Steamapps Restore Question

10-25-2009, 05:26 PM

If someone only copied each individual gamefolder from the steamapps folder but not the entire steamapps folder itself, how would they go about restoring these games on a fresh install of steam? I've put each game folder into the steamapps folder but steam doesn't detect them and is making me redownload them. The funny thing is, I can actually run left4dead.exe from the gamefolder while steam is running and it works for awhile but then kicks me out saying it can't authenticate me or whatever because its still not listed as being installed on my games tab.

Obviously I'm missing some files somewhere that were in the steamapps folder outside of the specific game folders. Can anyone help? It seems wasteful to redownload 5-8GB's per game when I have the majority of the data. (besides the fact that I'm nearing my ISP's bandwidth limit for the month)..

thanks.

Mangr0v3 · 10-25-2009, 05:34 PM

You need the GCF and NCF files in the Steamapps folder itself.

10-25-2009, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mangr0v3

You need the GCF and NCF files in the Steamapps folder itself.

Are these files very large? If they are I guess I'm stuck redownloading the entire game unless someone can send them to me. It's too bad you can't tell steam to validate a game that isn't installed so it can tell you what files that are remaining for the game to be complete.

Mangr0v3 · 10-25-2009, 06:07 PM

GCFs are huge, NCFs are not.

What games are these in particular?

10-25-2009, 06:11 PM

Borderlands preload and left 4 dead 2 preload but I decided to just let steam redownload them. Gonna be stuck with some charges on my ISP's next bill

10-25-2009, 05:26 PM	#1
Simian25 Guest Posts: n/a	Steamapps Restore Question If someone only copied each individual gamefolder from the steamapps folder but not the entire steamapps folder itself, how would they go about restoring these games on a fresh install of steam? I've put each game folder into the steamapps folder but steam doesn't detect them and is making me redownload them. The funny thing is, I can actually run left4dead.exe from the gamefolder while steam is running and it works for awhile but then kicks me out saying it can't authenticate me or whatever because its still not listed as being installed on my games tab. Obviously I'm missing some files somewhere that were in the steamapps folder outside of the specific game folders. Can anyone help? It seems wasteful to redownload 5-8GB's per game when I have the majority of the data. (besides the fact that I'm nearing my ISP's bandwidth limit for the month).. thanks.

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10-25-2009, 05:34 PM	#2
Mangr0v3 Join Date: Sep 2008 Reputation: 4237 Posts: 13,590	You need the GCF and NCF files in the Steamapps folder itself.

10-25-2009, 06:07 PM	#4
Mangr0v3 Join Date: Sep 2008 Reputation: 4237 Posts: 13,590	GCFs are huge, NCFs are not. What games are these in particular?

10-25-2009, 06:11 PM	#5
Simian25 Guest Posts: n/a	Borderlands preload and left 4 dead 2 preload but I decided to just let steam redownload them. Gonna be stuck with some charges on my ISP's next bill