loading a hard copy disc to Steam !

My new notebook just came in a couple days ago( see AW sig )i bought Medal of Honor ( hard copy ) and i was wondering, how do you load it to your Steam account, i tried activating a game on steam with the Key i got with the game but it didn't work??
And from what i read is that if i buy COD4 as a hard copy i cant put it on my steam account ? is this true? Is there anything else i should know about steam ?

- sorry for all the n00b questions im super new to the PC gaming world

 

dont worry about the noob questions as we all had to start somewhere and i was like you 4 years ago.

if you buy a disc copy then normally you have to load it from disc and use the activation key provided and it cant be connected to steam.

BUT i had a strange one last year with COD MW2 which i bought on disc.
after putting the disc in it started downloading via steam and not the disc and its now stored in my steam games so it looks like it is possible with some games but not all.

if you buy the game from steam then it is stored on their database and you download it to your computer online and this can be done as many times as you want but it will only be compatable with you steam account so you cant give it to friends to play.
hope that helps a bit.

 

Here's a list of retail game keys allowed to be registered on Steam to make it a "Steam" game (i.e. auto updating, etc).

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7480-WUSF-3601#which

Otherwise you can add a game to Steam just for launching it, but you will have to install the game off DVD first then select "add non-steam game".

 

blimey,i didnt know there was so many. notice cod4 is not compatible.

 

If you add a game to Steam just to launch it, will you still need the CD to play?

 

If you add it as a shortcut, yes it will require the CD first if it originally requires so. If you add it as a "steam game" instead of just launching as a shortcut, you probably don't need the disc

 

Yes, if it is a game in that list you will not need a disc. If not in the list and you just add it as a non-stam game you will need it. Plus you will have to patch the game manually.

 

could it be that medal of honor is so new i cant load it to steam yet ? because i tryed "adding a non-steam game" and i entered the KEY and still nothing. all i can do is add a shortcut to steam, but i need the disc to run.

 

Medal of Honor is not on that list, therefore you cannot register it with steam, you can only add a shortcut.

 

that sucks. if i add the shortcut canwould i get the updates and patches ? if i cant put it on steam then how will anyone see my progress on the game ?

P.s. thanks for all the help everyone

 

You have to buy a game either on steam, or a game that can be registered on steam to get those perks. Otherwise any other game will just be a shortcut like on Windows desktop. It will tell someone whether you're in the game or not, but that's about it.

 

man i wish i knew this before i bought the hard copy, what is the advantage of buying the disc ? there doesn't seem to be any, aside from the fact that you have a physical copy of the game.

 

Well, some people are anti-steam. The one advantage of owning the disc is that you can loan it to your friends or sell it off later. If it's tied to your steam account then you can't do either unless you give them your steam account.

 

i see. well now i know, thanks alot, i really appreciate it. +1 rep to you my friend !!!!!!!!!!