Want to re-install Steam, but not lose settings

[U6b36ef]

I want to keep all my folders in my Steam library, and the games within them.

I'd like to re-install Steam, because I am having some response problems with it.

The usual technique is go into the Steam folder and delete everything except Steam Apps and Steam.exe. Then start steam from the .exe. It reinstalls all the Steam application.

However I am not sure if I will lose my settings. Please does anyone know if settings are saved anywhere on the operating system? Can I safely do a Steam install?

 

[SchizTech]

When you use steam you do it through a steam account. This means when you re-install it or freshly install it on a new machine, one of the first things that happens is that you have to log into the account again, which backs up your settings. Steam remembers what games you own on it's servers so you can re-install any game at will.

 

[ss202sl]

There is also a tool in Steam that allows you to backup your games(to an external drive). That way you can backup your games, re-install Steam, and then restore your games.

 

[boju]

Delete everything except steam.exe and steamapps folder as you were going to do. Your games will remain and your saves are in my documents so they wont go anywhere.

Reinstall steam.

Everything will be back to normal. Just general ui settings of steam will have to reconfigure like startup with Windows etc

 

[U6b36ef]

I don't mean I think I will lose my games.

I mean I want to keep my settings, like which games are within which folders. Like I have four games Favourites. Or like I want all my done/completed/finished games to remain in my 'Done' folder.

I want to be able to re-install Steam without having to sort though over one hundred games. Without having to put them all back in the folders that I have them in now. I want Steam to remember which games are in which folders.

 

[boju]

Apps folder will remain as is.

Not sure if steam will follow your custom file structure or you need to lead it.

What i would have done ( if you did it like this as well then cool ) is on another hdd create another steamapps folder which you can do in steam and relocate any installed game to after playing. If you did this reinstalling steam wont change it, just need to direct steam again to that folder.

If you created your own folders within apps folder, that makes it hard

 

[U6b36ef]

I copied everything except Steam Apps to another hard drive. (It was about 3.5GB.)

Then I am gradually downloading and re-installing my Steam games.



However my issues is that I would like to reinstall Steam, also. As you do by deleting everything but Steam apps and Steam.exe. Therefor I am asking if steam will store my settings anywhere.

 

[boju]

What settings are you talking about?

 

[U6b36ef]

It seems Steam will not remember which games are in which folders, or even folders, after re-install.

EDIT: After restarting my laptop one more time, I found that Steam had recovered folder settings. It must have come from the Steam cloud.

Please don't follow what I said below this edit.

I tested it by installing steam on my laptop. (The operating system on that laptop is newly installed. No previous Steam installed on it.)

After installing Steam, all the games I have were in one long list under library. No folders like one I have titled 'Done', even exist on this laptop installation.


I really would like to re-install Steam, and not have to re-categorise all my games again. I need to do it, to try and make Steam work properly as it's buggy right now.

 

[boju]

How was the done folder created?

 

[U6b36ef]

You right-click on anywhere in your game library. Then hit the Set Categories option.

There's the option to chose what category to put your game in, like Favourites.

Or you can add a new category (meaning new folder) in the blank box which you type folder name into.


I think I have the working solution from Steam anyway. I will try it today. I am sure it will work. Then will post the solution later.

 

[boju]

Ok thanks.

So you did it the right way. Was checking you didn't create folder manually.

I don't have any experience in sub deviding within Steam, the directions is easy enough to follow but for Steam to re-register those games you moved should be possible. Steam giving that option would have given the ability to keep it as is if reinstalling from scratch.

How would steam know, my guess is possibly via cloud sync or there might be a file in steam folder you should keep. If there is a file that steam creates to maintain your library structure im not sure what it is.

 

[U6b36ef]

Update with what happened after installing a fresh install of Steam onto my laptop. (As mentioned above.)

After restarting my laptop one more time, I found that Steam had recovered folder settings. It must have come from the Steam cloud.