Steam question: Installing a game to 3 computer WITHOUT downloading it 3 times.

[alexruiz]

Hi everyone. I updated video cards in 3 machines, and the cards I got had a free steam game (dirt 2)

I am already installing the game in one of them, but the download is almost 11GB!!
How can I install it in the other 2 machines WITHOUT having to download it again?

I was thinking of copying the "dirt 2" folder that is in "steam apps -> common" to the other 2 machines, then activate the keys in the other machines hoping steam sees the game and doesn't try to download again. Or should I make a "backup" of the game, then "restore" in the other machines before activating the key?

Thanks for the help!



Alex

 

[Merad]

On the computer that has it installed, right click on the game in the steam library and do backup game files. Then copy those backup files to the other computers and use them to do the install.

 

[alexruiz]

On the computer that has it installed, right click on the game in the steam library and do backup game files. Then copy those backup files to the other computers and use them to do the install.

Thanks!
I am assuming I do it before activating the product key, right? I noticed that when I installed the product key it immediately started downloading. Or should I interrupt the download and make the restore?

 

[Lonyo]

You don't need to do the Steam back up, just copy your whole Steam directory from one machine to the rest of the computers.
Then install Steam onto them (to the same location as the copied directory) and it will auto-detect all the files in there and your games will be playable.

Copy the files once the whole thing has downloaded and you can activate it whenever (AFAIK) since Steam is the authentication method and it will authenticate you when you log in to Steam on any of them machines.

 

[alexruiz]

You don't need to do the Steam back up, just copy your whole Steam directory from one machine to the rest of the computers.
Then install Steam onto them (to the same location as the copied directory) and it will auto-detect all the files in there and your games will be playable.

Copy the files once the whole thing has downloaded and you can activate it whenever (AFAIK) since Steam is the authentication method and it will authenticate you when you log in to Steam on any of them machines.

I see. This will work if it is the same steam profile, but I am planning to race my son online, so he needs his own code, doesn't he? Hence, my question of how to install and activate with another key without downloading it again.... hmmm.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

I see. This will work if it is the same steam profile, but I am planning to race my son online, so he needs his own code, doesn't he? Hence, my question of how to install and activate with another key without downloading it again.... hmmm.

Same as above. Steam shares the game files with all profiles, unless you somehow found a way to install Steam to multiple locations. You still need separate authentication to play the games that aren't free.

 

[CurseTheSky]

On the computer that has it installed, right click on the game in the steam library and do backup game files. Then copy those backup files to the other computers and use them to do the install.

Any idea if that'll backup game files that aren't stored in the Steam directory? For example, some games save profiles / save games in the Documents folder.

Thanks.

 

[Rebel44]

Any idea if that'll backup game files that aren't stored in the Steam directory? For example, some games save profiles / save games in the Documents folder.

Thanks.

AFAIK no, it wont backup files outside Steamapps folder.