Can I move a Steam installation to an isolated copy of Steam?

[Usernamehere]

So here's the story. In preparation for Microsoft shutting down their support of Windows 7, I've went ahead and bought a second computer with Windows 10 and got a KVM switch - that way I can swap between both computers at the press of a button. I'll have the Windows 10 for internet and online stuff, and I'll shut off the internet connection on the Windows 7 and keep it isolated in order to continue playing the vast collection of older (and I'm talking 1995-2006) games that I have that have been said to not work on the newer operating system. But I have a couple of questions about this.

For starters, I want to know if I can use a USB drive to move game files from the Windows 10 over to the Windows 7, in case I buy a game after I shut off the internet - since I won't be able to download it directly from Steam's servers. But the question I have about this is, will the isolated and offline Steam client still allow me to play the new installation? Or will it not recognize that I've bought a new license because (I presume) it hasn't received any account detail updates from the Steam servers and therefore hasn't received the new authentication?

Put more simply: Will the isolated Steam not receive any message that I've bought a new game, meaning anything I've legally purchased on the Windows 10 computer won't work on the Windows 7 if I move the installation using a USB drive? So like, if I put the installation there, it'll wrongly say "nah as of my last connection to the Steam servers, you didn't own this so I won't launch it"

So, if I buy a game on one computer and move the installation to an isolated Steam client that is not connected to the internet, will it let me play the game or will it refuse because it hasn't received the authentication update from the Steam servers and won't consider it owned on my account, even though it is?

Edit: I have the same question about Steam Workshop mods actually. Some games don't need the Steam workshop data or subscriptions (Civ V) but other games might. Can I copy and paste mods to a USB and expect them to work?

[Komrade]

The games should still work on Windows 10, if it doesn't launch Windows has a native Windows 7, Windows XP, and Windows Vista compatability mode.

[Usernamehere]

Originally posted by adha:

you must remove the earlier steam as it sometimes does not work

I hope you reinstall the steam on your computer.

I plan to use it in Offline mode after the internet is shut down.

Originally posted by notkennyS:

The games should still work on Windows 10, if it doesn't launch Windows has a native Windows 7, Windows XP, and Windows Vista compatability mode.

One factor in this decision is that the Windows 7 is a gaming PC that runs most games nicely and the Windows 10 is an un-oiled piston that is getting horrible FPS on some rather simple games.

But what I need to know is if I can move a Steam installation to the Windows 7 PC and still have it work since there won't be an internet connection.

[Usernamehere]

Edit: I have the same question about Steam Workshop mods actually. Some games don't need the Steam workshop data or subscriptions (Civ V) but other games might. Can I copy and paste mods to a USB and expect them to work?

[dethtrain]

I have a similar question. I plan to download games onto an external hard drive from either a friend's PC or some coffee shop. Would I be able to just transfer these files over to my home PC without an internet connection and still be able to play? Or is steam going to require me to log in for new titles added to the home PC?

[Ogami]

Originally posted by dethtrain:

I have a similar question. I plan to download games onto an external hard drive from either a friend's PC or some coffee shop. Would I be able to just transfer these files over to my home PC without an internet connection and still be able to play? Or is steam going to require me to log in for new titles added to the home PC?

You have to be online for the first start of a game so Steam can verify ownership.
If you switch pc Steam requires a verification again.
So you 100% need a internet connection at least once for the initial first start of a game.
After that you can switch to Steam Offline mode.

[Muppet among Puppets]

Originally posted by Usernamehere:

So here's the story. In preparation for Microsoft shutting down their support of Windows 7, I've went ahead and bought a second computer with Windows 10 and got a KVM switch - that way I can swap between both computers at the press of a button.

What is that switch?

And what games do not run on 10?

[JD777]

I have done this same thing I have 3 seperate installs of Steam. One is online the other two are offline and blocked by a firewall. The two installs that are offline won't count any games I have recently purchased as installed until I switch it online and than set it to offline again. I have tried to move the games folder to the offline Steam installs and it won't recognise it until I go online. Hope this helps

[endrsgm]

Originally posted by Muppet among Puppets:

Originally posted by Usernamehere:

So here's the story. In preparation for Microsoft shutting down their support of Windows 7, I've went ahead and bought a second computer with Windows 10 and got a KVM switch - that way I can swap between both computers at the press of a button.

What is that switch?

And what games do not run on 10?

sim city 4 and railroad tycoon are quasi unplayable. sim city 4 delux often freezes and when saving crashes. railroad tycoon 2 platinum is even more unstable. rr2 is so unstable I own it on disk, and steam, and still went ahead and got it on gog because they have specifically patched it to work on 10 whereas steam hasn't.

[SagaxRabbit]

Originally posted by Muppet among Puppets:

What is that switch?

A KVM switch allows you to share 1 screen, 1 keyboard and 1 mouse between 2 or more physical computers without having to change cables all the time. All of the device's cables are connected to the kvm switch and you merely activate which PC you want to connect to on the switch itself.

[SagaxRabbit]

Steam Offline mode will not work permanently, and it will force you to connect in about a week or so if you wish to continue using the Steam client on the Windows 7 PC.
You will also unlock no achievements on Steam in offline mode.

Not sure in what form you will be transferring the games over to the Windows 7 PC - whether a straight file copy, or via Backup/Restore but Steam still requires a digital license to be downloaded regardless to confirm that you are licensed to access the game - as stated by some of the other posters in the thread as well. If there is no connection to the online Steam account database then it will fail securely and not allow you to start the game.

I would actually instead just reduce the attack surface of the Windows 7 OS by removing unnecessary applications (especially the likes of Java and Adobe Flash if they are present) and possibly browsers as well. Most of the attacks these days require you to run something, or perform drive-by downloading via vulnerable browsers. If you maintain separate login details for both machines and use the PC in normal user mode (not local administrator) with the OS based firewall enabled and only download the games from reputable sources (perhaps scan the files on the Windows 10 PC first) then the chance of remote code execution or vulnerability exploitation actually becomes quite slim.

[Usernamehere]

Originally posted by RogueRabbit:

Steam Offline mode will not work permanently, and it will force you to connect in about a week or so if you wish to continue using the Steam client on the Windows 7 PC.

It will? Seriously? Why?

[SagaxRabbit]

That is how it is programmed to work, since Steam is in essence an online service.

I picked this restriction up one or two times when I reached my Internet data cap halfway into the month. Since people's internet connectivity varies all over the world the redundancy is in place to facilitate some connection downtime, but not permanent isolation.

[JD777]

Originally posted by Usernamehere:

Originally posted by RogueRabbit:

Steam Offline mode will not work permanently, and it will force you to connect in about a week or so if you wish to continue using the Steam client on the Windows 7 PC.

It will? Seriously? Why?

No it won't , I went offline in Steam for almost a year a few years ago and had no issues. I'm on Windows 7 too. This is also a reason to completely block Steam and all the exe's in the Steam folder.Don't just depend on Steam to not phone home.

[JD777]

If you don't completely block Steam from phoning home you will have this problem. So it's very important to block Steam from a Firewall. One more thing Sandboxie is free look it up and use it for things like this imo. Another thing for the isolated clients. Open Notepad and name the file steam.cfg and put it in Steams root directory. Put these two lines in that file and save again (BootStrapperInhibitAll=enable
BootStrapperForceSelfUpdate=disable)

Make that file READONLY after that. This will disable Steam updating itself (for now) so it's important to only use it for the isolated Steam install and not your main one.

[Usernamehere]

Originally posted by JD777:

If you don't completely block Steam from phoning home you will have this problem. So it's very important to block Steam from a Firewall. One more thing Sandboxie is free look it up and use it for things like this imo. Another thing for the isolated clients. Open Notepad and name the file steam.cfg and put it in Steams root directory. Put these two lines in that file and save again (BootStrapperInhibitAll=enable
BootStrapperForceSelfUpdate=disable)

Make that file READONLY after that. This will disable Steam updating itself (for now) so it's important to only use it for the isolated Steam install and not your main one.

Will the steam.cfg file completely block Steam from phoning home and ensure that it'll work indefinitely? Or do I have to do any of the other things? And is Steam's root directory the same location as the .exe file?