How do we archive the Steam-downloaded game installer to optical media on WinXP SP3?

[suplittleg]

Where, on WinXP, did Steam put the installer, and the Christmas gift games I am currently downloading off of Steam for my kid?

I always save all the software installers, and burn them to disc, so, here's what I did with Grandma's Christmas gift of a few Steam-based games on WinXP SP3.

1. I created an account on steampowered.com.
2. I downloaded the Steam software to C:\software\games\steam\SteamSetup.exe (1,116KB).
3. I installed that Steam software into C:\apps\games\steam\

Normally, I archive the downloaded self-extracting archives or msi installers.
But, I don't know WHERE steam put the games (and even the downloaded Steam installer seemed to be only a (huge) stub).

QUESTION:
How do we archive the Steam-downloaded game installer to optical media?

[schnitzeljaeger]

Steam has a built-in backup feature. Use that one for archiving.

[Air]

Firstly, games are stored in \Steam\steamapps\common\
Secondly, there are no actual installers for individual games on Steam. In a way, Steam itself is the installer. Putting Steam onto an optical disc will not work well.

[suplittleg]

Originally posted by schnitzeljaeger:

Steam has a built-in backup feature. Use that one for archiving.

Thanks for offering to help me out.

Googling for 'steam backup feature', I read this:
- Using the Steam Backup Feature - Steam Support

Which says games are to be backed up to:
C:\Program Files\Steam\SteamApps\<username>\<game name>\<abbreviated game name>\

• /cfg/ - Custom configurations and configuration scripts
  
• /downloads/ - Custom content for multiplayer games
  
• /maps/ - Custom maps which have been installed or downloaded during multiplayer games
  
• /materials/ - Custom textures and skins
  
• /SAVE/ - Single-player saved games

That support page is, of course, naively assuming a default installation, but if I change the "C:\Program Files\Steam\" to "C:\apps\games\steam\", the path turns to:
C:\apps\games\steam\steamapps\<username>\<game name>\<abbreviated game name>\
which currently has only three directories and one file:

• C:\apps\games\steam\steamapps\common\
  
• C:\apps\games\steam\steamapps\downloading\
  
• C:\apps\games\steam\steamapps\sourcemods\
  
• C:\apps\games\steam\steamapps\appmanifest_3900.acf

They seem to have a different process for what they call "third-party" games (is "Sid Meier's Civilization IV" a third-party or first-party game?), but I will try that procedure as we have a half-dozen games from Grandma to download and archive.

Originally posted by Air:

Firstly, games are stored in \Steam\steamapps\common\
Secondly, there are no actual installers for individual games on Steam. In a way, Steam itself is the installer. Putting Steam onto an optical disc will not work well.

Thanks for offering help and advice, as I appreciate it, and know that you volunteer your time and expertise to help me.

Looking in that "common" directory, I find:
C:\apps\games\steam\steamapps\common\

• C:\apps\games\steam\steamapps\common\Sid Meier's Civilization IV\Assets\
  
• C:\apps\games\steam\steamapps\common\Sid Meier's Civilization IV\Miles\
  
• C:\apps\games\steam\steamapps\common\Sid Meier's Civilization IV\Mods\
  
• C:\apps\games\steam\steamapps\common\Sid Meier's Civilization IV\PublicMaps\
  
• C:\apps\games\steam\steamapps\common\Sid Meier's Civilization IV\Resource\
  
• C:\apps\games\steam\steamapps\common\Sid Meier's Civilization IV\Shaders\
  
• C:\apps\games\steam\steamapps\common\Sid Meier's Civilization IV\{various _Civ4 shortcuts}
  
• C:\apps\games\steam\steamapps\common\Sid Meier's Civilization IV\{various dlls and exe files}

In general, we don't backup the "installed" files; we generally back up the initial "installers", since Windows makes a mess of things in the various Registry hives.

Given that we don't generally back up an "installed" program, can backing up the initially downloaded game "installer" be as simple as archiving that "common" directory to a zip file?

[chiefputsa☒lag]

backup steam games using steam game client.
restore steam games using steam game client, point to directory where the backup game files are located, and choose subdirectory disk_1.

i think you can manually zip or copy game folders (and all its subdirectories) to another location, then manually unzip or copy the files back into corresponding game directories.
from steam game client, navigate to game library, right click specific game, click 'properties', click 'local files', click 'verify integrity of game cache'. if game verification is completed without hassles, you're clear to go. if not, it will download remaining updates from steam server.