A Bizarre Steam Question

My DV9700 is set up for dual booting (see sig) and, so far, all the Steam games I've played have been under XP and they all play very well; I'm curious to compare how they would play under Vista, with DirectX 10.

So here's the bizarre question: Since I have all the game files on the HDD, can I install Steam on the Vista side and just copy all the folders from the XP Steam folder into the Vista Steam folder and save all that downloading and updating business? Or would they not run?

Thanks!

 

Yes. I do this all the time. I backed up my entire /steamapps folder onto a external hard drive and when I install steam on a diff. computer than my main one, I drag all files over. Works like a charm. The only thing that will NOT be copied over is your server favorites, and your ingame settings that are advanced (net_graph, cl_crosshairscale, etc)

 

In theory it should work. I say you should try it, and if it works....great, if not then just delete the folders/files and download them again.

 

I forgot to add, it will NOT work if you copy over your "winui.gcf" file. This file is individual for every computer, if you copy it over steam will crash upon boot. Just delete it. When steam starts up it will notice the file is missing and download another, its like 256kb so you won't notice it, but it's an important file. If you delete that file it will work, like I said I do this almost weekly

 

Thanks! I'll give it a try and see how it goes.

frostbit3, thanks for the info about the winui.gci file!

 

I just use the Steam "Backup my games" feature to my external drive.

 

Couldn't you just install steam on the Vista side to the XP side, and it will share the program files rather than having a copy on each side? Then one one side gets updated, both do. I used to do this with iTunes libraries on a dual boot, I don't see why this wouldn't work.

 

I don't know why I just read "Blizzard Steam" instead of bizarre.

Anyway it's good knowing this for all the people who are afraid to mess up with their steam folder.

 

Problem with this is everytime steam starts up it's going to crash due to the "winui.gcf" file. You can do this, but you would have to delete this file everytime you switch OS's, as stated before it won't even start Steam correctly. I believe it gives an application error upon start, but it's been a while for me to remember exactly. If you can somehow reroute one of the steam installs to find the "winui.gcf" file from /steamapps/xxx/ then in theory it would work, but the chances of someone rerouting steam to find that file in a different location is slim to none, also taking into account steam could VAC ban you on the terms of modifying system files.

 

I can just run the steam.exe from the folder in both vista and xp in my system. Works fine. You don't have to install it in both os's

 

I've never heard of this file, I've even used steam as a portable app before so I could play Team Fortress Classic in some classes on the school computers :\
How long ago was this?

 

According to this you don't have to delete the "winui.gcf" file, but in my experience I have put it in there from a different operating system (When switching between XP and Vista, I have never gone from XP to a fresh XP install) it would crash upon boot until I deleted that file.

And also according to that link the "winui.gcf" file has something to do with system fonts, so there might be something conflicting with the fonts from XP to Vista because they use different default fonts (Can't think of the name of them right now :-/). This isn't official by anymeans, I'm just stating that in my own experience I have done this about 4-5 times from XP to Vista and vice-versa, and everytime I needed to delete that file. And it's been on different computers, not just one.

 

You DO NOT have to reinstall steam. Just keep the steam folder in place, from your XP install, Locate the folder in vista, and click steam.exe, it will start right up, ask you to install a steam service to make it work in Vista, and your done. You never have to reinstall or move the steam folder, just start it like you normally would in either OS.

Steam is amazing like that. In fact, you can just completely copy the entire steam folder, paste it on anything, like a USB stick, and run it off of that without ever having a problem, pop in the USB stick to any computer you want, click the steam.exe and it'll start like normal with all your games playable just like that.

 

I'll DEFINITELY give that a try. Copying the steam folder worked fine but my apps are 17 GB; I's rather not duplicate a file that size if I don't have to.

Thanks!

 

I wanted to check back and let you know it worked GREAT! Not only that but I was able to launch a few other games from the XP side without reinstalling on Vista.

Thanks again.

PS - I repped you for the helpful response.

 

just to add...
i have used the same steam folder (the entire thing) on 3 computers, and about 12 different windows installs....
not once installing steam.. just running the .exe from the folder.....

 

I think the last time I actually installed steam was 2 years ago. This is one of the things I've always loved about steam. Games that install 3rd party services like Securom won't work though, you'll still need to delete and reinstall those, games that use Punkbuster on steam will auto install punkbuster on the different pc/OS, and all Source games or those made by Valve will always just WORK, no problems