Downgrade to 3.3.5 [Mac & Windows] (USA)

[Jinfreakz]

After you downgrade, run WoW.exe(windows) or World of Warcraft(mac). NEVER RUN THE LAUNCHER.
Guide updated as of July 24, 2011 and should be working if you did it correctly.

Step 1: Uninstall World of Warcraft.
Windows: Go to your control panels and open Add or Remove Programs. Once that opens, locate World of Warcraft and click the remove button.
Mac: Move the World of Warcraft folder to the trash, and remove Users/Shared/Blizzard to the trash, then empty the trash.

Step 2: Install World of Warcraft and all the expansions, but DON'T PATCH UP YET
*When they are done downloading & installing the launcher will open automatically, close out of it before it automatically updates patches.
*If you don't get ALL of the expansions before this guide, it will not work.
Windows: Run the disk to install the original World of Warcraft, or download & run InstallWoW(Windows), select "World of Warcraft" from the scroll-down list, and click "install"
Mac: Run the disk to install the original World of Warcraft or download & run InstallWoW(Mac), select "World of Warcraft" from the scroll-down list, and click "install"

Step 3: Manually install the World of Warcraft patches
*If you don't manually install the patches, it will not work.
*To manually install patches, download the file, drag it into your World of Warcraft folder, and launch it.
*After it's done updating, the launcher will open automatically. Close it QUICK before it starts updating patches automatically.
*You have to download & install the patches in order.
*On macs, you have to unzip the file before placing it into your World of Warcraft folder (you can do so by double clicking on the .zip folder)
All Windows Patches:
x.x to 2.4.0
2.4.0 to 2.4.1
2.4.1 to 2.4.2
2.4.2 to 2.4.3
2.4.3 to 3.0.1
3.0.1 to 3.2.0
3.2.0 to 3.2.0a
3.2.0a to 3.2.2
3.2.2 to 3.2.2a
3.2.2a to 3.3.0
3.3.0 to 3.3.0a
3.3.0a to 3.3.2
3.3.2 to 3.3.3
3.3.3 to 3.3.3a
3.3.3a to 3.3.5
3.3.5 to 3.3.5a
All Mac Patches:
x.x to 2.3.0
2.3.0 to 2.3.2
2.3.2 to 2.3.3
2.3.3 to 2.4.0
2.4.0 to 2.4.1
2.4.1 to 2.4.2
2.4.2 to 2.4.3
2.4.3 to 3.0.1
3.0.1 to 3.0.2
3.0.2 to 3.0.3
3.0.3 to 3.0.8
3.0.8 to 3.0.8a
3.0.8a to 3.0.9
3.0.9 to 3.1.0
3.1.0 to 3.1.1
3.1.1 to 3.1.1a
3.1.1a to 3.1.2
3.1.2 to 3.1.3
3.1.3 to 3.2.0
3.2.0 to 3.2.0a
3.2.0a to 3.2.2
3.2.2 to 3.2.2a
3.2.2a to 3.3
3.3 to 3.3a
3.3a to 3.3.2
3.3.2 to 3.3.3
3.3.3 to 3.3.3a
3.3.3a to 3.3.5
3.3.5 to 3.3.5a

Enjoy playing on private servers again

*If you want to play retail, download World of Warcraft as you normally would and just put it in a different location, therefore you have a version 3.3.5a for private servers, and a version 4.0.1+ for retail.

Frequently Asked Questions:
[spoiler]
Problem:
Whenever i try to install patch 3.01>3.0.2 i get this message.( MAC )
Blizzard Updater was unable to read the file "/Applications/World of Warcraft/Data/enUS/backup-enUS.MPQ". This error may be caused by problems with the media or drive at /--for example, a scratched or dirty CD-ROM/DVD-ROM, hard drive corruption, or a networking problem while downloading the update. (The data being read was "Data/enUS/Credits_LK.html", and the error code was 8.) 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. (Converter::Load)
Answer: Delete backup-enUS.MPQ.[/spoiler]

[Donderak]

Looks like a very nice guide, is there any way you can do this for EU too? Or is it only USA. Thanks.

[Jinfreakz]

Yes, you do the same thing but replace all the patches with EU patches, which you can find here.

[mkultra.]

Thanks, helped a lot +Rep

[Donderak]

Thanks so much, I have been looking for these patches so long... Guess I didn't search right lol. +rep

[Jinfreakz]

Yeahh, the 3.3.5 to 3.3.5a (for mac) took me about an hour of searching to find. But all the others I basically just got off of one or two sites.

And thanks! I'm glad it helped

[Aldun]

This method takes a few hours longer than doing it the following way:

1. As said in guide, remove wow (unless you want to keep retail)
2. Get WoTLK disc or download it from World of Warcraft Community Site
3. Install WotLK, make sure you don't let it autopatch.
4. Start patching from 3.2

This will save you around half of the patches.
Ps. if you want a 2nd copy so you can keep playing retail, make sure you delete (but backup!) the registry files of the retail version.
Ps2: should be in Emulator guides I'd say.

[Jinfreakz]

This method takes a few hours longer than doing it the following way:

1. As said in guide, remove wow (unless you want to keep retail)
2. Get WoTLK disc or download it from World of Warcraft Community Site
3. Install WotLK, make sure you don't let it autopatch.
4. Start patching from 3.2

This will save you around half of the patches.
Ps. if you want a 2nd copy so you can keep playing retail, make sure you delete (but backup!) the registry files of the retail version.
Ps2: should be in Emulator guides I'd say.

Yeah, I did this and accidently patched up way too far lol >.<

[jeff9090]

it doesnt work now on mac says error when try to download the first patch.


Blizzard Updater was unable to read the file "/Applications/World of Warcraft/Data/enUS/backup-enUS.MPQ". This error may be caused by problems with the media or drive at /--for example, a scratched or dirty CD-ROM/DVD-ROM, hard drive corruption, or a networking problem while downloading the update. (The data being read was "Data/enUS/Credits_LK.html", and the error code was 8.) 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. (Converter::Load)

help if can plz ty.

[nickbmtfh]

Whenever i try to install patch 3.01>3.0.2 i get this message.( MAC )

Blizzard Updater was unable to read the file "/Applications/World of Warcraft/Data/enUS/backup-enUS.MPQ". This error may be caused by problems with the media or drive at /--for example, a scratched or dirty CD-ROM/DVD-ROM, hard drive corruption, or a networking problem while downloading the update. (The data being read was "Data/enUS/Credits_LK.html", and the error code was 8.) 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. (Converter::Load)

Help?

[xalupadas]

Hi, I had the same issue, my solution was:

Repair disk permissions
1) Open Applications->Util->Disk Utility then choose your HD and click 'Repair Permissions'

Change folder name, it seems that the whitespaces in the folder name causes trouble to this patch:
2) Rename the folder /Applications/World of Warcraft/ to /Applications/WOW/

Run the patch WoW-3.0.1.8874-to-3.0.2.9056-enUS-patch
3) Copy the patch to /Applications/WOW/ and run it

Optional:
After the patch is applied, the "Background Downloader" app kicks in and starts downloading a patch from x.x.x.x->4.0.0.0, to avoid any problems, I renamed the app's name to "Background Downloader_" while applying the patches.


Best

Whenever i try to install patch 3.01>3.0.2 i get this message.( MAC )

Blizzard Updater was unable to read the file "/Applications/World of Warcraft/Data/enUS/backup-enUS.MPQ". This error may be caused by problems with the media or drive at /--for example, a scratched or dirty CD-ROM/DVD-ROM, hard drive corruption, or a networking problem while downloading the update. (The data being read was "Data/enUS/Credits_LK.html", and the error code was 8.) 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. (Converter::Load)

Help?

[staviper]

HI I have a issue. Every time I download/install Wow I end up on patch 3.0.1, put I can't find the patch anywhere. Every time I install a higher patch like 3.3.5a it still says 3.0.1. I don't know which patchs I need to install first. I am trying to get it so I can play on my private server rockin wow. Which is on patch 3.3.5a. I don't know how to get up to patch 3.3.5a. Can someone please help me. Thanks

[FatCuddlyPanda]

okay im lost to be honest do i download JUST download the 5 dics on the original wow or do i download all 3 expansions as well before i do the patches you have? i need a quick respond im downloading the orignal wow now.

[philip_lol1]

I'm having a problem here

I play on a mac and have wow patched to 3.3.3. However, i can't find either 3.3.5 or 3.3.5a enGB (EU english) for Mac...

Any ideas or tips?

Thanks in advance

[jddude]

The patch 3.0.1 to 3.2.0 says:'patch cant be applied because it is missing data for "ENgb".