Backup of games from 32bit to 64bit SO

[marcocod18]

I have already installed steam on windows xp 32 bit, now I want to install it on a windows 7 64 bit. Can I backup my games and than load them on the new machine or are the games packs different from 32 to 64 bit systems?

[chiefputsilao]

yes you can backup game files.

launch steam game client.
click 'steam' button.
click 'backup and restore' button.
click 'backup currently installed program'.
select game
select directory to save game backup and click 'next'.
input file name and custom size (cd or dvd)
wait for the back up process to finish.
burn to cd or dvd.
alternatively, copy backup game installer to external hdd, usb flash drive

you can backup many game files at once but i dislike this option because of possibility of long backup duration.

to restore games, launch steam game client.
click 'steam' button.
click 'backup and restore' button.
click 'restore a previous backup'.
point to directory of backup subfolder 'Disk_1'.
click next and wait process to finish.
if any update is found, it will be downloaded/installed.

[Pomelo]

why not just copy the SteamApps folder onto an external hard drive?

Same result, but much quicker.

You go to the Steam install directory, copy the SteamApps folder onto an external drive, then later after installing Steam on Win 7, you put that SteamApps backup back into the new Steam install directory.
That's all there is.

I've done it for 3 new systems by now, works every time.
Make sure to manually back up any save games you want though. They are saved in different places from game to game.

[marcocod18]

Thank you, now I see what method to use...I was just not sure about the machine architectures.
But this means that the game packs contain both 32 and 64 bit executables or that all game are 32 bit?

[Turbo]

Originally posted by marcocod18:

Thank you, now I see what method to use...I was just not sure about the machine architectures.
But this means that the game packs contain both 32 and 64 bit executables or that all game are 32 bit?

Most games are 32-bit. Some of the games now are 64-bit (like COD: Ghosts and Watch Dogs) But those are only the more intense ones.

[marcocod18]

ok
thank you