backing up steam games...

Redeemed · 07-23-10, 10:49 PM

Hey ya'll- bout ready to install my SSDs and do a fresh install. I have well over 100GB of games in my Steams list and really don't want to DL them all over again. Is there any way to back up a specific game in my Steam folder. Then after finished installing windows/updates/drivers/etc and after re-installing steam, transfer the folder back over to the new steam folder and have all my games work?

I suspect maybe not due to registry keys? Just curious and remember this or a similar topic being discussed here before.

Thanks ya'll.

**Airbrushkid** · 07-23-10, 11:17 PM

You just right click the game and you'll seena option to back up the game. You'll seen all your steam games there. Once you look youy'll see how it works. And bno I don't think you can just copy a folder.

Redeemed · 07-23-10, 11:20 PM

Oh... so even after doing that back up I'll still have to re-download it? Can't just copy it over after the fresh install?

That's gonna' take a long-arse time.

logan · 07-23-10, 11:29 PM

I don't know about Steam's builtin backup system, but when I setup my Windows gaming system I just copied the steamapps dir from my Linux desktop and Steam pulled 'em all in fine. A few games needed updating, but I didn't have to download the whole thing. If you have 100GB free space somewhere, just try to copy the steamapps dir or the specific .gcf file(s) and then back again after.

Redeemed · 07-23-10, 11:32 PM

Hmm... not a bad idea Logan. Thanks.

dikinher · 07-23-10, 11:47 PM

I do the same thing. I just copy the steamapps folder into my backup hard drive. Eliminates the whole idea of redownloading games.

**K007** · 07-23-10, 11:55 PM

i just copy the steam folder...never used the backup system in steam.

the copy folder is so easy lol...

Redeemed · 07-24-10, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K007

i just copy the steam folder...never used the backup system in steam.

the copy folder is so easy lol...

The entire folder? So you don't do a fresh install of Steam? And it works?

nutcrackr · 07-24-10, 12:13 AM

I just copy steam apps.

install steam fresh on a new system, login then close steam.

copy steam apps and all the gcfs and common programs. Start steam and all your games should be 100%. I've done this a few times moving computers works well. Hardest part is transferring saves and finding out where they all are.

Albo · 07-24-10, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nutcrackr

I just copy steam apps.

install steam fresh on a new system, login then close steam.

copy steam apps and all the gcfs and common programs. Start steam and all your games should be 100%. I've done this a few times moving computers works well. Hardest part is transferring saves and finding out where they all are.

Exactly what he said.

trivium nate · 07-24-10, 12:57 AM

my steam folder is on my 2nd drive i just reinstall steam every fresh install and it works fine,
if you do it that way make sure you right click on all of them to make sure that the keep my game option is selected

**K007** · 07-24-10, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redeemed

The entire folder? So you don't do a fresh install of Steam? And it works?

no no i do install it, and after installation, i just copy / paste the folder over.

07-23-10, 10:49 PM	#1
Redeemed Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 17,986	backing up steam games... Hey ya'll- bout ready to install my SSDs and do a fresh install. I have well over 100GB of games in my Steams list and really don't want to DL them all over again. Is there any way to back up a specific game in my Steam folder. Then after finished installing windows/updates/drivers/etc and after re-installing steam, transfer the folder back over to the new steam folder and have all my games work? I suspect maybe not due to registry keys? Just curious and remember this or a similar topic being discussed here before. Thanks ya'll.

07-23-10, 11:17 PM	#2
Airbrushkid Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,414	Re: backing up steam games... You just right click the game and you'll seena option to back up the game. You'll seen all your steam games there. Once you look youy'll see how it works. And bno I don't think you can just copy a folder. __________________ Intel Q9550 l eVGA NForce 780i SLI FTW l 2 Palit GTX 560 Ti 2 GB SLI l Corsair Dominator 8 gig PC2-8500 l 2 - Intel X-25M 80 gb SSD Raid 0 l WD 1 -2TB & 2 -1TB l On board sound l Antec TruePower Quattro TPQ-1200 1200W l Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit l 3 X Dell E248WFP 24" Monitors

07-23-10, 11:20 PM	#3
Redeemed Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 17,986	Re: backing up steam games... Oh... so even after doing that back up I'll still have to re-download it? Can't just copy it over after the fresh install? That's gonna' take a long-arse time.

07-23-10, 11:29 PM	#4
logan Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 492	Re: backing up steam games... I don't know about Steam's builtin backup system, but when I setup my Windows gaming system I just copied the steamapps dir from my Linux desktop and Steam pulled 'em all in fine. A few games needed updating, but I didn't have to download the whole thing. If you have 100GB free space somewhere, just try to copy the steamapps dir or the specific .gcf file(s) and then back again after.

07-23-10, 11:32 PM	#5
Redeemed Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 17,986	Re: backing up steam games... Hmm... not a bad idea Logan. Thanks.

07-23-10, 11:47 PM	#6
dikinher Grab em! Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Fullerton, CA. Posts: 744	Re: backing up steam games... I do the same thing. I just copy the steamapps folder into my backup hard drive. Eliminates the whole idea of redownloading games. __________________ Windows 7 Pro 64 OS * i7 2600K @4.5Ghz * ASUS P8P67 PRO (B3) * 4GB G.Skill Ripjaws X * EVGA GTX 670 FTW Edition * Cooler Master HAF 932

07-23-10, 11:55 PM	#7
K007 Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Australia, Sydney Posts: 9,405	Re: backing up steam games... i just copy the steam folder...never used the backup system in steam. the copy folder is so easy lol...

07-24-10, 12:13 AM	#9
nutcrackr Super Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Australia Posts: 3,204	Re: backing up steam games... I just copy steam apps. install steam fresh on a new system, login then close steam. copy steam apps and all the gcfs and common programs. Start steam and all your games should be 100%. I've done this a few times moving computers works well. Hardest part is transferring saves and finding out where they all are. __________________ .

07-24-10, 12:57 AM	#11
trivium nate Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 4,023	Re: backing up steam games... my steam folder is on my 2nd drive i just reinstall steam every fresh install and it works fine, if you do it that way make sure you right click on all of them to make sure that the keep my game option is selected __________________ CM-HAF-932//AMD Phenom-II-X4-965-BE-Deneb-3.4 GHz-Quad Core//CorsairH50 ASRock 770 EXTREME3 Mobo//EVGA GTX-480(1536MB GDDR5)-Arctic Cooling Accelero Xtreme+cooler 180GB SSD//3TB//G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB//DVD-RW//blu-Ray//1000 Watt Corsair PSU 42"Vizio TV-1920x1080-1080P-120Hertz//Win 7 Ultimate(64)//XBox360-pc controller Saitek Eclipse 2 keyboard//Razer DeathAdder Mouse//250gb-Xbox 360//160gb-PS3