SecuROM and Steam Best Practices
Technically, you only have to DL the game once.
Like PooMan pointed theres a backup option.
What I do, is after the game downloads, I make a backup. Then burn those files to a DVD.
Theres a few games that have SecuROM on them. This will be noted on the store page.
Perhaps that has something to do with my issue I posted elsewhere on here... hm.
On games like that, just be sure to uninstall the game or revoke the activation before you format your PC.
Other than those few, theres no limit to how many times you can download/install your games. Just pay attention for any (3rd Party DRM) messages, so you'll know how to handle that particular game -- As these will have a limited number of installs.
Download times are slow ATM due to the summer sale, but its usually pretty fast.
I just started another thread, asking why I can't seem to be able to re-enable Steam Guard Account Security. I've had no problems iwth my games (LOVE the Valve id Complete Pack... all the old Apogee/Wolfenstein titles, Doom, etc.,) can re-activate them after reformatting, etc., but wanted to add to this post..
1.) Yes, you can backup & restore games. Even if you do NOT burn them to CD or DVD, choose the 4.7GB DVD option when backing up. It simply puts them into more manageable files & file sizes! (each game you have.)
- Make sure you save them & verify that they work. I personally right-click & customize the folder by changing the icon to the Steam logo (browsing into the ProgramFiles(x86) folder & using that for quick reference...) lots of posts are on the forums about incorrect file paths, etc., when restoring.
2.) If you do NOT back them up to DVD format (to disk) or onto actual** writable media, do know that however much content you have, you will have to re-download all of that.
If you bought Left 4 Dead, for example, on DVD, typed your product key in & all that... but played out all the maps, won achievements/unlcoked stuff, networked, friends, etc., that'll make it much, much larger than the size of your original DVD. Most, including myself, didn't realize how much we'd have to re-download.
3.) Always make sure to de-authorize your computer before reformatting. If you auto-login with Windows (at startup,) log-off. When you log back-in, there are settings to log out permanently and "disable all other..." computers, or just that one.
--- Good "best practices," from someone who had to learn them the hard way!
)
) And others can still play them if you lend the game to them. (3 days) DRM tripped me up on iTunes once. I burned music and then ripped it with WM to get rid of the DRM. Failed to do it with my movies though. Anyhow, because the games are linked with your acount you can download them again and again from any internet enabled computer in the world. I highly recommend Steam as a choice to buy games.
