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Forums › Gaming › Adding steam files?


360 posts

Ultimate Geek
Topic # 95376 1-Jan-2012 19:05 Send private message

Hi there,
I just bought GTA IV and instead of downloading the 15gb, I am trying to use my friends installation files. I have moved all of the GTA files from his steamapps/common/grand theft auto iv folder.

I moved those files to my common folder but when I click install game, it begins the 15gb download? If anyone could help it would be much appreciated, I would rather not download the huge file if I don't.  

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BDFL
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  Reply # 563575 1-Jan-2012 19:35 Send private message

You don't need to copy individual files. Use the built-in Backup/Restore for this. Click Steam | Backup and Restore Games and follow the instructions to create the files.





Mauricio Freitas (Geekzone Admin, Devil's Advocate, my blog, technology disclosure, my tweets, Web Performance Optimization) 

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xpd

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  Reply # 563577 1-Jan-2012 19:41 Send private message

Also, if you copy the files, it may show its downloading them, but sometimes it only downloads a small % of them and then picks up the existing ones. But it should stop the download process if it does that...




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  Reply # 563579 1-Jan-2012 19:54 Send private message

xpd: Also, if you copy the files, it may show its downloading them, but sometimes it only downloads a small % of them and then picks up the existing ones. But it should stop the download process if it does that...


a good way to tell is checking the download speed, mine was showing download although windows was sending like 2kb and the download speed was 10mbps which is impossible on my line and maybe new zealand lol (obviously from hdd) 




gz ftw

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Wannabe Geek
  Reply # 564301 4-Jan-2012 12:19 Send private message

Yup, for the most part copying files from the steamapps folder works just fine - when I got my new laptop I used this method to copy a number of my installed games from my 'work' PC across.  Steam makes out like it's downloading but is in fact simply verifying the files.  This is generally the easiest option when copying across a LAN.

If you're putting files on a USB key or the like for transfer though, I'd use the (fully supported) backup option Mauricio mentioned.

For reference, the same copying trick works with Blizzard titles too (WoW and Starcraft 2) - like Steam they update and re-authorise when you log into your account.

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