How do I transfer my data to a new computer?

[The Hapi]

So I am getting a new computer on monday, and I really want to be able to play games where I left them off and such. So If I Install steam via the internet browser, will that make it able for me to download my games, and would I continue to have the same data on my new computer? Or should I consider moving the steam folder from my computer to my newer one? I really have no idea how to go about this so any help would be great!

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Steam folder is just the Games.
Your saves are elsewhere if you are not already saved via Steam Cloud Sync.
As not all games support this feature.

I would first download GameSave-Manager and run this, then go to Help > Check for updates.
Then allow it to scan your system for supported games. At which it will provide you with a list of all found save game locations and all those files. You can backup saved-game-progress files for games that only save locally (usually to My Documents structure) if not supported by Steam Cloud Save Sync feature. Once you back those up, on the new machine you can then use this app to restore the saves back to the locations they need to be for the games to see them.

For Steam on the new system; all you need (to make it easier) is transfer these over to the new machine to avoid re-downloading all your games again.

Steam.exe (application)
Depotcache (folder + files)
Steamapps (folder + sub-folders/files)
Userdata (folder + sub-folders/files)
SSFN# (file)

Then transfer to C:\Steam on new machine (just make this folder)
Once copied over, go to C:\Steam and right click Steam.exe and click Run As Admin
This will re-download/install latest Steam Client. If a game in your Library shows "Install" instead of "Play", just click Install and game being present in C:\Steam\Steamapps should be detected and verified. After that it is technically ready to play.

New system be sure to do Windows Updates and get all your latest Hardware Drivers from the chipset makers, etc all installed prior to launching games.

[The Hapi]

Originally posted by Bad-Motha:

Steam folder is just the Games.
Your saves are elsewhere if you are not already saved via Steam Cloud Sync.
As not all games support this feature.

I would first download GameSave-Manager and run this, then go to Help > Check for updates.
Then allow it to scan your system for supported games. At which it will provide you with a list of all found save game locations and all those files. You can backup saved-game-progress files for games that only save locally (usually to My Documents structure) if not supported by Steam Cloud Save Sync feature. Once you back those up, on the new machine you can then use this app to restore the saves back to the locations they need to be for the games to see them.

For Steam on the new system; all you need (to make it easier) is transfer these over to the new machine to avoid re-downloading all your games again.

Steam.exe (application)
Depotcache (folder + files)
Steamapps (folder + sub-folders/files)
Userdata (folder + sub-folders/files)
SSFN# (file)

Then transfer to C:\Steam on new machine (just make this folder)
Once copied over, go to C:\Steam and right click Steam.exe and click Run As Admin
This will re-download/install latest Steam Client. If a game in your Library shows "Install" instead of "Play", just click Install and game being present in C:\Steam\Steamapps should be detected and verified. After that it is technically ready to play.

New system be sure to do Windows Updates and get all your latest Hardware Drivers from the chipset makers, etc all installed prior to launching games.

But if a game does support steam cloud sync, then it will save all the data if I download ti from the internet browser?

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Browser u just can use to get Steam Client; u must run Steam Client to handle/install your games. If they do support Cloud Sync in Steam, then those saves should already be backed up on Steam Servers. You can look at each game currently and check the Properties in Steam Library for a game to see if it support Steam Cloud Sync under the Updates tab.

Regardless, still better to manually backup and transfer to new machine, or use apps that help aid in easy backup/restore of your saves, like GameSave-Manager.

[The Hapi]

Originally posted by Bad-Motha:

Browser u just can use to get Steam Client; u must run Steam Client to handle/install your games. If they do support Cloud Sync in Steam, then those saves should already be backed up on Steam Servers. You can look at each game currently and check the Properties in Steam Library for a game to see if it support Steam Cloud Sync under the Updates tab.

Regardless, still better to manually backup and transfer to new machine, or use apps that help aid in easy backup/restore of your saves, like GameSave-Manager.

When I download the Game Save Manager it is downloaded as a zip file where I open it and not run it. So I don't know how to get that to work.

[Seven7]

Depotcache (folder + files) - need only if have unfinished pre-downloading, i think, you mean \package - there is cache of Steam client installation files

some games not fully supported SteamCloud - for example, Fallout 3, FNV sync only ~30 first saves (~200Mb) don't know why?

DL Game manager, unzip, run gs_mngr_3.exe

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Well technically you don't really need Depotcache or Package mainifests.
As when moving/copying games from one system to another (or drive location for obvious reasons) one should just verify game cache for said game(s).

But yes, sorry the Package folder are the install manifests, that tells your Steam Client what is actually considered installed. Without these, a move of your Steam stuff to another machine (like just the Steam.exe & Steamapps) would result in Steam thinking nothing is installed and u'd have to go to game/app one at a time in Steam Client Library and click Install; then wait for the current contents to be verified. Either way it should work. I've done it many times and usually disregard the Depotcache and Package contents in the process.

[The Hapi]

When I open the exe it says The program can't start because lua5.1dll is missing from your computer. Try reinstalling the program to fix this problem. WHAT DO I DO??????????

[Seven7]

you will unzip archive into folder, and then run, NOT open and run inside zip...

[The Hapi]

Originally posted by Bad-Motha:

Steam folder is just the Games.
Your saves are elsewhere if you are not already saved via Steam Cloud Sync.
As not all games support this feature.

I would first download GameSave-Manager and run this, then go to Help > Check for updates.
Then allow it to scan your system for supported games. At which it will provide you with a list of all found save game locations and all those files. You can backup saved-game-progress files for games that only save locally (usually to My Documents structure) if not supported by Steam Cloud Save Sync feature. Once you back those up, on the new machine you can then use this app to restore the saves back to the locations they need to be for the games to see them.

For Steam on the new system; all you need (to make it easier) is transfer these over to the new machine to avoid re-downloading all your games again.

Steam.exe (application)
Depotcache (folder + files)
Steamapps (folder + sub-folders/files)
Userdata (folder + sub-folders/files)
SSFN# (file)

Then transfer to C:\Steam on new machine (just make this folder)
Once copied over, go to C:\Steam and right click Steam.exe and click Run As Admin
This will re-download/install latest Steam Client. If a game in your Library shows "Install" instead of "Play", just click Install and game being present in C:\Steam\Steamapps should be detected and verified. After that it is technically ready to play.

New system be sure to do Windows Updates and get all your latest Hardware Drivers from the chipset makers, etc all installed prior to launching games.

Will I be able to move mods and their data/saves over too?

[Seven7]

Why you just not copy files and folders to same folders on new PC? If the cause of transferring data wasn't the damage of hard drive, or infected with viruses and trojans - is the best option to move all the modifications and adjustments.
I'm not use gamesaver - and as Bad-Motha i know enough about OS and Steam for handle without third-party software or use universal powerful tools like Far manager.

[The Hapi]

Originally posted by Bad-Motha:

Well technically you don't really need Depotcache or Package mainifests.
As when moving/copying games from one system to another (or drive location for obvious reasons) one should just verify game cache for said game(s).

But yes, sorry the Package folder are the install manifests, that tells your Steam Client what is actually considered installed. Without these, a move of your Steam stuff to another machine (like just the Steam.exe & Steamapps) would result in Steam thinking nothing is installed and u'd have to go to game/app one at a time in Steam Client Library and click Install; then wait for the current contents to be verified. Either way it should work. I've done it many times and usually disregard the Depotcache and Package contents in the process.

So, what about origin?

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Yes it much easier really to just go to where the saves/games/mods are and just copy all that over into the correct folder structures on the other system.

Origin works same with regards to saves; for games it is a little different.
You would first want to install the Origin Client, Login, then go to Options > Settings and configure all of that there. Such as where Games will install to. Then copy the games from old system to new system and restart Origin, click the present game, download and it will see the present files and verify them.

[The Hapi]

Originally posted by Bad-Motha:

Yes it much easier really to just go to where the saves/games/mods are and just copy all that over into the correct folder structures on the other system.

Origin works same with regards to saves; for games it is a little different.
You would first want to install the Origin Client, Login, then go to Options > Settings and configure all of that there. Such as where Games will install to. Then copy the games from old system to new system and restart Origin, click the present game, download and it will see the present files and verify them.

I think I am gonna just wing it since this is all very confusing, but thanks for the help Bad-Motha and Seven7

[Bad 💀 Motha]

As far as the actual copy of files, it is easier to:
- remove any OS user account passwords so any user would have access to those sub-user folders/files, such as YourUserName\MyDocuments

Then take the old drive and hook it up to the new system as a secondary or external; then on the OS of the new system, access the files on this old drive you have your files on and copy them over into the correct structures.

Prior to this it may be best to do the basic setup of the new machine first, such as installing Game Client such as Steam/Origin and such, so those basic structures are there for you.

Once the old drive is put back into the old system; then things like user password for OS account can be recreated if you want it that way.