Verify Game Files Instead of Re-Install to Verify

[Pow Bam Zing]

Normally reinstalling the game under the folder with the game in it will work as Steam will recognize that the game is installed and simply verify the files within. HOWEVER. There is a huge discrepancy here because if you don't have enough disk space, (partly due to the game you're wanting to verify already being installed and taking up space) Steam won't even attempt to install the game and recognize the files to begin with. This means that you essentially need twice the space of the game you're looking to verify available on the disk drive in order to verify your files which is ridiculous.

*Example*
Your new shiny laptop came with a 240GB SSD installed and you pull BFV from your desktop to your laptop using a large thumbdrive or home network because you don't want to redownload 90GB worth of data over a 5 MBPS connection. However, you discover that Steam won't verify the files because even though BFV is installed in the proper folder, Steam is looking for 90GB of free space so it can prompt the download but there's not enough space in the drive because BFV is already installed. Essentially, you need 180GB of free space on a drive just to prompt the download to verify a 90GB game.

This is something that I've run into several times and it's a bit frustrating. I have four different computers in my house for different members of the family. I am constantly switching games to different computers so family members can play the games they want or I want on that computer. I'm not cheating the system or anything, if someone on their account wants to play a game that I have, I buy them the game then transfer the large game files to their computer so they don't have to download it over slow internet.

This would also save people tons of data who have metered connection so they don't have to re-download entire games.

There has to be a way to simply add a "find game" tab or "verify game location" button somewhere.

[Pow Bam Zing]

This is obviously different than the "verify game files" button that only works if you already have it installed and in your library.

[AmsterdamHeavy]

youre missing the manifest file, most likely

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Did you copy over the appmanifest (acf) file along with the game?

[Pow Bam Zing]

Interesting, I did't know anything about the manifest files until now. Where would I find it? And once I do, would I just copy it into the same folder on the receiving PC?

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Originally posted by Pow Bam Zing:

Interesting, I did't know anything about the manifest files until now. Where would I find it? And once I do, would I just copy it into the same folder on the receiving PC?

Copy the entire Steamapps folder over.

You just went after the Common folder.

[Pow Bam Zing]

Ah, I found them now. And you're right, I did (and have been) copying the common folder over. Problem is, I only need one game, not the entire SteamApps folder as that would include the whole bunch. Wish there was a way to tell one manifest from the other or which was tied to which game.

AH! So there might be! I don't have the offending PC in front of me right now, but I believe the number on the manifest file is the same as the Steam App ID of that particular game and that can be found through a quick google search. Now it's probably just a matter of copying the matching file as I already have the common data transfered.

Thanks for the help!

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

The store page lists the appID in the URL itself.

[Pow Bam Zing]

BTW, this wandered off from the original topic. Apologies to whom it may concern.

[Satoru]

Mostly the issue is that people seem to be referencing 2 year old articles on how to 'move' their libraries which are all now out of date and thu s dont work