EA Downloader, WTF only 6 months to redownload game unless you pay more money?!?!

[tomfin]

Reinstalling NS from a backup - no dice.

Hey all,

Seem to have Nate Mendels on the NS-reinstallation-from-backup.

Running my backup of the bf2142_bp1.exe installer appears to install NS, but when I come to join an NS Server, I'm kicked off (after loading the map, but before joining the game) and get this error dialog:

"This server only allows players with unmodified content to join. Revert your version of Battlefield 2142 to the current official version to join. [OK]"

In fact, here it is...

I'm going to try reapplying the 1.40 patch, as 1.40 is aware of NS maps and might just tidy things up correctly. If it fails I'll go bother EA support again... and again... and again...

Will post back with results, perhaps it will save some grief when others come to reinstall their backups and discover they have a drinks coaster CD-R instead of a carefully preserved NS installer.

-----

Confirmed this - if you have taken a backup of your "bf2142_bp1.exe" installer (about 160mb, found in the EADM cache folder) you can reinstall Northern Strike without the Extended Download Service, or even installing the EA Download Manager.

After installing BF2142, install Northern Strike with the "bf2142_bp1.exe" backup you've made. Then apply the BF2142 v1.40 patch, and you're in business. NS is linked (should be linked?) via your EA account that you log in to play with, and everything NS should now be accessible after login.

I'd stick both bf2142_bp1.exe and the v1.40 patch onto a CD, they're conveniently sized at about 530mb for the pair if I remember correctly.

No confirmation on anything else you buy from EADM, so stick to retail copies if you know what's good for you. Boxed copies are the same price or cheaper, anyway (if you look around).

Enjoy!


P.S. EA Support, if this goes in the knowledgebase, credit to this forum please... :P

[Vreki]

I'm not sure if you did this the first time around, but you always need to apply the latest past after installing NS, even if you were up-to-date before.

[tomfin]

You're right - I didn't update to 1.40 after installing NS the first time, but I missed the error because I went straight for the unlocks without trying any of the NS maps. Patch fixes all, cheers Vrecki :)

The post made at the EA.com forum made by MikeyC has now been locked - unbelievably, the last word on the subject (from some random) is "I don't see what the problem is here... you completely take your chances with digital downloads".

Gentlemen; as things stand now, if you ever bought anything through EADM I strongly suggest you make that your last purchase.

And Looqas, I enjoyed reading your post. This is real Dilbert-Zone stuff.

[GrossKopf]

If this ever happened to me, the first two places I'd be contacting is the Division of Consumer Affairs for whatever state EA's corporate HQ is in, and then the Better Business Buro. I bought the game. An exception like this is something that should be blatenly advertised.

Of course, you could always try putting in a support ticket, asking for your money back. Just keep pushing until they say yes. They're actually more willing to refund money for stuff bought on EA Link then you might think.

When I couldn't get BF2142 to properly install on my old computer due to hardware restrictions, they refunded my money. When I demanded my money back for MOHA because it was such an incomplete piece of garbage and not what they advertised, they told me that if I bought it on EA Link, they could have refunded my money.

[Sam1990]

Well, I need some help on backing up the NS file. After I downloaded NS, I checked my C:\\Program Files\Electronic Arts\EADM\ and I have no such thing as a "cache" folder in there nor do I have a bf2142_bp1.exe or any other .exe file that's about 160mb.

I also looked in C:\\Program Files\Electronic Arts\BF2142\ but there's nothing in there either.

My EADM says the files are downloaded to C:\\Program Data\ but I have no such folder in the HDD.

Can anyone help me find where it is? By the way, I'm using Vista.

[iDash]

You have

(((((((((one day))))))))))))))))))


to create your disc if you have to default start date 9/17/2007 before services terminate!

I believe


Copy and paste in your search bar
%programdata%


Electronic arts
eadm
cache
{}-special code
files listed >>>

bf2armor
bf2ep1
bf2euroforce
bf2142_bp1
bf2142_na
BF2142_Update_1.40


Burn to disc

[hobiecatter]

You have

(((((((((one day))))))))))))))))))


to create your disc if you have to default start date 9/17/2007 before services terminate!

I believe


Copy and paste in your search bar
%programdata%


Electronic arts
eadm
cache
{}-special code
files listed >>>

bf2armor
bf2ep1
bf2euroforce
bf2142_bp1
bf2142_na
BF2142_Update_1.40


Burn to disc

This expiration is for downloading the game from EADM. You can burn a backup to a disc at any time. Just make sure you have it Downloaded by tomorrow!

[Unzen]

Why don't EA make a simple backup option like they do in Steam? I still can't get my head around the fact that they can recharge for something that you've already bought? That's just plain wrong.

[Basil.]

i will never buy from eadm again.