Is there a quick way to verify all game files?

[Jesse]

I would like to backup, hopefully not manually.

I have been having problems with "verifying the integrity of the game cache" so
I will not have errors during backup. Some of them don't seem to start.

Maybe I'm just impatient?

Either way I hope I do not have to go through each game one by one.

It would be great if you could do it all at once!

[DirtyFishy]

No. One by one it is.

[Jesse]

Originally posted by DirtyFishy:

No. One by one it is.

Damnit!

....Sh*t....

Thanks for the quick reply.

[Tev]

Personally, I'd not use the whole backup feature. I'd just copy the whole steamapps -folder.

[Jesse]

Originally posted by Teutep:

Personally, I'd not use the whole backup feature. I'd just copy the whole steamapps -folder.

Okay then. Cheers.

Do I copy save files too? ("Just" in any "My Documents" folders correct?)

Or does steam keep that in a cloud?

[Tev]

Originally posted by OdinRaven:

Originally posted by Teutep:

Personally, I'd not use the whole backup feature. I'd just copy the whole steamapps -folder.

Okay then.

Do I copy save files too? ("Just" in any "My Documents" folders correct?)

Or does steam keep that in a cloud?

You can see which games support Steam Cloud saving by clicking [View > Games List] and sorting by the Cloud -icon for example.

For the rest, you can use GameSave Manager.

Should you not trust those automated processes, PCGamingWiki has a lot of the games' save locations.

[Puregreen]

Here, found this on my search, thought someone would find it useful works for me!
https://www.ghacks.net/2014/06/12/validate-steam-games-one-go/

[123]

骑马与砍杀

[p40rc]

I implemented the following solution. I have over 1000 games installed on a external drive and wanted to validate them after I had to reinstall Windows 10. I prefer this over the prior website suggestion since I don't have to install AutoIt and this process runs in the back ground, while the AutoIt process takes over control of the mouse and screen. This process is quicker then clicking each one manually, but takes some time to setup.

My Environment

Edition: Windows 10 Home
Version: 2004
C drive - OS and steam installed
D drive - steam library folder with steam games installed and SteamCMD
X drive - steam library folder with steam games installed

Caution

Make sure that the Install Dir matches the application ID.
If the wrong directory is chosen for the application ID, the game will be download into the wrong directory instead of just being validated.

Step 1

I downloaded and installed steamCMD to a folder on my D: drive.
I installed it to D:\SteamLibrary\steamcmd
I followed the instruction from the link below.
SteamCMD link

Step 2

I created a batch file to run steamCMD and call a script file.
The batch file runs a script file named steam_script_file.txt that I create later on.
The batch file copies .ico files and .mainfest that download from the D drive to the default location on the C drive. The .ico files and .mainfest files on the D drive can be deleted once the process completes.
Batch files stored on D:\SteamLibrary\steamcmd
Don't run this batch file till the very end.
Batch file needs to be altered for your drives and paths.
Batch file Run_script.bat - contents shown below

d:
cd SteamLibrary\steamcmd
cls

steamcmd.exe +runscript steam_script_file.txt

xcopy "D:\SteamLibrary\steamcmd\steam\games\*.ico" "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steam\games" /Y
xcopy "D:\SteamLibrary\steamcmd\depotcache\*.manifest" "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\depotcache" /Y
pause

Step 3

To create the script file it requires all the steam appids and installdirs.
I use a batch file and Google Sheets to collect and format this information for the script file.
The steam games are installed on my X drive.
Install path X:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\
The batch files searches through the appmanifest files on the X drive.
It writes the results to the D drive where I am running the batch file.
Batch files stored on D:\SteamLibrary\steamcmd
Run this batch file now in order to create the needed files.
Batch file needs to be altered for your drives and paths.
Batch file GetApps.bat - contents shown below
x:
cd \SteamLibrary
cls

findstr /l /i /c:"\"appid\"" /d:"steamapps" *.acf > "D:\SteamLibrary\steamcmd\appid_results.txt"
findstr /l /i /c:"\"installdir\"" /d:"steamapps" *.acf > "D:\SteamLibrary\steamcmd\appdir_results.txt"
pause

Results are stored in appid_results.txt file and appdir_results.txt file on D drive.
Example results
appid_results.txt:
steamapps:
appmanifest_20.acf: "appid" "20"
appmanifest_50.acf: "appid" "50"
appmanifest_70.acf: "appid" "70"

appdir_results.txt:
steamapps:
appmanifest_20.acf: "installdir" "Half-Life"
appmanifest_50.acf: "installdir" "Half-Life"
appmanifest_70.acf: "installdir" "Half-Life"

Step 4

Copy the results from the two files to Google Sheets to create a script command.
Copy and paste the results of appid_results.txt to a Google Sheet.
Delete blank column
Copy and paste the results of appdir_results.txt to same Google Sheet.
Delete blank column

Column A = steam app from file 1
Column B = installdir from file 1
Column C = dir name from file 1
Column D = steam app from file 2
Column E = appdid from file 2
Column F = appid number from file 2
Column I = formula to concatenate data together - final result copied to script file

Column and Row B1, steam command = force_install_dir
Column and Row C1, path to installs = X:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\
Column and Row E1, steam command = app_update
Column and Row F1, steam command = -validate

Formula Example, column I:
=$B$1&" "&CHAR(34)&$C$1&C2&CHAR(34)&CHAR(13)&$E$1&" "&F2&" "&$F$1

Output of column I Formula Example:
Google Sheet will show results on one ROW, but when copied and pasted to a file it will display as two lines which is needed for the script file.

force_install_dir "X:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Half-Life"
app_update 20 -validate
force_install_dir "X:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Half-Life"
app_update 50 -validate
force_install_dir "X:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Half-Life"
app_update 70 -validate

Step 5

Create script file on D drive.
Enter login information in script file.
Replace steamuserid with your steam login name.
Replace steampword with your steam password.
After the applications have been validated, it is recommended to remove the password from the file.
Copy column I from Google sheet into file, after the login line
Files stored on D:\SteamLibrary\steamcmd
Create a file called steam_script_file.txt - contents shown below

@ShutdownOnFailedCommand 1
@NoPromptForPassword 1
login steamuserid steampword
force_install_dir "X:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Half-Life"
app_update 20 -validate
force_install_dir "X:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Half-Life"
app_update 50 -validate
force_install_dir "X:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Half-Life"
app_update 70 -validate

Step 6

Run the Run_script.bat
Wait for applications to be validated and files to be copied to C drive.
The steamCMD log files can also be reviewed to check progress.
D:\SteamLibrary\steamcmd\logs
The content_log.txt shows similar information as the batch file and can be reviewed for errors.

Step 7

The steamCMD creates folders while validating in each application folder.
I searched the X:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common folder for steamapps folders.
I deleted all the steamapps folders.
Reboot PC - if you have desktop icons for steam apps, a reboot is required before the icons display

[Caracarn]

p40rc, you are a rockstar, had the same issue with post windows reinstall but had it across 5 drives took abit of tweaking and redoing a few steps a couple times, to make that final steam_script_file.txt to look for everything but looks like i should be all set after this grinds for while doing its thing

[ThumpieBunnyEve]

there are plenty of steps here i dont quite understand. could some one make a video teaching this method? Pretty please?

[🔸DiJane🔸]

Originally posted by p40rc:

I implemented the following solution[...]

Hi and thank you very much p40rc,
I understood everything and created the batch files which seem to run as they should.
But while the batch runs, I get this message for each appid:

Redirecting stderr to 'E:\Steam\logs\stderr.txt'
Logging directory: 'E:\Steam/logs'
Looks like steam didn't shutdown cleanly, scheduling immediate update check
[  0%] Search for available updates …
[----] Installation is being checked …
Steam Console Client (c) Valve Corporation - version 1718904263
-- type 'quit' to exit --
Loading Steam API...OK
@ShutdownOnFailedCommand 0
"@ShutdownOnFailedCommand" = "0"
@NoPromptForPassword 1
"@NoPromptForPassword" = "1"
Logging in user '********' to Steam Public...OK
Waiting for client config...OK
Waiting for user info...OK
force_install_dir "E:\Steam\steamapps\common\Half-Life 2"
Please use force_install_dir before logon!
app_update 220 -validate
 Update state (0x5) verifying install, progress: 0.02 (910837 / 3831084326)
 Update state (0x5) verifying install, progress: 13.35 (511405572 / 3831084326)
 Update state (0x5) verifying install, progress: 33.46 (1281789882 / 3831084326)
 Update state (0x5) verifying install, progress: 53.42 (2046450267 / 3831084326)
 Update state (0x5) verifying install, progress: 73.30 (2808122613 / 3831084326)
 Update state (0x5) verifying install, progress: 90.87 (3481236353 / 3831084326)
Success! App '220' fully installed.
force_install_dir "E:\Steam\steamapps\common\Half-Life 2 Deathmatch"
Please use force_install_dir before logon!
Press any key . . .

The batch did not run through the whole scripts, which looks like this:

@ShutdownOnFailedCommand 0
@NoPromptForPassword 1
login ******** ********
force_install_dir "E:\Steam\steamapps\common\Half-Life 2"
app_update 220 -validate
force_install_dir "E:\Steam\steamapps\common\Half-Life 2 Deathmatch"
app_update 320 -validate
force_install_dir "E:\Steam\steamapps\common\Half-Life 2"
app_update 380 -validate
force_install_dir "E:\Steam\steamapps\common\Portal"
app_update 400 -validate
... and so on (about 100 games to validate)

Why did the batch terminates that early and not after the last appid?

[🔸DiJane🔸]

Originally posted by 🔸DiJane🔸:

Originally posted by p40rc:

Please use force_install_dir before logon!

Well, I think I have found a work-around (not smart but working):

@echo off
steamcmd.exe +force_install_dir "E:\Steam\steamapps\common\Half-Life 2" +@ShutdownOnFailedCommand 0 +@NoPromptForPassword 1 +login **** **** +app_update 380 validate +quit
steamcmd.exe +force_install_dir "E:\Steam\steamapps\common\Portal" +@ShutdownOnFailedCommand 0 +@NoPromptForPassword 1 +login **** **** +app_update 400 validate +quit
steamcmd.exe +force_install_dir "E:\Steam\steamapps\common\Half-Life 2" +@ShutdownOnFailedCommand 0 +@NoPromptForPassword 1 +login **** **** +app_update 420 validate +quit
...

If someone finds a way not to start, login and quit for every appid steamcmd, I would be happy. :)

[Clement]

This thread was quite old before the recent post, so we're locking it to prevent confusion.