what's up with steam?

[w00fd06]

so i got Portal today, and i installed steam, but right now im in the process of updating it and it's jumping around quite a bit. Ill elaborate, an example of this would be: I open the app, it downloads for a bit, gets to about 50%, stops, quits by itself(wtf ). Then i open the app again and it starts at 28%!

has anyone else had problems like this? if so, how would i fix it?

thanks in advance

[w00fd06]

well, it finished updating. however, now when i try to log in the app freezes, and i have to, of course, resort to the days of "ctrl+alt+del"

[HONkUS]

Try exiting out of Steam and going to your program files/steam folder and delete the "ClientRegistry.blob" file. when you relaunch steam the updated version will rebuild a new ClientRegistry.blob and it should fix your problem if its what i think it is.

[w00fd06]

ok, thanks, now I can log in

but after I activated Portal, and attempted to install it, i either had to download all the files from the internet (would take about two+ weeks straight) or i could install it from the DVD, so i opened the setup file from the disk, and i got to the point where the window reads something about backup (where it asks me if i want to add desktop and start menu shortcuts) and when i press next, the app yet again freezes..... (12 tries later) still nothing

I've also tried running the app as admin, nothing.

[HONkUS]

thats wierd, i cant help there ive always bought my steam games voer the internet and just let them download over night, hmm have you tried installing it with all your virus and spyware software turned off?

[skier]

i don't know what would cause the crashes considering your system, but i would worry about the % downloaded, that just doesnt work, sometimes updates go straight to 55% within seconds, then take 10 min to reach 56, it just isn't accurate(steam)

[w00fd06]

Ok, i tried installing with norton turned off, success!

and now, i have yet another problem, I try to open portal (from either shortcut or within Steam) and even though i turned off auto-updates, it tries to update it, which will apparently take "16hours and 4minutes"

then after about ten minutes, the update window closes and says "game not available at this time, try again later"

[stopthekilling77]

gawd... steam sucks for this reason. from what i understand, you cant play unless its updated. they did this so that people cant use cheats in multiplayer online games... :/

[w00fd06]

...you cant play unless its updated.

by "it" do you mean the game or steam?

[kappage]

Both, you cant play the game unless it is updated and you cant log into steam unless that is updated...

While there is some light to this, when you go to format just copy and paste your whole steam file to another computer! and then copy it back and no problems! (well it has worked for me for the past two years)

[skier]

Both, you cant play the game unless it is updated and you cant log into steam unless that is updated...

with exceptions, when TF2 updates, you can launch when your at 50% sometimes, and 90% others

[aircommando13]

I diwnloaded a FEAR dmeo from Steam a while back, and it was corrupted, kind of a hit or miss with them i guess.

[vicaphit]

I have had these problems, as well as the "searching for steam game updates" problem where it searches forever, and I can't play at all.

I now go to a friends house for lans and update everything at once. Once you have all of your games updated start every one of your steam games and close them as soon as you know they are working. After doing this, exit out of steam, and disconnect from the internet. Open up steam again and make sure everything works in offline mode. If you are not playing multiplayer, make sure you disconnect all internet sources and then start steam. I have had no problems since I started doing things this way.

My connection is so terrible that if it tries to update on my computer everything will get screwed up.

[w00fd06]

seeing as I don't go to LAN parties often (or take my desktop around), do the updates go to a certain folder?

or can i get them from a torrent (at a friend's house) and just transfer the update via USB later?

[vicaphit]

I don't think there is an exe with updates. It is best to take your computer to somewhere with a fast connection. I wish there were exe updates.

[w00fd06]

I don't think there is an exe with updates. It is best to take your computer to somewhere with a fast connection. I wish there were exe updates.

how does the updating work?

does steam just replace files?
or add new .dll's?

[vicaphit]

I have absolutely no clue. The last time I tried to just copy files into my steam folder I didn't have any steam games for 3 months.

[kappage]

They get saved mainly into GCF files and i think (don't quote me) they update once you have booted the game. If you are wondering where the GCF files are kept they are kept here
D:\Steam\steamapps

There will be a whole load of them in there just copy the .gcf files only, You wont actually need all fo tehm but its best to copy them all.

Also you will see a file that is named after his/her steam name, for eg if i was wanting TF2 i would copy all of the GCf files and then go into "kappage" and also copy "Team Fortress 2". But remember to put it abck int eh right place on your computer!!!

[w00fd06]

hmm, interesting, thanks kappage!

[vicaphit]

I just now got steam working consistantly, so no messing with files for me. Good luck w00fd06.

I wish steam didn't require you to update, I wish they asked if you wanted to first so offline players could play one online game and not have to update them all. I understand that you have to be updated to play MP, but updating to play SP? that sucks.