Trouble installing ETW? Please read!

**MD2020** · 03-04-2009, 21:17

Seriously, how long did it take you all to d/l the update to play? And what update is it that we are fored to download before playing, is it what actually activates it?

**Subotan** · 03-04-2009, 21:18

Originally Posted by MD2020

Seriously, how long did it take you all to d/l the update to play? And what update is it that we are fored to download before playing, is it what actually activates it?

Mine's been going a couple of hours, and it's on 20%

**MD2020** · 03-04-2009, 21:36

wow, what a let down. I took the day off today planning to rush over to best buy and purchase it, install and play it. I had it all planned out, the kids are gone today, the wife is at work...it was supposed to be perfect. Instead I've wasted my day off and haven't even got to so much as click play. Oh well, I've waited many months for this to come out, I guess I can wait another day.

**Subotan** · 03-04-2009, 21:39

HINT: Don't pause it, whatever you do! It sends the update back to the beginning!
CURSE YOU STEAM
CURSE YOU

**MD2020** · 03-04-2009, 21:46

Lmao been there, done that

I was at 11% but thanks to my temper I'm now back at 3%.

**TomPaine** · 03-04-2009, 21:50

Hi Guys -- Just an update on my CD key woes. I just returned it to Gamestop, and traded it in for a copy that did, in fact, have a CD-key; in my new copy, it's pasted onto the inside back cover of the jewelcase. My new copy also has a flyer advertising an alienware/empire:total war pc, which my previous copy didn't have.

So, long story short, one of two options: either this is a case of petty Gamestop fraud, where they stripped the CD key for their own pleasure (certainly possible), or not all US versions have all the pieces in the box they're supposed to have. Hope it's the former!

**Quickening** · 03-04-2009, 22:44

I got my copy of Empire: Total War Special Forces Edition today and can't even get it installed. When it asks me to insert disk 2 I do but everything just freezes. If I put the disk in without starting the installation my PC also freezes then. I have the exact same problem with Medieval 2 Kingdoms but these are the only games I have this problem with. My PC is in perfect working order and more than capable of running this game.

UPDATE: Borrowed disk 2 from a friend of mine who also got it today and it does the same thing to. My friend also had the same problem and eventually got it to work but it just isn't happening for me. Not happy.

**peacemaker** · 03-05-2009, 01:35

gah. I was installing it, I think it was around 10ish percent, then it just said "download starting". Then, I figured it was nothing, I tried to launch ETW and then the "update" restarted

**Yun Dog** · 03-05-2009, 02:05

Just some information for those who have installed the box version of the game.

Once it installs steam will download the patch

mine sat on download starting and 0% for a couple of hours

then it magically said 100% and actually did download the patch which only took 10mins

then the game started

in that two hours I had done due dillegence and open ports on my router, checked that my firewall/norton wasnt interferring (actually I turned it off - Viruses bah!! you can trust the internets)

It appears to me that either my timezone was awaiting its turn to be allowed to launch the game and then when they opened the port it all happened pretty quick, alternately it had been downloading in the background all that time but giving me bogus 0% messages. I favour the first suggestion.

Also if you bought special forces, dont use the key on the special forces flyer to activate the game use the key on the back of the game manual.

There was a wait but it was worth it

**Yun Dog** · 03-05-2009, 04:11

Ok I seem to have shot myself in the foot by putting the activation code from the manual and not the sf flyer

when/how do I activate the special forces component

do I need to re-activate the game with the SF code?

do I need to start again? reinstall etc this time using the sf code rather than the vanilla one??

**pevergreen** · 03-05-2009, 04:13

Ok, you install the game, then under the My Games tab, click Activate a Steam product or whatever it is. go through that and put the SF code in, it will download like 10kb, and then done.