I'm binning my Vista install for the Windows 7 RC, and am wondering if there's any way of transferring my installed Steam games, saved games etc to the new install, without having to download them again? I'm on a download limit, and having downloaded a 3gb operating system don't really want to be pushing my luck by downloading a whole load of games as well!
Transferring Steam games to a new install?
- Thread starter manic111
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Soldato
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can u not buy a new HD to use as your windows drive and just run them from your storage drive (the existing drive you have now)?
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What I do is delete everthing within the Steam folder exact from SteamApps and the Steam.exe.. copy that.. and then paste in your new installation.. then run the Steam.exe.
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1. Use the windows easy transfer wizard for all your save games that reside in "my docs"
2. Make a backup of your steam folder on another drive.
3. Install win7
4. Use the windows easy transfer wizard to import all your saves and docs
5. Put steam back where you want it.
6. Finally reinstall steam over the top of your restored steam.
2. Make a backup of your steam folder on another drive.
3. Install win7
4. Use the windows easy transfer wizard to import all your saves and docs
5. Put steam back where you want it.
6. Finally reinstall steam over the top of your restored steam.
Soldato
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I was under the impression that you could just copy the entire Steam folder across without issue. 
If not, you can backup the games into nice sized .exe file and copy them across.
If not, you can backup the games into nice sized .exe file and copy them across.
I was under the impression that you could just copy the entire Steam folder across without issue.
If not, you can backup the games into nice sized .exe file and copy them across.
Exe file or Zip file?
Wilderbeast, if I re-install Steam over the folders that I've dragged back across does that not overwrite the full steamapps folder?
Soldato
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I've just backed up one small game, and it's come out with the following files.
autorun.inf
Commander Keen Complete Pack_disk1.sim
Commander Keen Complete Pack_disk1.sis
Commander Keen Complete Pack_disk1_0.sid
steam.ico
steambackup.exe
What does? Sorry, little confused
How are you backing these up? Is it via the Steam backup your games function?
What does? Sorry, little confused
Yeah it is, that's how the files are if you use the backup option.
Soldato
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What does? Sorry, little confused
In steam, right click on a game and select "Backup Game Files...".
dont use the steam 'easy backup wizard' thing, thats the n00bs way to do it!!! (+takes longer to reinstall everything)
just copy the entire steam folder (or just 'steamapps') onto another drive, install windows then copy it back into C:\... or do what i did and just leave it on the other drive and install the steam client into that drive (E:\steam) so that your games run from the backup drive so you never have to mess about with it again
and to combat any potential performace issues this could cause i have it installed onto a 2nd partition on my primary drive (so its on the same physical drive as C:\)
as for the saved games they should be in your Doc's (remember to put them back after)
just copy the entire steam folder (or just 'steamapps') onto another drive, install windows then copy it back into C:\... or do what i did and just leave it on the other drive and install the steam client into that drive (E:\steam) so that your games run from the backup drive so you never have to mess about with it again
and to combat any potential performace issues this could cause i have it installed onto a 2nd partition on my primary drive (so its on the same physical drive as C:\)
as for the saved games they should be in your Doc's (remember to put them back after)
Soldato
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Well noobs may use it, but steam allows you to completely backup the steam folder, doesn't take long on my system and I've about 82GB of steam stuff. Then anytime I wish to reinstall I just restore from the backup.
File >backup steam >then pick whichever games you wish to backup.
File >backup steam >then pick whichever games you wish to backup.
When I upgraded from Vista to 7, I simply installed Steam and then transferred my SteamApps folder across. The game ran absolutely fine but it wouldnt display any servers at all. Ended up just deleting it and re-downloading it. Sucks, but I couldnt get it working any other way - Didnt know steam has a backup feature at the time.