Multiple client systems: Steam Games won't play

[BonzaiDuck]

I have two systems under my desk. I'd come here some weeks or months ago for guidance -- which I readily found -- and installed Steam and my games on the second system. No problem.

I'm building a new system for my brother. In order to test it, I installed Steam on it under my Account, and downloaded two games I've played under Steam purchase.

Bro's system has an analog monitor connection to a 4:3 1680x1050 LCD screen; the other systems are connected to a 16:9 1920x1080. That is the only real difference.

When I double-click on the desktop game icon for either game, it brings up a message about installing DirectX, the little circle goes round and round, the message box disappears -- and there's no game.

What gives?

 

[Elcs]

Game specific issue possibly?

Sometimes this is caused by some .dll file not being picked up, some .NET item not installed properly etc. so it might be worth having a look at those specific titles or downloading some other Steam games to see if it's a "Steam" thing or a "specific game" thing.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Game specific issue possibly?

Sometimes this is caused by some .dll file not being picked up, some .NET item not installed properly etc. so it might be worth having a look at those specific titles or downloading some other Steam games to see if it's a "Steam" thing or a "specific game" thing.

A minimum size of 2 for a small sample tells me it's a "Steam" thing -- for two games.

Steam works on my other two machines. I had to do "special things" in following Steam instructions to I install the same games on [EDIT] two more machines. So, for the purpose of testing my Bro's new hardware, this represents the third such install.

I wouldn't know of there is a documented limit on that feature, and I don't want to uninstall Steam from my other two systems. IF this is instead the behavior of Steam under a such a limit, then I should have to re-establish my brother's account and buy another copy of one of my library items and do it that way.

Or I could simply buy or install any non-Steam game gone stale and unwanted on either of my own two workstations. Either way, I will likely pay something to "game-test" the system. And Bro is a PS3 addict; felt "bothered" by the Steam software for his account on the system this "third computer" will replace. He doesn't remember his account ID; doesn't remember his password.

Maybe I should ask him if that mountain of discs contains a PC game recent enough to fill the bill.

 

[Tifosi248F1]

There's no need to re-buy anything for testing purposes. All you really need to do is re-establish your brother's Steam account, reset the password or whatever you need to do to log in, the enable Family Sharing on your account and his. After that all your games will be visible, and more importantly, installable through your brother's account. It will save you money and let you choose a variety of games to test with. If you have an external drive big enough you could even copy over the game content instead of downloading it all over again.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

There's no need to re-buy anything for testing purposes. All you really need to do is re-establish your brother's Steam account, reset the password or whatever you need to do to log in, the enable Family Sharing on your account and his. After that all your games will be visible, and more importantly, installable through your brother's account. It will save you money and let you choose a variety of games to test with. If you have an external drive big enough you could even copy over the game content instead of downloading it all over again.

Thanks for the insight. A very easy and costless solution.

And plenty of time in which to do it, although the indications on Bro's old system are consistent with a dying 7-year-old PSU. Since we're "starting from scratch," a week or two more won't hurt, but I can't take all month with it.