Help restoring Steam and user data after system restore?

[Janus]

I'm encountering lots of blue screens on my PC after installing the Windows 10 Anniversary update. Because of this it will probably be necessary to perform a system restore. Using Windows backup I've copied my entire C:/Program Files(x86)/Steam to an external HDD and also backed up my personal user files (I.e. Documents, downloads, pictures etc...). How would I restore Steam and my save files to a fresh PC? Is it a simple case of copy and pasting the /Steam directory from the external HDD and back into the computer? Thanks for any help :)

[76561198218426745]

If your PC doesn't have Steam installed, install it first, then copy the Steam folder from the external drive to the current installation on your main drive (exit Steam before doing this.) For the remaining files it's just a matter of moving them to the same location on the main hard drive.

[The Giving One]

Originally posted by CutToTheContent771:

I'm encountering lots of blue screens on my PC after installing the Windows 10 Anniversary update.

You seem to be totally ignoring the more important issue here...BSOD errors.

Sounds as if you have possibly done what many have, and that is mistakenly installed/upgraded to an Operating system (Windows 10) on a computer where it is not supported officially.

Drivers are key, and that can be the cause of your BSOD erorrs. I suggst you take note of this.

[Janus]

Originally posted by The Giving One:

Originally posted by CutToTheContent771:

I'm encountering lots of blue screens on my PC after installing the Windows 10 Anniversary update.

You seem to be totally ignoring the more important issue here...BSOD errors.

Sounds as if you have possibly done what many have, and that is mistakenly installed/upgraded to an Operating system (Windows 10) on a computer where it is not supported officially.

Drivers are key, and that can be the cause of your BSOD erorrs. I suggst you take note of this.

Yep, I've had windows 10 installed since just after I got the PC last November, properly supported (ASUS G20BM, 12GB RAM, AMD FX-770K 3.75GHz processor, R9 270 graphics, 64bit), no issue. Issues started arising when AMD updated its drivers on the 11th and the 14th and windows forced me to install the 1607 anniversary update. Im almost certain it's AMD at this point because it BSOD'd whilst trying to update Radeon Settings today, and event log has errors for the app since the 11th. I've posted the Dmp files and got some suggestions, ran a few things, getting it sent off tomorrow for a further diagnostic.

[The Giving One]

You seem to be on the right track there but just want to make sure you have the latest system drivers from Asus. Since recent Windows 10 updates, others have had issues and we have seen several manufacturers release brand new drivers so it may be worth checking if you have not.

https://www.asus.com/support/Download/14/11/15/1/z0K8B4SuCm1OJIuY/45/

I think I see some new ones there in that list. Also, there is a somewhat new BIOS update, if that could possibly help.

[Janus]

Originally posted by The Giving One:

You seem to be on the right track there but just want to make sure you have the latest system drivers from Asus. Since recent Windows 10 updates, others have had issues and we have seen several manufacturers release brand new drivers so it may be worth checking if you have not.

https://www.asus.com/support/Download/14/11/15/1/z0K8B4SuCm1OJIuY/45/

I think I see some new ones there in that list. Also, there is a somewhat new BIOS update, if that could possibly help.

Thanks for this. I used the ASUS Command app to check for apication, BIOS and driver updates the other day, it said none were avaliable as always. Never been given a driver or BIOS update from ASUS, applications yes, BIOS and drivers never seem to have been a problem, although my BIOS is dated 2014. The date 14/11/15 suggested by that link does ring a bell though for some form of driver/software on my PC. If it's a problem then I'm sure it'll be flagged when I send it off tomorrow. :)

[The Giving One]

Just a quick point here to hopefully help. This user seems to agree and know something about the newest AMD drivers, just as you seem to think is maybe causing this. Here is the post.

http://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/1/359547436746066257/?tscn=1472160904#c359547436746159305

Not really explanatory much but shows a pattern perhaps.

[Janus]

Originally posted by The Giving One:

Just a quick point here to hopefully help. This user seems to agree and know something about the newest AMD drivers, just as you seem to think is maybe causing this. Here is the post.

http://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/1/359547436746066257/?tscn=1472160904#c359547436746159305

Not really explanatory much but shows a pattern perhaps.

Thanks for this. Aside from AMD there seems to be a noticeable and quite problematic issue with my Network driver as well after the Anniversary update, noticed that it cut out and then BSOD'd twice today. Picked up on this in some files, "Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for rtwlane.sys". Obviously some major compatability issues with my drivers under the Anniversary update. A BSOD yesterday seemed to register as a windows Update and I've lost my restore point back to Windows 10 v.1511, before all this occurred. Hopefully with some uninstallations, a professional diagnostic and such I can get this sorted without a full reset. :)

[The Giving One]

You are welcome. Not that helpful directly but hopefully shows a pattern perhaps. Sad to say, it may be a good idea if you upgraded instead of a clean install to go ahead and do a full format and cleanly reinstall the OS and then the drivers from Asus.

I read the thread but maybe missed if you said you did a clean install initially of W10 or it was in fact an upgrade. System restore may not help you much, in the case of an upgraded OS but you probably know all this already.

[Janus]

Originally posted by habitualaction:

If your PC doesn't have Steam installed, install it first, then copy the Steam folder from the external drive to the current installation on your main drive (exit Steam before doing this.) For the remaining files it's just a matter of moving them to the same location on the main hard drive.

Thanks. I just managed to run "Game Save Manager" on my computer and backed up all the save files it found, a few noticeable exceptions (I.e. Watch_Dogs it didn't pick up on but I guess UPlay has that sorted in the cloud). Would I be right in assuming this is a more reliable and effective method of recovering data? Would I also be correct to assume the process will be:
1. Install Steam
2. Re-install games
3. Run game save manager and it'll sort itself out?
Or will it still be more sensible to copy/paste the entire Steam directory?

[76561198218426745]

I mean, you can download the games again. They'll all be waiting for you in your library. If you have the Steam folder backed up, it would probably be faster to copy the folder. Depends on how fast your Internet is, I guess.

[Janus]

Originally posted by habitualaction:

I mean, you can download the games again. They'll all be waiting for you in your library. If you have the Steam folder backed up, it would probably be faster to copy the folder. Depends on how fast your Internet is, I guess.

Interent is 80MB/s peak so it wouldn't take excessively long but I guess it wouldn't be too good to stress it and the PC with all the re-downloads. Would I be installing Steam and them copying the entire Steam directory back onto the PC, or just the steamapps folder because wouldn't copying the entire /Steam folder cause hundreds of overwrite conflicts which could make it unstable or shouldn't this be a problem? Then obviously there's also games with partial installs and saves outside the Steam folder as well.

[The Giving One]

I would only ever suggest saving the entire steamapps folder. Then, download a fresh and new client installer when you are ready and move the folder to its proper place. That way, you start with a clean install of Steam.

But saved progress from games is another animal. You have to search for those and back them up accordingly.

Screenshots and other stuff I know nothing about. Sorry.

[76561198218426745]

You can certainly just copy the steamapps folder, that's where the games are and installing Steam should have created everything else you need anyways. A clean install of Steam shouldn't have a massive number of files to overwrite, and I don't think it should cause problems, though you may wish to have a more veteran user advise you on that. Really, it comes down to what you are most comfortable with.

[Janus]

Originally posted by The Giving One:

I would only ever suggest saving the entire steamapps folder. Then, download a fresh and new client installer when you are ready and move the folder to its proper place. That way, you start with a clean install of Steam.

But saved progress from games is another animal. You have to search for those and back them up accordingly.

Yeah, Steam Cloud and UPlay should cover most of them, also ran "Game Save Manager" onto a USB which should have picked up on the rest, I'll have to clarify that it didn't miss any though. I'm not too worried about screenshots but Game Save Manager picked up all of those too if I need them :)

[Janus]

Originally posted by habitualaction:

You can certainly just copy the steamapps folder, that's where the games are and installing Steam should have created everything else you need anyways. A clean install of Steam shouldn't have a massive number of files to overwrite, and I don't think it should cause problems, though you may wish to have a more veteran user advise you on that. Really, it comes down to what you are most comfortable with.

Thanks :). I'll get back to you if I run into a problem doing this, I'm still hoping that a full reset won't be necessary but that chance seems to has pretty much faded now. Hopefully I'll know by somepoint next week.