Unable to open archive file

[cookedzerg]

I am having trouble installing Guild Wars 2. I tried using the DVD and then tried the download tool on there website but when I click to run GwSetup.exe, it comes up with an error message saying:

"Unable To Open Archive File

Guild Wars 2 is unable to access its archive file Local.dat.
Please verify that this file is accessible and writeable, and that
no other program is currently using it."

The issue is, I don't have a local.dat because the installer hasn't even started before I get this message. I've tried it as an administrator still not worked, not sure what else to try. I've been at this for two days with no luck. Any help would be much appreciated.

[thrive]

I am having trouble installing Guild Wars 2. I tried using the DVD and then tried the download tool on there website but when I click to run GwSetup.exe, it comes up with an error message saying:

"Unable To Open Archive File

Guild Wars 2 is unable to access its archive file Local.dat.
Please verify that this file is accessible and writeable, and that
no other program is currently using it."

The issue is, I don't have a local.dat because the installer hasn't even started before I get this message. I've tried it as an administrator still not worked, not sure what else to try. I've been at this for two days with no luck. Any help would be much appreciated.

I had the same exact problem, but I found a solution. I shared this response with GW2 support after I created the ticket, so hopefully they will find a fix for this soon:

The problem was that the GW2 installer is trying to install and locate files in the wrong directory. The file "Local.dat" is installed by default to "C:\Users\<User>\Documents\Guild Wars 2", however, this causes problem because my "Documents" directory has been moved to a different directory, "X:\<User>\My Documents". For a quick fix, I simply change my "Documents" directory back to the default location. After the install, hopefully the game functions and I can change my "Documents" directory back to my preferred "X:\" drive location.

Hope this helps someone.

[Edit:] I should also add. I'm using Windows 7 Home 64-bit

[vferg]

Thank you so much for the info. This worked great, I work for a company that has redirection of my documents folder and once you pointed this out it made sense as to why it wouldnt work. Made the change and everything is working fine.

I had the same exact problem, but I found a solution. I shared this response with GW2 support after I created the ticket, so hopefully they will find a fix for this soon:

The problem was that the GW2 installer is trying to install and locate files in the wrong directory. The file "Local.dat" is installed by default to "C:\Users\<User>\Documents\Guild Wars 2", however, this causes problem because my "Documents" directory has been moved to a different directory, "X:\<User>\My Documents". For a quick fix, I simply change my "Documents" directory back to the default location. After the install, hopefully the game functions and I can change my "Documents" directory back to my preferred "X:\" drive location.

Hope this helps someone.

[Edit:] I should also add. I'm using Windows 7 Home 64-bit

[thrive]

Thank you so much for the info. This worked great, I work for a company that has redirection of my documents folder and once you pointed this out it made sense as to why it wouldnt work. Made the change and everything is working fine.

I'm glad this helped you.

[Update:] GW2 install went smooth and I was able to change my "Documents" directory back to my other hard drive.

[Shamus]

Good Morning,

I have a similar issue from a different problem. I downloaded the game onto my desktop for the headstart. When i went to my fiancees house i copied my GW2 folder to my external drive and copied it to our laptop there. I was able to play the game and she determined that she would like to play. The following day i went out and purchased another copy of the game for her. When we went to load the game up i got the above error. after some troubleshooting i determined that even though i copied the gw2 folder to the laptop hard drive, when I first loaded up the game i had left the external connected. For some reason gw2 created a username/My Documents/Guild Wars 2/Local.dat folder on the external drive. Now no matter what i do i can not install the game on the laptop. The computer continues to look for the .dat file on the external. I tried creating the file tree listed above manually to try to resolve to no avail. Do you have any insight as to what i can do to resolve this? Many Thanks!

[Lythandra]

I had the same exact problem, but I found a solution.

Hope this helps someone.

Thank you so much! I was about to throw the damn game out the window!

[ryadoz]

I had a similar problem just now while using windows 8, but it was simply because I had a cloud service automatically backing my files up. As soon as I deactivated the cloud it worked again. Just thought I'd share this in case anyone else was stuck xD