How do I download, install and run the game?

[Tarkus]

Before I refund this game, can anyone tell me how to start playing? I've downloaded the game, I start it but then it says I don't have enough disk space to let the launcher install it. I've read several solutions online but some say different things on the same matter. So, what do I do? None of my disks have 180 GB to spare and I don't want to uninstall anything, I'd rather refund the game if that's the only option.

I managed to get the launcher from the temporary folder and started downloading the game from there by removing it on Steam, but then I stopped because I'm not sure I would be able to play without launching it from Steam directly. So, again, what do I do?

[Kiss My Ax]

It's a very big file 120+GB with all the updates.

[Tarkus]

So the only way is to clear up more space?

[Kyutaru]

Originally posted by Kiss-My-Ax:

It's a very big file 120+GB with all the updates.

No, that's only if you download the test server. There are almost no updates to download after you get the steam version, it stays at the usual 87 gigs. You can also delete some voiceover folders to drop it to 60 gigs.

This is like the 50,000th topic related to this and if you search you'll find lots of solutions because real life isn't a video game and more than one answer works. Getting it to install without having the space necessary is slightly complex and you will have to follow the step by step instructions provided.

What Steam downloaded was the installation files. Those are the files Zenimax decided to put on Steam, the same sort of files you would find on the DVD version of ESO. It's a compact and compressed download that needs to extract install, and for that it needs 87gigs free (the game's install requirement). It will not download 80 gigs of updates and your space will not be consumed after the installation.

All that is happening right now is the file path that Steam has set to launch ESO using is linked to an uninstalled version of the game. There are ways to get around this by for example changing the link and just running through the launcher directly while deleting the useless installation files.

Again, all of this has been explained before in detail, heck I've seen 10 of these just this week. I cannot further assist as my copy of the game is already installed through Steam and I can't point you to the exact folders and files to move because I have no idea what the folder originally looks like anymore.

[Tarkus]

So I just need to clear out more space, and I don't even how much since the launcher doesn't say anything, and let it work?

[Kyutaru]

Originally posted by Tarkus:

So I just need to clear out more space, and I don't even how much since the launcher doesn't say anything, and let it work?

Clearing out space is one option. It will work and you will need about 87-89 gigs free because Windows doesn't let you use every single available byte due to virtual memory and temporary file space requirements.

Someone even said in another topic that you could just delete the Elder Scrolls Online folder and run the installer, which would only install the launcher and begin redownloading everything. I have no idea if this actually works, be warned. Other people did a hard drive swap or moved the files to a DVD for installation using Steam's extended drive functionality. Others just did the manual switch of the path Steam uses for the launch to the actual launcher that they downloaded from the ESO website which they manually copied over to the ESO folder.

Installers are pure convenience. They are the automated extraction and sorting of multiple files and folders. Yet if you're computer savvy, you don't need them. You could do everything manually and delete the installer while relinking Steam to the correct address.

If I had a computer with the original folder setup in front of me I could tell you what to do step by step. But I don't feel like uninstalling and redownloading an 87 gig game just to give you instructions.

[Kyutaru]

The short and sweet method is: yes, clear some extra space, you'll get it back once the game is installed. Plus you can delete the vo_ folders that you don't use from the Elder Scrolls Online folder and that will free up even more space. No sense having French voices installed if you only use English.

[Tarkus]

Ok well, thanks, I'll try and do that even tho I said I didn't want to in the opening post. Too bad I have to download the whole game again and my download speed is not that high.

[Kyutaru]

Originally posted by Tarkus:

Ok well, thanks, I'll try and do that even tho I said I didn't want to in the opening post. Too bad I have to download the whole game again and my download speed is not that high.

You don't. It doesn't download anything, it's just an extractor. You already have the files. Nothing gets downloaded, it gets extracted. E-X-T-R-A-C-T-E-D. The files you downloaded are compressed.

[Tarkus]

No, I mean, I actually deleted the folder and uninstalled it via Steam: I still have to download the whole thing again.

[Kyutaru]

Originally posted by Tarkus:

No, I mean, I actually downloaded the folder and uninstalled it via Steam: I still have to download it again.

If you were going to do that, you could have tried the method I mentioned above and had it successfully installed on Steam before redownloading.

[Kyutaru]

Additionally, you already had the full game downloaded. You could have burned the files to a DVD and installed it from the disk if you wanted to no longer use the Steam installation. No redowndloading necessary.

[Tarkus]

Yeah I posted here after I deleted everything out of frustration, so too late. Anyway I really appreciate your help. Tomorrow, once the download has finished, I'll post again here again to let you know if everything goes fine or not.

[Kyutaru]

It should be fine now. Steam gave you a CD Key that you can use to make your ESO account and the official launcher doesn't require you to install after downloading. You can just log in using your ESO account now.

[Trigger]

First go to ESO website and make account. It is required. Next press Install on STEAM to start steams download. STEAM needs to see about 170 GB of FREE SPACE on your C drive. Game will not use 170 GB but STEAM thinks it does. GOOD-LUCK. Game is under 85 GB.

[Tarkus]

Well, it works now, even tho I had to temporarily move a couple of Steam games folders to another hard disk.