HOWTO Fix a Corrupted Version of Allod’s Online
This HOWTO guide explains how to easily fix the “corrupted version” error when installing / upgrading Allod’s Online without having to download files manually or from sources you’re not sure are safe.
WHAT THE BROKEN INSTALLATION PROCESS LOOKS LIKE
I tried installing Allod’s Online (AO) this weekend and ran into a corrupted version problem. Here is what the install process with the corrupted version looks like:
- you run the game downloader and install the game
- you run AO game launcher and you get a notification that you need to upgrade to the latest patch:
- the launcher downloads the patches (~450 MB in my case)
- the launcher installs the patches
- the launcher reports that the “Version is corrupted. Do you want to repair it now?”
- the launcher’s attempt to repair the corrupted version fails, and you see this message:
Unfortunately, the repair page mentioned in the error panel doesn’t help this problem. So what’s wrong with the installation process? You can see from the picture above that the launcher itself (bin/Launcher.exe) is broken, so you need to get the launcher to download a working version of itself.
HOW TO FIX THE CORRUPTED VERSION
Disclaimer: the instructions below worked for me and for other people – but use them at your own risk! I’m not gpotato tech support LOL 
In a nutshell, the fix for this problem is to rename the launcher program and then run the renamed launcher, so it downloads a working version of itself.
Here’s the process:
- follow steps 1-6 above, but do not try the repair page as suggested. It won’t fix the problem
- go to the game installation’s bin directory (by default, it’s C:\gpotato.com\Allods Online\bin) and rename Launcher.exe to Launcher-broken.exe:
- double-click Launcher-broken.exe to run it, and when you see the following script error panel, click Yes:
- the launcher will run and automatically attempt to fix the corrupted version:
wait while the launcher runs. What the launcher program (Launcher-broken.exe) will do is download a new version of itself (Launcher.exe) that actually works:
- once the fixed version of Launcher.exe has been downloaded, you will see the following message box, and you want to click the circled “x” to close it:
- now click the Allods Online icon on your desktop, and you should see the following panel, which means your game installation is all good
I wasted enough of my time researching this problem and seeing other players stuck on it on the AO forums, so I hope this guide helps you. Thanks to the players who posted the rename fix – all I tried to do was make the process clearer for folks who are struggling with this.
I’m Done with Aion
I finally got back from a 3-week business trip overseas. I played Aion very sparsely in January, and the sad thing is I didn’t really miss it.
So after only 4.5 months of playing Aion, I’ve de-subbed.
The reasons are pretty simple:
- the leveling was boring and very time-consuming. Fundamentally Aion felt like work to play based on its design
- the main PVP zone, the Abyss, was largely empty. This was nothing like WAR, WoW, or LOTRO, where it was easy to find opponents to fight
The funny thing is my Chanter is only just over a level away from 42, which was my original target level for making PVP videos – Chanters get a ranged stun at 42. But the main thing is I simply don’t believe in Aion. I would not recommend Aion to a new player who is used to “Western” MMOs (e.g. WoW/LOTRO/WAR). So I figured it didn’t make sense for me to invest the time to level up and make videos.
I think some of the good qualities of WAR really set me up for disappointment with Aion. WAR was fun from level 1 all the way to 40, aside from the game instability issues. Aion was incredibly stable but consistently boring.
A YouTube subscriber sent me a PM back in September 2009 about Aion, and he was right about the game:
Not a big fan of aion, knowing the principle is Korean mentality based, it’s going to get old fast.
I myself been hooked in so many same type mentality game design and they all ending up a disappointment.
I work in the gaming industry, and I know how Aion is build as. [Aion] makes it more efficient for people who has time to waste, then instead of people who actually has the skills to show off. Quite imbalance approach, but then again, that’s their mentality of designing video games. (The american version is based off the asian version, same set of rules will apply.)
Hope you won’t spend too much time on Aion, you might setup yourself for a disappointment in the long run.
I’ve been following Keen’s posts about Allod’s Online so I might check that out.
Aion Video: Templar/Chanter Clearing Fire Temple
The 3-man clearing of FT, as shown in my previous video, was surprisingly easy, so I decided to try duoing the instance with a Templar named Chalen.
We had no problems clearing the instance, and I was able to help DPS Kromede in between heals. Granted, we were both level 38 against Kromede. But the tank was using a 2h (so more damage taken), and I’m pretty confident we could have done this successfully at level 34.
The footage of this Kromede fight is fun to watch from a Chanter’s perspective because I am moving and shifting roles the entire fight, which is what Chanters do best.
Templar tips from Chalen:
- Use IJ to interrupt Kromede’s AOE. You have to back up a bit from Kromede for the interrupt to work
- You can switch between 1h and 2h weapons during pulls to rotate cooldowns to maximize DPS
Chanter tips
- the L37 skill Word of Quickness is incredible for burst healing. I should have used it when the tank’s health dropped to 25%
- Word of Protection is one stigma you’ll use from mid-game to end-game (unless you go heavy MC/DPS spec). It is a tremendous bailout ability in tight situations, because the extra avoidance and mitigation can be the difference between people dying or just surviving
Thanks Chalen for not just being willing but being interested in doing stuff like this. It breaks up the monotony of leveling.
Aion Video: Templar/Ranger/Chanter PUG vs Kromede
It can be fun and educational to run instances with non-standard class compositions. Players sometimes have rigid perceptions of what will and won’t work, and in my experience, those (narrow) perceptions are often inaccurate. I enjoy trying different specs and group compositions to see how they perform.
Thankfully this morning I PUG’d with two very skilled and open-minded players and learned a lot in the process.
I joined a Templar’s Recruit Group for Fire Temple on the LFG channel very early this morning, so there weren’t many players online. After a Ranger and Sorceror joined, the Temp said “OK let’s go” and I thought he was joking. He wasn’t. I wasn’t sure whether my 35 Chanter could handle solo healing duties but I was certainly willing to try.
The Sorceror went LD on a pull when we had a couple adds and didn’t come back. From a cynical point of view, I don’t think that was an accident. The Sorc gave up instead of even trying. Fortunately, that didn’t affect our ability to clear the instance twice and get some nice blue mat drops in the process.
Here is footage of the 1st time we downed Kromede.
I went ultra-conservative on this attempt…I
- didn’t melee
- spammed Healing Light non-stop
- chain MP potted most of the fight
- stacked the deck in our favor by using the awesome group DP buff Word of Wind
Turns out it was a very easy and smooth fight. As you can tell from the footage, the tank (Inlove) used great positioning. He and the Ranger Maddux were very skilled players and it was awesome grouping with them. We handled some multi-mob pulls that I’ve seen wipe full groups.
