How to restore from backup?

[Eandur]

Hello!I'm interested in knowing the steps that I should follow when restoring a full backup of EQ2---everything inside C:Program FilesSony.What I'm currently doing is archiving that entire directory, perform a format and reinstall of Windows + drivers, reinstalling EQ2 (in the interest of---hopefully---getting Add & Remove Programs to work properly if I should need to), then simply extracting the archive back into its original location.Obviously, this is all being done to avoid a ton of unnecessary downloading.  But in my case, it often doesn't work out that way.I've got 2 different computers that my wife and I play EQ2 on, with one computer being the "master copy" that both computers will get a copy of when restoring.  However, when I do the restore, both *usually* want to start a 7-ish-hour download anyway, which defeats the purpose (and actually, I don't recall ever seeing either of them *not* want to do that).We would greatly appreciate hearing form anyone that's been successful in achieving such a system!

[willnotuse]

How often do you backup.  I would recommend at least once per week for the game directory.

[Galeden]

<p>It would be easiest to do if EQ2 is installed in the default directory, otherwise if you are restoring it after reinstalling windows or something you probably need to install first from the disks then copy over all files there with the backup, so the install process sets the install folder path.  Other then that it should work fine, with no need to patch (though it will take as long as a thorough scan does the first time, since it has to check all the files.  Also be sure that in your backup process you aren't changing the date or anything else for the files themselves.</p>

[Eandur]

Thank you for your responses!willnotuse:Currently, there's no scheduled backup.  It's done on as an "as needed" basis.  This is because I'm currently testing my methodology before I schedule anything (and partly due to lack of space).Galeden:That's just my point: it *hasn't* worked fine in the past---it still wants to download what seems to be a lot more stuff than it should.  Perhaps some of my files have been modified as you suggest.  I'll be careful about that.Should I perform a full file scan once the files are restored, then?I'm currently in the process of rebuilding one of my machines, so I can provide feedback as needed (although I need to have it put together for a raid tonight).

[asmiro]

hmmm... how are you "backing up" your EQ2 folder? to DVDs or CDs, or is it to an external or secondary hard drive in the system? if it is to DVDs/CDs, then that could be the problem. when you burn anything to those types of media, it sets the file's flag as read-only, and when you copy it back to the hard drive, it keeps that same flag, and EQ2 patcher wants read/write priviledges on those files to make its changes. this could be the problem you are having, i dont know.

[Tebos]

<cite>asmiro wrote:</cite><blockquote>hmmm... how are you "backing up" your EQ2 folder? to DVDs or CDs, or is it to an external or secondary hard drive in the system? if it is to DVDs/CDs, then that could be the problem. when you burn anything to those types of media, it sets the file's flag as read-only, and when you copy it back to the hard drive, it keeps that same flag, and EQ2 patcher wants read/write priviledges on those files to make its changes. this could be the problem you are having, i dont know.</blockquote><p>I concur with this as well! <img src="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/images/smilies/b2eb59423fbf5fa39342041237025880.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" /></p>

[Theramor-GoV]

Another thing to keep in mind.....EQ2 has no registry hooks or windows DLL's that are required to run the game.I run the game all the time from a secondary hard drive and I have to reinstall my OS for beta tests and such, sometimes more than twice a month.All I do is copy over the shortcut to my EQ2 executable to my Desktop or Quick Launch Bar and I'm good to go.This even works in Vista (tho I have to elevate for UAC of course).T