Resetting Window 10 without deleting games

[Dickachu]

So I have a question guys, can I go to steamapps and .rar the games that I have downloaded so I can unrar them later when I reset my windows 10 so I can keep the games without having to download them again? (Help 3mb/s internet, 200gb of games)

[BoNfiRe]

It would be easier to transfer the games to another drive or partition. Then all you would need to do, is point Steam to where they are and play without extracting.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Why u need to do all that?
Just reinstall the OS, the files aren't going anywhere.
Everything on C drive will be moved to Windows_Old folder when you reinstall an OS.
As long as you are not actually clean wiping (formatting) a drive that has data on it already, then you're fine.

[ReBoot]

Make a backup copy of your whole Steam folder. What's the advantage of backing up SteamApps only? The space surely isn't.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

All you need are the following from your Steam folder:

Steam.exe (application)

DepotCache (folder) < Manifest files to tell Client your Apps/Games are present and in which Steam Library Folder

SteamApps (folder) < Steam apps/games

UserData (folder) < Steam sync/cloud data

SSFN# (file) < Last valid SteamGuard authentication (file is hidden by default)

The rest is not needed. The Client files needed will be redownloaded the next time you right click Steam.exe and click Run As Admin; after you redo your OS. However be sure to put Steam back where you'd like it to be installed, before running Steam.exe again. After you do run Steam Client after redoing your OS, be sure to double check all the Steam settings, especially Library Folder Location(s)

[Seven7]

\depotcache\ only if you in process to preloading games - usual there temp files
better save \package\ - client installation files
\steam\games\ - icons for shortcuts

[PoxYi]

Warp !

[Bad 💀 Motha]

You could just save Steam.exe and SteamApps and it will work just fine. Nothing else is really needed. I've only done this hundreds of times.

[Dickachu]

I just did the reset my Windows 10 with keeping my personal files and I only needed to instal steam, everything was in the steam, no need of installation or downloads. I had a problem with infinite loop ( I need to restart from the power button few times so my pc would work normally and it is getting annoying ... Yet the freaking problem still stays.) Still thanks for the help guys.

[phlora]

f

[DAAKU]

so if my steam is on C and my games are on D....resetting windows would still be fine?

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Don't reset the OS, download the very latest, re-make USB flash drive.
Boot from flash drive, reinstall the OS fresh.
Everything from old data & OS will be saved to "C:\Windows.old"
IDK why people think their data will be lost. That wont happen unless you select to format the drive.

You don't even need to reinstall Steam.
Go to your old files, find Steam, copy Steam.exe to C:\Steam
Right click Steam.exe > Run as Admin
and it is installed to this new location.
Once Steam loads up, exit it fully, then go put your files from old Steam folder back into new Steam folder; namely these:

> DepotCache (folder + contents)
> SteamApps (folder + contents)
> UserData (folder + contents)

Relaunch Steam Client when finished, double check all Steam Settings as they will now be defaults again. Then click a game that has its files already in the SteamApps folder and click Install, the game should be found and then Steam verifies it.

Remember to close everything out at some point here-after though; then get the OS fully up to date via Windows Updates. Then go download all your latest Drivers and install them.

[ReBoot]

Originally posted by $coobyDoo:

so if my steam is on C and my games are on D....resetting windows would still be fine?

Move Steam to D and the games inside the Steam folder before resettng.

[DAAKU]

Originally posted by ReBoot:

Originally posted by $coobyDoo:

so if my steam is on C and my games are on D....resetting windows would still be fine?

Move Steam to D and the games inside the Steam folder before resettng.

but the thing is that when i when i go to option of restart and then click on keep my files,and when it shows the files which will be removed,also includes my games. Is that ok?

[DAAKU]

Originally posted by Bad_Motha:

Don't reset the OS, download the very latest, re-make USB flash drive.
Boot from flash drive, reinstall the OS fresh.
Everything from old data & OS will be saved to "C:\Windows.old"
IDK why people think their data will be lost. That wont happen unless you select to format the drive.

You don't even need to reinstall Steam.
Go to your old files, find Steam, copy Steam.exe to C:\Steam
Right click Steam.exe > Run as Admin
and it is installed to this new location.
Once Steam loads up, exit it fully, then go put your files from old Steam folder back into new Steam folder; namely these:

> DepotCache (folder + contents)
> SteamApps (folder + contents)
> UserData (folder + contents)

Relaunch Steam Client when finished, double check all Steam Settings as they will now be defaults again. Then click a game that has its files already in the SteamApps folder and click Install, the game should be found and then Steam verifies it.

Remember to close everything out at some point here-after though; then get the OS fully up to date via Windows Updates. Then go download all your latest Drivers and install them.

im restarting it cuz some files of mine are corrupted or i dont know cuz i downloaded pubg 2 times and it wont start up, when i update my driver it says ur device isnt compatible with this version and etc.Thats the reason.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

What is corrupted?

If you have corruption, wipe the drive and OS clean.
Corruption is not something you "fix" it helps to give drive and os a 100% clean slate if that is a serious issue. It could even signify faulty RAM or Drive also.

Ok so you have a corrupted Steam Game, lets back up here then and hold off.

Make sure "Steam Client BootStrapper" is not running at all.
Then navigate to your Steam > Steamapps folder
Delete the full folders for:
> ShaderCache
> Downloading
> Temp

Load up Steam Client, right click the game in question, in this case PUBG, click properties > local files > verify

Wait until it has completed, then launch the game.

If you are using an AMD GPU and recent updated to an 18.xx driver version, I would suggest using DDU to wipe this and try a slightly older 17.xx driver

If using NVIDIA GPU, avoid the 399 Driver and stick with the 398, 391, or 388 variants of Driver for time being. 399 is very buggy, it's all right on the NVIDIA Forum