Question about Origin

Pighardia · 26 Sep 2011 at 20:20

HI, i have just reinstalled Origin for my sins and i am wondering about activating/linking games that i already own.

I have the retail versions of DA2 and BC2, so i input the codes and now they show up on my Origin page, but i wondered if they HAD to be downloaded again? I already have them installed, i was playing BC2 a few minutes ago.

This is all in preparation for BF3 really, otherwise i wouldn't bother with Origin at all. I don't need these game to be linked to Origin but i thought i might as well, it could be handy for BC2 as well.

pooley · 26 Sep 2011 at 20:48

My guess would be if you tried to launch the games through origin it will dl it again. So I would just use the games exe.

setter · 26 Sep 2011 at 20:51

Got bc2 installed via disk, but i also have it redeemed on origin, didnt have to download it but i can launch from either the exe or origin. Though the disk has to be in the drive tray with either launch method.

Pighardia · 26 Sep 2011 at 20:58

Yeah, clicking on them through Origin starts another download.

I'm not that bothered but it would make sense to have all my games in the same place. I was just hoping i didn't have to redownload them. I also have a few EA games on Steam that i thought i might as well transfer, but if it means downloading them again i won't bother (DAO is 25gb!)

setter · 26 Sep 2011 at 21:05

Strange that it asks you to dl it again, screenshot of my origin library, note. Moh was purchased through origin, for bc2 all i did was redeem my disk copy cd key.

Pighardia · 26 Sep 2011 at 21:06

Sorry if i am being retarded here but if i get BF3 retail and it uses Origin to activate, i install it through disc and then use Origin to activate it right? how is that different to what i am trying to do here? (not sure if i am explaining very well tbh)

setter · 26 Sep 2011 at 21:08

Youll probly have to redeem the retail versions cd key in origin, under settings, this is how i have bc2 on origin.

Pighardia · 26 Sep 2011 at 21:11

Well this is what i have done with BC2, i bought it retail and have had it installed for months. I thought i would link it to Origin just for convenience so i entered my key as you did in settings. I expected that it would just be linked to Origin but not that i would have to download it again! Anyway i am on with EA support atm so will ask them about it.

andshrew · 26 Sep 2011 at 21:13

Pighardia said:
Sorry if i am being retarded here but if i get BF3 retail and it uses Origin to activate, i install it through disc and then use Origin to activate it right? how is that different to what i am trying to do here? (not sure if i am explaining very well tbh)

The difference is the BF3 disk installer will be designed to work out of the box with Origin whereas your BC2 one wasn't due to it not existing.

If you really want to get it to run through Origin I would let Origin start downloading the game and then quit Origin. Go and find where you originally installed Battlefield and either cut or copy the contents of the folder into the folder where Origin is now downloading it to.

Start up Origin again and it should start verifying these files, you may still need to download a few but it should save you having to download 8GB or so...

setter · 26 Sep 2011 at 21:14

Ill be interested to hear how you get on with ea support, definitely a strange one that its asking you to download bc2 again.

Pighardia · 26 Sep 2011 at 21:18

andshrew said:
The difference is the BF3 disk installer will be designed to work out of the box with Origin whereas your BC2 one wasn't due to it not existing.

Yeah, that makes sense i suppose. Shame though (nothing is EVER easy with EA)

If you really want to get it to run through Origin I would let Origin start downloading the game and then quit Origin. Go and find where you originally installed Battlefield and either cut or copy the contents of the folder into the folder where Origin is now downloading it to.

Thanks, i think i will try that. I have done similar on Steam, so it should work.

45 minute average wait with EA support tonight

I have been waiting for 1/2 hour though. I have a few things i want to try and sort out with them.

Pighardia · 26 Sep 2011 at 21:36

45 minutes later:

I'm done with Origin. EA customer support is appalling!

HangTime · 26 Sep 2011 at 22:50

andshrew said:
If you really want to get it to run through Origin I would let Origin start downloading the game and then quit Origin. Go and find where you originally installed Battlefield and either cut or copy the contents of the folder into the folder where Origin is now downloading it to.

Start up Origin again and it should start verifying these files, you may still need to download a few but it should save you having to download 8GB or so...

I don't think this will work as based on my experiences over the years Origin doesn't download 'installed' versions of the game, it downloads an installer and then installs the game (hence you have seperate "Ready to Download" and "Ready to Install" states). Implication being that if you have the game already installed, that won't match the contents of the installer very well (especially if the installer extracts stuff from archives).

Pighardia · 26 Sep 2011 at 22:51

HangTime said:
I don't think this will work as based on my experiences over the years Origin doesn't download 'installed' versions of the game, it downloads an installer and then installs the game (hence you have seperate "Ready to Download" and "Ready to Install" states). Implication being that if you have the game already installed, that won't match the contents of the installer very well (especially if the installer extracts stuff from archives).

That seems to be the case, as it didn't work unfortunately.