Fully uninstall Steam games

Skizzer · 10-08-2011, 05:31 AM

I'm trying to do a full uninstall of a game on steam, but delete local content doesn't actually uninstall the game - it just removes (most of) the game files from the steamapps directory.

Once I re-download the game no actual installation takes place, the game just tries to run. The problem there is that this particular game is not working, and I'm at the point in my troubleshooting where I need to fully uninstall the game.

Any way to do this?

DarkLite123 · 10-08-2011, 06:01 AM

Which game is this?

N. Jetcopter · 10-08-2011, 06:12 AM

Open steam folder, delete folder of game.

Skizzer · 10-08-2011, 06:12 AM

Fable 3 - I have the blank screen issue.

Deleting the folder still doesn't cleanly uninstall the game. I need the installer to run completely over again. If I delete the files, steam re-downloads them, no install takes place, and the game still runs buggy.

Leinad177 · 10-08-2011, 06:18 AM

Revo Uninstaller (Free Version).

Also, have you tried verifying the game cache?

Skizzer · 10-08-2011, 06:24 AM

Yes, verifying the cache didn't change anything. I'll look into Revo.

Thank you.

Blue231 · 10-08-2011, 06:39 AM

If you have Windows XP, you can go to your control panel and select "Add or Remove Programs" then find your games then you'll delete it completely. (That's what I do when I want to delete games)

rasitha_raw · 10-08-2011, 07:25 AM

what the guy above said. works for 7 too

Leinad177 · 10-08-2011, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue231

Add or Remove Programs" then find your games then you'll delete it completely.

This isn't entirely true. Programs often leave registry keys or leftover files which survive that method.

Revo finds those and allows you to delete them for free.

tacc · 10-08-2011, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skizzer

Once I re-download the game no actual installation takes place, the game just tries to run.

That's because steam doesn't install the games.

Skizzer · 10-08-2011, 09:11 AM

If steam doesn't install Fable 3, then what does? There is no installer located in the game files...

I've removed the registry keys, just waiting on the download to complete.

rasitha_raw · 10-08-2011, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tacc

That's because steam doesn't install the games.

yes it does. if you look at your installed programes list you will see games from steam

rasitha_raw · 10-08-2011, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skizzer

If steam doesn't install Fable 3, then what does? There is no installer located in the game files...

I've removed the registry keys, just waiting on the download to complete.

dont worry,. steam will figure out whats missing and fill the gaps.

tacc · 10-08-2011, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skizzer

If steam doesn't install Fable 3, then what does?

Nothing. It get's downloaded and is ready to go (apart from the usual DirectX setup)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skizzer

There is no installer located in the game files...

Exactly. No setup. No installation.

There are a lot of (often smaller) programs which don't require to be installed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rasitha_raw

yes it does. if you look at your installed programes list you will see games from steam

Just because steam adds a key to the registry? That's not a installation or setup and is also not required to get the game to work.

Skizzer · 10-08-2011, 12:03 PM

Interesting. If the steam just dumps paths in the registry and installs DX and whatever else, then I have to wonder why the game reacts differently now from the first time I ran it.

The first time I ran it, it made me sign into Microsoft Games. It then crashed. Now, it loads to a black screen with only the mouse cursor on it. Restarted PC, reinstalled Microsoft Games, Live, etc; deleted local files, re-downloaded, no difference - still a blank screen with a mouse cursor...

Anyways, thank you all for the replies. If nothing else, my understanding of how steam installs it's games is better, now.

10-08-2011, 05:31 AM	#1
Skizzer Join Date: Mar 2011 Reputation: 0 Posts: 14	Fully uninstall Steam games I'm trying to do a full uninstall of a game on steam, but delete local content doesn't actually uninstall the game - it just removes (most of) the game files from the steamapps directory. Once I re-download the game no actual installation takes place, the game just tries to run. The problem there is that this particular game is not working, and I'm at the point in my troubleshooting where I need to fully uninstall the game. Any way to do this?

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10-08-2011, 06:01 AM	#2
DarkLite123 Join Date: May 2010 Reputation: 2512 Posts: 1,863	Which game is this?

10-08-2011, 06:12 AM	#3
N. Jetcopter Banned Join Date: Sep 2011 Reputation: 143 Posts: 142	Open steam folder, delete folder of game.

10-08-2011, 06:18 AM	#5
Leinad177 Join Date: Feb 2008 Reputation: 71 Posts: 604	Revo Uninstaller (Free Version). Also, have you tried verifying the game cache?

10-08-2011, 06:24 AM	#6
Skizzer Join Date: Mar 2011 Reputation: 0 Posts: 14	Yes, verifying the cache didn't change anything. I'll look into Revo. Thank you.

10-08-2011, 06:39 AM	#7
Blue231 Join Date: Sep 2011 Reputation: 0 Posts: 36	If you have Windows XP, you can go to your control panel and select "Add or Remove Programs" then find your games then you'll delete it completely. (That's what I do when I want to delete games)

10-08-2011, 07:25 AM	#8
rasitha_raw Join Date: Mar 2011 Reputation: 270 Posts: 557	what the guy above said. works for 7 too

10-08-2011, 09:11 AM	#11
Skizzer Join Date: Mar 2011 Reputation: 0 Posts: 14	If steam doesn't install Fable 3, then what does? There is no installer located in the game files... I've removed the registry keys, just waiting on the download to complete.

10-08-2011, 12:03 PM	#15
Skizzer Join Date: Mar 2011 Reputation: 0 Posts: 14	Interesting. If the steam just dumps paths in the registry and installs DX and whatever else, then I have to wonder why the game reacts differently now from the first time I ran it. The first time I ran it, it made me sign into Microsoft Games. It then crashed. Now, it loads to a black screen with only the mouse cursor on it. Restarted PC, reinstalled Microsoft Games, Live, etc; deleted local files, re-downloaded, no difference - still a blank screen with a mouse cursor... Anyways, thank you all for the replies. If nothing else, my understanding of how steam installs it's games is better, now.