Patching Tip, or Don't Be an Idiot Like Me

[Talamarr]

Run WoW like normal people, don't launch it from keyclone. Out of habit I fired up keyclone to start WoW and begin patching and now I'm getting all sorts of errors. Even screwed up my symlink. I have no idea if the two are related but it makes more sense to run it from your base install.

UGH!

Anyone else getting:

The file "\base\signaturefile" could not be opened. If this problem persists, you may be able to solve it by uninstalling and then reinstalling the game. If you are unable to correct this problem, please contact Blizzard Technical Support. (InstallerFile::Open)
To check this installation for problems, click the "Repair" button. The Repair tool can automatically fix many update errors.

I ran the repair tool but still getting this error.

[UPDATE] Quick search seems to suggest running Updater as administrator will fix the issue. Doing that now.

[Hairball]

I would suggest never using a 3rd party application to launch WoW (save for maybe a batch file you wrote yourself).

[daviddoran]

Also another reminder to backup your wow folder before patching, just in case. I lost a lot of my macaroon bars when the last patch came out... Had to redo a lot of work.

[Tehtsuo]

I was using symlinks as well. Same error. It removed all the symlinks on my computer as well. Trying running the Updater with admin rights now to see if it works. I'll post with my results.


:edit: Same problem. Looks like I get to do a complete reinstall. Phwaw.

[aboron]

I keep a symlink to Public\Games on my slow hard drive that point to my ram ssd with all the working copies on it - which, of course, failed to update due to the symlinks. But since the ram drive could lose everything at any time I kept a plain unaltered "Games.real" directory on the slow drive with no symlinking in it for quick reloads. So one point to Acard for inadvertently saving my butt from a complete reinstall.

[Talamarr]

After another failure and more research, here's something to try if you get this error: Go to [WoW Directory]\Data\ and delete Patch.mpq (ok, don't delete it but rename it just in case). Then run the repair.exe utility in the wow root folder. It will tell WoW has a critical error and needs to be repaired. Let the repair run (it may take a little while).

Then try running the game again and let it patch.

That's what I'm trying now and will see how that goes.

[Sajuuk]

I had to redo my symlinks as well.

[Talamarr]

After another failure and more research, here's something to try if you get this error: Go to [WoW Directory]\Data\ and delete Patch.mpq (ok, don't delete it but rename it just in case). Then run the repair.exe utility in the wow root folder. It will tell WoW has a critical error and needs to be repaired. Let the repair run (it may take a little while).

Then try running the game again and let it patch.

That's what I'm trying now and will see how that goes.

This worked for me! WOOT!

If you get that error, give this solution a try before trying to reinstall.

Happy 3.1'ing everyone.

[robgfl23]

always patch just your main copy of wow through the loader. then copy the new loader.exe and wow.exe to your symlinked wow's and everything will go smoothly.

[jvriffel]

Simple enough, after trial and error with each patch I have discovered that it is really easy. Only patch your main folder of WoW. Then copy all folders/files except those that are simlinked into the other installs of WoW. Once this is done you can launch all copies of WoW as usual and only have to patch one copy of WoW. Anytime you launch one of your simlinked installs you are going to have troubles without doing it this way or a reinstall. Just be sure and backup your Interface and WTF folders on a regular basis and always before a patch.