Downloads entire game despite installing from DVD?

[Torkeep]

I have recently begun installing all my steam games onto a new PC and the problem is that when I insert the DVD to install the game, it opens steam up and adds it to the download list. This means that with a game such as XCOM: Enemy Unknown & Enemy Within it downloads 14+ Gig of data. Same thing with Shogun 2: Total War and Civilization 5 and all expansions.

Why is it not installing the files from the DVD first and then updating only the files that have been patched?

[SicilianCapo]

Did you burn the game data to DVD in order to transfer it to your new PC?

Try cancelling the download, and installing/extracting the contents of the DVD directly to the SteamApps folder. Steam will then need to download only a small amount of data, and you should then be good to go.

[Torkeep]

No, I just figured I could reinstall from the original DVDs. They're retail games so I own the install discs. It's when I insert them and attempt to reinstall that it just skips to Steam and starts downloading the entire thing.

[SicilianCapo]

Ah, okay. It has been quite a while since I've used an installation disc, so this is a bit of a shot in the dark:
You could try "exploring" the disc to manually start the install. Once your disc is inserted, make sure you close out of any autorun prompts/procedures that come up. Open your file explorer, right click on the DVD/Game icon that represents the disc, click on explore. It'll take you into the files on the disc instead of running any scripts by the normal double-click. You'll generally see a "setup.exe" or "install.exe" application. Double-click on that. If that does the same, try some other executable files that seem relevant.

I'm thinking there is possibly some script that runs to check if Steam is installed, which would then trigger it to download instead. By bypassing that, you should be able to install from the DVD.

It's a guess of what could be happening.

[Torkeep]

Just tried it with Total War 2: Shogun, and no go. The install just kicks off the Steam game install, it grabs a few files and then goes to download the rest (14.9 Gig). Thanks anyway.

[SicilianCapo]

Sorry about that. If I get any ideas I will come back, but until then, I do not know what could be causing it.

[xXSwoleNerdXx]

what i would do is log out of steam completly. then from there put you game dic in that you want to install and run the .EXE or autorun, however you have your pc setup try booting up the disc manually from your cd drive. choose install option and maybe possible changing the file directory to a new location or you can stick with route A and just keep the file directory in default loactions.. from there it should ask you to login to steam and away you go... get back to me if u still cant figure it out because at one time i did also have this problem and it was very frustrating due to the lack of internet speed and limited data usage lol. i guess it really does suck being a hardcore gamer stuck out in the boondocks with no cable.. hope you can resolve your problem soon man!

[xXSwoleNerdXx]

you could also try browsing around your steam settings to see if it helps

[Torkeep]

No go, but thanks. Tried it with Shogun 2, even rebooting my PC. It does install about 130 Meg, but downloads the other 14.9 Gig, which can't possibly be right.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Did u try logging out of Steam (so your login is not remembered), close out Steam Client, disconnect your LAN cable or turn off the WiFi, so there is no internet connection to that system.

Then run the disc install.

[Torkeep]

No go, sorry. Says that I can't install games in offline mode.

[xXSwoleNerdXx]

so i think i figured it out. it may not be a solution your looking for but it may be similiar in somecases... i did a little test myself because i am currently in the process of installing all my previous software and games and new games onto my new gaming pc. i had took my microsoft surface pro tablet to school today and while i was at school i installed steam into tablet logged on with my steam account and from there to simulate your problem i installed all my games via internet because schools internet was insanly fast! i went into the file directory and just cut and pasted the whole steam folder on onto external hdd, i used a 64gb micro sd card lol and then pasted over the existing steam folder on my desktop with the file i used on the external drive (microsd) and to install the games properly that i just put onto my desktop i went under (whatever drive you installed steam on, or in certain cases of using ssd, the library u choose to put your games on) /programfiles/steam/steamapps/common/(choose whatever game u want to newly instal, some cases all of them)/then click the application file usually pictures with the game icon or it may be an .EXE file somtimes and will load u throu the installiong process of a new installation adn it will proompt you to sign into your steam account, so do so, then in the processu will need a internet connection speed does now matter.. it will say during installation recognizing of existing files(will say something of the sort) and will isntall game with the up to date UPDATES you will come across it saying its updating under the steam program were it shows speed and how fast and your percentage... it will do some random files im not quite fully understanding yet thru the internet but no more then 10mb maybe a lil more not sure... but stick thru the process it shoudltn take long and woooalaa!! its done. now idk if you can relate this to your prblem but should be some useful information. if you got any q's i may have a's.

[xXSwoleNerdXx]

sry...***speed will not matter for update thing..***

[xXSwoleNerdXx]

so maybe if u got friends that have the same games as another help u can copy their files onto external hdd and put them on yours if u do not have anothe copy installed on another computer of your own then use oyur steam account and your product key of the game.

[xXSwoleNerdXx]

im using my phones hotspot for internet were i am at because cable is not an option in my location. so i am limited to data usuage and its asuch a downer for me because i consider my self a highly intellegent computer and gamer for being a diesel mechanic at the age of 21.. i am bound and determined to think of better ways to find quicker solutions.

[xXSwoleNerdXx]

ive been using the transfer method onto external drive for a while now and seems to be working flawlessly everytime and have not come across problems