Discovering existing files then tries to redownload the whole game

[Lockdown]

I am copying installation folders for games over to my new PC. It says "Discovering existing files" then proceeds to try and download the entire game.

Why does it do this? It spends a good few minutes discovering existing files then just tries to re-download the entire game installation.

What am I missing here?

[Ogami]

The "just copy over the folder" method works, BUT not with all games. Some games will redownload all files even if they are already there. Thats why i prefer using the backup function for stuff like that.
What you can try is copying over the appmanifest files from your steam/steamapps folder too.
Those tell steam which games are installed.
The copied over games should work this way without redownloading.

[Atreides]

I found an other way too BEFORE to copy Gamefiles on Steamapp/Common just install game and pause(dosent matter when) you just create a file after do that named like that "appmanifest_1234"(number its change) open that with Notepad and you see there game name under that there a line name "StateFlags" "1026" Change that just do "4" vola there you go you complate to install simple is that. SS> http://prnt.sc/dkepnu

[₸ʌʟwıcĸ]

I know this is a late reply, but in case someone else finds this thread (like I did looking for a solution), I found something that worked for me.

This "ignoring of existing files" seems to only happen when there's something else at the top of my Queue and downloading. So the simple solution for me was to just pause any other downloads BEFORE installing the game I've copied.

If you've already started installing the new game, just pause and cancel it, and then Uninstall it in the Library before trying to install it again. The files should still be in the steamapps/common folder, so you shouldn't have to copy them again.

EDIT: Like mentioned above, some games just seem to ignore this.

[ReBoot]

Use Steam's backup function.

[₸ʌʟwıcĸ]

Originally posted by ReBoot:

Use Steam's backup function.

I'll have to look into that. I had always backed up games manually before.

EDIT: I also wasn't sure if they'd copy between computers with different hardware and versions of Windows easily. Then again, if there was to be an issue, it'd probably exist for my manual backups too (and might be the cause of the problem we're having here)

[matperrinrand]

Originally posted by ₸ʌʟwıcĸ:

I know this is a late reply, but in case someone else finds this thread (like I did looking for a solution), I found something that worked for me.

This "ignoring of existing files" seems to only happen when there's something else at the top of my Queue and downloading. So the simple solution for me was to just pause any other downloads BEFORE installing the game I've copied.

If you've already started installing the new game, just pause and cancel it, and then Uninstall it in the Library before trying to install it again. The files should still be in the steamapps/common folder, so you shouldn't have to copy them again.

EDIT: Like mentioned above, some games just seem to ignore this.

Thank you that worked for me.

[₸ʌʟwıcĸ]

Originally posted by matperrinrand:

Thank you that worked for me.

You're welcome. I'm glad that I could help

[Vylan.kpkpkp]

Thank you so much! I was totally not looking forward to redownloading it xD

[00DikTrill]

Originally posted by Atreides:

I found an other way too BEFORE to copy Gamefiles on Steamapp/Common just install game and pause(dosent matter when) you just create a file after do that named like that "appmanifest_1234"(number its change) open that with Notepad and you see there game name under that there a line name "StateFlags" "1026" Change that just do "4" vola there you go you complate to install simple is that. SS> http://prnt.sc/dkepnu

Thanks So much this worked 100 percent

[Vince ✟]

Thanks. Helped me out.

Valve. Get your ♥♥♥♥ together.

[Zagereth Stone-Smasher III]

Originally posted by Atreides:

I found an other way too BEFORE to copy Gamefiles on Steamapp/Common just install game and pause(dosent matter when) you just create a file after do that named like that "appmanifest_1234"(number its change) open that with Notepad and you see there game name under that there a line name "StateFlags" "1026" Change that just do "4" vola there you go you complate to install simple is that. SS> http://prnt.sc/dkepnu

Is this English? It makes sense at the start but I can't understand it as he is using what seems to be a very case specific example?

[LandMarker]

I just tried it, it works. Here's what I did (Credits go to the people above).
1) Start installing the game just to initialize the process then pause it.
2) Copy your Setup files to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\rocketleague
3) Goto C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps
4) Open appmanifest_25XXXXX.acf (numbers will differ) in wordpad (yet better than notepad)
5) Make sure it says "Rocket League" next to "name" (if not try another appmanifest file)
6) Find "StateFlags" (should be under "name") the value next it should be "1026" replace it with "4" then save
7) Goto Steam>library>games>right click Rocket League>uninstall
8) Reinstall
It should then discover the files and you would be good to go.

[♥♥♥♥♥♥♥]

Originally posted by LandMarker:

I just tried it, it works. Here's what I did (Credits go to the people above).
1) Start installing the game just to initialize the process then pause it.
2) Copy your Setup files to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\rocketleague
3) Goto C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps
4) Open appmanifest_25XXXXX.acf (numbers will differ) in wordpad (yet better than notepad)
5) Make sure it says "Rocket League" next to "name" (if not try another appmanifest file)
6) Find "StateFlags" (should be under "name") the value next it should be "1026" replace it with "4" then save
7) Goto Steam>library>games>right click Rocket League>uninstall
8) Reinstall
It should then discover the files and you would be good to go.

Thank you for this, I did not have to download the entire game all over again.

For me this is the ultimate fix for this issue, however I think it is still missing out a couple of important steps. After step 6, copy the "appmanifest_25XXXXX.acf" file to somewhere safe (probably a different drive) for later.
Now, follow step 7 after which the .acf should be missing from the steamapps folder. Then go back to the steamapps folder and paste the file you recently copied.
Finally, follow step 8. Steam will now discover the files and install the game.

Note: I tried this for Counter Strike: Global Offensive, so the .acf file, in my case has "Counter Strike: Global Offensive" next to "name" instead of "Rocket League".

I really trust that this will help.
And Merry Christmas!!!

[cos]

Originally posted by ₸ʌʟwıcĸ:

I know this is a late reply, but in case someone else finds this thread (like I did looking for a solution), I found something that worked for me.

This "ignoring of existing files" seems to only happen when there's something else at the top of my Queue and downloading. So the simple solution for me was to just pause any other downloads BEFORE installing the game I've copied.

If you've already started installing the new game, just pause and cancel it, and then Uninstall it in the Library before trying to install it again. The files should still be in the steamapps/common folder, so you shouldn't have to copy them again.

EDIT: Like mentioned above, some games just seem to ignore this.

Thanks, worked for me :D

[UltimateKars]

Originally posted by LandMarker:

I just tried it, it works. Here's what I did (Credits go to the people above).
1) Start installing the game just to initialize the process then pause it.
2) Copy your Setup files to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\rocketleague
3) Goto C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps
4) Open appmanifest_25XXXXX.acf (numbers will differ) in wordpad (yet better than notepad)
5) Make sure it says "Rocket League" next to "name" (if not try another appmanifest file)
6) Find "StateFlags" (should be under "name") the value next it should be "1026" replace it with "4" then save
7) Goto Steam>library>games>right click Rocket League>uninstall
8) Reinstall
It should then discover the files and you would be good to go.

i know this a bit late but i have multiple "appmanifests" how do i know wich one to choose and also my game is rainbow six siege nest to stateflags is 1538 should i still put a 4