Moving steam (and games library) to a totally offline system

[noileum]

Is there anyway to move Steam and games to a machine that is totally disconnected from the internet?

Background is that we have a network at my place of work which ‘for reasons’ has zero internet connectivity. We spend a massive amount of time on this network and with that comes the want/need to do something other than just more work during downtime. While we can install anything we like, we can’t connect to the internet to authenticate or download client/updates.

Is this at all possible? If it makes a difference this will be on OS X

[Jerry]

No chance. Launching Steam on a system for the first time requires an internet connection. The same goes for a login that is necessary before switching into offline mode.

[Jackhammer (Wholf)]

You need internet connection, there is no other way unfortunatly.

[Darren]

You would be best off using a laptop.

[Zekiran]

looks like it's Minesweeper for you.

There are probably compelling reasons why the computers have no network, and also probably why you shouldn't even be considering doing this.

[Muppet among Puppets]

Originally posted by Zekiran:

looks like it's Minesweeper for you.

There are probably compelling reasons why the computers have no network, and also probably why you shouldn't even be considering doing this.

There is so much wrong with this post.

To the topic opener, there are old, non steam etc and drm free games to buy that can be played offline.

[Zekiran]

"For reasons" has no internet connectivity - and yet, they're on computers all day.

To me, having worked in computer hardware? That says "security clearance" and "don't bring infected items into the secure network".

Kinda like, only much more serious than, "I live on campus in a dorm at this high expense university but they won't let steam through how can I get steam through?"

[Muppet among Puppets]

Originally posted by noileum:

While we can install anything we like

Thats all we know. That leaves some possibilities to play games.

[Kargor]

Yeah, it sounds funny, but Steam must be online in order to go offline :-)

[Eldin]

You can move the whole Steam folder to those PCs.
Then you can use USB tethering to share internet connection from your phone to the PC.
Just log in to your account, switch Steam to offline mode and you can disconnect your phone from the PC.

[feytharn]

Originally posted by Eldin:

You can move the whole Steam folder to those PCs.
Then you can use USB tethering to share internet connection from your phone to the PC.
Just log in to your account, switch Steam to offline mode and you can disconnect your phone from the PC.

If the machine is disconnected for any real reason, that is a terrible idea.
Most games bought on GoG are DRM free and don't require Galaxy to run. You can download the games and install them on an offline machine.

[Eldin]

Originally posted by feytharn:

Originally posted by Eldin:

You can move the whole Steam folder to those PCs.
Then you can use USB tethering to share internet connection from your phone to the PC.
Just log in to your account, switch Steam to offline mode and you can disconnect your phone from the PC.

If the machine is disconnected for any real reason, that is a terrible idea.
Most games bought on GoG are DRM free and don't require Galaxy to run. You can download the games and install them on an offline machine.

It's ok if you already have the game on GoG. But why would you buy a game again in GoG if you already bought it on Steam?
And not all games are available on GoG.

[feytharn]

Originally posted by Eldin:

Originally posted by feytharn:

If the machine is disconnected for any real reason, that is a terrible idea.
Most games bought on GoG are DRM free and don't require Galaxy to run. You can download the games and install them on an offline machine.

It's ok if you already have the game on GoG. But why would you buy a game again in GoG if you already bought it on Steam?
And not all games are available on GoG.

Because if the reason for the computer in question to be offline is anything else than damaged hardware, the company won't look kindly on bringing the system online for even a few seconds.

[Supafly]

You could try installing Steam and games on a USB drive.
Switch Steam into offline mode.
Try each game you want to play to ensure they work. Some require an internet connection when first loaded other require it every x weeks and others none at all. For those that do change Steam into online mode and run those games then switch Steam back into Offline mode.
Take USB drive to work and plug it into a computer. Run Steam from the drive. May need to Verify games for them to run on the new PC.

[Eldin]

Originally posted by feytharn:

Originally posted by Eldin:

It's ok if you already have the game on GoG. But why would you buy a game again in GoG if you already bought it on Steam?
And not all games are available on GoG.

Because if the reason for the computer in question to be offline is anything else than damaged hardware, the company won't look kindly on bringing the system online for even a few seconds.

In the place I worked previously, all computers we had were disconnected from the internet and they were connected only locally so we can use them only for work related stuff.

I just unplugged Ethernet cable and connected PC to my phone's internet.
Then I could download stuff to that PC and play games. A lot of my co-workers did the same and nobody from our bosses noticed it.