Do newly installed games overwrite old data?

[MEESTER SoupCan]

I had my computer wiped a few weeks ago and recently got it back after sorting out a few other issues, and had my Steam folder backed up so I don't lose game data that contains different things I have put work into. I was wondering if installing a game with data already existing in the steam folder would simply overwrite it? I'm pretty sure it stays untouched, but I want to be absolutely sure before I do so.

[Cathulhu]

That doesn't make sense. Why should Steam attempt to overwrite an already installed game?

[MEESTER SoupCan]

Originally posted by Cathulhu:

That doesn't make sense. Why should Steam attempt to overwrite an already installed game?

So you're saying that if I were to have all the data in the folder already, it wouldn't make any attempt to replace it? (i.e. garry'smod pac3 files, or boneworks save profiles)

[Cathulhu]

If you copied the whole Steamfolder, just copy it back and run Steam.exe.

[Washell]

Most games don't store their saves in the steam folder though. Also, since you already have a backup, just copy the games and keep the backup in case something does get overwritten.

[MEESTER SoupCan]

Originally posted by Washell:

Most games don't store their saves in the steam folder though. Also, since you already have a backup, just copy the games and keep the backup in case something does get overwritten.

Right... I guess i'll do that.

[crunchyfrog]

Originally posted by Cathulhu:

That doesn't make sense. Why should Steam attempt to overwrite an already installed game?

As he said, he used a different location as a backup.

Here's what will likely happen OP (as I run all my games from an external removable drive). I've recently come back to Steam after almost 5 years and blew the dust off my old drive.

When you install Steam it will not see those games automatically, whether they stay on that backup drive, or whether you move them across. If you move them back, sometimes it will go swimmingly and see them automatically when you restart, but sometimes not. In this case, simply try to dowload the games again, and it'll look like it's downloading but it's actually checking the data already there, so it'll appear to download in record time.

If there's any updates (like with mine, 5 years of updates) then it'll download those as appropriate and apply them.

That's about the most comprehensive answer I can give. Hope you understand.

[MEESTER SoupCan]

Originally posted by crunchyfrog:

Originally posted by Cathulhu:

That doesn't make sense. Why should Steam attempt to overwrite an already installed game?

As he said, he used a different location as a backup.

Here's what will likely happen OP (as I run all my games from an external removable drive). I've recently come back to Steam after almost 5 years and blew the dust off my old drive.

When you install Steam it will not see those games automatically, whether they stay on that backup drive, or whether you move them across. If you move them back, sometimes it will go swimmingly and see them automatically when you restart, but sometimes not. In this case, simply try to dowload the games again, and it'll look like it's downloading but it's actually checking the data already there, so it'll appear to download in record time.

If there's any updates (like with mine, 5 years of updates) then it'll download those as appropriate and apply them.

That's about the most comprehensive answer I can give. Hope you understand.

huh. I guess that makes sense.

[crunchyfrog]

Originally posted by MEESTER SoupCan:

Originally posted by crunchyfrog:

As he said, he used a different location as a backup.

Here's what will likely happen OP (as I run all my games from an external removable drive). I've recently come back to Steam after almost 5 years and blew the dust off my old drive.

When you install Steam it will not see those games automatically, whether they stay on that backup drive, or whether you move them across. If you move them back, sometimes it will go swimmingly and see them automatically when you restart, but sometimes not. In this case, simply try to dowload the games again, and it'll look like it's downloading but it's actually checking the data already there, so it'll appear to download in record time.

If there's any updates (like with mine, 5 years of updates) then it'll download those as appropriate and apply them.

That's about the most comprehensive answer I can give. Hope you understand.

huh. I guess that makes sense.

It does indeed.

The thing that throws most people is the fact that it tries to download the games, but that's actually checking the data that you already have. I always try to emphasise that point because of the obvious confusion.

[76561198887146265]

backed up so I don't lose game data?

Cloud Saving, is not Perfect. If you Install a game that already has a cloud save on it,
& then play it offline? Yes, you could loose a saved game from the cloud. The reason
is, is that your offline save & your online save will not match up. In this case the offline
save will overwrite the online saved game. A Cloud Manager would surely fix this, but
so far no one wants to incorporate this into a Platform. Using a 3rd party Cloud Manager,
or downloading one off the internet, should not be needed.

Short answer, is yes you can.

If this is a different form of Game Data, it can still happen, due to Updates,
& things people said above. I agree with them.

[moxic]

I reinstalled my games onto a new computer and the data was still there. Dunno if this helps but yeah.

[crunchyfrog]

Originally posted by Toxic:

I reinstalled my games onto a new computer and the data was still there. Dunno if this helps but yeah.

Sure it helps. Even a single person saying "yes, this method worked for me" tells you that the solution is correct.