Guide: Speed up the client DL

[bluesin 0]

Okay, so this is just a little mini-guide meant only to help others.  I consider myself a tech savy person being what I do for a living, but when I started the download I was disappointed to see my downloads going at only 75 Kbps each.  What is disappointing about that is that my ISP speed is 30 Mbps, so I should be downloading at least 20x that much.  After help from a user on the forum though and throwing the download manager into play I figured out how to maximize the download.

Step 1: In your purchase email you will see this for step 1:

"If you do not already have a download manager installed on your machine may we suggest the freeware, Free Download Manager, install it with the default options : http://dl.metaboli.com/dl/freedownloadmanager.exe."

Download and install it with all the default options, it may also help you to turn on Bittorrent which can suck up your browsing speed while your waiting, but can also improve the download speed of the client so I recommend it.  Also I would recommend NOT installing the optional software unless you absolutely want it, and definately uncheck the box for Run on Windows Start or whatever the option is called.

Step 2:  After you have it installed, in that same email you will see 3 download links labeled:

• File no. 1
• File no. 2
• File no. 3

Now, start the download manager first.  Then one by one, repeat these steps until you have done it for all 3 files:

1. Right click File No. # and select "Copy Shortcut" for Internet Explorer, or "Copy Link Location" for Firefox
2. Go into the download manager and click the + button.
3. If you want, choose a download location (default is C:\downloads\) then under URL hit Ctrl+P to paste or simply right click and choose paste.
4. Click OK and repeat the process until you have done it for all 3 files.

Step 3:  The final step   On the downloads tab in the download manager you will see your 3 files downloading.  File No. 1 will finish pretty quick on its own so if you want, don't bother applying the following steps to it:

First we want to remove the default limitations set by the download manager client, so click on  Options then Download Options.  Next click on the Network tab.  Uncheck the first 3 check boxes for Maximum number of.  Click OK to save the changes and you should be back on the downloads tab again.  Now right click each download and select Advanced > Create on more section.  Keep doing this for all the files until it won't let you create any more sections.  Give it about 2 minutes and you should be downloading pretty fast.  It was going 2,000 Kbps (2 Mbps) per download for me.  Enjoy and I hope this works for you   Remember to close the download manager when your done, especially if you enabled Bittorrent.

Thanks to Pocketkid for pointing out to use the download manager. 

[JadeKitty 0]

sticky ><  This guide made my download jump from 150 each download to 1500 each!  Awesome job blue!

[Rutgar 0]

Is the 3rd file as large as the 2nd file? I was simply D/L'ing within IE, and like you said, was only going 75Kbps. I left it over night, only to wake up with the entire file not there due to a server reset through the night. Luckily, when I restarted the D/L, it picked back up where it left off. But this is like dial-up days, and really sucks.

If the 3rd file is as large, then I will try the above method.

[bluesin 0]

CitiesXL_Setup.exe (File 1) is 1.14 MB

CitiesXL_Setup-1.bin (File 2) is 1.95 GB

CitiesXL_Setup-2.bin (File 3) is 1.57 GB

So they are roughly the same size yes.

[Rutgar 0]

Thanks

[JakeMD 107]

Stickied for a week, Thanks for the info, bluesin!

[bluesin 0]

Thanks swat, appreciate it.

[Unavoidablenose 0]

Has anyone else been experiencing extremely slow connections when trying to download your 'digital copy' that was emailed out late yesterday?

It states the one file to be 1.9gb but everytime I leave it to download it will drop the connection and stop at around 100mb.

Hmmm...

[Xyloxadoria 1,098]

Thats becse everyone else who got the digital copy of the game is trying to download it at the same time as you. Just wait or try at a diffrent time and it should be faster.

[Unavoidablenose 0]

the speed doesn't bother me, it's the constant disconnections. oh well, i guess ill try later.

[Livin in Sim 83]

[Unavoidablenose 0]

well i tried using a download manager as the email suggests, seems to have helped alot, 500kb/s now. weird..

[Naviss 0]

Ya always try using a download manager. If I would have got a digital copy, Which I wish I would have. It would have been off Steam, I'm shure the speeds on there is much better.

[0wn3d 2]

Originally posted by: Naviss

Ya always try using a download manager. If I would have got a digital copy, Which I wish I would have. It would have been off Steam, I'm shure the speeds on there is much better.quote>

I got it off steam and my DL seemed to be limited by MY DL speed.  My internet was running slow when I was DLing it and I was getting like 2-5 mbps which is like 250-625 KB/s which is about what I was getting on steam.

[USA_Pride 49]

Originally posted by: 0wn3d

Originally posted by: Naviss

Ya always try using a download manager. If I would have got a digital copy, Which I wish I would have. It would have been off Steam, I'm shure the speeds on there is much better.quote>

I got it off steam and my DL seemed to be limited by MY DL speed.  My internet was running slow when I was DLing it and I was getting like 2-5 mbps which is like 250-625 KB/s which is about what I was getting on steam.

quote>

Steam content delivery kicks butt.

[Craig-Abcvs 1,595]

Thread merged. 

[drcacklefanny 0]

Howdy friends,

I elected to have Cities XL shipped via DVD, but how do I download it off the Cities XL website? It'll be a while before I get the disc.

I do have my CD key, just no way to download the game.

Thanks.

[Candyghost 0]

Same here...

If someone would send me a "friend" trial he'll get one week additional access to PO as I have already purchased my game but just didn't received it yet (I preordered it more than 1 month ago but it has just been shipped this morning... bouhouhou) and I'll definitelly subscribe to PO.

 

[CWLGAMER01 39]

I posed this question to Monte Cristo via a support email.

Why don't you send a "tech support email" to them via the website and see if they will make this available to customers similar to other MMO's now. For instance you can purchase World of Warcraft in the retail box and then use your code to create your account and "download" the client and software from the website -- without using the DVD from your box. I gave them this example -- may help to use it also.

I would not recommend anyone asking for a link from fellow users as this could be a violation of terms of use and certainly can get you in some "hot water" here at Simtropolis also - which no one wants you to be!  make certain everyone follows all the rules and cover all the bases -- you know ...

Thanks and good luck!!

[Candyghost 0]

Originally posted by: CWLGAMER01

I posed this question to Monte Cristo via a support email.

Why don't you send a "tech support email" to them via the website and see if they will make this available to customers similar to other MMO's now. For instance you can purchase World of Warcraft in the retail box and then use your code to create your account and "download" the client and software from the website -- without using the DVD from your box. I gave them this example -- may help to use it also.

I would not recommend asking for a link from fellow users as this could be a violation of terms of use and certainly can get you in some "hot water" here at Simtropolis also - which no one wants you to be!  make certain you follow all the rules and cover all the bases -- you know ...

Thanks a good luck!!

quote>

I did it already and they simply told me they can't help on that one.

By the way, the postman already passed by today without my game so I'll have to wait till Monday, when Im going back to work so won't be able to play for a while... This is the last time I'm opting for a boxed version. Digital is sometime a bit more expanssive but at least you don't have to wait for so long...

I don't ask for a download link as it would indeed be against the policy but I know there is a "Frind" trial version you can use for 7 days in each box. That version allowns only to play on PO and if the "friend" buy the game and subscribe to PO after that 7 days period, the on who gave the trial will get additional 7 days of free PO... So I would appreciate if someone whould accept to share with me that trial.

[CWLGAMER01 39]

Originally posted by: Candyghost

I don't ask for a download link as it would indeed be against the policy but I know there is a "Frind" trial version you can use for 7 days in each box. That version allowns only to play on PO and if the "friend" buy the game and subscribe to PO after that 7 days period, the on who gave the trial will get additional 7 days of free PO... So I would appreciate if someone whould accept to share with me that trial.

quote>

Hey:

I wanted you to know I was not acusing you of this or implying that at all.  Sorry if it seemed that way.  I was stating a friendly reminder to anyone replying.....

Again I hope you get your copy sooner than later.  Also check your tracking info - if you have it.  See if the game is at the "hub location in your city" and sometimes you can request to pick it up there.  Just a thought.....

[Candyghost 0]

bouhouhou

I Just called them and they have receive my box already 2 days ago but they are on strike and nothing will be delivered till next week. They don't want me to go to pick it up as it as the status has not been set to "to be distributed" because of the stike.

I'm really starting to be fed up of those Belgian Post strikes 

[Livin in Sim 83]

[Craig-Abcvs 1,595]

Thread merged.

[TEZBB 0]

have tried your guide, but I keep getting a message "unable to resolve the server name". can you tell me where i'm going wrong

[Dustof_DryBones 0]

Why didn't I get a purchase e-mail? The only thing I received was an advertisement for the P.O.