Backup & Restore Games Issue: "No Save Data Exists" (+ Steam Cloud recovery enquiry)

[mik0]

I reinstalled Windows 10 recently, completely wiping out all my partitions but I made sure that I backed up my games via Steam's Backup and Restore Games feature beforehand.

Problem:

So, I've spent 400+ hours into this game called Monster Hunter World. However, after I reinstalled the OS and restored the game through Steam's B&R feature - the game did not recognise/find my old save data.

Also, no, I did not have Steam Cloud enabled because I assumed Steam automatically saves user data onto the cloud so I did not think I needed it. I didn't even know it existed as an optional thing.

What I've Tried Already:

Steam Cloud Sync - despite not using it before I reset my PC, I enabled it AFTER finding out my save data has been lost (in the hopes that it would maybe find my old data and restore that on my game). It loaded the latest save data (completely new save data from after restoring MHW through Steam's B&R) but not my old 400+ hours worth. Didn't work.

Steam Cloud Game Files - I found 3 game files uploaded into Steam Cloud; 2 of those being my completely new save data both from August 12, while the oldest file from July 26 (I only reinstalled my OS on August 9)! However, this particular file is only 63 KB in size and even if it contains my old complete data, I don't know how to recover it.

Trying to Restore into that July 26 File - I tried disabling Steam Cloud Sync then putting the file into this directory: 'Program Files(x86)>Steam>userdata>[USERDATA]>582010>remote.' The game only went back into the "No Save Data Exists" message.

So basically, I don't know what else to do.

TLDR:

Is there a way to recover my old game data from Steam after reinstalling the OS and completely wiping all drive partitions? Thanks.

[ReBoot]

Steam backs up THE GAME. Saves aren't a part of the game, they're user data. When you buy a disk on a store, you don't get any user data either, a game backup saves you redownloading the game, just like a physical disk would (in theory).
You should put that file not where you put it, but where the game expects it. Check out PCGamingWiki or ask on the game forum.
In future, just keep Steam cloud enabled. There's no downside for doing so. Unless you're on limited traffic, I suppose. But the couple kBs shouldn't run it over

[mik0]

Originally posted by ReBoot:

Steam backs up THE GAME. Saves aren't a part of the game, they're user data. When you buy a disk on a store, you don't get any user data either, a game backup saves you redownloading the game, just like a physical disk would (in theory).
You should put that file not where you put it, but where the game expects it. Check out PCGamingWiki or ask on the game forum.
In future, just keep Steam cloud enabled. There's no downside for doing so. Unless you're on limited traffic, I suppose. But the couple kBs shouldn't run it over

Yeah, sadly they don't back up the save files. I didn't really think about it before wiping my PC cause I assumed that save data were stored automatically on the cloud. The problem is, I probably have not enabled Steam Cloud on that particular game before, so they could not have found it.

Thank you. I'll try on PCGamingWiki as well!