Steam Converting to a More Efficient Format ... Again

[Beef36]

Hi,

I was impacted by the last time Steam tried to move Race 07 to the Common folder in September 2012.

http://www.racedepartment.com/forum/threads/steam-race-07-on-gtr-evo-changes-on-01-09-12.55329/

Last weekend (24 August) Steam did it again. When presented with the option to convert Race 07 to the more efficient format, I declined, but meant Steam wouldn't let me play the game.

I had a backup of my files, so I selected yes and as expected Steam moved Race 07 from the username folder to the common folder.

This is where it gets really strange.

When I launched the game, it asks me to download and install the game. After this is completed, I go back to having a small 235mb Race 07 folder in my <username> folder, plus the game in the <common> folder. Upon launching the game (GTR Evolution), it creates a new "Race 07 Install Folder 2" in My Documents and runs the game from the <username> folder, using the "Race 07 Install Folder 2"

Exiting the game and relaunching GTR Evolution, it loads the game from the <common> folder, and uses the original "Race 07" folder in My Documents. I can tell it's loading from the different folders as each has different mods and tracks installed.

This behaviour of first loading the game from the <username> iteration of the game and then subsequent loads from the <commom> folder is consistent when launching Race 07 or GTR Evolution after a PC reboot. I also have the GT Power Pack and Retro Pack, but when launching games from those icons, it consistently loads the <username> and the "Race 07 Install Folder 2" version of the game.

So I effectively have 2 versions of the game installed

I've deleted all of Race 07 twice and reinstalled and same behaviour is exhibited. I would rather have only one install, preferably the <username> folder as that is where the GT Power Pack and Retro Pack are available.

Has anyone else been impacted this month by Steam converted to a more efficient format?


Thanks

 

[Michael van Scheppingen]

Same thing happend to me... again. Was fixed after a steam restart and 2 reinstalls.. and I lost my latest revesions to a mod..

sux

(Make sure to save your user folder for the settings..)

 

[Yves Larose]

i don't have that problem, Race 07 is in the user name folder like always and had never changed for me, i start the game with Race On tho that might be the reason.

 

[Arc Anjil]

I tried running EVO today after playing it last night. Steam said it had to convert the game to a "better" format (what gives them the right to change Simbin format?).

After conversion, the game will not run ("Steam Error"). Check game cache and 37545 files failed validation.

Way to go, Steam!!!!!

 

[Lars Johansson]

who is this guy on steam that Always mess things up or is it by purpuse because he have lost som races against us maybe, i don´t know ! Thank´s alot STEAM.

 

[Beef36]

.

 

[Dennis Phelan]

The conversion can be done simply. It takes a bit of time to update all the addon's you have but there are only a few steps to get going with your old profile.

It comes down to the same thing that they did last year. Move the "GameInstallDir" file from the Documents\\Install 2 folder to your Race 07 and delete the second install. You will have to reinstall all the Simbin product you own again. Any mods you have in your Games\<username>\ install will have to moved/copied/reinstalled in the \Common install as well as any "no bug" or visor mods.

Not bad really.

 

[Yves Larose]

wouldn't be easier to uninstall everything and restart from scratch ? i know thats what i,m gonna do so no messing arounf with anything. btw if the game and its add-on goes to the common folder it also means that the game is gonna work like GTL so no need to start steam after the install right just need to copy the game content to another folder outside steam and voila no need for steam anymore ?

 

[Jempy]

When I regularly said here or in any english or frenchspeaking forums: to avoid problems, remain Steam Off Connection.... I was sure nobody would listen to this good advice.

As I was sure Steam would begin again, I did it since their latest enormous mistake last year.
Sure that Steam wants all their games in Common folder, no matter what everybody says.

My game is intact and running perfect.

Last time, I reinstalled everything from scratch, including Steam itself with saving first my Documents/Simbin files. All other systems I tried gave ... problems.
And truly said, I think that now ... I should do the same: reinstall everything.
Surely the best solution.

 

[Joao Borges]

I just had to completely reinstall everything. Basically, I had to clean up the mess that Steam created in the first place. Installing Race 07 and all of the expansions I own took me a good 2 hours or so, that's a LOT of time. Thanks a lot Steam.

However, game is starting up quicker for me. Don't know why, maybe it's this "more efficient format". I installed the 2012 V8 Supercar Mod, and works like a charm. Also, the files are now located on the Common folder and I now see ALL of the files of the game rather than just the mods files which can be confusing if you want to remove a mod because you will be wasting more time looking for the right folder to delete but I guess that's the way it has to be.

 

[Justin Swan]

So how do I go about completely removing race07 and all its components and starting from scratch?

 

[Michael Nelson]

Right click the game in your steam library, then click "Delete local content". I'd probably back up my profile first though, which should be in /My Documents/Simbin

 

[Lars Johansson]

The game works fine but like Joao said it takes a long time to reinstall Everything with an old PC like mine a day or so. And I hardly got the time to race Before and now this. But anyway it seems to work fine again:

 

[Justin Swan]

Do I just remove content on race 07 or all race 07 dlc and add on? Then will it reinstall it to the common directory?

 

[Dennis Phelan]

There is no "need" for everyone to completely remove and replace. Indeed, if you were to run into problems with a simple conversion do that but it can be done and all your information is still there for you to move around.

 

[Rupe Wilson]

ok im going to fire up steam and let it do its thing, i dont have any mods installed now ive moved them out the way and my documents stuff.. lets see what happenes

 

[Jempy]

Just a question for those who did the whole reinstall:
when having all expansions ( that 's my own case ), is the game still starting quickly or not, as all files are now visible and maybe or surely making the game much heavier ?

Of course, the advantage is all teams and tracks may be activated or not when using Sim Racing Manager.

Is the conversion totally safe now with all expansions without any mistake or problem ?

Until now, I kept my game safe using Steam Off connection ... but I'd like to help someone with a lot of problems due to 1st conversion.
The championship at our league is starting within 2 weeks ... and we have no time to create new mistakes in the game. .... It already happened last year, making a rather boring problem, especially for drivers with little knowledge of the game and Steam.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Rupe Wilson]

still updating content at 100%.. seems like it stuck in this ... it downloaded it and now i wait...
15 mins and counting i think steam has froze up as it will not respond
once it stops ill update on what happens

 

[Dennis Phelan]

Full content added, only one track mod installed and I get a quick startup! Yesterday the "Exit" game button was responding to a location just off center to the button but it's OK now.

I think I will use the manager for mods with this <common> setup as folders are mixed and tougher to find.

Last thing to do, find that "no into" file and add it.

 

[Jempy]

Another question: maybe silly one but who knows:

Using GCFScape and extracting the files to the new right place ? Might it work ?
Much quicker than downloading the whole content.

But therefore, I'd need to know more about the folders and files of the new converted full game.
as knowing for example: are all Teams from all expansions together in one only folder Gamedata/Teams ?