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Article ID: 8794-YPHV-2033 FAQ ID: 275 Updated: May 19th, 2008
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Steam Support will not request your Steam account password for any reason, nor will you ever be asked to enter your Steam account password into a website form.
Important:
Backups created using the Steam backup feature will not include any saved games, custom multiplayer maps or configuration files. If you would like to back up your entire installation (including custom content), please ensure that you have copies of all the files in the following folders under the C:\Program Files\Valve\Steam\SteamApps\<username>\<game name>\<abbreviated game name>\ path (for default installations):
- /cfg/ - Custom configurations and configuration scripts
- /downloads/ - Custom content for multiplayer games
- /maps/ - Custom maps which have been installed or downloaded during multiplayer games
- /materials/ - Custom textures and skins
- /SAVE/ - Single-player saved games
These files will need to be copied into the corresponding folders on your new installation after you have restored your game files using the Steam backup feature.
Creating Backup Files
Please follow these instructions to create backups of your core game files to save downloading time when reinstalling Steam:
- Right-click on the game which you would like to back up under the My Games tab
- Select Backup game files...
- Check the boxes for any other games which you would like to back up (the game which you initially selected will already be checked)
- Click Next >
- Enter the folder where you would like to store your backup files in the Backup destination field (the files will be stored in c:\program files\valve\steam\Backups by default) and click Next >
- The backup process will automatically create a series of backup files named sequentially according to the Backup file name which is entered - you may set the File size if you plan on burning the backup files to CD or DVD
- Click Next > to begin archiving your game files
- Once the archival process has completed you will be presented with a button option to Open backup folder if you would like to move or burn copies of your backup files
Restoring from Backup Files
- Install Steam and log in to your account to ensure you will be able to complete the reinstallation process (please see the Installing Steam article if you need instructions to install Steam)
- If the backup files were copied to a CD or DVD, the steambackup.exe file will run automatically when the disc is loaded on your machine - otherwise, run the steambackup.exe file (see the instructions below if you are missing the steambackup.exe file)
- The Steam Backup window will load after steambackup.exe is run - click the top link to restore your game files to load the Restore backup Steam dialog
- Check the boxes for the games which you would like to restore and click Next >
- Check any start menu shortut or desktop options you would like to use and click Next >
- Once the game installation process has been completed, click Finish to close the dialog and begin reinstalling any custom content which you may have saved
Missing steambackup.exe
We have received reports that the steambackup.exe file may not be automatically included with the backup files when creating backups using the Steam backup feature (this may also occur if the steambackup.exe file was not burned to CD or DVD when copying the game backup files).
Please download the copy of steambackup.exe linked here, place it in the same folder as your backup files, and execute it to complete the reinstallation process if you cannot find the steambackup.exe file with your backup files.
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