Moving a game to another computer without redownloading

[Flat]

I want to move a game to a different computer without redownloading it on the second computer because of bandwidth restrictions.
I copied the game onto a flash drive and moved it into the steamapps common folder on the second pc, however the second pc will not recognize the game is installed and when i press the install button in an attempt to get steam to recognize the game it deletes the folder i put in and attempts to redownload the game. How do I get it it work like intended?

[Supafly]

You need to copy the appmanifest from the steamapps folder for the game

[Cris]

There is another way to "install" the game without a long download it into another computer.

Did you know that the Steam Client offers a game backup feature? You can also reinstall it from this backup without further downloading from the Steam server. The problem can only occur if you do not have access to the Internet at all. And without Steam you won't install the game :(

Try to find "backup and restore games" this way:
Launch the Steam Client, go to the top of the Menu and click: Steam -> (and now I don't know if it's the same in your language) "backup and restore games" and back up the game. Several files will be created on the disk, in the backup folder - you can also specify a folder if you know the path. It can be, for example, C: \ Users \ (your profile name \ Desktop \ (game name).
Follow the instructions. Steam backs up the game files to a folder. Transfer this file folder to another computer on a flash drive and do the same - Steam Client -> Steam -> "backup and restore games" ... And find the file folder. Then install the game. Steam then only downloads and installs small items, such as updates or drivers.

...
You can also just copy the entire SteamLibrary folder hierarchy (games are in the subfolder with name "common", but better if you copy the entire folder with your game) as previously written by @Supafly. However, I don't know which game you're copying - the copied game may not work and may need additional components. :(

Good luck, let us know if you succeeded!

[Flat]

Originally posted by Cris:

There is another way to "install" the game without a long download it into another computer.

Did you know that the Steam Client offers a game backup feature? You can also reinstall it from this backup without further downloading from the Steam server. The problem can only occur if you do not have access to the Internet at all. And without Steam you won't install the game :(

Try to find "backup and restore games" this way:
Launch the Steam Client, go to the top of the Menu and click: Steam -> (and now I don't know if it's the same in your language) "backup and restore games" and back up the game. Several files will be created on the disk, in the backup folder - you can also specify a folder if you know the path. It can be, for example, C: \ Users \ (your profile name \ Desktop \ (game name).
Follow the instructions. Steam backs up the game files to a folder. Transfer this file folder to another computer on a flash drive and do the same - Steam Client -> Steam -> "backup and restore games" ... And find the file folder. Then install the game. Steam then only downloads and installs small items, such as updates or drivers.

...
You can also just copy the entire SteamLibrary folder hierarchy (games are in the common subfolder, but better if you copy the entire folder with your game) as previously written by @Supafly. However, I don't know which game you're copying - the copied game may not work and will need additional components. :(

Good luck, let us know if you succeeded!

I did Supafly's method and that made steam recognize the game

[Supafly]

Originally posted by #1 big floppa fan:

I did Supafly's method and that made steam recognize the game

Glad it's all sorted.

Alternate method with fiddling would be to let it start the download and do so for 2-5 minutes. Close Steam > Copy folder and overwrite data in the games folder > Load Steam
Steam should then detect the files.

[Cris]

Originally posted by Supafly:

Originally posted by #1 big floppa fan:

I did Supafly's method and that made steam recognize the game

Glad it's all sorted.

Alternate method with fiddling would be to let it start the download and do so for 2-5 minutes. Close Steam > Copy folder and overwrite data in the games folder > Load Steam
Steam should then detect the files.

Wow :) good!

[Supafly]

Originally posted by Cris:

Wow :) good!

Steam should have created the appmanifest shortly into the download so once the game data is overwritten and game detects it the app manifest can be updated to show as fully installed. Though just copying the appmanifest requires less fiddling.

The backup feature is old and for when people used to backup single games onto CD/DVD. Really not needed nowadays with considerably faster internet speeds and cheap Storage that it's really not needed now. If people want to backup they usually want to backup multiple games and using the old backup feature would just take ages compared to simple copy and paste

[Cris]

Originally posted by Supafly:

The backup feature is old and for when people used to backup single games onto CD/DVD.

...I saw that they upgraded it - now it's not just "single" games - player can select and "check" (there are check boxes) multiple games (and their DLCs), and back them all up in one installation.

But copy and paste has its pros - it is faster, easier, ..., and you can play immediately - without waiting for installation. You can also insert an older version of the game if something went wrong in the new version after the patch. And some games are available to play completely without the steam. :)

Thank you for the tip, I will definitely use it someday :)

[Supafly]

Originally posted by Cris:

*snipped

Thanks for the update, shows I pretty much ignore anything to do with backup feature. No matter how it gets updated copying (inc appmanifest) will always be faster do matter what changes.

[Cris]

@Supafly: indeed! copying is the best :D