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nuppard Jun 1, 2013 @ 4:36am

Almost all games uninstalled after Windows restore!

Have just needed to restore my C drive to recover Windows 7 from a full partition backup - and now find that Steam reports almost all my games as NOT installed (over a hundred across two logon ids). All my games are installed on drives other than C - so why has Steam done this?

As the restore of my C drive was from a backup taken only two days ago - why does Steam not recognise game installs that are older than this?

Would be grateful for advice on how to get Steam to recognise previous installs without the need to go through the very lengthy process of actualling reinstalling the games. Would also like to know how to avoid this issue happening again if I need to restore Windows.

Thanks!

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Showing 1-15 of 25 comments

 KARR™ Jun 1, 2013 @ 5:12am

Because the installation information was contained in the registry that was on your C:\ drive. Windows itself doesn't know they are installed, it may know SOME files exist in SOME folders on other drives, but without the information in the registry to tell it what they are.... it just sees "some files".

Try right clicking on each game and choosing 'check integrity of game cache' and steam should check the files exist and mark them all as installed again.

nuppard Jun 1, 2013 @ 6:15am

Thanks for the suggestion but it doesnt work I'm afraid. There appears to be no option shown to right click on a library item that is shown as waiting to be installed other than as follows - Right Click / Properties / Local Files / Verify Integrity of Game Cache - but this option is greyed and nothing happens when you select it.

Would be grateful for any other suggestions though!

auppard Jun 1, 2013 @ 9:17am

Yes a big headache - but looks like nobody has experienced this or knows what to do about it!

Kiya Jun 1, 2013 @ 10:59am

In the Steam client try going to the Steam->settings->Downloads tab, select Steam Library Folders, select add library folder and navigate to the folder where your steam games are installed on your other HD's

Taeyeonnie Jun 1, 2013 @ 11:04am

i just redownloaded it.

nuppard Jun 1, 2013 @ 9:11pm

Kiya - thanks but I dont see how this can help either as Steam already knows of these folders from the 29 reinstalls I've already done to the same locations used before I restored my C drive. I cant remove the library folders and re-add them either as Steam will only allow this when the folders are empty.

I cant believe I'm the only one on Steam to have experienced this issue - is there no Steam guru who can advise what the fix is for this?

Legendary old man Jun 1, 2013 @ 9:17pm

Originally posted by nuppard:
Kiya - thanks but I dont see how this can help either as Steam already knows of these folders from the 29 reinstalls I've already done to the same locations used before I restored my C drive. I cant remove the library folders and re-add them either as Steam will only allow this when the folders are empty.

I cant believe I'm the only one on Steam to have experienced this issue - is there no Steam guru who can advise what the fix is for this?

How about you actually try what Kiya suggested? It might take you 30 seconds.

nuppard Jun 1, 2013 @ 9:29pm

Cant see the point of adding the same folder that Steam already knows about. But just in case - did as you suggested and no suprise I'm afaid - Steam does nothing... the count of games installed is unchanged. So I guess its ignoring the request to add the folder because it already knows about it.

nuppard Jun 2, 2013 @ 4:18am

My guess is Steam does this for crass 'security reasons' or its a known bug - but either way it wont own up to it?!

Kiya Jun 2, 2013 @ 4:40am

Have you tried exiting Steam, restarting your PC and restarting Steam since you did they system recovery?

#10

Satoru Jun 2, 2013 @ 6:02am

If the games are alraedy in the location, just "install" itll use the local fiels.

Moving libraries around doesnt make steam 'see' the file folders. That's nwo how it works. The steam library locally is managed by a combination of the registry and the clientregistry.blob file.

Last edited by Satoru; Jun 2, 2013 @ 6:10am

#11

nuppard Jun 2, 2013 @ 7:28am

Kiya - yes, have restarted - makes no difference.
Satoru - just 'install' is what I'm trying to avoid - it seems to me this is Steams 'error' not mine. A reinstall actually seems to take longer than a new install as it needs to check what files are already in place, which need updating and is there enough space...

#12

nuppard Jun 2, 2013 @ 8:32am

When do Steams own experts get involved? I suppose they are all off for the weekend....

#13

chiya Jun 3, 2013 @ 5:25am

Take your game folders out (steamapps) and move it elsewhere. Remove Steam from computer. Reinstall Steam and put steamapps back and overwrite anything if it asks. THEN, use Verify the Intergrity of Game Cache. I assure you it will work (or at least should), since this is what I did when I reinstalled my Windows few days ago.

Last edited by chiya; Jun 3, 2013 @ 5:26am

#14