steam/digital dl question

[cmac79]

i never ever used steam untill l4d came out or bought any game digital dl. and was just wondering how it works...i want to pre order bfc2 ..when u dl the game can u save it on disc so if u reformat or w/e or will u have to dl it again?

[sswilson]

Yes, there is a function which allows you to backup your games rather than having to dl them all over again.

[cmac79]

ok thats the only reason i never bought games online cause i didn't want to have to dl them everytime.thanx

[SugarJ]

My Steam folder has approx 140gb, which I back up externally in case something bad happens again. I've successfully reinstalled steam and just copied the game folders over to avoid re-downloading.

[Perineum]

I download the game and then back them up onto my roommates computer. He can then use my backup to install his game once he purchases the "right" to it via steam.

[Zero82z]

You don't even have to use Steam's built-in backup feature (which kind of sucks, by the way). Just copy your entire Steam folder over if you ever have to reinstall. When you move it back, just run Steam.exe once and it will install itself while keeping all of your installed games.

[Sagath]

Originally Posted by Zero82z

You don't even have to use Steam's built-in backup feature (which kind of sucks, by the way). Just copy your entire Steam folder over if you ever have to reinstall. When you move it back, just run Steam.exe once and it will install itself while keeping all of your installed games.

Bingo. Ive done this multiple times over the last (6?) years steam has been around. Since the early Half-Life days iirc

[Zero82z]

Originally Posted by Sagath

Bingo. Ive done this multiple times over the last (6?) years steam has been around. Since the early Half-Life days iirc

Steam opened to the public in early September 2003.

[Eldonko]

I buy pretty much everything on steam these days and I also do as Zero82z does, copy the folder if I need to transfer. Works fine