Some help with STEAM please

I'm kind of new to steam (have been using it for a week now) so I'm not sure how it works properly yet. If I get a retail DVD of a steam game from a friend, can I buy a code or whatever from steam and then install the game from the DVD? I got Metro 2033 from someone but he has already used to activation code so I can't install it. I want to know if I buy the game from steam will I be able to install it from his disk instead of downloading the whole thing from steam (which I really, really can't do)?

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Originally Posted by Wlad

I'm kind of new to steam (have been using it for a week now) so I'm not sure how it works properly yet. If I get a retail DVD of a steam game from a friend, can I buy a code or whatever from steam and then install the game from the DVD? I got Metro 2033 from someone but he has already used to activation code so I can't install it. I want to know if I buy the game from steam will I be able to install it from his disk instead of downloading the whole thing from steam (which I really, really can't do)?

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That should work afaik because it's a steam game install disc. Once it's in your library ( just buy the game and not install/download ) try using the disc.

The only other method I know is to use steam backup and restore. Apparently you can also let steam start to download it, stop the client, close it and copy over the binaries into the apps\<game folder>, start up steam again and it should then only replace the exe and few other files.

You can try, but its a long shot. You might get away with not downloading a few files using what prophet said if the hashes line up. Chances are they won't though: Retail version is unpatched while steam version is. Plus the files sometimes differ on a fundamental level. e.g. if they stripped DRM from the steam version. If you can find someone with the steam version on his/her harddisk...that you can copy straight.

Yup it's possible, but depending on the game you might get different results. I'm doing this on Splinter Cell Conviction atm and it's skipping most of the files, but it still has to download a fair amount.

Edit: I believe Metro 2033 is a Steamworks game, so you can use the disc with your key without issue.

Thanks dudes. I bought the key from steam and then installed it from disk, but it still needs to download about 2.5GB of data. I don't really want to use up that much of my (limited) cap this early in the month, but I guess it's better than downloading the whole thing off of steam. Just hope the game is worth the hassle ...

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Originally Posted by Wlad

Thanks dudes. I bought the key from steam and then installed it from disk, but it still needs to download about 2.5GB of data. I don't really want to use up that much of my (limited) cap this early in the month, but I guess it's better than downloading the whole thing off of steam. Just hope the game is worth the hassle ...

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that's weird since metro2033 is a steamworks game. unless that's part of content/binary updates. try this and see if it's the same before you download:

stop everything
right click delete local files
and try to install from disc again

:e
there is always webafrica's freezone for steam games to think about if you really can't just download 2.5 gigs.

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Originally Posted by Pr⊕phet

that's weird since metro2033 is a steamworks game. unless that's part of content/binary updates. try this and see if it's the same before you download:

stop everything
right click delete local files
and try to install from disc again

:e
there is always webafrica's freezone for steam games to think about if you really can't just download 2.5 gigs.

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Cool, will try that and see what happens. If it does want to still download it afterwards I'll just do it and get it done with. I already bought the game from steam so it would be a waste not to download it. I have iBurst so I doubt that webafrica would be of any use to me. :(

EDIT: It still needs to download 2.7GB. :( Damnit, there goes my planned evening with The Witcher 2. I just wanted to install Metro, check it out and then get back to Geralt but now I have to download this stupid update. I can't play The Witcher while I download it because it is installed on my windows XP HDD wheras I'm installing Metro to my Win7 HDD so I can take advantage of my new DirectX 10(or 11 - whichever version works better) gfx card.

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Originally Posted by Wlad

Thanks dudes. I bought the key from steam and then installed it from disk, but it still needs to download about 2.5GB of data. I don't really want to use up that much of my (limited) cap this early in the month, but I guess it's better than downloading the whole thing off of steam. Just hope the game is worth the hassle ...

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Ya thats the worst thing about steam games.. the endless update horrors lol :P got warhammer2 from a friend and needed a 4gb patch or something.. bigger than the game itself. wtf

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Originally Posted by Wlad

Cool, will try that and see what happens. If it does want to still download it afterwards I'll just do it and get it done with. I already bought the game from steam so it would be a waste not to download it. I have iBurst so I doubt that webafrica would be of any use to me. :(

EDIT: It still needs to download 2.7GB. :( Damnit, there goes my planned evening with The Witcher 2. I just wanted to install Metro, check it out and then get back to Geralt but now I have to download this stupid update. I can't play The Witcher while I download it because it is installed on my windows XP HDD wheras I'm installing Metro to my Win7 HDD so I can take advantage of my new DirectX 10(or 11 - whichever version works better) gfx card.

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They forgot to tell you that you should have deleted the local files then properties and set the game not to keep it up to date then install it that "should" let you play it without updating.

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Originally Posted by Crzwaco

They forgot to tell you that you should have deleted the local files then properties and set the game not to keep it up to date then install it that "should" let you play it without updating.

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So it was an update. Totally forgot about that, bah luxuries of uncapped :o

I did the update and so far the game is definitely worth the hassle. :D

There's a command line you can run to force steam to install off the disk:

This worked partially for me to get Homefront to install its initial data off disk instead of downloading the entire thing.

See this steam forums thread, or alternatively steam kb.