"I have US GTR Evolution + Race07 (bundled) retail DVD. Original Evolution & Race07 installation for online mode was completed with no problems using (one of) my existing Steam accounts. Activation completed using CD key worked without any problem and Steam supplied me a CD Key Receipt including a Confirmation Code. I got some game updates via Steam, and could launch Race07 and GTR Evolution from Steam> My Games.
Sometime later I chose to install the Crowne Raceway add-on, it installed "Race07 Demo" and "Crowne Plaza Demo...", and both worked without issue. In another thread here, people described how to use GCFScape to extract essential Crowne Plaza track + Vauxhall car files to allow me to copy those extracted files/folders back into my ...\SteamApps\... folder and then delete (from within Steam> My Games browser) the Crowne Plaza Demo and Race07 Demo. I did so to reduce hard disk space wasted on the Demos.
Subsequently, Race07 and GTR Evolution, and ALL my other Steam-based games (eg HalfLife2, & atleast 8 others), Media, and Tools DISAPPEARED from the Steam Browser!!. As advised in some Steam forum threads, I renamed ClientRegistry.blob (and UpdateStats.blob) files in \Valve\Steam folder, shutdown & rebooted. Launch Steam then updates Steam Client, all Steam games EXCEPT Race07 & GTR Evolution re-appear in Steam> My Games browser list. Oddly, there were still Race07 & Crowne Plaza Demo & GTR Evolution & Race07Demo GCF files and some related subfolders remaining in my \Valve\ folder.
So first I tried (multiple times) to re-install GTR-E from DVD, the installer runs very quickly (without showing "copying files.." or anything similar), it then launches Steam and displays the Product Activation Wizard screen where I put in my CD Key - it then Says "Steam Working... Activating product" but NEVER proceeds to do the Activation process!!
So I deleted all the GTR Evo & Race07 & Race07Demo & CrownePlaza Demo & Race07 Demo GCFs and related subfolders, renamed newer
ClientRegistry.blob and UpdateStats.blob, and have tried again and again and again to re-install GTR Evo & Race07 from DVD. The re-installtion NEVER works!! It always quickly runs (without showing "copying files..." or similar), it launches Steam, updates Steam Client (probably sending me ClientRegistry BLOB), and opens the Product Activation Wizard screen but NEVER proceeds to do anything in the "Steam Working... Activating product" dialog!! However, it seems to always create a a 70-80KB "Steam_...mdmp" mini-dump file.
I've even used RevoUninstaller to identify and delete leftover residual registry keys, but STILL NO LUCK to re-install GTR Evo & Race07 from my retail DVD. Installer Installer always just flashes by into Activation, which does NOT do anything (except create yet another "Steam_...mdmp" mini-dump file).
Please help, all suggestions welcomed. Thanks in advance."