External hard drive question

[ProjectJAY]

My computer is full of crap i didnt even know was there these days, so Ive ordered an external hard drive to backup all my important files onto before I restore the computer. Ive already dealt with all my iTunes files and now Ive moved onto PC games.

Which brings me to my question. How do I back up the games Ive downloaded from Steam onto this external hard drive? Or can I download them from Steam again once the computer's been wiped?

 

[Lukeje]

You can redownload them; the games are linked to your account.

 

[ProjectJAY]

You can redownload them; the games are linked to your account.

so if i reinstall Steam and load it up once the PCs been wiped, the games I bought will just be in the Not Installed tab of 'My games', right? Can i download them as many times as I like?

 

[Teachingaddict]

You can redownload them; the games are linked to your account.

so if i reinstall Steam and load it up once the PCs been wiped, the games I bought will just be in the Not Installed tab of 'My games', right? Can i download them as many times as I like?

Yes

 

[Mackinator]

I don't know how you back up the games but i do know that:

You can download them again onto the computer afterwards. You can also download your games to any other computer and you are able to play the game only if you login to your steam account.

Hope it helps.

 

[Yooz]

I don't know how you back up the games but i do know that:

You can download them again onto the computer afterwards. You can also download your games to any other computer and you are able to play the game only if you login to your steam account.

Hope it helps.

Oh, that's awesome, I didn't know that. Thank you.

 

[microhive]

Basically you could make a backup of the entire Steam folder. As all games are saved within it.

Here is the important part, once you put the Steam folder on another computer visually the game won't appear on My Game list. A simple solution would be to click on the download button for that particular game which is installed within the folder to fix the register problem. Basically you won't actually be downloaing anything to get things working again beside downloading and fixing the registry. This is only a minor download if any at all.

Again this will only work if the game is presintalled in the folder.

I don't really see any use of this unless you're having a LAN party and someone is missing a game.

Sry for my poor grammar.

 

[Cuniculus]

Actually, you can just click on any game in your list, and it gives the option to backup the game file. It's the easiest way, seeing as you would actually have to take the time to redownload everything if you did it that way, and messing with the Steam files on your own could end poorly.

Just right click, and it says "backup game files" then save it to your hard drive.

 

[mikecoulter]

Ahhh, I hate having my PC "messy".

Major ocd for wiping a computer every year and starting a fresh. And having everything in folders. And I like backing up. EDIT: Love backing up. ^_^

 

[DazZ.]

If you right click on the games in in "My Games" tab, then click "backup game files" you get an installer for that game
Move that file onto your external and you wont have to download the game again.

Thats a cleaner way than copying your Steam folder as the registry wont get updated with just a copy&paste of a folder.
Saved games wont be salvaged though.

Edit: Avast ye ninja scallywag!