Backups of Steam client (ENG) | Old Steam client versions

Steam client Backup / Old Steam client versions - creating & using

(sorry for my english - machine translation with a small manually correction)

Introduction

A temporary solution to the problems that arose after a client upgrade,
Such as "Failed to load steamui_dll" or "Steam Client Bootstrapper Crash" - use an older version of the STEAM client (without such problems), preventing it from being updated.
Until Valve will not solve the problem .

Where to get the old version of the client:

• Periodically create backup copies (backups) yourself.
  It is advisable immediately after the next update, if the program has maintained its normal operability.
  
• Download my archives
  (Links at the end of the manual, and also in my profile)

Русскоязычная версия руководства (кликни для перехода)
Russian-language version of the manual (click)

Installing Steam client from the backup

To install the Steam client from the backup, you need:

1. Download archive,
   
   
2. Exit the Steam client, close the program,
   
   
3. Just in case, you can create your own backup copy of the current version - copy folders bin, config, package and files from the main Steam folder (minimal set) to another location;
   
   
4. It is desirable to empty the package * folder,
   
   * If you are using a beta version of the client, then in the package folder there should be file beta containing the string publicbeta.
   If a normal version is installed - file beta is better to rename or delete.
   (However, with the prohibition of updates, this should not play a role)
   
   
5. Unpack the contents of the archive to the Steam folder with the replacement of files
   
   
6. Prevent client updates by using the parameter in the steam.cfg file
   
   
7. You can run a Steam client
   
   
   NOTE :
   
   Since the client update will be disabled - the client will not be updated when the new version is released (with possible fixes of problems).
   Therefore, it will be necessary to track the Client Update news by yourself.
   
   
   • For "regular" version - at section "All Products > News > Client Updates"
     http://store.steampowered.com/news/?feed=steam_client
     
   • For beta version - at the news of the Steam Client Beta group
     http://steamcommunity.com/groups/SteamClientBeta#announcements
   
   And if you will have a desire to try a new version - you will need to disable the update prohibition.

Prevent (disabling) client updates

To prevent Steam client updates, you must:

• Create a steam.cfg file in the Steam folder,
  
• In this file write a line
  BootStrapperInhibitAll=Enable

You can use a text editor, for example, a standard Notepad.

To enable the updates, you should delete / rename the steam.cfg file, or simply comment out the BootStrapperInhibitAll = Enable line with the # symbol, ie. Write
#BootStrapperInhibitAll=Enable

Prepared file "steam.cfg" with Steam client update restriction:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7j5mnZTMZVYb0FxSUF0ckFUelk

(there 4 symbols - "F0c" and "k" )

Contents of backup archive

During the experiments it was established that the minimum set of files for backup are files directly from the Steam folder.
But it's better to add the /bin/ folder.

Also I create backup copies of the folder /package/ - in a separate archive.
This folder contains packed files that are automatically downloaded when the Steam client is upgraded.
Then they are unpacked, and the content is copied to the corresponding folders of the Steam client.
(Also these packed files are used to restore modified or deleted Steam client files)

Since the files in the /package/ folder are already packed - they do not shrink further when archiving.
If you put them in a common archive - both the size of the archive and the time of archiving increase significantly.
In this case, if the client update is disabled, they should not be required.
Therefore, I pack them in a separate archive without compression, and spread "just in case."

If client update restriction is not enabled:

• When using the beta version of the client - there should be file beta containing the string publicbeta in the package folder.
  
• When using the "normal" version - file beta needs to be renamed or deleted.

IMPORTANT: if you plan to share your archives - DO NOT ADD your ssfn-files and settings files into archives!

Otherwise, you simply "give" access to your Steam account to any stranger.

General information about my archives

Archives created from client files under Windows XP 32-bit
Using the WinRAR archiver

For unpacking, you can use, for example, a free 7-Zip - http://www.7-zip.org/

NOTATION :

• _Client_ - main Steam client files
  
  
• _pckge_ or _package_ - files from the \package\ (usually not required)
  
  
• _other_ - other Steam client files and folders (usually not required)
  
  
• _BETA_ or _beta_ - beta version of the client,
  News is published in the SteamClientBeta group - http://steamcommunity.com/groups/SteamClientBeta#announcements
  
  
• _SFX.exe or .exe - self-extracting archives - there is no need for an archiver to install / unpack. Just download and run.
  (But if you want, you can view the content by the archivers)

my Backup archives on Yandex-Disk

Direct links to Yandex-Disk are removed by the local filter :(

Here list of archives for download :
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wDWCKGqWAFRJcZYAES9vlAonpz0GdIQksjbSH9AtP1Y/edit?usp=sharing


2018-11-14_Steam_Client_SFX.exe
64,1 Mb
https://yadi.sk/d/TBoQFDYzLz3-dg

2018-11-14_Steam_other_SFX.exe
114 Mb
https://yadi.sk/d/8nFo34-grHb-Dg

2018-11-14_Steam_pckge_SFX.exe
175 Mb
https://yadi.sk/d/ctu7_bmu_mGpmw

• 2018 Apr 28 - Beta, 4.48.2.79
  
• 2018 Apr 03 - 4.44.85.6
  
• 2018 Feb 20 - Beta, 4.37.16.67
  
• 2018 Jan 26 - 4.28.51.7
  
• 2017 August 15 - Beta, 4.9.95.70
  
• 2017 August 3 - Beta, 4.8.71.38
  
• 2017 July 11 - 4.5.3.68 + July 13 fixes
  
• 2017 July 13 - Version 4.5.40.66
  
• 2017 June 1 - 4.0.6.0 + UPDATE June 7
  
• 2017 June 28 - Beta, 4.3.34.47
  
• 2017 mar 23 - 3.89.14.2 + hot-fix 2017 mar 30
  
• 2016 oct 13 - 3.65.13.80
  
• 2016-06-30 - 3.49.64.60
  
• 2016-06-30 - beta, 3.51.89.31
  
• 2016-06-29 - beta, 3.51.78.34
  
• A few older archives

my Backup archives on Google-drive

Prepared file "steam.cfg" with disable client update :
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7j5mnZTMZVYb0FxSUF0ckFUelk

============================================================================

Only self-extracting archives

• 2016-06-30_STEAM_client_backup.exe
  https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7j5mnZTMZVYTWlodUdWRTZWbTA
  
• 2016-06-30_package_STEAM_client_backup.exe
  https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7j5mnZTMZVYRVV3ejEzcldBTTQ
  
  
• 2016-06-30_beta_STEAM_client_backup.exe
  https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7j5mnZTMZVYYXpEV3JMWHJ6WGc
  
• 2016-06-30_package_beta_STEAM_client_backup.exe
  https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7j5mnZTMZVYYktpQ1BFWmU0Xzg
  
  
• 2016-06-29_beta_STEAM_client_backup.exe
  https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7j5mnZTMZVYQkE1VmgwRHNGMDg
  
• 2016-06-29_package_beta_STEAM_client_backup.exe
  https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7j5mnZTMZVYbTRIeEtjSk85OEk
  
  
• 2015-11-17_(10)_STEAM_client_backup.exe
  Works with CPUs that do not support SSE2
  https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7j5mnZTMZVYTnpucHFVckVrTk0
  Avtofilter - pervert: (Invented a foul word ^^ where it was not.
  
  
• 2015-11-05_beta-STEAM_client_backup.exe
  The latest beta version working with CPUs that do not support SSE2
  https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7j5mnZTMZVYTkREcHFjWUpmVzQ
  
  
• STEAM_client_backup_2014-12-05.exe
  https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7j5mnZTMZVYR0tMV2hILXZpMTA

[K4sum1]

@TweedleZeeb check this for the clients.

steam . needs-to-s . top /9u6DNGj

[sirk]

I haven't checked here in a long time but you're probably better off using the SFP Method. I've been using it for almost a year now and I've had no issues with it. Just make sure whatever skin you want is available before going through the hassle- I use Metro so it works good.

[TweedleZeeb]

hey, pretty late comment, but all the google drive links are locked? can you make them available to public

[Ꝡꜧꭵtꬲ Ꝡꭴꝇꝭ]

That's weird though, I have tried both the April and June version and neither has a working friends list. Maybe I'm missing something.

[tyl0413]

That's the one i'm running, it's the last update i've got before disabling them due to the new UI, most likely was a minor update without patch notes or smth.

[Ꝡꜧꭵtꬲ Ꝡꭴꝇꝭ]

What build is 30-05-23? There is only April and June here: https://store.steampowered.com/oldnews/?feed=steam_client

[tyl0413]

30-05-23 is latest VGUI, chat works with -nofriendsui

[Ꝡꜧꭵtꬲ Ꝡꭴꝇꝭ]

28-04-23 build with -nofriendsui -vgui doesn't have a working friends list

[Cockroach eater]

The app dosen't open after logging in

[-[G_G]- Demopan]

I still can't figure out why Steamworks Distributables causing all of the games in my library to show - Update queued