I’ve had this problem too.
I belive because of something incompatabile with the select_directory window…
Odd solution:
1) create a folder for a game
2) put a Gw2Setup.exe in it
3) change its name to Gw2.exe
4) run
in my case it begun downloading files in current directory…This fixed the installer for me
I tried this and although it installed GW2 and allowed me to play it – there were some problems as i mentioned in this post:-
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/support/support/When-I-install-game-does-not-install/4888658
However it doesn’t look line a normal install, as there are no links in programs or Windows Control Panel “Programs and Features”.
Worse still, when I quit GW2 and just tried to play again – it started downloading the entire 30000 plus files again
I am having this exact same problem…after I exit the game and try to relaunch the launcher, I have to download all the files again. This is super frustrating. Tried everything people have suggested on these forums and still nothing.