Do you have to install the Vive software?

[Prothean]

Or can you just install the SteamVR app through Steam and be good to go? I've already installed the Vive software from the setup process, but it seems pretty useless to me to have an additional dashboard that I'll never use.

[--ranXerox--]

yeah your fine. the vive adds a layer to it but not needed. you can also pair your phone but its still beta if you ask me.

[Prothean]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από --ranXerox--:

yeah your fine. the vive hads a layer to it but not needed. you can also pair your phone but its still beta if you ask me.

Cool, thanks... just uninstalled the Vive stuff (software and driver) and everything works great in Steam still... wish I would've known that when I opened the Vive box ;)

[Wasted Potential]

The only part the Vive software excels is phone support (Still not working that great) and that you can customize it to have floating icons for all your games anywhere in the VR space your in.
I'm using that to help with demos as it can keep all my standing, sitting, demos, etc.. as large floating icons in a certain order and in certain areas far away from more complex or desktop vr apps.

With Steam, I have to have them scroll and explain what they can and cannot click on, etc.. Not as simple.

[--ranXerox--]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Wasted Potential:

The only part the Vive software excels is phone support (Still not working that great) and that you can customize it to have floating icons for all your games anywhere in the VR space your in.
I'm using that to help with demos as it can keep all my standing, sitting, demos, etc.. as large floating icons in a certain order and in certain areas far away from more complex or desktop vr apps.

With Steam, I have to have them scroll and explain what they can and cannot click on, etc.. Not as simple.

wow, good point. im gona try.

[Prothean]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Wasted Potential:

The only part the Vive software excels is phone support (Still not working that great) and that you can customize it to have floating icons for all your games anywhere in the VR space your in.
I'm using that to help with demos as it can keep all my standing, sitting, demos, etc.. as large floating icons in a certain order and in certain areas far away from more complex or desktop vr apps.

With Steam, I have to have them scroll and explain what they can and cannot click on, etc.. Not as simple.

Yup, I hear you on that... I'm okay with just the Steam menu, myself... options are always good, though (:

[Bonusround]

Hey everyone, I found myself asking a similar quesiton on the Vive forum. The responses over there largely confimed the same as here: for gameplay, SteamVR is all that's necessary to operate a Vive.

My lingering question, though, is this: aside from the dashboard and phone integration, what might we end up missing by removing the Vive software comletely? For instasnce, are there any HTC-specific drivers that update through their own (non-Valve) means? Right now it *appears* SteamVR is responsible for handling all firmware updates; is that in fact the case?

Responses from knowledgable Valve people would be most welcome. Thank you in advance.

[--ranXerox--]

htc makes the drivers. Steam might add them I dont know. THe only way i can find out is plugging in my vive on one of my pc's and see if it works with steam installing the stuff.

[Prothean]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Bonusround:

Hey everyone, I found myself asking a similar quesiton on the Vive forum. The responses over there largely confimed the same as here: for gameplay, SteamVR is all that's necessary to operate a Vive.

My lingering question, though, is this: aside from the dashboard and phone integration, what might we end up missing by removing the Vive software comletely? For instasnce, are there any HTC-specific drivers that update through their own (non-Valve) means? Right now it *appears* SteamVR is responsible for handling all firmware updates; is that in fact the case?

Responses from knowledgable Valve people would be most welcome. Thank you in advance.

I'm not the person you're looking for a response from, but in my first hand experience, uninstalling the Vive software and the Vive driver hasn't had a negative impact whatsoever with playing VR games through Steam with SteamVR running

[Bonusround]

Thanks. I wonder whether an uninstall would remove any drivers. ranXerox, if you do try your Vive on a fresh machine please let us know what you find.

[--ranXerox--]

i have removed my vive software and steam VR on occasions. THe driver reinstalled could of been residual. let me try now and ill repost.

[--ranXerox--]

okay! DRUMMROLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

vive installer not needed.



1. So i plugged in my vive on a fresh pc with steam.

2. Turned on pc.

3. when everything boots up and steam goes online, it detects your vive.

4. a pop up appears explaining the situation and gives you a few options including installing steam VR which says its needed. Drivers and software is installed. No vive software was installed in this manner.


There you have if folks. Vive installer are for people who are not familiar with steam or has never installed one. I also came accross issues with vive installer because if you have family mode enabled, it will crash hard. Reason being is because in family mode, you are locked. ulocking it prior to install also caused crashes. Disabling family more fixed my issue first time installing.

[Prothean]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από --ranXerox--:

okay! DRUMMROLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Drivers and software is installed.

FYI, when I manually uninstalled both the Vive software and Vive driver from Programs and Features and then manually uninstalled SteamVR through Steam and then installed SteamVR again through Steam and no Vive driver showed up in Programs and Features after that, there's nothing Vive in there at all now... I did the uninstall/install of SteamVR again just to see if it would put the Vive driver back in Programs and Features and it didn't... my guess is, that's for the Vive software to operate properly if you just fire up the Vive dashboard without launching Steam

[--ranXerox--]

No vive driver installed on my pc like the one i have downstairs. just steam vr is the driver and the software package. It operates under direct mode i assume. Now im wondering if i disable the direct mode, will other softare see it?

[Prothean]

Yah... good to know if I ever reinstall my machine I can skip all that Vive stuff... lot easier to just do everything through Steam

[Bonusround]

Excellent news. Thanks to both of you for digging into this.