How to Scan external drive for games.

[Mr. Fahrenheit]

So I recently bought a new gaming laptop and have a bunch of games on a external HD that I would like steam to recognise like it did previously. I've added the drive in the storage tab of the settings. I've also "repaired" the folder and tried moving the game folders into the steamapps folder but no dice. it doesn't recognise any games installed.

Steam allowed this previously and it was really simple, what am I missing here?

[smokerob79]

the library should show up in steam.....if it does select it and it will start searching on its own....if it does not make sure you can see the files with windows.....then i dont know.....

[xarvn]

If the above good advice is not working then try installing one of the games in the drive where the files are. Steam will appear to be installing the game but instead will recognize and verify existing files. The installation will go by much faster than expected. You can install the games many-at-a-time by selecting them with control/shift in your Library. Just make sure that all the games selected were installed previously in the same drive and that you specify that the games should be installed in that particular drive. If this is not done correctly then Steam will attempted to install the files elsewhere where no game files exist, and hence download the games from scratch. When installing multiple games, Steam will "install" them one-at-a-time. You should periodically check things because some games will require you to agree to EULAs and will bring everything to a halt until you do. Note that in rare instances, Steam will discard existing files and download from the beginning--for example if an update has occurred for a game rendering existing game files obsolete.

[xarvn]

Note also that the game folders should be in the "common" folder inside the "steamapps" folder and not directly in "steamapps."