Private Server Guide
How to connect to a private server
Five steps to get connected
In this section we will give you basic instructions on how to get connected to a private server if you do not have WoW already installed.
Step 1
Get the game client. Its a free download from Blizzard or a number of other sites. Check out the links for free wow download here.
Step 2
Decide on which private server to play on, you can have a look at private server homepages while you download the game client and then create a playing account with the one you will try first. All of them will have a link on the front page for creating the account. If you are unsure of which private server to try first, have a look at our reviews to get a better idea on what would suit you best.
Step 3
patch up the game on your computer to the same version that the private server is. eg, if the private server is running version 3.2.2. do not patch up past that version.
HINT: if you want to keep one version for connecting to the real Blizz servers, first make a copy of the game directory to another location. That is, copy the entire World of Warcraft folder and all its contents to another location on your computer. Then patch or downgrade that installation to the version you want to use for private servers. Currently most private servers are running version 3.2.2a This way you can use the first installation to connect to Blizz servers and the other installation for private servers.
Step 4
Once patched. you need to change the realmlist file to point toward the private server. You would have seen the realmlist name for the private server while you registered the playing account there.
OR
Go to a private server that has a custom launcher. this will change the realmlist for you automatically so you dont need to worry about it. Many of the better private servers have this feature.
Step 5
The launcher should have you ingame by now ;) create character and play OR
If you didn't use a launcher, use the wow.exe file to start the game, not the blizzard launcher as that one will probably try to patch you to the retail version
HINT: Do not use the Blizzard launcher to load wow from your private server installation directory or it will attempt to patch up to the most current version. Use wow.exe to start the game, it will be in the install directory.
Enjoy your stay and we hope you find what you are looking for.