Problems with Steam Uninstall

[Nurr]

Hello there!

Today I have decided to reinstall Steam. I carefully followed all steps in Steam Support documents, but stumbled upon a problem.

You see, my Steam folder was not completely removed. The problem is that all files are gone, all games and materials are gone EXCEPT for one little file, which is located, to my surprise, in Civilization 3 folder. It is a Font File called LSANS, and it is just locked and can't be removed because it is being linked to system file.

I tried to move the file, rename it, copy it, delete it with in Safe Mode and even in Lockhunter programm! But to no avail. With this file I have no ability to remove the Steam folder completely and install Steam back into my Disc.

Can you give me some advice, please?

Here is the Name of this damned font (Warning: Russian Language): https://pp.userapi.com/c850220/v850220451/65f6/tZFXb-pzGK8.jpg

[The Giving One]

So what happened when you tried to remove the file while in safe mode exactly ?

You should be able to reinstall Steam to the same exact path anyway, right over the "existing" installation. That being the folder where this file is kept.

So follow this, for example :

Reinstall Steam

The Steam installer can be downloaded here: http://store.steampowered.com/about/ and reinstalled to the same location where it is already installed.

This may fix potential issues with Steam client and service files. Installing into same location will preserve all installed games.

WARNING! Uninstalling Steam through any other method will delete all game and userdata content.

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=3352-RYON-4107

EDIT...

In the future, you simply have to save your steamapps folder, and then you don't have to reinstall or redownload any games. You simply can restore that folder, once you get Steam reinstalled.

[Nurr]

Originally posted by The Giving One:

So what happened when you tried to remove the file while in safe mode exactly ?

You should be able to reinstall Steam to the same exact path anyway, right over the "existing" installation. That being the folder where this file is kept.

So follow this, for example :

Reinstall Steam

The Steam installer can be downloaded here: http://store.steampowered.com/about/ and reinstalled to the same location where it is already installed.

This may fix potential issues with Steam client and service files. Installing into same location will preserve all installed games.

WARNING! Uninstalling Steam through any other method will delete all game and userdata content.

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=3352-RYON-4107

EDIT...

In the future, you simply have to save your steamapps folder, and then you don't have to reinstall or redownload any games. You simply can restore that folder, once you get Steam reinstalled.

I thank you for the reminder about saving steamapps folder, but currently we must be focused on this font.

But the problem is that the folder still remains in my disc, and it cannot be deleted or REPLACED because of the font file. Deleting or hiding it in normal or safe modes deals nothing. It is just linked to the system and can't be removed.

Trying to delete this font is fruitless and only results into yet another error about the inability to do something because it is working in system.

[The Giving One]

Originally posted by Brandell:

But the problem is that the folder still remains in my disc, and it cannot be deleted because of the font file. Deleting or hiding it in normal or safe modes deals nothing. It is just linked to the system and can't be removed.

Yes, I understood that, but was more interested in what exactly happened when you tried to remove it in safe mode. Thanks.

And what about reinstalling Steam to the same path, that was also in my post ? Then there would be no need to remove the file anyway, and you could redownload your games to the new installation and then that file's removal would become a non-issue.

EDIT...................

What is the exact path of this file, currently ?

Something like :

C:/ProgramFiles/Steam/steamapps/common/Civilization3/fonts/LSANS

Or similar ?

[Nurr]

Originally posted by The Giving One:

Originally posted by Brandell:

But the problem is that the folder still remains in my disc, and it cannot be deleted because of the font file. Deleting or hiding it in normal or safe modes deals nothing. It is just linked to the system and can't be removed.

Yes, I understood that, but was more interested in what exactly happened when you tried to remove it in safe mode. Thanks.

And what about reinstalling Steam to the same path, that was also in my post ? Then there would be no need to remove the file anyway, and you could redownload your games to the new installation and then that file's removal would become a non-issue.

Oh, excuse me, but I haven't got much knowledge about methods in Safe mode, so I just travelled the same paths and tried to delete them manually, just like in the past (Yeah, I might be a little bit lazy and stupid)

Reinstalling Steam to the same path results in an unnamed and undescribed error, unfortunately. It was previously installed in my D: disc, just like that:

https://pp.userapi.com/c850024/v850024451/59539/pTgyVq8HE3E.jpg

For a better look I will add this:
https://pp.userapi.com/c849336/v849336451/5e7df/rJRVpYc4wCE.jpg

EDIT: I repeat, this is the only file among these folders. And it cannot be removed. The Steam folder can't be renamed, moved or deleted aswell.

[The Giving One]

Here is a forum search for that file. See if any of this can help :

https://steamcommunity.com/app/3910/discussions/search/?gidforum=882957625839948480&include_deleted=1&q=%22LSANS%22

This D disk is an internal hard drive, right ?

And is the error really "unnamed and undescribed" ? There is no specifics to the error message at all ?

Have you tried to reinstall Steam to the same path while IN safe mode ? You need to have the installer already downloaded, or use safe mode with networking instead.

If there are errors when trying to reinstall to the same path, then there seems to be something else going on there that is preventing that from being allowed.

What antivirus program do you use ?

[Si-Fi]

You may have to overwrite the file's permission attributes but some cases it won't go into full effect.

However, there is a registry section you can make adjustments to which provides your right-click context menu with a simple command so that you can overwrite its attributes then delete it.

It's called Take Ownership,
https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1911-take-ownership-shortcut.html?ltr=T

[Nurr]

Originally posted by The Giving One:

Here is a forum search for that file. See if any of this can help :

https://steamcommunity.com/app/3910/discussions/search/?gidforum=882957625839948480&include_deleted=1&q=%22LSANS%22

This D disk is an internal hard drive, right ?

And is the error really "unnamed and undescribed" ? There is no specifics to the error message at all ?

Have you tried to reinstall Steam to the same path while IN safe mode ? You need to have the installer already downloaded, or use safe mode with networking instead.

If there are errors when trying to reinstall to the same path, then there seems to be something else going on there that is preventing that from being allowed.

What antivirus program do you use ?

1) Actually no. C disk contains all important programs and data, while D disk contains mostly games and mods

2) Aye, just a small window with Yellow ! sign and no letters or words. Guess it also refers to the fact that the Steam folder with font file can't be removed or replaced.

3) Haven't tried this. Might do it.

4) I am using ESED NOD32 Antivirus.

Edit: temporarely installing Steam into C Disc (which is already full of data). No problems occured.

[Nurr]

I got an advice from my fellow russians to use NTFS Permissions Tools. I am going to use it and see how it works.

[The Giving One]

You did not answer my question about the D drive. I was asking if it is an internal or external drive, not what data it contains.

EDIT..Sorry, I seem to have missed what you were saying. You seem to have said that D IS an external hard drive. If so, that could be one of or the source of your problem(s). It's not recommended to install Steam to external hard drives. You "can" do it and it will work, but you have to set everything up properly for there to be no issues.

A better description of the error message would help. Or, a screenshot of it maybe, keeping in mind that some here may not be able to read Russian (if there is text in the error that is displayed in Russian).

ESET NOD32 is a really bad antivirus to use with Steam, unless it is set up properly.

It's used on some/one Steam support page on how to set up properly to ignore Steam and games in real time, but using safe mode or safe mode with networking should get around that, as ESET won't run on boot in that mode, unless you launch it manually.

Programs Which May Interfere with Steam

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=9828-SFLZ-9289

[Nurr]

Well, if that so, then due to the difficulty of a problem I might just proceed with Steam in my internal hard drive. It is already installed without any errors or problems.

(ESET NOD32 works just fine with me, and it has no conflict with my steam, but I will take your word, thanks.)

I will still try to use other programs, but It seems that the fact that this font is used by System file means that it cannot be deleted by most means.

I thank you for your help and immediate support! Good luck to you.