how to reinstall an already installed game?

[VEXOCOM]

ok so i know that this sounds kinda bit weird but hear me out. so a couple of days ago i reinstall my windows on my ssd which is in my C drive (as any pc normally have) But my HDD is still intact, which means ALL of my games on my pc, (steam and non steam) is still there. so heres the question, how do i make steam to detect or "install" the games that ive already have on my harddrive? im just worried if i install steam by the time when i could use my pc normally, it wont detect the games i already have so i have to do some tinkering with it. Any answers will help, Thank you.

[Illusion of Progress]

Install Steam, and add the location on the second drive as an additional library via Steam afterwards.

For non-Steam games, you may have to simply re-install them over themselves (or not and just run them if that works, sometimes it does) but installation usually sets up the registry stuff that marks it as installed.

[SoldierScar]

It's in the settings like downloads or something, you can locate a steam library there and it will find the installed games.

[CravenCoyote]

Make sure the games are in your 'common' directory in your Steam installation location and then 'download' them through Steam again.

Example:
Let's say I have reinstalled Windows but had previously taken a backup of my games (ie, \Steam\steamapps\common).

I'd copy my backed up game folders from 'common', then go to my new Steam installation directory (eg, C:\Games\Steam\steamapps\common) and paste my backup games to there.

Then launch Steam, and install it from your library. It'll look like it's downloading but it'll go really quickly - it isn't actually downloading, just checking the files.

Note: If you haven't installed any games in your new Steam install yet, the folders may not yet exist. You can create them manually or you can download a small game and they'll auto-create.

Example 2:
If you wish to keep the games where they already are (eg, on a second drive), within steam click 'Steam' at the top, then go to 'Settings'. From the menu on the left, click Downloads. At the top click the button called Steam Library Folders. Then click Add Library Folder and select the location.

I can't remember if you still need to 'download' them in Steam again, but if you do - it'll go very quickly as it's just checking the files.

[VEXOCOM]

Originally posted by Elk Cloner:

Make sure the games are in your 'common' directory in your Steam installation location and then 'download' them through Steam again.

Example:
Let's say I have reinstalled Windows but had previously taken a backup of my games (ie, \Steam\steamapps\common).

I'd copy my backed up game folders from 'common', then go to my new Steam installation directory (eg, C:\Games\Steam\steamapps\common) and paste my backup games to there.

Then launch Steam, and install it from your library. It'll look like it's downloading but it'll go really quickly - it isn't actually downloading, just checking the files.

Note: If you haven't installed any games in your new Steam install yet, the folders may not yet exist. You can create them manually or you can download a small game and they'll auto-create.

Example 2:
If you wish to keep the games where they already are (eg, on a second drive), within steam click 'Steam' at the top, then go to 'Settings'. From the menu on the left, click Downloads. At the top click the button called Steam Library Folders. Then click Add Library Folder and select the location.

I can't remember if you still need to 'download' them in Steam again, but if you do - it'll go very quickly as it's just checking the files.

niceee thx man, ill contact you if this works

[VEXOCOM]

as for the other comments, thank you for replying too. really appreaciate it. (im still looking for answers tho)

[Overseer]

https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/11/5544461758364032984/#c5544461758366369209

[_I_]

if steam sees the game as installed
steam -> library -> select game -> properties -> local files tab -> verify cache

if steam does not see the game as installed
steam -> library -> select game -> install
if there are files it will find and verify them