Re"install" steam games without deleting them?

[Furanot]

I have reinstalled Steam right now, without deleting any games. Is there a way to kind of reuse those games without reinstalling them as well? I don't have any backups or anything, just the games already laying on my computer while deleting and installing Steam. I started with reinstalling because of it dropping truck loads of folders and files on my desktop.

 

[tical2399]

I have my steam folder on a different folder windows. When I reinstall windows. I just for to the folder with steam and run the exe, its kinda just updates and i guess fixes the registries and launches. Then when I click on a game, it does first time set up, installing the direct x and vs runtimes and thats that. Saves all work and everything.

 

[Edo4Life]

Steam should automatically detect them. Just click "Download" and hope it detects local files. If not, you will have to re-download those games.

 

[tical2399]

He doesnt have to redownload anything. I Just go to the folder where steam is stored. Click on the steam icon. It will open (won't even make you re log in). Then click on the games that you already have installed. It will run direct x and all that at first time launch. Then the game will run. I literally did this last Saturday.

 

[Edo4Life]

You heard tical2399. It should work fine.

 

[Furanot]

I'll try now

 

[tical2399]

As long as the steam folder is on a separate drive than your windows os was then you'll be fine.

 

[Furanot]

It didn't work, but I'm running the games right now. Thank you anyways

 

[tical2399]

It didn't work, but I'm running the games right now. Thank you anyways

so if it didnt work how are you running the games. Also since it didn't work what did it do when you clicked on the steam exe?

 

[Edo4Life]

I don't understand either. But it works and that's good!

 

[Furanot]

Your solution didn't work, nothing happened when clicking the Steam icon on the folder. I installed Steam again after reinstalling Windows 10, which I am running the games on now. Turns out, by deleting Steam, Windows automatically deleted my whole library! Whats weird, my games were still shown in the programs "folder" (don't know what its called) in the control panel. As I tried to run these games that I didn't really have on my drive (although Windows told me I had), I discovered my games were missing. So I then had to download the games and install them over again. Thanks for the help, it might save me later 🙂

 

[tical2399]

Your solution didn't work, nothing happened when clicking the Steam icon on the folder. I installed Steam again after reinstalling Windows 10, which I am running the games on now. Turns out, by deleting Steam, Windows automatically deleted my whole library! Whats weird, my games were still shown in the programs "folder" (don't know what its called) in the control panel. As I tried to run these games that I didn't really have on my drive (although Windows told me I had), I discovered my games were missing. So I then had to download the games and install them over again. Thanks for the help, it might save me later 🙂

Well don't know what to tell you. If you had windows and steam on differnt drives then it should be fine. I have windows on a 950 pro and steam/origin/uplay on an 850 evo. When i do re-intalls ( i do em often) I just got to the 850 evo click on the steam exe, and it launches and logs me in

Once the steam page is up i click play on a certain game and it does first time set up and launches the game. Of course you deleted the games when you deleted steam. The games are in the steam folder.