Steam backup

[QX6700RULZ]

If i want to format a machine how do i back up the neccessary files so that i do not need to download all the updates etc again.

I see in Steam you can do a backup, does this involve any downloading or does it just back up the files on your pc ?

 

[Necuno]

If i want to format a machine how do i back up the neccessary files so that i do not need to download all the updates etc again.

I see in Steam you can do a backup, does this involve any downloading or does it just back up the files on your pc ?

no downloading, makes a current backup of your steam stuff into hdd for writing to dvd's...

 

[QX6700RULZ]

okie cool, this machine needs a clean up pretty soon and i do not feel like wasting cap on updates etc

 

[S1ght]

if i have to reinstall steam, i just reinstall over the old 1, picks up all the files and everything is updated when I go in again, didnt work for my 1 friend though so maybe backup just encase but it takes for freaking ever to do it, have fun

 

[QX6700RULZ]

Old one is gone after a format

 

[The_Techie]

Here's the quick way:
Copy your Steam folder somewhere safe (where it won't be formatted)
Format
Install Steam (I think it needs to be installed to the same folder where it was installed previously, not sure about this)
Copy your old Steam folder to the new folder, replacing all files as necessary
Delete clientregistry.blob
Run Steam.exe (will ask for username & password and download about 5-10MB)
Enjoy

If you've already formatted and deleted the Steam folder... Ouch...

 

[Ivan...]

you just need to copy the SteamApps folder [to a safe place], not the entire Steam folder, steamapps contains the game files and the savegames. Recopy it back to C:\Program FIles\Steam and voila.