This is what happened:

Taken from sGE forums in Gen Disc

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions (2.4 Manual Patch - get your download today!)

4. I have an archive named 80000(.zip) and 132 other files with the same name in my game directory, what do I do now?

Ans: NOTHING. You have successfully installed the patch to the proper location, it is now waiting for the servers to be updated at which point those files will be patched into the client. Do not extract the archive or modify it in any way or you will corrupt your client and be forced to completely reinstall.

See the part in bold? that's what happened to me. Poor innocent people who weren't told at the beginning to NOT unzip that blasted file kena GE client CORRUPTED. They only posted this warning yesterday. Knn.

Monday is still very far away. I'm aching to play .. and wanting very much to strangle IAH. Gonna go back forums and continue to blast IAH~