Official Patch 1.9 Offline? (Please read before judging)

[nonetwork]

I've contacted Bethesda about this, but I thought someone here might know something as well.

 

A couple of years ago I purchased a retail version of Skyrim, installed it, activated it through Steam, and played it offline for a while. Since then I've rebuilt my PC a few times, and I also stopped using Windows about a year ago, so I've been on Linux since then.

 

I recently did another rebuild, and I've decided to dualboot this time with the only Windows version I have a licence for, Windows XP. There are a few programs that I've missed which aren't on Linux, but I have the licences for on Windows. I know that support for XP has been dropped, so for safety's sake I've disabled all networking ability in XP, and only connect to the net through Linux.

 

 

Here's where my problem begins. My other programs work fine without an internet connection, but I'd really like to play Skyrim again. My retail version requires activation in Steam on its first run, and a connection to Steam for patches. This won't be directly possible because of my setup, so I wonder if there are any options to download an offline patch to v1.9 that also disables the requirement for Steam?

 

If my searches are correct, Bethesda hasn't released a patch in over a year, (1.9.32.0.8 - March 20, 2013), so I'm guessing that this is the final official patch. I know other companies have relaxed things like online requirements in their final patches, has Bethesda done the same?

 

I'm not willing to use the "hacked" patches that exist online. Although my boot of XP won't be online, I pride myself on not using pirated software, and I'm not willing to risk any viruses that could do more than an online exploit.

 

I've already proven to Steam, (and therefore Bethesda), that I have a legitimate copy by activating it online once. Do I really need to do it again?

 

Thanks for any help...

 

[ZeroKing]

No. Updates are always done via Steam, it's the only and legal way to do so. Skyrim is a Steamworks game, so you'll need Steam to update your game accordingly.

[LadyMilla]

I would suggest that following solution:

- Download a trial version of an Internet security product (that includes a firewall) and install it;

- Install Steam, install your Skyim game, let Steam confirm your legal ownership and download the latest patch;

- Switch Steam to Offline mode.

- Unplug the computer;

- Uninstall the trial version of the Internet security product;

- You can now block the Internet connection (disable the network adapter) on Windows XP and re-plug your internet line so you can use it on Linux.

[nonetwork]

Hmmm.....

 

Well I hope Bethesda can tell me something different or I'm going to be really dissapointed in them for the first time since Arena. It is listed as a 3rd party game on Steam, so while it's hosted on Steam, it isn't really one of "their" games. As has been posted on earlier threads, they are basically the holders of the DRM, so hopefully Bethesda can do something.

 

I'm afraid this is really a case of a legitimate purchaser being punished for purchasing. Maybe this is why I'm just not so excited about gaming now as I was from 5 to 30 years ago.

 

:(

 

Anyone else with anything more hopeful?

[nonetwork]

Double Post

Edited June 11, 2014 by nonetwork

[nonetwork]

  On 6/11/2014 at 2:38 PM, LadyMilla said:

I would suggest that following solution:

 

Thanks, I may have to do this. I'm currently researching 3rd party firewall programs with rule creation. Any ideas on what IPs steam uses?

Edited June 11, 2014 by nonetwork

[LadyMilla]

This is from my Peerblock exceptions file:

Steam Content Server:63.145.202.2-63.145.202.2
Steam Auth:63.145.202.3-63.145.202.3
Steam Content Server:65.113.241.34-65.113.241.34
Steam Auth:65.113.241.35-65.113.241.35
Steam Friends:68.142.64.162-68.142.64.166
Steam Catalog:68.142.72.24-68.142.72.25
Steam Auth:68.142.72.250-68.142.72.251
Steam Content Server:68.142.72.253-68.142.72.253
Steam Catalog:68.142.73.20-68.142.73.20
Steam Catalog:68.142.73.27-68.142.73.27
Steam Catalog:68.142.73.33-68.142.73.33
Steam Catalog:68.142.73.62-68.142.73.62
Steam Catalog:68.142.74.74-68.142.74.74
Steam Catalog:68.142.74.82-68.142.74.82
Steam Catalog:68.142.74.85-68.142.74.85
Steam Catalog:68.142.74.118-68.142.74.118
Steam Content Server:68.142.81.2-68.142.81.3
Steam Content Server:68.142.81.5-68.142.81.5
Steam Auth:68.142.88.34-68.142.88.34
Steam Content Server:68.142.100.74-68.142.100.75
Steam Content Server:68.142.100.77-68.142.100.78
Steam Content Server:69.28.135.84-69.28.135.85
Steam Content Server:69.28.140.242-69.28.140.244
Steam Content Server:69.28.145.81-69.28.145.81
Steam Content Server:69.28.145.83-69.28.145.83
Steam Friends:69.28.148.250-69.28.148.250
Steam Auth:69.28.151.178-69.28.151.178
Steam Auth:69.28.153.82-69.28.153.82
Steam Content Server:69.28.153.90-69.28.153.90
Steam Content Server:69.28.153.107-69.28.153.107
Steam Friends:69.28.156.250-69.28.156.250
Steam Content Server:69.28.158.131-69.28.158.131
Steam Auth:69.28.160.147-69.28.160.148
Steam Content Server:69.28.181.178-69.28.181.180
Steam Content Server:72.165.61.185-72.165.61.186
Steam Friends:72.165.61.187-72.165.61.188
Valve Corp 2:72.165.61.128-72.165.61.191
Valve TINET:77.67.56.160-77.67.56.191
Valve TINET:77.67.60.128-77.67.60.135
Valve TINET:77.67.60.152-77.67.60.159
Valve TINET:77.67.60.32-77.67.60.63
Valve EU-NL:81.171.115.0-81.171.115.39
Steam Content Server:87.248.196.115-87.248.196.115
Steam Content Server:87.248.208.115-87.248.208.115
Valve Inet Admin:103.10.124.0-103.10.125.255
Valve VC AP:103.28.54.0-103.28.55.255
Valve EU VC IP4 1:146.66.152.0-146.66.153.255
Valve EU VC IP4 3:146.66.156.0-146.66.157.255
Valve EU VC IP4 4:146.66.155.0-146.66.155.255
Steam Auth:207.173.177.11-207.173.177.12
Valve IP range:208.64.200.0-208.64.203.255
Valve V4 4 range:208.78.164.0-208.78.167.255
Steam Content Server:208.111.140.3-208.111.140.3
Steam Content Server:208.111.140.5-208.111.140.5
Steam Catalog:208.111.168.34-208.111.168.34
Steam Catalog:208.111.168.36-208.111.168.36

I might add that this list may only be useful for someone living in Europe - the IP addresses may be different in each region.

[nonetwork]

  On 6/11/2014 at 4:19 PM, LadyMilla said:

This is from my Peerblock exceptions file:

Thanks! At least I'll be able to identify them as Steam or Valve.