well, this is my first post here but i've been a lurker for about 2 years now. usually posting on internet forums is not my thing but i figured some of you guys must want it really bad (I did) so here you go. I got this to work this morning, after lots of failed attempts last night, so it seems sleeping is not overrated after all.

Note: This method will most likely require a model edit fix, if you're unwilling to use one then this is probably not for you.


1. BACKUP YOUR ENTIRE US/UK/DE/FR CLIENT. or you'll have to reinstall WotLK and every damn patch if anything goes wrong.

2. Find a Chinese client with the evil patch (3.1.3.10146) installed, copy every file in the Chinese WoW root folder to your US/UK/DE/FR client root folder.i.e. you should copy files like wow.exe battle.net.dll, wowerror.exe, launcher.exe etc, but not subfolders like Data.

This will patch Component WoW.Win. to 10146 and Component Tool.Win. to 952.
[I'm not posting the Chinese files since you simply shouldn't trust a first time poster with executables. either get the Chinese client yourself or ask a trusted friend for them]

3. get in to you Data folder and rename the subfolder enUS (or whatever your locale is) to enCN. get into the new enCN folder and change all enUS (your locale code) in filenames to enCN. so patch-enUS.MPQ become patch-enCN.MPQ, etc.

4. Download this file
http://www.filefront.com/14164105/Data.zip
extract it to your WoW root folder with directory structures INTACT. So patch-3.MPQ goes to data\ and patch-enCN-3.MPQ goes to data\enCN\.
The archive contains two mpq files with one text file in each setting your Component WoW.base to 10146 and Component WoW.enCN to 10146. You can check all its content with a mpq editor and the good old windows notepad.

5. open the config.wtf in your wtf folder, set the locale to enCN. also change the content of your realmlist.wtf file (located at data\enCN\) to 'set realmlist cn.logon.warcraftchina.com'.

6. If you run wow.exe now it will most likely crash so get yourself a working model edit fix, like the lastest SimpLauncher.
(again I'll not post the file here since it's also an executable, and I'm not going to post an user-made utility program without the author's permission anyway.
you can grab it from
http://bbs.game.mop.com/viewthread.php?tid=1851922&extra=page%3D1
but it requires registration, in Chinese. Ask a Chinese friend to help you if you don't read Chinese. I'm really sorry about having people go through this mess at the last step.)

Use the model edit fix to launch the game and it should work fine. Although I only tested this on the US WOTLK client so I'm not sure if it works on a TBC client.


Oh, I'm not quite sure about this, but when i was working on this fix I couldn't log in Chinese servers with an enUS locale in effect, even after I managed to fake Component WoW.enUS to 10146. I have to disguise the enUS locale as enCN for it to work, so maybe the Netease servers are actively checking the client locale to prevent non-Chinese clients from logging.

If this is true, we'll have to pull this trick every patch from now on, even if the Chinese and US client share the exact same version number. Because masking the locale is what requires a model edit fix, this could mean you'll always have to use model edit fixes to play on Chinese server.

Of course, someone may be able to find a way to change locale without crashing a unmodded system. If you can do it please share with us!

Thanks but didn't bolomas just post something about it too ?

if you're referring to the one with batch files and such, that won't work after netease's last minute patch.

Okies, then thanks + STICKY !

here's a screenshot:

me reading the netease letter thanking you for sticking with CWOW and giving you a free noncombat pet.

wow masterfads thx, can't try your solution yet but it feels like it's hitting right where it needs.

Thank you Masterfade.

When you said with chinese client witch evil patch, you're talking about the last patch wich screwed it up? So we need to update the chinese client till the last patch?

Nous wrote:

Thank you Masterfade.

When you said with chinese client witch evil patch, you're talking about the last patch wich screwed it up? So we need to update the chinese client till the last patch?

a Chinese client with the latest 3.1.3.10146 patch installed

thx gotta try this method. nice pic

Alex do you think you can upload the files of the root folder today? Dunno when my chinese client will be updated it's so slow...

Good idea Bolomas. It'd help me too. So long.

Concerning the registration for:

http://bbs.game.mop.com/viewthread.php?tid=1851922&extra=page%3D1

I did it, as someone used to say: Even a caveman can do it.

Anyway if you want it PM me (mail adress required, size 64Ko).

Already ppl going to HPT while we couldn't play
Thanks, it appears it works, gonna try this when I go back to China.

I get the following log:

7/31 10:59:54.500 Login program=WoW platform=Win locale=enCN
7/31 10:59:54.515 Component WoW.Win.10146
7/31 10:59:54.531 Component WoW.base.10146
7/31 10:59:54.562 Component WoW.enCN.10146
7/31 10:59:54.578 Component Tool.Win.952
7/31 10:59:54.609 GRUNT: state: LOGIN_STATE_CONNECTING result: LOGIN_OK
7/31 10:59:54.625 Connecting to 213.248.127.130:1119
7/31 10:59:55.468 GRUNT: state: LOGIN_STATE_FAILED result: LOGIN_BADVERSION
7/31 10:59:55.500 Disconnected from 827ff8d5
7/31 10:59:55.515 GRUNT: state: LOGIN_STATE_DISCONNECTED result: LOGIN_OK
7/31 10:59:55.546 GRUNT: state: LOGIN_STATE_FAILED result: LOGIN_BADVERSION
7/31 10:59:55.562 Login program=WoW platform=Win locale=enCN
7/31 10:59:55.593 Component WoW.Win.10146
7/31 10:59:55.609 Component WoW.base.10146
7/31 10:59:55.625 Component WoW.enCN.10146
7/31 10:59:55.640 Component Tool.Win.952

But still said Badversion

perhaps the simple launcher doesn't work with non english locale.

er.....can some1 pass me the "evil patch" plz?
desperate to play here ^^

OK. I did the same with enGB files. same result.

No idea now.

possible you need the enUS. I'm gonna try later and report the result in the evening, download is so slow, hope it doesn't need to download more once installed :/

completely lost me after backup original files...

I have a working chinese client and thankfully got all my toons back so just thankful for that. Would be nice to play in English again but this is far beyond my simple abilities. Sure its excellent work though, Kudos!

ok, i dont get it.

which file do you need to copy into your root wow folder?

my eu wow is patched up to 3.1.3.9947
the chinese version was first patched up from 3.05 to 3.1.3.9981
then there was the last minut patch from 3.1.3.9981 to 3.1.3.10146

i would assume it would be 3.1.3.9981 to3.1.3.10146, but if i run it it gives me an error message.

so do i just need to copy the file and not do anything to it and follow the above guide with the next step?
and has anyone else been lucky enough to run the game in another version than the chinese version?

Weird!!
It seemed ok this morning and finally no? Does someone succeed as Masterfade?

yep way off, cant make it work
so first i wonder how to do this cause for me it doesnt work:
Find a Chinese client with evil patch on it, copy file in the ROOT WoW folder to your US/UK/DE/FR client folder. This will patch Component WoW.Win. to 10146 and Component Tool.Win. to 952.

just copying the file doesnt change tool.win.to 952 and if i run the file i get an error message

maybe someone can enlighten me?

Guys he said it worked with an english US client. Actually the unofficial launcher seems to be made to work with files coming from the english US client. I'm gonna try it once I get everything patched. And report the result

For the ones who got a TBC enGB install, you can transform it into a WOTLK enUS install by downloading the official Wotlk client installer from north america website. I don't know if it works for the other languages.

I think, he means, we have to copy ALL root files from chinese client to US root.

Then the log is correct. 952 is the launcher version.

root files means all the files(except folders) who are inside the wow/ folder. for exemple wow.exe, repair.exe etc

Have you seen the screenshot? How can be chinese characters in the chat, if the locale.MPQ is a enUS. (That's the file with the fonts inside).

And if the folder structure has to be intact, means, no other folders (like fonts) are allowed in the root folder.

no you can keep your font folder it will change nothing.

OK. Here is a actual screen from my root folder and the Simplauncher.

http://www.filefront.com/14162747/Screen3.jpg

haha i'm a patient guy and I really appreciate all the work u guys are doing to help the less technically able like me.

Just done a raid on the chinese client and it was some ball-ache, especially as a few things have changed in the patch (i couldn't even find how to leave the grp!!)

Not ungrateful though, just pleased to have a working version and have my toons back, much praise to the guys on these forums for the info, sure u guys are getting close and hopefully we won't all need a doctorate in advanced programming to apply it.

I'll keep checking back and afraid I can offer nothing more than my support......cheers cheers!

Suzhou-Alex wrote:

I get the following log:

7/31 10:59:54.500 Login program=WoW platform=Win locale=enCN
7/31 10:59:54.515 Component WoW.Win.10146
7/31 10:59:54.531 Component WoW.base.10146
7/31 10:59:54.562 Component WoW.enCN.10146
7/31 10:59:54.578 Component Tool.Win.952
7/31 10:59:54.609 GRUNT: state: LOGIN_STATE_CONNECTING result: LOGIN_OK
7/31 10:59:54.625 Connecting to 213.248.127.130:1119
7/31 10:59:55.468 GRUNT: state: LOGIN_STATE_FAILED result: LOGIN_BADVERSION
7/31 10:59:55.500 Disconnected from 827ff8d5
7/31 10:59:55.515 GRUNT: state: LOGIN_STATE_DISCONNECTED result: LOGIN_OK
7/31 10:59:55.546 GRUNT: state: LOGIN_STATE_FAILED result: LOGIN_BADVERSION
7/31 10:59:55.562 Login program=WoW platform=Win locale=enCN
7/31 10:59:55.593 Component WoW.Win.10146
7/31 10:59:55.609 Component WoW.base.10146
7/31 10:59:55.625 Component WoW.enCN.10146
7/31 10:59:55.640 Component Tool.Win.952

But still said Badversion

Alex, are you sure you changed realmlist.wtf to
set realmlist cn.logon.warcraftchina.com

because from your log file you tried to log on to the EU server (213.248.127.130:1119), which will return you a LOGIN_BADVERSION.

remember the realmlist.wtf is located at the \data\enCN folder now.

Suzhou-Alex wrote:

Have you seen the screenshot? How can be chinese characters in the chat, if the locale.MPQ is a enUS. (That's the file with the fonts inside).

And if the folder structure has to be intact, means, no other folders (like fonts) are allowed in the root folder.

bolomas wrote:

no you can keep your font folder it will change nothing.

yeah you can keep all your subfolders in the wow directory. I used custom font files (downloaded from the sticky) in the font folder.

by the way, when I said 'extract it to your WoW root folder with directory structures INTACT.' I just mean extract contents of data.zip with its directory structures, i.e. don't turn on the 'ignore directories' option in WinRAR or 7Zip.

Alex, I think you did everything right except changing data\enCN\realmlist.wtf, so you had in fact tried to log on to EU server with your modified client.

This method worked on my US WotLK client, I'm pretty convinced it will work on other people's systems if every step was followed correctly.

I've edited my first post to clarify a few things. I have little talent in technical writing, so please bear with me.

Guys it's working for me I'm using the english US wotlk client as well.

But what i did instead of copying the files from chinese client to english one, was copying the english language files into the chinese client.

to do so :

1. Create a wow/data/backup folder in your chinese wow and put the orginial enCN folder inside.

2. Copy the english /wow/data/enUS folder in the chinese /wow/data/ folder, rename the folder enCN and inside the newly created folder change every enUS files name into enCN, exemple locale-enUS.mpq renamed into locale-enCN.mpq

3. extract the Data.zip uploaded by masterfade inside the chinese wow/ folder. when you extract it watch that the file patch-3.mpq is in your wow/data folder and patch-enCN-3.mpq is in your chinese wow/data/enCN folder.

4. in your config.wtf file look for the line SET locale " " and change it as follow SET locale "enCN"

5. change the realmlist to log on chinese servers.

6. start the game with the unofficial launcher.(chinese people us it to see the skeleton models)

7. enjoy.

Then if the chinese side got a new update,

delete the modified chinese /wow/data/enCN folder
and then you just restore the original enCN you've put in the /wow/data/backup folder into the chinese wow/data/ folder/

Clean and simple.

I already had this question with the IP addresses 2 days before.

When I log with chinese client I get

7/31 16:37:34.031 GRUNT: state: LOGIN_STATE_CONNECTING result: LOGIN_OK
7/31 16:37:34.062 Connecting to 122.198.64.130:1119
7/31 16:37:37.734 GRUNT: state: RESPONSE_CONNECTED result: LOGIN_OK

And with EU client modified I always get

7/31 15:35:44.640 GRUNT: state: LOGIN_STATE_CONNECTING result: LOGIN_OK
7/31 15:35:44.687 Connecting to 213.248.127.130:1119
7/31 15:35:51.500 GRUNT: state: LOGIN_STATE_FAILED result: LOGIN_BADVERSION

Always, since 2 days I have this case

And my realmlist.wtf is

SET realmlist "cn.logon.warcraftchina.com"


If I log on a german server with my wotlk client I get
7/31 18:20:41.156 GRUNT: state: LOGIN_STATE_CONNECTING result: LOGIN_OK
7/31 18:20:44.593 GRUNT: state: RESPONSE_CONNECTED result: LOGIN_OK 80.239.178.112:3724
7/31 18:20:44.671 GRUNT: state: LOGIN_STATE_AUTHENTICATING result: LOGIN_OK
7/31 18:20:45.156 GRUNT: state: LOGIN_STATE_CHECKINGVERSIONS result: LOGIN_OK
7/31 18:20:45.968 GRUNT: state: LOGIN_STATE_HANDSHAKING result: LOGIN_OK
7/31 18:20:46.359 GRUNT: state: LOGIN_STATE_AUTHENTICATED result: LOGIN_OK
7/31 18:20:46.375 ClientConnection Initiating: COP_CONNECT code=CSTATUS_CONNECTING
7/31 18:20:50.531 ClientConnection Completed: COP_CONNECT code=RESPONSE_CONNECTED result=TRUE
7/31 18:20:50.546 ClientConnection Initiating: COP_AUTHENTICATE code=CSTATUS_AUTHENTICATING
7/31 18:20:51.296 ClientConnection Completed: COP_AUTHENTICATE code=AUTH_OK result=TRUE
7/31 18:20:51.781 ClientConnection Initiating: COP_GET_CHARACTERS code=43
7/31 18:20:53.312 ClientConnection Completed: COP_GET_CHARACTERS code=44 result=TRUE

Alex delete your WTF and cache folders and try again. or try to do the thing I did. My log is

7/31 18:19:29.062 Login program=WoW platform=Win locale=enCN
7/31 18:19:29.093 Component WoW.Win.10146
7/31 18:19:29.109 Component WoW.base.10146
7/31 18:19:29.140 Component WoW.zhCN.10146
7/31 18:19:29.156 Component WoW.enCN.10146
7/31 18:19:29.171 Component Tool.Win.952
7/31 18:19:29.218 GRUNT: state: LOGIN_STATE_CONNECTING result: LOGIN_OK
7/31 18:19:29.250 Connecting to 122.198.64.130:1119
7/31 18:19:30.031 GRUNT: state: RESPONSE_CONNECTED result: LOGIN_OK
7/31 18:19:30.046 GRUNT: state: LOGIN_STATE_AUTHENTICATED result: LOGIN_OK
7/31 18:19:30.171 ClientConnection Initiating: COP_CONNECT code=CSTATUS_CONNECTING
7/31 18:19:30.734 ClientConnection Completed: COP_CONNECT code=RESPONSE_CONNECTED result=TRUE
7/31 18:19:30.781 ClientConnection Initiating: COP_AUTHENTICATE code=CSTATUS_AUTHENTICATING
7/31 18:19:30.828 ClientConnection Completed: COP_AUTHENTICATE code=AUTH_OK result=TRUE
7/31 18:19:31.312 ClientConnection Initiating: COP_GET_CHARACTERS code=43
7/31 18:19:31.406 ClientConnection Completed: COP_GET_CHARACTERS code=44 result=TRUE
7/31 18:19:40.843 ClientConnection Initiating: COP_LOGIN_CHARACTER code=67
7/31 18:19:42.468 ClientConnection Completed: COP_LOGIN_CHARACTER code=68 result=TRUE
7/31 18:20:32.812 ClientConnection Completed: COP_LOGIN_CHARACTER code=68 result=TRUE
7/31 18:20:33.718 ClientConnection Initiating: COP_GET_CHARACTERS code=43

Alex you must look for your realmlist.wtf
SET realmlist "cn.logon.warcraftchina.com"
but also for your config.wtf
SET realmlist "cn.logon.warcraftchina.com"

sometimes the config.wtf doesn't change and will still continue to log on eu/us servers

GOT IT! GOT IT! GOT IT! GOT IT! GOT IT!

Need to change the whole realmlist. Not only the first line.

set realmlist cn.logon.warcraftchina.com
set patchlist cn.version.warcraftchina.com
set realmlistbn ""
set portal cn

Now the log is
7/31 18:30:49.234 GRUNT: state: LOGIN_STATE_CONNECTING result: LOGIN_OK
7/31 18:30:49.296 Connecting to 122.198.64.130:1119
7/31 18:30:50.140 GRUNT: state: RESPONSE_CONNECTED result: LOGIN_OK

AND BLOODY HELL!!!! I'M IN

Holy Shit

And Yes, I used a european wotlk client to copy.

I used the enGB folder

Now testing with german version

hi alex

please let me know if the german also works or i have to change to english first

And THX for masterfade for your help hope to see u online in game !!!

@Glob: PLEASE MAKE IT STICKY !!!

I can confirm. German is working

I am online


Yeah. Make it sticky, and delete the old sticky ones. There are now to much stickys, what confuses many people.

maybe u edit ur thread with this and give credits to the guy !

can someone please send me the simple launcher??

MSN: sk8stitch@hotmail.com

or post a link so all can download the simplauncher

oh and alex, you followed the guide and it works for the german client? or anything special for the german version need to be done?

send to u

heya bol, i'm backing up ready to do all this, what is the unofficial launcher tho? is this a download? google is not my friend in this matter....

My Net ethic is not so well.

So here is the simplauncher file to download

http://www.filefront.com/14163759/SimpLauncher_3_1_3.rar

Hugs Alex

Hi all,

I apologize in advance for this.. but..

I find this thread is really confusing.

Can one of the mods clean it up in to a step-by-step to get things working? Or just create a new thread, stickied and locked that tells us what to do/download etc..?

MANY thanks.. I screwed up the ID card process and now need to find out if I can save Twisted or not.. *epic cry*

...out...

Yeah a bit confused here too. I cant DL the data zip as the 10 download limit ha been reached. Also what do i do with the simple launcher? its all in chinese..

...do i copy it to the wow main folder and launch it from there? i dont wanna launch anything prematurely and have it patch all my adjustments.

I will do it tmrw morning.

Now its game time :-)