Well it seems I need to reinstall TW2 due to 1.3 making my game lag terribly, even on medium/low spec. No, I don't use Steam to play it, I have the boxed version.

So my question is, how do I install TW2 without it updating to 1.3, and only to 1.2? The official site says if you are doing a reinstallation it'll automatically update to 1.3. How do I only get it to 1.2?

Disconnect from the internet during installation and manually use the Patches 1.1 and 1.2 available on www.thewitcher.com in sequence.
Feel free to reconnect your internet afterwards.

You download them first, then begin the installation process. :)

So first I completely uninstall TW2, then download the patches? Where would they be saved to if there is no TW2 file on my computer? And before I start the installation do I disconnect from the internet?

1. Uninstall TW2
2. Download patches.
3. Disconnect your internet.
4. Install TW2
5. Apply Patch 1.2

One of the possible paths :)

They're saved to your browser's standard Downloads folder - wherever that is.

And yes, you disconnect from the internet before starting the installation.
It's like gregski said, except that you'll have to apply Patch 1.1 first (make sure you download the one for the worldwide boxed version!), and then 1.2.

Although I don't know why you need two topics for this, I think you are still thinking you can only patch with the launcher. That is exactly what you are NOT supposed to do.

Download patches 1.1 + 1.2 http://en.thewitcher.com/patch1-3/
Save them to a place where you find them afterwards (disregard what Aaden said, choose a place, like the desktop and archive them in a sensible place later).
Uninstall game. Afterwards make sure the directory is completely gone/empty (I had files stuck once).
Install the patches by doubleclicking, if launcher pops up, close it.
I've never had to disconnect, but it doesn't hurt as a precaution.

> So first I completely uninstall TW2, then download the patches?
yes

> Where would they be saved to if there is no TW2 file on my computer?
You know where they're saved as the browser asks you !!!!?

> And before I start the installation do I disconnect from the internet?
yes

So confused at the moment:

I reinstalled it, and then it says Patcher_Atari ready. So instead of clicking that I instead click the Patcher1.1 on my desktop, but it says the installation is incomplete. How the hell do I install this game again?

Actually, many browsers do not do this by default, you have to change settings before they will ask you where to save files. However, there is a default location that the browser will save files to (probably a "my downloads" or similar).

For the OP: as others have said, you want to avoid using the launcher to patch the game... if you are online, the launcher will automatically apply patch v1.3, which you don't want. So instead, you need to get the patches separately and then make sure you are OFFLINE when installing the game. Once it's installed, run the patches in order, v1.1 first, then v1.2.

Regarding the error you are getting with running patch v1.1, my guess is that the game did not fully uninstall. When you uninstall the game, after the process finishes, go look for the game folder. This will be wherever you chose to install it, but by default it's probably somewhere in Program Files, probably Program Files\CDProjekt\Withcer 2 or something like that. If the folder is still there, delete it. Then, go to your "My Documents" folder and look for a folder for the Witcher 2. Delete that as well. Now the game should be fully removed from your system.

Then, disconnect from the internet and install the game. When it's done, apply patch 1.1, then 1.2. When they're all done, you can reconnect to the internet. You may want to avoid using the game's launcher after this is done... instead find witcher2.exe in your install directory and run directly from that (or create a shortcut to it).

A question for those who have the boxed version: I heard that it originally shipped with some DRM that was patched out after about a week. Would this cause problems when trying to install the game offline? Is it patch v1.1 that removes the DRM from boxed copies?

You forgot to say that the SAVEGAMES are in there. No need to delete them. Only the config folder inside the Witcher 2 folder. Don't have a boxed version (probably why I don't have to go offline), but yes, the DRM got patched out with patch 1.1.

Well I deleted everything I think... Even saved files....

But now after I put the activation key in it says Error Writing File... Retrying in 10 seconds and does nothing. What happened now?

there is no need for the key, don't activate anything, of course it will say error since you are not connected to the internet to activate, don't connect, just patch:
1. install game
2. install patch0 ( EFIGS/Atari/whatever )
3. install 1.1
4. install 1.2

By patch0 do you mean the Patcher_Atari thing in My Documents? Because I clicked that (I was connected to the internet), it patched, and now it's done. I guess it's at 1.3 because I still lag like hell in the game.