How do I install a Steam game from the DVD disc, and into a custom directory?

Question

I want to install a Steam game into a custom directory. For example, I want to install my new game which I activated through Stem but then cancelled the installation because I have the retail disc, into E:/Program Files/.

How do I go about installing the Steam game into a custom directory?

Asked by gameaddict

Answer

There really isn't a way to install Steam to a custom directory, as it always wants to install in the default Program Files location -- usually C:\Program Files\ or C:\Program Files (x86). However, you can use the Windows "mklink" utility to create a file system pointer from the default location to wherever you want to store the files. Typically I do this with my game data files (everything under "\Steam\steamapps\common" within the Program Files folder), since these are the files that take up the most space.

Also, installing from a DVD is another matter, so I will answer that separately.

To install Steam data to a custom directory:

• Locate your game data, usually under C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps\common or C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common (if you have 64-bit system)
• Copy it to the new location
• Delete it from the original location (make sure you have it copied / backed up first!!)
• Open a command prompt by selecting Start and typing: cmd
• In the command prompt type the following (include the quotes): mklink /J "C:\Program Files\steam\steamapps\common\GAME" "c:[new location]\GAME"
• Example: mklink /J "C:\Program Files\steam\steamapps\common\altitude" "c:\games\altitude"
• This will create what is called an "NTFS symbolic link" (sort of like a directory shortcut) which transparently links Steam's default directory to whatever directory you specify.

There is also an app which will do the heavy lifting for you, called "Steam Mover".

To install a Steam game from a DVD instead of downloading it, do the following:

• Log in to Steam and click on Library.
• Right-click on the game, and select Delete local content.
• Insert the DVD and close Steam (Steam > Exit).
• Press Windows Key + R to open Run
• Type: "C:\Program Files\Steam\Steam.exe" -install D: (Replace "C:\Program Files\Steam\Steam.exe" with your actual Steam install location if different; replace D: with your DVD drive letter if different), and click OK.
• Steam will launch and ask you to sign in if you do not have your password saved. Your installation should continue from the disc.

Answered by Ben

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Replacing an Xbox 360 DVD Drive

Question

I am not entirely certain of the legality of this situation, and just smack me if it's not, but I have had a problem with my xbox 360's disk drive. After reading a number of guides and such I have come to find a few things.

1. It's possible to replace a drive in the 360.
2. In order to have the replacement drive work correctly (read: work at all), it must have the same lock code.
3. In order to have the disk drives share the same lock codes, one method of doing this is to swap one of the internal boards from the broken drive to a new, replacement drive.
4. There is another method involving getting the lock code itself out of the broken drive and putting it in the working drive. This, by contrast, is done by connecting the drives to a PC and doing something to each of them to transfer the code.

Now, in this whole process, I have already gone so far as to order the replacement drive and rip it apart to try to transfer the board. Much to my surprise, the board in this particular bad drive was non-separate-able from the board. The boards were physically soldered to each end of a wire. I opened the good drive to confirm, and it too was soldered together.

So I was left with #4 up there. After more research, I found that you need SATA cables and a PC that can handle it, plus some software. I haven't really found anything too much more specific than that. However... I did find that the same method to transfer the lock code is also potentially used to make the xbox read burned media... Just, instead of putting in your broken drive's lock code, you put in some pre-prepared file or some such stuff.

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I want to make it clear at this point that I do not want the drive to read burned media. What I do want is for the drive to work and play my legitimately purchased games again.

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Now, after all that information, my questions are as follows:

1. Is this method legal?
2. Second, if it is legal, how would I accomplish this?

Edit: After some talk of this issue the other day, my brother decided that he's just gonna go buy a new one since he doesn't want to wait for me to get mine fixed. So, as if this wasn't a low enough priority already, it's even lower now. I'd still like to get it working if only to have done it once.

Answer

To answer the first question: Yes, it is legal, but you'll also void your warranty.

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UK (region 2) DVDs, Can they play on a US (region 1) X-box 360?

Question

Okay, as my friend just shipped me her Misfits (UK only show) DVDs so I can catch up on them over my holiday week- I am wondering if I should look at investing in a region free DVD player on my next day off... or does the X-box-360 play region 2 dvds as well as region 1 on a US Elite console?

Any confirmation one way or the other would be fantastic.

Answer

No, a region 1 Xbox is like any other DVD player - it will not play DVDs from other regions:

Each Xbox 360 console is manufactured for a specific DVD and game region, following international standards. The Xbox 360 console can only play discs that are sold in the same region as the console.

Your only option (short of modding the console, which you probably don't want to do if you play online) is to get a region-free DVD player or a region-free DVD-ROM and rip your DVDs into a video format that the Xbox recognizes to play them from an external drive or streamed from a computer.

Some computer DVD-ROM drives allow you a certain number of region changes, so you may be able to do that with the drive already in your computer (assuming you have one :)) instead of spending money just to convert this one DVD.

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