How to update a steam game on two computers?

Mrcrazed · Mar 23, 2016

So I have an update waiting for me that is amlost 1 GB, and my internet is agonizingly slow. about 350 KB/sec, and I have gta 5 installed on two computers, so I was wondering if I could somehow transfer the update once it's downloaded the the other computer. Yeah, I suppose I could back up the game and transfer it, but that would take longer than just downloading it twice.

the_crippler · Mar 23, 2016

Even backing up and transferring the game would still cause it to go into check mode on the game files, which also generally takes a long time.

How's your in-house speed? With steam streaming, you can just have it installed on one machine and play it on the other over the network. (Probably still best to just bite the bullet and update both.)

Dark Falz · Mar 23, 2016

You can use robocopy to mirror one to the other and then also copy the vdf file. If you don't copy the vdf file the second computer won't "know" it has the updated files. The vdf files named for the Steam AppID but if you have a recently updated game, it should be the most recently modified one.

I have the non Steam version of GTA and it's pretty good in detecting that it has up to date files after I mirrored updated copy to another PC. I'm not sure exactly how the normal Steam version works, does it download the update via Steam or via RGSC?

Solandri · Mar 23, 2016

the_crippler :

Checks aren't done by downloading the entire file again and comparing. The file is read on your computer, a checksum is generated, and the checksum is compared to the "correct" checksum for that file on the server. Only if the checksums are different does it download the file again. If the check is taking a long time, it's because you have a slow or fragmented HDD.

So yes, updating it on one computer, then copying the steamapps folder to the second computer will eliminate a redundant download on the second computer.

If you have a laptop, install Steam on there and copy the Steam folder from your desktop. You don't actually have to play games on the laptop, you just want Steam installed. Go visit a Starbucks or McDonalds or someplace that has (fast) free wifi. Update there. Then go home and copy the updated steamapps folder to your desktop.

Mrcrazed · Mar 23, 2016

Solandri :

the_crippler :

Checks aren't done by downloading the entire file again and comparing. The file is read on your computer, a checksum is generated, and the checksum is compared to the "correct" checksum for that file on the server. Only if the checksums are different does it download the file again. If the check is taking a long time, it's because you have a slow or fragmented HDD.

So yes, updating it on one computer, then copying the steamapps folder to the second computer will eliminate a redundant download on the second computer.

If you have a laptop, install Steam on there and copy the Steam folder from your desktop. You don't actually have to play games on the laptop, you just want Steam installed. Go visit a Starbucks or McDonalds or someplace that has (fast) free wifi. Update there. Then go home and copy the updated steamapps folder to your desktop.

I don't have a laptop new enough for its hdd to fit in my desktop, and I don't have any storage devices big enough to transfer it.

Mrcrazed · Mar 23, 2016

Dark Falz :

You can use robocopy to mirror one to the other and then also copy the vdf file. If you don't copy the vdf file the second computer won't "know" it has the updated files. The vdf files named for the Steam AppID but if you have a recently updated game, it should be the most recently modified one.

I have the non Steam version of GTA and it's pretty good in detecting that it has up to date files after I mirrored updated copy to another PC. I'm not sure exactly how the normal Steam version works, does it download the update via Steam or via RGSC?

Steam.

Search

How to update a steam game on two computers?

Mrcrazed

Reputable

the_crippler

the_crippler

Distinguished

Dark Falz

Reputable

Solandri

Illustrious

Mrcrazed

Reputable

Mrcrazed

Reputable

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page