World of Warcraft: Private Server and Original Files
A tutorial on how to play on a WoW Private Server and where to download to the Original Files.
Hello there.
Since so many people wanted to play on a WoW Private Server but either don’t know how or don’t have the original files I decided to make this tutorial.
Installing WoW
First you must have the original files of the game, here is a link to the installer of WoW, in wich you can install either the original WoW, WoW WotLK (Wrath of the Lich King) or WoW BC (Burning Crusade).
If you don’t have the original WoW, you don’t need to bother installing first the original and then the Burning Crusade, you can choose the Burning Crusade from start and it will install the original if you don’t have it. The same is with WotLK, if you don’t have the original WoW and BC you can download WotLK from start and it will install all of them.
I recommend installing WotLK since it’ll install all versions of the game and most of the Private Servers need WotLK to be installed.
Should I let the game update?
After installing WoW you can let the game update itself. Most of tutorials on how to play on Private Servers say that you may not let the game update, but as long as there are servers with the newest patch you can update it. But if you found already a Private Server that you like and it doesn’t have the newest patch you should confirm it’s patch and update ONLY to that patch, after that you must find the launcher of that server, since with the Private Server’s launcher the game will not update.
Finding a Private Server
Now that you have the newest patch you must find a server that you like with that patch, I made a list of some servers with 3.1.X patch at the end.
Creating an Account
Now that you found a server that you like you should create an account, to create an account on a Private Server you just need to go to the Server’s Official website and register, also be sure that you register in the game and not in the forum. After registering it should take about 2-3 minutes for the registration to be completed.
Changing the Realm List
Now that you have an account on that server you can now play it, but first you have to change your Realm List. Some server launchers automatically change it to the server’s Realm List when you run them, but in the most of the servers you have to change it yourself. To change it you first have to go to your WoW folder, generally C:Program FilesWorld of Warcraft, there should be a file named realmlist.wtf, if there isn’t go to Data/enGB and it is there. Now open realmlist.wtf with Notepad, delete everything that is written on it and paste the realm list of the server.
Now you just have to open the Server’s Launcher, log into your account and start playing for free! Hope it helped you.
Some Private Servers Working on 3.1.3 Patch:
Having problems?
Leave a comment here if you’re having any kind of problems and I’ll try to help.
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so what your sayin is that i installed wrath,but not crusade so i should now have crusade becuz i have wrath?
Probably, I’m not sure of it but it’s very probable since WotLK increases lvl cap from 70 to 80 and you can only reach 70 if you have BC, but if any server says that you don’t have BC installed then just use the Installer and install it
My friend has installed wow and she wants to play but it stays on logging too server and she cant play what does she have to do that it will work bcus her realmlist everything is fine and she also deleted her Cache folder and WTF to make it work but that also doesnt works pls help..
@george,
does your friend have the same patch as the server she wants to play on? because if she has an older version she’ll have to update it, though if she has an more recent version she’ll have to downgrade the game to the version the version requires.
Thats all i can help you with that information, if you tell me wich server she’s trying to acceed I could help more.
I hope that helps
also what exactly happens in the login screen? it stays like the normal WoW or does it give an error? if it gives an error what is it?
I play wow and i wanted to try a private server WoWmond but when i try to run WoWmond normal wow comes up, I changed the realmlist made a account and installed it plz help
@ky,
wich realmlist file you changed? sometimes it happens to also be one in C:\Program Files\World of Warcraft, the one you have to change is on C:\Program Files\World of Warcraft\enGB\realmlist.wtf
on the realmlist make sure it is:
C:\Program Files\World of Warcraft\Data\enGB\realmlist.wtf or
C:\Program Files\World of Warcraft\Data\enUS\realmlist.wtf to:
set realmlist logon.mond-wow.com
nothing more nothing less
Also are you running it with the normal .executable? If yes then try downloading Mond-WoW Launcher, make sure it is on C:\Program Files\World of Warcraft, after running it once it’ll make an short-cut on Desktop and if I remember well i guess it was on Mond-WoW that it automatically changed the realmlist.wtf
If you’re still having problems explain with more details what you’ve done to install it
I remember that when I also tried to play Mond-WoW it first showed up the normal WoW, but I don’t remember very well why =/
i have changed the realmlist and when i click play on the launcher of eternion ( a private server ) it says : wow.exe not found.
what am i doing wrong? i have windows vista if that helps
@jackowacko,
where have you put the launcher? some times you must put it on desktop, but sometimes you must put it on World of Warcraft’s folder
couldnt people play the real wow by downloading the games here?
@thebestboboever,
to play the official WoW you would have to pay 15$ every month
Right, got a proper WoW account and tried a few Private Servers, got bored and now want to get back to the normal servers.
I just can’t do it; I changed the realmlist.wtf to the normal one and everytime I attempt to log on it says my name/password is invalid?
Thanks,
Thunderdog+
is your account active? remember that to continue playing on your real account you must keep buying WoW each month or buy a Card for 2 months
if your account is active try to reinstall WoW, just don’t delete the Patches so that it takes less time to reinstall
I’ve gotten the wow.exe error as well, deleted cache and wtf folders, changed realmlist.wtf like said, even moved it into the main wow folder and still can’t log in using the eternion launcher, whenever i use the wow launcher it takes me to the retail version and not to eternion…no one anywhere seems to have any solutions
dont use the wow launcher use the .exe file instead
I try to play wow-pwnage, I have changed the realmlist, but when i open wow and try to log in to my private server account, it does not work, only the normal wow account works… what should i do?