Project Lore

If you've attempted to log-in over the past few hours you've likely been stone-walled from entering the game. The culprit appears to be a small hotfix or patch intended to (ironically) update the install repair tools that either wasn't ready to go live yet or just featured plain old bad code. When it first released, people were receiving an error that said the server was "unable to validate game version." As it stands, that issue has been solved and the fix can now be downloaded properly, but it seems to be causing further issues for Windows Vista and Windows 7 users. Namely, that the patch fails to install. Some intrepid users figured out that running the game in Adminstration Mode fixed the issue, and this has been confirmed by Blizzard to work (for most people having the problem, if not all). If you aren't aware of how to make this change to the game files, here is a helpful Blue posts that can point you in the right direction:Hey all,

"The problem with the patch causing an Unable to Validate Game Version was resolved shortly after the patch was released. If you are having a problem downloading or applying the patch, here a number of things you can do: Wait. The download process may be a little slow as it is prime time and lots of people are logging on and downloading all at the same time. If the progress bar is moving, even if ever so slightly, then you are on your way to getting patched. - Keep in mind that there is a time out to the download. The Play button may appear before the download has finished. If you do this, you will still get an Unable to Validate Game Version, as the game hasn't actually patched yet. Vista/Windows 7 users should try running the game as an Administrator. - Right click the desktop shortcut and select Run as Admin If you are getting a Failed to Apply patch, try deleting the patch and download it again. The patch is named wow-patch.mpq and can be found in the root of the game folder or, for Windows Vista/7, in C:\Users\Public\Documents\Blizzard Entertainment\World of Warcraft. Then start the game again to download the a new copy of the patch."

They also recommend cycling your modem and/or router to clear the cache:

"If you're getting a Failed to Apply Patch, Windows Vista or Windows 7 may not be permitting WoW to patch itself. Right-click on the World of Warcraft shortcut, and "Run as Administrator". If you still can't connect, I would clear up any residual cache or connections, and power cycle the network: 1) Shut down your computer 2) Unplug the router and the modem 3) Wait for a minute, and then plug the modem back in, and let it fully power up until all of the lights are solid. 4) Plug in the router, and let it fully power up. 5) Boot up your computer, and try to log in. The DNS cache may need to be cleared too: http://us.blizzard.com/support/article/flushdns"

Even if it seemed fairly innocuous to do so at first, it was probably a bad idea to pump out a fix in the middle of prime time. Any time you have to go in and mess with the game files manually, you run the risk of an inexperienced user screwing something up with their install or corrupting their copy of the game altogether. It seems that things are already clearing up for the majority of players, but if you're still having trouble logging into WoW, the best advice I can give you is to hold tight. It's assumed that all issues will be solved by the end of tomorrow's maintenance period. Hopefully, you didn't have a big raid planned for tonight! It may be worth your while to keep tabs on the Tech Support forum for more tips and updates on where this thing is going.