The Complete Guide to Getting the PTR

Here is a full and complete step-by-step set of instructions for copying characters, downloading/installing the PTR, and running the PTR written in hopes of stemming the tide of "zomg how install duh ptr!!1!one!" threads. This guide is written for a beginner-level audience, but expects basic knowledge of how to use Explorer and getting around the filesystem.

Without further ado:

Table of Contents

Copying Characters
Downloading and Installing the PTR
Running the PTR

Copying Characters
In order to do any kind of useful testing on the Public Test Realm, the developers have given us the ability to copy either our own characters, or to use a premade maximum-level and fairly-well-equipped character to play on the PTR so we don't have to roll a level 1 character and try to get it to 70 in the time that the PTR is up.

Remember that copying characters is a one-way operation: You will be copying your character from the real server you play on to the PTR, as it was when you last logged out. Make sure you are not playing WoW when attempting to copy your character.

To actually copy your character (or a premade), go to http://test.worldofwarcraft.com/ptr/character-copy.html (logging in as necessary) and follow the instructions. Make sure you choose a realm that fits your play style, as there is both a PvP and a PvE test server.

Downloading and Installing the PTR
Now that your character is hopefully in the process of getting copied over to the test server that you selected, it's time to download the PTR.

The PTR is a special version of WoW that stands on its own from your regular copy of WoW. Go to http://test.worldofwarcraft.com/ptr/downloads/downloads.html and select "PC" or "Mac" in order to download the client. If you're running Windows, you'll want to click on PC.

MAKE SURE YOU TELL YOUR WEB BROWSER TO SAVE THE FILE INSTEAD OF RUNNING IT!

Remember where your browser is saving the file (common locations will be either on your Desktop or in your Documents folder) as we'll need to get to it in a minute. While it's downloading (if it's not already done), fire up Explorer by either clicking on the "My Computer" or "Computer" icon on your desktop, accessing it from the Start Menu, or opening the Start Menu, clicking on "Run...", typing "explorer" (without the quotes) and pressing Enter.

The default location that WoW installs itself to is C:\Program Files\World of Warcraft on Windows, /Applications/World of Warcraft on Mac OS X, but that may not be the case for you. The easiest way to find out would be right-clicking on the shortcut you use to start WoW (on the Desktop, in the Quick Start area, in the Start Menu, etc...), selecting Properties, and looking at the "Target" field in the window that pops up. Get to that folder.

Now that you're in that folder (I'll be using the default as the example from here on out), you should notice WoW.exe, Launcher.exe and several other programs and folders. If you see a folder called "WoWTest", please delete it now. Once the file has finished downloading in your web browser, (it should be called "WoW-2.1.3.6898-to-0.2.0.6932-enUS-downloader.exe"), move it in to the folder you're in now and run it.

The PTR should now be downloading using the standard Blizzard downloader. Once it's done downloading, if the installer does not run automatically, click "Finish" to exit the downloader and run the program "WoW-2.1.3.6898-to-0.2.0.6932-enUS-patch.exe", which is in the very same folder you were at earlier. This will start installing the PTR.

When it's done installing (it will take a few minutes), the PTR client will start automatically. At the time of this writing, there is one additional patch to download, but the WoW client will handle it as it usually does.

Running the PTR
To get back to the PTR, there are a few options:

The easiest involves starting the Launcher and clicking "Public Test" instead of "Play".

Failing that, get to the folder where you installed the PTR, and run the copy of WoW.exe inside the WoWTest folder.

If you would like to use the Launcher to access the PTR, but it doesn't show by default, click the "Show Launcher" checkbox in the lower-left corner of the login screen, log in and then exit out of WoW. The Launcher should then show.

That's it, good luck, and don't forget to report all the bugs you find with the /bug tool in-game!

http://wowvault.ign.com/View.php?view=Guides.Detail&id=245

Copying Characters
In order to do any kind of useful testing on the Public Test Realm, the developers have given us the ability to copy either our own characters, or to use a premade maximum-level and fairly-well-equipped character to play on the PTR so we don't have to roll a level 1 character and try to get it to 70 in the time that the PTR is up.

Remember that copying characters is a one-way operation: You will be copying your character from the real server you play on to the PTR, as it was when you last logged out. Make sure you are not playing WoW when attempting to copy your character.

Remember where your browser is saving the file (common locations will be either on your Desktop or in your Documents folder) as we'll need to get to it in a minute. While it's downloading (if it's not already done), fire up Explorer by either clicking on the "My Computer" or "Computer" icon on your desktop, accessing it from the Start Menu, or opening the Start Menu, clicking on "Run...", typing "explorer" (without the quotes) and pressing Enter.

The default location that WoW installs itself to is C:\Program Files\World of Warcraft on Windows, /Applications/World of Warcraft on Mac OS X, but that may not be the case for you. The easiest way to find out would be right-clicking on the shortcut you use to start WoW (on the Desktop, in the Quick Start area, in the Start Menu, etc...), selecting Properties, and looking at the "Target" field in the window that pops up. Get to that folder.

The PTR should now be downloading using the standard Blizzard downloader. Once it's done downloading, if the installer does not run automatically, click "Finish" to exit the downloader and run the program "WoW-2.1.3.6898-to-0.2.0.6932-enUS-patch.exe", which is in the very same folder you were at earlier. This will start installing the PTR.

When it's done installing (it will take a few minutes), the PTR client will start automatically. At the time of this writing, there is one additional patch to download, but the WoW client will handle it as it usually does.