Steam is a Windows, Linux and Mac OS X social platform for the digital distribution of games.
27
votes
7answers
10k views
Is it possible to play two different Steam games on the same account at the same time?
I own a lot of games on Steam, and I'm overall a big fan of the service.
However, one thing about it really bothers me, and I'm wondering if anything can be done about it.
Let's say I have two ...
14
votes
1answer
14k views
What happens if I buy a game I already own through Steam a second time?
I am debating whether or not to get the Potato Sack (yes, I realize I've been debating for several weeks now) bundle through steam.
I already own: Defense Grid: The Awakening, Super Meat Boy, and ...
75
votes
6answers
88k views
How do I move Steam games to a new computer without re-downloading them?
I have just bought a new computer and I have everything migrated over except for my Steam games.
I looked in Program Files/Steam/ and I found a folder full of the games I have downloaded, but I do ...
33
votes
1answer
61k views
Is there any way to start Steam in offline mode without logging in first?
I recently find myself needing to start Steam in offline mode rather frequently (my wife is hogging my account to play Plants Vs. Zombies, and most of what I play doesn't really need to be online).
I ...
22
votes
3answers
7k views
Can I register a retail boxed copy of a game with Steam?
I personally do not like to purchase games digitally. There's just something magical about going to the store, picking up a boxed game, staring at the amazing box art, bringing the game home and ...
15
votes
6answers
4k views
(How) Is it possible to get the full version of a game if I can only buy its low violence version?
While I don't exactly loathe the censorship called "low violence version" for some games steam sells (e.g. Fallout 3)
I do detest being forced to play games in a language different than the ...
14
votes
4answers
5k views
Can I bulk download Steam games?
I have a substantial Steam library, and a new computer with plenty of disk space. I want to queue up all (or most) of my Steam games for downloading.
I know I can click on each one in turn, but I ...
17
votes
2answers
33k views
Can I play Civ 5 without having Steam installed?
Is there anyway to remove Steam and still play Civilization V? I am very particular about what gets installed on my computers and what is allowed to advertise at me and run background processes. So ...
13
votes
2answers
12k views
Does Steam store my savegames?
Hey, if I install a Steam game on another computer, will my progress from my first computer be available immediately? Or is this game dependent? If not, what's the best way to transfer the progress?
5
votes
1answer
4k views
How to get Steam to recognize existing game files from a different source?
Let's say I have a game bought on retail/other digital download and installed on my hard drive. I buy the same game (or a minor variant of it, say the GOTY edition) on Steam. It should be possible to ...
88
votes
5answers
54k views
How do I continue downloading a game in Steam while playing?
I have many games on Steam and many more I will buy, but I have a problem and I hope you can point me a solution.
When I download a game, is it possible to launch and play a single player game under ...
33
votes
4answers
43k views
Is it possible to limit the download bandwidth used by Steam?
Is it possible limiting the download bandwidth used by Steam in some way? When I am downloading a game it greatly speed down or even block all internet activities in my house.
42
votes
5answers
7k views
Why is Steam saying my friends are playing Hello Kitty: Island Adventure when I know they aren't?
I frequently see that my friends on Steam are playing Hello Kitty: Island Adventure. I know that this is not accurate. Why is Steam reporting that they're playing a game that isn't on Steam? Is Steam ...
18
votes
2answers
4k views
Can the Steam achievements be gained also offline?
If I play, for example, Plant vs Zombies or Toki Tori on Steam when I am offline, can I get achievements? Are these re-synchronized when Steam returns online?
9
votes
2answers
2k views
Can I influence my Steam region?
There's an Unreal pack available on Steam – but not in my region (Germany) probably due to Germany's laws against graphical violence for minors. I had the idea to ask a friend in the USA to register ...
7
votes
2answers
7k views
What hats in TF2 are, or were, available for free?
What hats and miscellaneous wearables (like sunglasses and badges) in TF2 are available for free, without crafting, buying, un-crating, random drops, trading, or buying a game on Steam?
Aside from ...
37
votes
9answers
15k views
Is it possible to install Steam games to two different locations?
I want to build a new PC with a smallish SSD. I'd like to be able to install some of my games onto the drive (those I care about loading quickly or I play frequently), but have the rest of them on a ...
50
votes
4answers
11k views
Retail boxed Steam activated games: can they be resold?
I recently purchased retail boxed versions of
Dead Island (which is awesome)
Warhammer 40k: Space Marine (not so much)
I finished both games and I was thinking of reselling them or giving them to ...
14
votes
5answers
14k views
How can I move Steam games to another disk?
How can I tell Steam to put games on another disk?
They are currently on C: but I'm getting a little short on space.
16
votes
1answer
30k views
How do I copy Team Fortress 2 to other computers?
Since Team Fortress 2 is available for free, many of my friends have downloaded the game. Can I copy the game on a digital media (USB stick or external hard drive) without creating a problem with ...
10
votes
4answers
11k views
Why can't I install TF2 in a non-default game library location?
I've set up 2 non-default game library locations. One in C:\Games and the other D:\Games.
Steam is installed on C: so I have 2 libraries on C and one on D.
When I go to install most games it lets me ...
26
votes
4answers
3k views
How does Valve Anti-Cheat (VAC) work?
Many Source engine games are run on servers that are "VAC-Secured". How does the VAC really work? What is it looking for? If it finds something "bad", what does it do?
Is there any way a user can ...
21
votes
3answers
54k views
Does Steam work on Windows 8?
I am considering installing Windows 8 RTM on my gaming PC. Has anyone tried installing and using Steam on Windows 8?
Is Windows 8 supported by Valve/Steam in the first place? Is there any known ...
20
votes
5answers
6k views
14
votes
6answers
2k views
How do I avoid TF2 servers loaded with bots?
It seems like whenever I choose to play TF2 at dead-ish times (when my favorites are all empty) all the servers I join are 90-100% bots. Is there some easy way to avoid joining those servers?
14
votes
3answers
5k views
Where do I download the manuals for games I buy on Steam?
I recently signed up with Steam and bought a few discounted games, but I can't find any manuals for them. I assumed they'd be installed along with the games, but I can't find any sign of them or of ...
10
votes
8answers
3k views
Bioshock on Steam Hangs on Startup
When i start Bioshock from steam, it hangs on the splash screen.
I have Windows 7 x64,and have installed all the latest drivers. HW details: i5 750, Asus P7P55D MB, ATI HD5770
8
votes
5answers
13k views
How to get the Steam Workshop to work with “Civilization V” for a Mac?
I currently own Civilization V, (not the Gods & Kings expansion,) and have the latest version of it and have subscribed to several items on the Steam Workshop, but when I start-up the game, none ...
16
votes
1answer
1k views
How can Steam be prevented from downloading a billion copies of DirectX?
As a follow-up to my question regarding the first-time installation, I noticed Steam stores the DirectX and vcredist etc files individually in each games directory. That means, those sometimes up to ...
12
votes
3answers
11k views
Binding of Isaac achievements and Steam in-game not working
I can't get achievements in this game, also the Steam In-game function doesn't work.
May this problem related to the fact that the game is in Flash? Anyone has the same problem?
11
votes
2answers
12k views
Can Steam be used to Launch Mass Effect 3?
I own Mass Effect 3 on Origin, but I very much prefer launching games from Steam (largely for the overlay, since I've got hundreds of Steam friends). I know that non-steam applications can be ...
9
votes
4answers
14k views
Is there anyway to stop a download on Steam?
Steam recently started downloading an update for Super Monday Night Combat. Remembering the fact that the game never ran properly for me, and that I was unable to ever find any fix, I impatiently ...
8
votes
2answers
9k views
Can I download Steam games on one computer (mac), then install them on another (Windows)?
My gaming PC (which runs on Windows) has very limited bandwith: I can connect to the internet, but cannot download a game. However I do have a macbook with access to a network with unlimited bandwith. ...
6
votes
3answers
9k views
I'm updating Windows 7 to 64-bit, how do I move my Steam games?
I want to update from Windows 7 32-bit to 64-bit. How do I protect my Steam games?
6
votes
2answers
11k views
How can you install Steam games offline?
My main computer that has Steam installed on it does not have an active Internet connection. I do not want this computer to have access to the Internet, but I really would like to be able to play ...
14
votes
3answers
3k views
Can I give away Steam games?
I own some Steam games I'd like to give away to friends as I no longer play them. Have I any options?
10
votes
2answers
13k views
“Steam failed to load: *SteamStartEngine(0xbfffdf54) failed with error 1: A Steam Engine Instance already exists”
My Mac Steam installation on 10.7 has started giving this "failed to load" dialog whenever I try to launch Steam.
I have tried deleting the Application Support folder which allowed Steam to launch ...
9
votes
3answers
3k views
Can I enforce a time limit window on Steam games, notably Team Fortress 2?
My 10 year old loves Team Fortress 2 but spend too much time playing it.
I looked for whether Steam has a parental control system allowing me to say "max X hours over the last 14 days", but could not ...
5
votes
3answers
2k views
Installing in games Origin already obtained via Steam
Origin seems to recognise that I'd purchased NFS: Hot Pursuit on Steam, and is now giving me the option to download it. Is there a way, or is it possible, to install games in Origin that have been ...
5
votes
4answers
21k views
I can't get past the opening splash screen when I try to start playing Skyrim
I just tried to run Skyrim and once the splash screen appears, I hit "Play." The splash screen blinks and pops up again. Nothing else happens, and the game does not open.
I'm stuck in a endless loop ...
4
votes
2answers
328 views
Can I have more than one of the same trading card?
Steam now has trading cards. In order to get them, you're supposed to play specific games (currently there are only 6 games supported, but they've said more will come).
However, it's only possible ...
4
votes
1answer
4k views
What network port does Steam use?
We have a white list of ports on our network, and the Steam client cannot connect to the server. Which ports do I need to open to make it work?
3
votes
2answers
3k views
2nd Steam Account on the same Computer?
Will Creating a second steam account work on the same computer?
Will I be able to play TF2 with the already downloaded version as an F2P on the new account, or will I have to download a 2nd version ...
52
votes
4answers
1k views
Free Games on Steam?
Is there anywhere I can look at a list of all games steam is offering for free?
46
votes
6answers
17k views
How do you get your Steam games to run on Ubuntu through Wine or something similar?
Ok, I was kind of surprised that this hadn't been asked here before, but maybe it's too technical for this site. You guys decide.
I've heard lots of different stories about setting up Wine on Ubuntu, ...
43
votes
8answers
4k views
Can I trust Steam-powered games? Is there any unwanted behavior installed with Steam?
So – I just bought the new game Supreme Commander 2. This question is not about the game, but about the online software installation platform that it seems to require. I haven't bought a game ...
15
votes
1answer
3k views
How can I delete local content from a game not in my list in Steam?
I played the free weekend for Call of Duty Black Ops and I decided not to buy it.
However, now I have a folder taking up 8 GB of my SSD space in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\call of ...
11
votes
3answers
1k views
Where can I find Portal 2 mods?
I obviously don't own Portal 2 yet but am considering buying since it's on sale on Steam at the moment. My question is - I've heard that the SDK has been released some weeks ago so one would expect ...
31
votes
5answers
19k views
Can I tell Steam which monitor to open a game on?
I have two monitors and Windows 7. Is it possible to tell Steam to open a game on my second monitor instead of the main monitor?
If that's not possible through Steam itself, is there some other way ...
18
votes
3answers
2k views
Is it possible to split a Steam account?
I have been collecting games in my Steam account for a while (I can't resist those 75%-off sales!)
Now my son wants to play a few of the milder games, but I don't want him to have access to my FPS ...
