Steam Question

P-Sleazy · 09-19-2011, 10:52 PM

Sooo...I'm about to crash my computer and reboot it to factory default settings (mostly to fix alot of default programs I seem to have inadvertently "broken" over the years of tampering with computer files and options and etc). Anyways, I'm putting a list together of everything I'll need to recover (mostly, as it turns out, this list is comprised of videogames...how ironic!). So, my question is, will I get all my games back onto my computer when I reinstall steam without me having to pay for them again? Also, for when I buy a new computer a few months/year down the road, can I transfer said games onto that computer aswell?

Thanks in advance!

Krylo · 09-19-2011, 10:54 PM

Steam games are tied to your account, they have unlimited installs on any computer you can get online with.

Doc ock rokc · 09-19-2011, 10:56 PM

Usually if a non valve DRM forces you to not install you can email valve or the company explaining. They will in all likelihood allow you to install.

Seil · 09-19-2011, 10:58 PM

Yes, I think so.

After my laptop went kaput, I took it to the shop keep who pieced it back together with antivirus software and silly putty. And some staples. And I then re-downloaded every. Little. Thing.

Everything at 10B/s.

P-Sleazy · 09-19-2011, 11:09 PM

cool! thanks again!

rpgdemon · 09-20-2011, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seil

Everything at 10B/s.

I believe that clearly says 24.6 KB/s.

SEIL IS A LIAR. GIVE YOUR MONEYS TO ME INSTEAD OF HIM!

PyrosNine · 09-19-2011, 11:14 PM

You can also save the steam install folder (and games) onto an external hard drive (if it's big enough) and then move it back onto the new computer, delete a certain steam file (check the steam help faq on moving install to a new hard drive for deets) and then run steam.exe. Steam will usually rebuild itself like nothing happened, and your saves and programs will still be there. Usually.

Marc v4.0 · 09-19-2011, 11:21 PM

Usually.

I had all of Dead Space get lost in transit, but Steam kept telling me it was all there.

Azisien · 09-20-2011, 12:45 AM

Yeah if you save the Steamapps/common folder, where 99% of game data is kept, you can save yourself a lot of download time. When you reinstall Steam, just plop it back where it used to be.

Your games list won't immediately show up, but when you go to download it, Steam will recognize the files and auto-verify. That can take a while to be honest, but better than downloading for most.

akaSM · 09-20-2011, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azisien

Yeah if you save the Steamapps/common folder, where 99% of game data is kept, you can save yourself a lot of download time. When you reinstall Steam, just plop it back where it used to be.

Your games list won't immediately show up, but when you go to download it, Steam will recognize the files and auto-verify. That can take a while to be honest, but better than downloading for most.

Wait...you can actually just do that? Because making backups the regular way takes a looooooooooooong time

09-19-2011, 10:52 PM	#1
P-Sleazy Can Summon Sparkles by Posing! Join Date: May 2004 Location: Kinging it up! Posts: 2,339	Steam Question Sooo...I'm about to crash my computer and reboot it to factory default settings (mostly to fix alot of default programs I seem to have inadvertently "broken" over the years of tampering with computer files and options and etc). Anyways, I'm putting a list together of everything I'll need to recover (mostly, as it turns out, this list is comprised of videogames...how ironic!). So, my question is, will I get all my games back onto my computer when I reinstall steam without me having to pay for them again? Also, for when I buy a new computer a few months/year down the road, can I transfer said games onto that computer aswell? Thanks in advance! __________________ The King is your new master now. Totally returning for the Summer: a mafia Game: Sign ups HERE!

09-19-2011, 10:54 PM	#2
Krylo The Straightest Shota Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: It's a secret to everybody. Posts: 17,789	Might be some exceptions due to non-valve DRM, but they're rare. Steam games are tied to your account, they have unlimited installs on any computer you can get online with. __________________ I am very tired.

09-19-2011, 10:56 PM	#3
Doc ock rokc ...Really? Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: in Theory. Everything works here Posts: 3,961	Usually if a non valve DRM forces you to not install you can email valve or the company explaining. They will in all likelihood allow you to install. __________________ I have a Pesterchum its DangerousDoc I am ether fading out of Time, Space, or Reality...Or Simply my Typewriter is running out of ink

09-19-2011, 11:09 PM	#5
P-Sleazy Can Summon Sparkles by Posing! Join Date: May 2004 Location: Kinging it up! Posts: 2,339	cool! thanks again! __________________ The King is your new master now. Totally returning for the Summer: a mafia Game: Sign ups HERE!

09-19-2011, 11:14 PM	#7
PyrosNine Zettai Hero Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: A figment of my own imagination Posts: 6,103	You can also save the steam install folder (and games) onto an external hard drive (if it's big enough) and then move it back onto the new computer, delete a certain steam file (check the steam help faq on moving install to a new hard drive for deets) and then run steam.exe. Steam will usually rebuild itself like nothing happened, and your saves and programs will still be there. Usually. __________________ Pyrosnine.blogspot.com: An experimental blog of writing. Updated possibly daily. Possibly. A fair chance. Current Works for reading: War Between them, Karma Police. PyrosNine: Weirdo Magnet Extraordinaire!

09-19-2011, 10:58 PM	#4
Seil Super stressed! Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: British Columbia Posts: 8,081	Yes, I think so. After my laptop went kaput, I took it to the shop keep who pieced it back together with antivirus software and silly putty. And some staples. And I then re-downloaded every. Little. Thing. Everything at 10B/s.

09-19-2011, 11:21 PM	#8
Marc v4.0 Fight Me, Nerds Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 3,470	Usually. I had all of Dead Space get lost in transit, but Steam kept telling me it was all there. __________________

09-20-2011, 12:45 AM	#9
Azisien wat Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,177	Yeah if you save the Steamapps/common folder, where 99% of game data is kept, you can save yourself a lot of download time. When you reinstall Steam, just plop it back where it used to be. Your games list won't immediately show up, but when you go to download it, Steam will recognize the files and auto-verify. That can take a while to be honest, but better than downloading for most.