new os with old steam

wizdumb

wizdumb

New member
so i upgraded from winXP to win7 last nigt, i saved my steam folder on a secondry hdd - although windows did save all my files in a folder called windows.old

now my question is, do i just copy the steam folder back to c:\program files? and how do i access steam again, and my games and i would need shortcuts as well.

i know there is/was a way for steam to back up your games, but i didn't go that route as would have been very timely.
 
The backups from within steam is the best route to follow, but in your case too late.

Download and install steam again. Then from your old steam folder, copy the apps folder into the new steam folder. (obviously do this with steam closed)

Once you start up again, it should pick up your old games again.
 
Install steam from scratch on new pc. Then copy the steamapps folder only. Shortcuts you can restore by rightclicking on the games in steam...there is a button for that somewhere.

The saved games are a bit more problematic. Those with cloud sync will take care of themselves...the others you will need to find the location of the saved games. Some or in your win user directory.

You can use the built in backups tool....but personally I don't like it. Takes forever.
 
I copied the steam files back and installed steam over them, have not had any problems, games and account was still there.
(but that was win7 -> win7)
 
HavocXphere said:
Install steam from scratch on new pc. Then copy the steamapps folder only. Shortcuts you can restore by rightclicking on the games in steam...there is a button for that somewhere.

The saved games are a bit more problematic. Those with cloud sync will take care of themselves...the others you will need to find the location of the saved games. Some or in your win user directory.

You can use the built in backups tool....but personally I don't like it. Takes forever.
Click to expand...

sounds like a plan...to install steam do i just insert a game disc that runs on steam, or do i download it from the steam website
 
i suggest copying over the old steam folder once you installed steam. reason being the old steam will probably have most of the steam updates already installed, evens the newest release from their website still does the update of steam itself.
 
Steam is very flexible... It is like a .NET application. I've done this between at least 3 times already. Basically you copy your whole Steam folder to your new drive and simply create a shortcut on your desktop to Steam.exe. Steam will function 100% including automatic updates.

One thing though, most of your games should work since you've upgraded to Win7, but some of the newer games, will need to have their prerequisites installed again. I'm not sure if Steam will do this automatically but if it doesn't, simply go to \Steam\steamapps\common\Game_Name\Redist and install all the files under that folder.

Do take note that some of your games that might be running on "Games for Windows Live"... you might have just lost your saved games (e.g. Batman).
 
tpex said:
I copied the steam files back and installed steam over them, have not had any problems, games and account was still there.
(but that was win7 -> win7)
Click to expand...

I did the same thing. You shouldn't experience any problems if you do this. Al long as all the back-ups are safe. :-)
 
steam seems to be working but not the games, although they are all there...i click on the mw3 shortcut, it says game loading and then disappears

...what does "delete local game content" do?
as i think i might need to reinstall
 
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