretted doing so afterwards. Since Blizzard removed patch installers from Battle.Net, the option to go back to an older version was effectively lost. The purpose of this thread is to help with this problem. Below you will find a backed up version of the 1.31.1 installation. This will allow you to revert to the last patch before Reforged, but know that this is a purely singleplayer version.
1. Recommended:
Game client - one file (1.89 GB): Link (MediaFire)
2. Alternative links:
Game client - older upload (1.94 GB): Link (MEGA) or Link (Hive)
Game client - split into 250 MB parts:
Part #1 - Link. Part #2 - Link. Part #3 - Link. Part #4 - Link.
Part #5 - Link. Part #6 - Link. Part #7 - Link. Part #8 - Link.
a) Language Fix: Link (Google Drive)
- this .reg file will fix the problem with the game using your OS language, it might also resolve stuttering problems.
b) Cleaned up files: Link (Google Drive)
- these files were removed from the older download, you most likely won't need them.
1. While it is possible to have multiple versions of Warcraft III installed at the same time, you might run into some issues due to incompatible registry keys. As such, if you use (or used) another Warcraft III version, it's advised that you check the registry first by following these 3 simple steps:
If you'd prefer to delete specific keys instead, @BogdanW3 explained which ones are problematic:
Be advised that if you're planning to have multiple versions of Warcraft III installed at the same time, you might need to repeat the step above quite often when switching between versions, especially if you're using the World Editor. For example, if you play Reforged and then want to launch 1.31, but you're encountering problems, you'll need to "purge" the registry. Same when going from 1.31. to Reforged or any other version.
That said, if you're just using 1.31 and 1.32 and you'd like to keep your preferences, it might also be enough to simply delete this key:
2. Download the client from the links above, unzip it using any compression software you want (e.g. WinRar or 7zip). You will see a "Warcraft III" folder. It doesn't really matter where you put it, as long as it's not the same directory as another Warcraft III installation. If you downloaded the version split into parts - make sure you have all parts in the same directory, right click on the first one and choose your desired unpacking option from the context menu.
3. ALWAYS RUN THE GAME AND THE EDITOR USING THESE FILES (AND NOT "LAUNCHERS"):
The first time you launch the game, you should see a window asking to either enter your CD-KEY or login to Battle.Net. Choose the first option, enter your CD-KEY and confirm. The game should launch. Afterwards you should be able to launch the game without having to input the CD-KEY.
Congratulations! You now have a working 1.31.1 version of Warcraft 3! Enjoy playing and remember that this is a standalone installation - you don't need to and, in fact, shouldn't apply any patches to it as they will most likely cause the game to update to Reforged or not work at all.
Beyond that - have fun and if you encounter any other problems, be sure to check for potential solutions below.
1. Removing old (potentially incompatible) save data:
2. Language Fix:
3. Cleaning up or restoring the older upload:
4. Preventing the game from being updated to 1.32+:
- The first time you launch the Battle.Net app after setting up W3, immidiately switch to W3 and check if it hasn't started updating. If it has, instantly pause it using the button to the right of the progress bar. Just to be safe, regardless whether you paused the update or not, go to Settings -> Game Install/Update -> select "Never automatically apply updates" to disable automatic updates.
1. I get errors while trying to unpack the archive:
2. The CD-KEY window doesn't appear or appears completely black:
3. Graphics or performance issues (e.g. stuttering):
4. Maps/campaigns aren't visible in game:
5. World Editor is crashing/not working:
6. Test map is crashing:
7. Freeze / black screen when exiting the score screen:
Using the method described above allowed me to restore the original 1.31.1 Classic client, but since it's not an official installer, I cannot guarantee that it will work for you too. Also, I've only done this on a 64-bit Windows 10 system. No idea if or how it would work on other Windows versions.
If you're going to use this - I hope it works just as fine for you as it did for me. Good luck
After Warcraft III: Reforged launched, some people like myself either updated to the latest version by mistake or regretted doing so afterwards. Since Blizzard removed patch installers from Battle.Net, the option to go back to an older version was effectively lost. The purpose of this thread is to help with this problem. Below you will find a backed up version of the 1.31.1 installation. This will allow you to revert to the last patch before Reforged, but know that this is a purely singleplayer version.
THIS IS NOT A FREE OR PIRATE VERSION OF WARCRAFT III.
YOU NEED A VALID, LEGAL CD-KEY TO RUN THIS.
DO NOT DOWNLOAD OR USE THESE FILES IF YOU DON'T HAVE ONE.
Due to the above, I will not be offering any assistance in circumventing proper activation and any tips or questions about this will be immidiately reported to site moderation. If Blizzard Entertainment or Hive Workshop staff takes issue with this thread, please contact me and I'll remove all download links without delay.YOU NEED A VALID, LEGAL CD-KEY TO RUN THIS.
DO NOT DOWNLOAD OR USE THESE FILES IF YOU DON'T HAVE ONE.
WARNING!
This version has a couple of significant bugs, one of which is particularly annoying - after playing a map, the game may freeze when trying to exit the score screen. Based on various reports (thanks @Ravager16829, @Daffa, @OutsiderXE) and personal testing, this seems connected to the map containing a lot of leaks, but it doesn't appear to impede the ability to play or progress through custom campaigns.
That said, as there is no known solution to this issue other than force-exiting the game (or editing maps to remove leaks, which can be cumbersome and requires some map editing knowledge, which not everyone has), I'd generally recommend using another version such as 1.30.4 or 1.29.2 (LINK) and reserving 1.31.1 only for playing maps or campaigns that were made specifically for it.
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GAME CLIENT DOWNLOAD
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This version has a couple of significant bugs, one of which is particularly annoying - after playing a map, the game may freeze when trying to exit the score screen. Based on various reports (thanks @Ravager16829, @Daffa, @OutsiderXE) and personal testing, this seems connected to the map containing a lot of leaks, but it doesn't appear to impede the ability to play or progress through custom campaigns.
That said, as there is no known solution to this issue other than force-exiting the game (or editing maps to remove leaks, which can be cumbersome and requires some map editing knowledge, which not everyone has), I'd generally recommend using another version such as 1.30.4 or 1.29.2 (LINK) and reserving 1.31.1 only for playing maps or campaigns that were made specifically for it.
--- --- ---
GAME CLIENT DOWNLOAD
--- --- ---
1. Recommended:
Game client - one file (1.89 GB): Link (MediaFire)
2. Alternative links:
Game client - older upload (1.94 GB): Link (MEGA) or Link (Hive)
Game client - split into 250 MB parts:
Part #1 - Link. Part #2 - Link. Part #3 - Link. Part #4 - Link.
Part #5 - Link. Part #6 - Link. Part #7 - Link. Part #8 - Link.
--- --- ---
ADDITIONAL FILES
--- --- ---
ADDITIONAL FILES
--- --- ---
a) Language Fix: Link (Google Drive)
- this .reg file will fix the problem with the game using your OS language, it might also resolve stuttering problems.
b) Cleaned up files: Link (Google Drive)
- these files were removed from the older download, you most likely won't need them.
--- --- ---
HOW TO INSTALL
--- --- ---
HOW TO INSTALL
--- --- ---
1. While it is possible to have multiple versions of Warcraft III installed at the same time, you might run into some issues due to incompatible registry keys. As such, if you use (or used) another Warcraft III version, it's advised that you check the registry first by following these 3 simple steps:
- Press Windows Key + R, type in "regedit" (without quotes) and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
- In the Registry Editor, nagivate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Blizzard Entertainment.
- Look for folders: "Classic Launcher", "Warcraft III" and "WorldEdit".
If you'd prefer to delete specific keys instead, @BogdanW3 explained which ones are problematic:
Be advised that if you're planning to have multiple versions of Warcraft III installed at the same time, you might need to repeat the step above quite often when switching between versions, especially if you're using the World Editor. For example, if you play Reforged and then want to launch 1.31, but you're encountering problems, you'll need to "purge" the registry. Same when going from 1.31. to Reforged or any other version.
That said, if you're just using 1.31 and 1.32 and you'd like to keep your preferences, it might also be enough to simply delete this key:
2. Download the client from the links above, unzip it using any compression software you want (e.g. WinRar or 7zip). You will see a "Warcraft III" folder. It doesn't really matter where you put it, as long as it's not the same directory as another Warcraft III installation. If you downloaded the version split into parts - make sure you have all parts in the same directory, right click on the first one and choose your desired unpacking option from the context menu.
3. ALWAYS RUN THE GAME AND THE EDITOR USING THESE FILES (AND NOT "LAUNCHERS"):
The first time you launch the game, you should see a window asking to either enter your CD-KEY or login to Battle.Net. Choose the first option, enter your CD-KEY and confirm. The game should launch. Afterwards you should be able to launch the game without having to input the CD-KEY.
Congratulations! You now have a working 1.31.1 version of Warcraft 3! Enjoy playing and remember that this is a standalone installation - you don't need to and, in fact, shouldn't apply any patches to it as they will most likely cause the game to update to Reforged or not work at all.
Beyond that - have fun and if you encounter any other problems, be sure to check for potential solutions below.
--- ---- ---
OPTIONAL INSTALLATION STEPS
--- --- ---
OPTIONAL INSTALLATION STEPS
--- --- ---
1. Removing old (potentially incompatible) save data:
- This is probably not necessary, though I still did it when first instaling 1.31.1.
- So, if you want to be extra sure that no leftover data interferes with your Classic installation, you can delete these folders:
- Just be sure to back up any saves or maps.
2. Language Fix:
- The game might launch using the language of your operating system. It worked fine for me, though other users reported stuttering.
- The reason why the language changes is due to to missing registry files. To solve that issue, download the Language Fix registry file from the link above and run it. It will ask you for confirmation. Click yes. This will automatically add the registry files and set the language of your game to English.
- If you'd prefer to manually add the missing registry keys instead, refer to this post for the directory and types / values of keys - link.
3. Cleaning up or restoring the older upload:
- This is only meant for people who either downloaded the older version (i.e. one that weights 1.94 GB) and would like to reduce their installation size or used the newer version (i.e. one that weights 1.89 GB) and found some issues that didn't happen in the older version.
- To restore the older version, download the cleaned up files from the link above, unpack the archive and copy the files to your Warcraft III directory.
- To clean the older version, delete all folders in your Warcraft III directory except "Data", "x86" and "x86_64" and all files except ".build.info", ".patch.result" and ".product". Your folder should look like this:
4. Preventing the game from being updated to 1.32+:
- The first time you launch the Battle.Net app after setting up W3, immidiately switch to W3 and check if it hasn't started updating. If it has, instantly pause it using the button to the right of the progress bar. Just to be safe, regardless whether you paused the update or not, go to Settings -> Game Install/Update -> select "Never automatically apply updates" to disable automatic updates.
--- --- ---
POTENTIAL FIXES TO PROBLEMS
--- --- ---
POTENTIAL FIXES TO PROBLEMS
--- --- ---
1. I get errors while trying to unpack the archive:
- If you trying unpacking directly to Program Files (x86), Windows might block the program from doing so.
- Unpack the archive in another directory (e.g. where it was saved when you downloaded it) and then move the Warcraft III folder to Program Files (x86) directory manually.
- I used 7zip to create this archives, if you experience any further issues, you might try using it for decompression as well.
2. The CD-KEY window doesn't appear or appears completely black:
- Try clicking a couple times in the inner left part of the window.
- Close the window and run Warcraft III.exe (in the x86_x64 folder) as admin.
- Uninstall other versions of Warcraft III and remove all Warcraft 3 and/or Blizzard registry entries.
- Rename the installation folder to something else.
- Try launching the game through the Warcraft III Launcher.exe file (in the Warcraft III folder) as admin. You will need to restore the older version (see above) to try this.
3. Graphics or performance issues (e.g. stuttering):
- Add -graphicsapi Direct3D9 at the end of the shortcut target, as explained by @loktar - link.
- Try downloading and applying the Language Fix file listed above. Be mindful that this will change your game language to English.
- You might also want to to check out this post by @grimgrents - link.
4. Maps/campaigns aren't visible in game:
- If maps or campaigns that you are using were saved in 1.32 (Reforged), they won't work.
- Make sure that your maps and campaigns are located in appropriate folders. If the folders don't exist, create them yourself, watching out for potential typos.
Folder paths and names are as follows - these are case sensitive, i.e. the folders must be named exactly as below, including which letters are big/small:
- Make sure that your maps and campaigns are located in appropriate folders. If the folders don't exist, create them yourself, watching out for potential typos.
Folder paths and names are as follows - these are case sensitive, i.e. the folders must be named exactly as below, including which letters are big/small:
- If you still cannot see a map or a campaign in game and neither of the above doesn't help, there's sadly no known solutions to that problem. Feel free to either post the map file in the thread or send it to me directly via a PM. I'm not promising that I will find a solution, but I can at least try.
5. World Editor is crashing/not working:
- Press Windows Key + R, type in "regedit" (without quotes) and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
- If you're using both 1.31 and 1.32, this issue might reoccur and can require repeating these steps.
- In the Registry Editor, nagivate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Blizzard Entertainment.
- Delete the "WorldEdit" folder.
- If you're using both 1.31 and 1.32, this issue might reoccur and can require repeating these steps.
6. Test map is crashing:
- Work around to this issue is explained in this post by @grimgrents - link.
7. Freeze / black screen when exiting the score screen:
This is most likely caused by the map containing a lot of leaks. Sadly, there's no known solution to that problem other than opening maps and fixing memory leaks, so I'd generally recommend using another version (e.g. 1.30.4 or 1.29.2 - LINK) if possible.
If you're forced to use 1.31.1, because the map requires it, your options are:
a) Force-exit the game (what worked best for me was quickly clicking inside the game window once it freezes so Windows displays the "the application is not responding pop-up, giving you an option to close the game, but you can also try using the Task Manager [CTRL+ALT+DELETE] to terminate the process, logging out of your Windows account or even restarting the PC). If you're worried about losing campaign progress - it shouldn't happen.
b) Ask the map maker to fix their map / campaign or you can attempt to do this yourself, given you have pretty basic modding knowledge - read this thread to find out more about leaks (LINK) then edit map(s) to remove them, looking especially for triggers with periodic (i.e. every x.x seconds) events.
If you're forced to use 1.31.1, because the map requires it, your options are:
a) Force-exit the game (what worked best for me was quickly clicking inside the game window once it freezes so Windows displays the "the application is not responding pop-up, giving you an option to close the game, but you can also try using the Task Manager [CTRL+ALT+DELETE] to terminate the process, logging out of your Windows account or even restarting the PC). If you're worried about losing campaign progress - it shouldn't happen.
b) Ask the map maker to fix their map / campaign or you can attempt to do this yourself, given you have pretty basic modding knowledge - read this thread to find out more about leaks (LINK) then edit map(s) to remove them, looking especially for triggers with periodic (i.e. every x.x seconds) events.
--- --- ---
DISCLAIMER
--- --- ---
DISCLAIMER
--- --- ---
Using the method described above allowed me to restore the original 1.31.1 Classic client, but since it's not an official installer, I cannot guarantee that it will work for you too. Also, I've only done this on a 64-bit Windows 10 system. No idea if or how it would work on other Windows versions.
If you're going to use this - I hope it works just as fine for you as it did for me. Good luck
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