Will I need to reinstall all my games?

[jason290988]

Hello,
I am getting a new MOBO in the next couple of weeks, so obviously will need to reinstall my OS. However. I have a second HD with all my video files, and games installed to it. Will the games still work after formatting my OS HD or will I have to reinstall all of the aswell? I only ask because I have over 70 games through Steam, all of which will need to be re downloaded if I do. I will also be going from Windows 7 32bit, to 64bit, if that makes any difference at all.

Thanks in advance.

 

[darth pravus]

You won't need to reinstall. You reinstall steam delete everything from the new install apart from the .exe and a few other things then drop your whole install minus the .exe. I think thats how it works.

Google it

 

[Scott_D_Bowen]

They've fixed Steam so that you can copy it from old to new PC's.
As the games are tied to the account you'll need the email address to enter a new PC activation code just once.

Some games might download 500MB or so of updates.

If something doesn't work run the Verify, then re-install DirectX web setup.exe

 

[Tonkyboy]

Find your Steam folder. Make a copy of it in case this goes belly up.

Locate the Steamapps folder, and Steam.exe application inside the Steam folder.

Delete everything inside the Steam folder EXCEPT for these 2 items (Steamapps folder and Steam.exe)

Run Steam.exe. This will now ask you to confirm your Steam account by sending you an email to the email address registered to your Steam account, and will reconfigure Steam and all of your games for you.

 

[solar1992]

When I did mine, i just ran steam on the new installation, it said it was broken and offered to fix itself. Then it did that and opened and all my previously downloaded games were still there. They then go through their little install bit the first time you run them again but that was it.

 

[Soda-88]

You don't have to delete anything, just run Steam.exe after OS reinstall, that way you'll keep all the settings as well.

 

[jason290988]

thanks for all the replies. At least I will not have to download all the full games again. That could take months with my crappy BB. Will copy the .exe and steampps folder before I reformat.

 

[tomniko]

Also make sure you copy the "my documents" folder coz I know some games use that to store their savegames.

I always do a backup for my steam games to a spare hard drive.....(via steam) so I do not have to download them over and over again...

 

[jason290988]

Also make sure you copy the "my documents" folder coz I know some games use that to store their savegames.

I always do a backup for my steam games to a spare hard drive.....(via steam) so I do not have to download them over and over again...

I would have done that anyway. Like I said, my steam games are installed on a totally different hard drive as it is, so will back up my documents there. I will anyway because I have all my logos and what not for FM 12 in that folder.

 

[Matrius]

What made my life easier with backups is to change the path of all my libraries; My Documents, Pictures, etc... This way if I need to redo my OS for any reason, everything is already saved on my 2nd HD. About the only thing I had to copy over manually is my Voice Comm. settings (Mumble/Vent) I hope this helps in the future. (I'm running Windows 7 fyi)