Dota 2 missing from installed games, yet it's there in the steamapps\common folder

[SoapyTaco]

Today when I turned on my PC, Steam said Dota 2 needed to be installed yet I never uninstalled it. I found it in the steamapps\common\dota2 beta folder with everything there including the exe. but when i run the game it tells me to update dota 2. what do i do? i don't want to have to redownload dota 2 and i don't have enough hdd space to see what happens when i try to download it again.

[Phantom]

Usually happens when you exist Steam incorrectly.

More on this...

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=8379-RYIP-2998

[SoapyTaco]

Originally posted by Robin3sk:

Usually happens when you exist Steam incorrectly.

More on this...

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=8379-RYIP-2998

:yinyangflip:

I guess the only thing I can do is free up space to force steam to recognize the files, wow

[Phantom]

You have to find out what's causing the issue to begin with.

Simply re-install the games now.

Ensure that the files are in the correct place as well.

The default path should be used.

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Steamapps\Common

[SoapyTaco]

Originally posted by Robin3sk:

You have to find out what's causing the issue to begin with.

Simply re-install the games now.

Ensure that the files are in the correct place as well.

The default path should be used.

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Steamapps\Common

:yinyangflip:

Maybe it was because I turned off my PC via holding down the power button last night while in Dota 2. but yes all the files are there like i said, i can run the exe and it tells me to update dota 2 and it even syncs the game when i closed it.

[SoapyTaco]

Ok guys, I bit the bullet and made room enough for steam to recognize that i have existing files in dota 2. the thing is though you have to have enough space for steam to initialize the search, meaning double what the size of the game is (you won't get the game downloaded twice, steam just won't search for the exisiting files until your pc has the free space for steam to think you want to download the game). so if in the future anyone finds this topic because you have the same problem with this game or another one you have 2 options:
1. have enough free space (double what the game takes up on your hdd, i.e. if the game is 20 gigs then you need 40 gigs) on your hard drive to "download" dota 2 which at that point steam will recognize the folder (without downloading the game again)
2. delete the steamapps\common\[folder for game in question] and simply reinstall the game fresh if you don't have the space to initialize the "download"