Post your Steam questions here!

[Vuk]

I see tons of Steam threads popping up, so I thought that it would be good to have one thread in which to post all of them, that way our Steam experts would know just where to go to answer them. I, admittedly, and no Steam expert, I just thought it would be helpful to have one thread to post everything in, that way you can be assured that you will get the quickest answer possible, because this thread will be where all the helpful people with any clue about Steam will be. :beam:

[A Very Super Market]

Hmm... can this be stickied? I don't want to see another flood of Steam questions when the full game goes up.

[quadalpha]

Okay, I'll start. How do you go about disabling Steam on the demo? People say that improves performance. I tried running the app from it's own executable, but Steam pops up regardless.

[Wartz]

Okay, I'll start. How do you go about disabling Steam on the demo? People say that improves performance. I tried running the app from it's own executable, but Steam pops up regardless.

Shutting down steam does not improve performance. It is a 9mb (in ram) exe that does nothing except show you when your friends are playing (and you can turn that off too) while you are playing ETW.

Also, ETW cannot be run except from steam.

[pevergreen]

Steam will need to be on, but it does not have to be in "Online Mode"

[Sir Beane]

I'll sticky this in an attempt to curb the inevitable hailstorm of questions once the game goes live :2thumbsup:. Good idea Vuk :beam:.

[Polemists]

How do I turn off that really annoying pop up that pops up during intro cinemaitic about steam community group?

[pevergreen]

You can disable steam in game, but I can not find a way to simply turn off the "welcome" note.

[Ituralde]

Yeah, I got a Steam question regarding localization. I just read recently that when you purchase games online on Steam the downloadable version will only be in the language of the country you live in. I.E. if you live in Germany you will automatically download the German version, since it analyzes your IP adress. Now, since I move around in an english community and always feel that some things get lost through translation, I want my game to be english, hence I buy it overseas.

Now the question is what happens to my English game once it comes into contact with Steam. I'm guessing the first activation will be alright, but what about patches? I understood that Steam updated automatically. Will I only recieve the German patches then? Does anybody have any experiences with these kinds of things?

Cheers!

Ituralde

[Theory]

Set the game's language through games list > ETW > Properties > Language. Steam will take care of the rest.

Incidentally, Steam will give German users low-violence versions of most games even when there's no legal requirement to do so. There's no way around it short of manual patches.

[Relic]

Finally my Expertise have some use on the forum! :D
Add me on Steam: RelicKylias if you need quick help, just post here or even PM me.
I'm glad to help with everything and anything! :wink:

[Fisherking]

My steam question is regarding mods.

How are these going to work when steam monitors everything?

Does it mean the mods must go through steam as well?

I see a mods section on there…

[pevergreen]

Mods are done by the game file. All the steam launcher does is run the .exe

for the demo, just go to your steam folder, all steam games are in there

steam/steamapps/common/empire total war demo

The games are in the steamapps folder, just like a normal game.

[irishron2004]

For what problems I see players are having getting Medieval2 and Kingdoms mods to work on Steam, I don't believe Empires will be getting my money anytime too soon. Steam, being a third party, and can't figure out how to put a mod in its proper folder without frustrating its customers, will not be getting my money too soon. It gives them too much control over my game that I would pay my hard earned money for. BE a conspiracy theory, I don't trust them.

Question: any way to play this game legally without Steam loaded on my computer?

[A Very Super Market]

No.

[Belgolas]

For what problems I see players are having getting Medieval2 and Kingdoms mods to work on Steam, I don't believe Empires will be getting my money anytime too soon. Steam, being a third party, and can't figure out how to put a mod in its proper folder without frustrating its customers, will not be getting my money too soon. It gives them too much control over my game that I would pay my hard earned money for. BE a conspiracy theory, I don't trust them.

Question: any way to play this game legally without Steam loaded on my computer?

What are you talking about. Mods work fine for me for M2TW and RTW on steam.

Anyways since every single legal copy of ETW will be using steam mods should have no problem of working. I hope ETW does the same way to mod like HL2 does where it creates a separate .exe to launch each mod. If they are done like HL2 it will be far easier and mods will be able to auto patch the mod through steam. HL2 is pretty amazing for mods and there are far more mods for HL2 then Total War and they don't have any problems.

[irishron2004]

The real question in my mind is why would Sega /CA deal with a third party anyway? The power they are giveng to Steam is still too much for me.

Maybe it's just time to shut up and stick to Rome and M2. Simpler that way for me.

[A Very Super Market]

What exactly is this power that steam has over your games?

[pevergreen]

None really...is the multiplayer server and it acts as a verification to make sure its you. The game you buy is tied to your account.

[Polemists]

So for those of you who only follow this game Dawn of War 2 (A steam game) is having a litany of patch problems and just problems in general. I don't know if this has to do with steam or the game, but more then likely it's a mixture of the both.

For those who have slow loading times some soultions are posted in tw forum center and I dare not go over every single one for lack of time.

Yet one fundemental problem with steam seems to be that steam packs all the files and takes a long time to unpack them (leading to longer load times then normal games, even in offline mode).

Some people found this to be a soultion, some did not,

has anyone on this forum tried yet to unpack the files themselves as explained here?

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=228075

I'm all for trying things but I'm not that tech savy. Rumor is this will half your load times.

[pevergreen]

It does generally decrease loading times, but it may not. DoW 2 and its problems are specific to it. It uses games for windows live (same thing xbox uses) for multiplayer so its very slow. And the dev team are not patching well. I did the beta...

[gellis23]

Hi peeps long time lurker (Shogun) first time poster.

Does anyone know how to get around this rubbish? I have two machines, my lappy (which I am on) and my off-line, no AV, no firewall, games machine.

Are CA seriously telling me that if I pay £35 they expect me to go on line to register? Even the MS nazis don't insist on that.

I can do it but it will be so inconvenient it is unreal.

Regards

[quadalpha]

Hi peeps long time lurker (Shogun) first time poster.

Does anyone know how to get around this rubbish? I have two machines, my lappy (which I am on) and my off-line, no AV, no firewall, games machine.

Are CA seriously telling me that if I pay £35 they expect me to go on line to register? Even the MS nazis don't insist on that.

I can do it but it will be so inconvenient it is unreal.

Regards
Yes.

[Patricius]

I can't even get Steam to work at all. Ideas?

[A Very Super Market]

No, you can't get around using steam without breaking the law. To Gellis

Whats wrong with your steam?

[gellis23]

Like I said. I have two machines.

My lappy is like a fortress, it's got the lot because it is an internet facing machine.

My games machine is totally unprotected. I want greasy speed off it, no problems, no crashes.

I will have to install AV and a firewall, I will have to install a piece of software I neither want nor need (eg Steam). I will register and then take my machine off line (remove AV and FW). I will get nagged by Steam every 5 minutes about updates.

The TW campaign on line will not be very big. I think this is a bad move. It is hacking of fans.

My lappy will just about play the demo, I will have to think about the full game.

Regards

[A Very Super Market]

Steam won't nag you if there are no updates, but if don't want it to update at all, just set it to offline mode first. Then you can get rid of AV and FW, and just play as usual.

[pevergreen]

What you can do is install etw on the laptop, then copy the steam folder over.

Put steam in offline mode and bam!

It won't patch, but you can simply patch on the laptop then re copy over. It is legal, and it should work, no probs.

[quadalpha]

I'm having a problem where my password gets me into the Steam application but not the Steam webpage. Anyone else run into this?

[Babblearossa]

Trying to try the demo, I got steam installer

SteamInstall.msi

click that go through dialogue boxes and installs something then get to box

"Steam has been successfully installed. Click the Finish button to exit this installation."
"Steam will now continue installation."

click Finish and get small popup window

Error
Steam.exe (main exception): Unable to load library Steam.dll

the only option given is the [ OK ] button, and it exits.
I've tried it thrice with one reboot and still it's stuck.

-----------

Any help? This is the first time I've ever tried steam, I don't usually have any trouble installing
things, and haven't run into anyhing this unhelpful in a long long time. They do get bonus points
for the unclarity of telling me it's both finished installation and will continue to install, maybe that's
a clue as to what went wrong?

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

Question - can I have ETW install do a different folder than the steamapps one? I had really taken a liking to having a "Total War" folder with all the TW games in one spot. Plus, it'd be easier to get to for modding...

[Babblearossa]

Trying to try the demo, I got steam installer
yadda yadda yadda


Oh, sorry to reply so soon to my own post, maybe it'll save someone trouble

am using Online Armor firewall, for some reason it didn't pop up to learn new rules about
Steam ( it normally does this for new executables ). So I had to click it and put it into
Learning mode while I launched steam. Might have to do that again after demo is installed,
Steam lists these as the associated executables
* steaminstall.exe
* steam.exe
* hl.exe
* hl2.exe
* steamTmp.exe

yay, 5 exceptions with clear names like 'hl.exe'...

[A Very Super Market]

guadalpha:

Did you change your steamID? Because the one you use in the application is the one you use in the webpage.

Babblearossa:

Never mind.

Mr. BEST NAME EVAR:

No, you need to install into steamapps, otherwise it will just tell you to put it in there. 'Sallright, you can still mod things.

[quadalpha]

I'm using the same ID. I've tried logging out of Steam app and logging back in - works fine. I've tried changing my password in the app, also works fine. I've tried logging into Steam webpage while logged out of Steam app, and that doesn't work. Strange, eh?

I'm not too bothered at the moment since I can play and browse the store from the app (just pre-ordered!), but I'm slightly worried if this is indicative of a problem that might crop up in the future.

[A Very Super Market]

You mean logging in to steampowered.com right?

Don't worry about, if you don't use steam as an actual program, then its perfectly fine.

[SirGrotius]

I've never had a problem with Steam, and I don't understand why everyone freaks out about it. If it were my intellectual property, I'd go through an established system such as Steam for distribution.

[Patricius]

I can't even get Steam to work at all. Ideas?

When uploading upon starting I get this message: 'Steam.exe(main exception): unable to load library Steam.dll.'

Running it as admin and several repeated efforts seem to have an account up, so okay now.

[R'as al Ghul]

Question - can I have ETW install do a different folder than the steamapps one? I had really taken a liking to having a "Total War" folder with all the TW games in one spot. Plus, it'd be easier to get to for modding...

No, you can only do that if you buy the real CD version. You would then import the game to steam from its location.
You can move the whole steam folder to another drive/ install steam on another drive if you
don't have enough space on C:/.

[R'as al Ghul]

Question: You get to select a nickname and you have to give an email address. When playing the demo the email is displayed as player name. Shouldn't that be the nick displayed? Am I doing sth wrong?

[A Very Super Market]

If you entered your info right, that probably is just a quirk of the demo.

[R'as al Ghul]

Nevermind , found the settings for that in steam.
I had entered the details right, though.

[Visitor13]

Nevermind, problem solved.

[quadalpha]

Does anyone know if pre-loading will start by itself when the time comes, or do you have to click a button?

[A Very Super Market]

You have to start it the same way you started the demo download.

[gellis23]

Pevergreen

Cheers pal, tried that first. Didn't want to play, I've had a look and Steam stamps itself all over the registry. If both machines were XP I would use installrite but they aint.

Had a look at Amazon and there is nothing about this.

I know I am in a fairly small minority but this seems pretty bad. The TW games have never been heavily Internetty these seems pretty bad.

I'll shut up now. Good luck.

[Polemists]

Does anyone know if pre-loading will start by itself when the time comes, or do you have to click a button?

Pre-loading almost never starts automatically unless you specifically set it up that way.

So i'd say your best bet is tonite just pop on at the approriate time (4pm EST) and find out.

So to clarify the only people you will probably hear from on the 3rd and 4th (assuming it does not get pre released early by a store like walmart or kmart) will be from people who preloaded it on steam. Who can start downloading 48 hours before release date. (aka today)

[quadalpha]

Pol: I would, except tonight is actually tomorrow (well, not anymore) afternoon, and I'll be at work, though I suppose an hour later wouldn't hurt too much :)

Gel: Amazon says nothing about ... the fact that Steam puts itself all over the registry? I used to be paranoid about things like that too, but now I am of the opinion that the registry exists to be used. Also, a few more registry entries doesn't actually do any harm, since they're never accessed except by the applications that use them. It's mostly the "system cleaning software" makers who make a big deal about the so-called "bloated registry". But then I do have a soft spot for conspiracy theories. :)

[Polemists]

Actually Amazon removed itself as a seller of all games containing DRM.

So while you can purchase dawn of war 2 there through another supplier, Amazon itself will not sell it.

They are pretty good on following up with what fans want.

[Sir Beane]

Actually Amazon removed itself as a seller of all games containing DRM.

So while you can purchase dawn of war 2 there through another supplier, Amazon itself will not sell it.

They are pretty good on following up with what fans want.

Wow! If Amazon is the first of many stores to take a stand like this then we might see DRM start to disappear in te near future. Which is great for those of who like to own the games we buy. :laugh4:

[peacemaker]

So, my computer kind of broke and while it will be able to run ETW, I'm sending it in tomorrow or the day after and might be able to squeeze in a few mins of playing. Anyway, if my hard drive gets wiped, and Steam already verified my copy, will Steam still recognize that my ACCOUNT purchased the game and therefore let me re-install it and everything?

[Monk]

So, my computer kind of broke and while it will be able to run ETW, I'm sending it in tomorrow or the day after and might be able to squeeze in a few mins of playing. Anyway, if my hard drive gets wiped, and Steam already verified my copy, will Steam still recognize that my ACCOUNT purchased the game and therefore let me re-install it and everything?

It should.

My laptop runs steam, and I logged into it at uni and downloaded Left 4 dead through steam and played some offline content last week. I originally bought the game on my desktop.

[A Very Super Market]

You can go even farther than that and install in a boatload of computers, steam will still let you play. Just not at the same time. Let some friends try it out, you know?

[peacemaker]

Oh, sweet! So i might have a chance at playing for a day or two until I have to send in my computer. Then I can let a few friends try it out and see if they like it/if I can make them buy it:smash:

[hrvojej]

Also, ETW cannot be run except from steam.

Wow. Thanks for the info. I will not buy a game that expect me to install a third-party BS just to play single-player.

Cheers,

[Trapped in Samsara]

Hi

Not a question, just a statement.

I will not buy ETW until I can purchase a disk(s), perform a conventional, malware-free, installation and download and apply any patches, under my own control, in the time-honoured way. If that means I've got to wait a year, so be it. I anticipate it will take that long to sort out all the bugs anyhow. (Remember M2TW and the disgusting treatment paying customers received when it and Kingdoms were released?)

I wish those of you who've dived into ETW the best of luck, I really do, but this TW vet has learned that CA-Sega cannot be trusted.

Until then I'll stick to MTW+XL+Tyberius - which is a fantastic, deeply immersive, and very challenging mod, by the way.

Regards
VGB

[pevergreen]

Hi

Not a question, just a statement.

I will not buy ETW until I can purchase a disk(s), perform a conventional, malware-free, installation and download and apply any patches, under my own control, in the time-honoured way. If that means I've got to wait a year, so be it. I anticipate it will take that long to sort out all the bugs anyhow. (Remember M2TW and the disgusting treatment paying customers received when it and Kingdoms were released?)

I wish those of you who've dived into ETW the best of luck, I really do, but this TW vet has learned that CA-Sega cannot be trusted.

Until then I'll stick to MTW+XL+Tyberius - which is a fantastic, deeply immersive, and very challenging mod, by the way.

Regards
VGB

I didnt get any disgusting treatment when I bought either of those games.

If those are your conditions, good bye. You will never own Empire: Total War.

Steam is malware free. You can turn off automatic updates. You can purchase a disc and install it.

One of the best things about Steam is the fact that CA can now quickly patch things once we find them. No more waiting 4 months to get shields at the right defence value. They can patch in days.

[Ja'chyra]

Question if I may.

Do I have to use steam to play single player games? I can't seem to find the installation folder and thought that once verified you didn't have to use Steam anymore. Not a big problem really, just wondering.

[pevergreen]

You can turn steam into "Offline Mode" File -> "Go Offline..." but yes, you must have steam running to play this game. To do so otherwise at this point is illegal.

It has been reported by some that this actually cut loading times by 50%. I have yet to test for myself though.

[Relic]

So, my computer kind of broke and while it will be able to run ETW, I'm sending it in tomorrow or the day after and might be able to squeeze in a few mins of playing. Anyway, if my hard drive gets wiped, and Steam already verified my copy, will Steam still recognize that my ACCOUNT purchased the game and therefore let me re-install it and everything?

All Steam Games except for ones that have "Third Party DRM" on the store page can be installed as many times as you like. For me, all I've seen are EA's Spore and FarCry2 with it. :2thumbsup:

[Matty]

What is this steam thing of which you speak? I have to download the game from the internet? I can't buy it on a disc like usual or does it just need some sort of online password verification to stop the evil copier chappies?

[A Very Super Market]

Download steam here

http://store.steampowered.com/


It is a separate program that several games require you to have in order to play them. ETW can be bought in a store or downloaded from steam, but you always need steam running in order to play it.

[Trapped in Samsara]

Hi pevergreen

You wrote, "No more waiting 4 months to get shields at the right defence value."

So you perfectly illustrate my point for me: CA-Sega's patching/support for M2TW was disgusting. Thank you.

Also, A Very Super Market wrote, "ETW can be bought in a store or downloaded from steam, but you always need steam running in order to play it."

This is my understanding. Plus, I am under the impression that patches will only be available via Steam. Unacceptable.

And a 100 MB patch on the first day(!) according to some accounts. Shades of things to come. I recall reading people saying 'we don't mind ETW's release date being put back (as it was) provided they get it right'. Well clearly they didn't. And their past performance gives no grounds for believing they'll fix everything that should be sorted out. Remember the castles in Kingdoms? They've got your money so now they don't care.

As for Steam not being a malware delivery system, Google steam and malware and see what gets returned.

Despite all of which, best of luck.
VGB

[Barkhorn1x]

Despite all of which, best of luck.
VGB

Yea, you too. :2thumbsup:

[miniwally]

It won't let me play online it never shows any games and when i try to host one it says that i can't any ideas why? and sometimes when i click the steam mini symbol my taskbar says it's up but it's not any ideas why?

[Relic]

It won't let me play online it never shows any games and when i try to host one it says that i can't any ideas why? and sometimes when i click the steam mini symbol my taskbar says it's up but it's not any ideas why?

What would you say is the quality of your internet. Is it broad-band or dial-up? I'm pretty sure other steam games don't work online with the latter connection type.

[ArtillerySmoke]

I have 2 questions:

1) Does Steam auto-update this game? As in, you can't play it unless you have the latest patch installed?

2) What happens if you're in the middle of a campaign and a patch is available? If it's auto downloaded and it dl's during a campaign you have saved, is it save game friendly?

Thanks.

[ArtillerySmoke]

Hi pevergreen

You wrote, "No more waiting 4 months to get shields at the right defence value."

So you perfectly illustrate my point for me: CA-Sega's patching/support for M2TW was disgusting. Thank you.

Also, A Very Super Market wrote, "ETW can be bought in a store or downloaded from steam, but you always need steam running in order to play it."

This is my understanding. Plus, I am under the impression that patches will only be available via Steam. Unacceptable.

And a 100 MB patch on the first day(!) according to some accounts. Shades of things to come. I recall reading people saying 'we don't mind ETW's release date being put back (as it was) provided they get it right'. Well clearly they didn't. And their past performance gives no grounds for believing they'll fix everything that should be sorted out. Remember the castles in Kingdoms? They've got your money so now they don't care.

As for Steam not being a malware delivery system, Google steam and malware and see what gets returned.

Despite all of which, best of luck.
VGB

What do you care if you have to patch the game or not?

Day 1 patches are a good sign, not a bad sign. They signal long term support.

[Sir Beane]

I have 2 questions:

1) Does Steam auto-update this game? As in, you can't play it unless you have the latest patch installed?

2) What happens if you're in the middle of a campaign and a patch is available? If it's auto downloaded and it dl's during a campaign you have saved, is it save game friendly?

Thanks.

1) Yes, but only if you go online while Steam is running.

2) CA would be stupid not to make patches save game friendly, but I can't confirm it.

[ArtillerySmoke]

1) Yes, but only if you go online while Steam is running.

2) CA would be stupid not to make patches save game friendly, but I can't confirm it.

1) I'm always connected to the internet when the PC is on. Right now (computer off, power cord unplugged due to cleaning the room) is the first time I've been offline since I got the PC over a year ago lol.

2) You see what I'm saying though? If the game is auto patched, it HAS to be save game friendly. It would be insanity to have campaigns abandoned left and right due to an oversight.

We'll find out soon enough I guess.

[Sir Beane]

1) I'm always connected to the internet when the PC is on. Right now (computer off, power cord unplugged due to cleaning the room) is the first time I've been offline since I got the PC over a year ago lol.

2) You see what I'm saying though? If the game is auto patched, it HAS to be save game friendly. It would be insanity to have campaigns abandoned left and right due to an oversight.

We'll find out soon enough I guess.

Yeah I can definitely see the problem with the game patching itself in the middle of a campaign. This is such an important issue I'm sure CA have thought about it however :2thumbsup:.

[ArtillerySmoke]

Yeah I can definitely see the problem with the game patching itself in the middle of a campaign. This is such an important issue I'm sure CA have thought about it however :2thumbsup:.

Thanks for the quick replies Beane...you rock.

Yeah, my gut tells me we'll be alright. If not, it's something we'll all deal with and it'll be patched ASAP I'm sure.

[Barkhorn1x]

Yeah I can definitely see the problem with the game patching itself in the middle of a campaign. This is such an important issue I'm sure CA have thought about it however :2thumbsup:.

Umm...I doubt that as the vaunted Steam is a bug ridden mess. Read the forums. MANY users have issues with the digital d/l completing properly. Amazing really as this should be fairly basic stuff.

If I knew this was going to such an ordeal I would have bought retail. :no:

[Sir Beane]

Umm...I doubt that as the vaunted Steam is a bug ridden mess. Read the forums. MANY users have issues with the digital d/l completing properly. Amazing really as this should be fairly basic stuff.

If I knew this was going to such an ordeal I would have bought retail. :no:

The people having trouble are an unlucky and vocal minority. I think that the majority of people had a smooth download and install. It seriously sucks for the unlucky ones though, and I wish Valve would do something to fix it. A certain number of problems are almost inevitable in a release of this scale however :shame:.

I'm way too paranoid not to buy retail. :laugh4:

[ArtillerySmoke]

Umm...I doubt that as the vaunted Steam is a bug ridden mess. Read the forums. MANY users have issues with the digital d/l completing properly. Amazing really as this should be fairly basic stuff.

If I knew this was going to such an ordeal I would have bought retail. :no:

I always know that d/l'ing a title has a chance to be a force march...therefore, I would never do anything other than buy the retail disc.

I need it physically. I just don't trust the d/l process. Further, you can uninstall and reinstall in minutes with the disc. D/L? Who knows.

[ArtillerySmoke]

The people having trouble ARE an unlucky and vocal minority. I think that the majority of people had a smooth download and install. It seriously sucks for the unlucky ones though, and I wish Valve would do something to fix it. A certain number of problems are almost inevitable in a release of this scale however :shame:.

I'm way too paranoid not to buy retail. :laugh4:

I have OCD. No wonder I like your posts.

:clown:

[Dayve]

I have one for Steam.

How much did you pay CA to have them force people to use your pointless spyware infested program to play such an awesome game?

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

Steam doesn't have to autoupdate - somewhere in the options there is a little box that you can uncheck, turning off autoupdates. It works that way for Red Orchestra, at least.

[ArtillerySmoke]

I have one for Steam.

How much did you pay CA to have them force people to use your pointless spyware infested program to play such an awesome game?

What do you think this "spyware" is doing? Watching you while you take a shower?

[A Very Super Market]

Ahem.

There is a word underneath his name

It says Troll

[Dayve]

Ahem.

There is a word underneath his name

It says Troll

That's just there as a joke from an incident that happened on the Medieval 1 forum a year back or so, with a mod who obviously hasn't been laid in a few years and was looking for somebody to take out his frustration on.

Seriously though, i have managed to avoid Steam for so long now because of the general horribleness and the way they conduct business, and now i'm forced to use it to play a game from a series i have been in love with for over 5 years, and i'm angry because it's clear Steam have paid CA to do this, because CA can't give 1 single good reason for going through Steam, just the same ridiculous ones over and over. Achievements, a friends list, software protection, which won't work by the way.

[pevergreen]

Heres a reason:

Its not secuROM.

[Trapped in Samsara]

Hi

ArtillerySmoke wrote, "What do you care if you have to patch the game or not?

Day 1 patches are a good sign, not a bad sign. They signal long term support."

Unfortunately, that statement cannot be squared with the M2TW and Kingdoms experience. Paying customers had to fight a WAR to get ADVERTISED features to work AS PROMISED.

Please do not misunderstand me: I really do want ETW to be as great a game, or better, than MTW-VI. But it never will be as long as people give CA-SEGA a pass on decent customer support and product quality. All the gushing praise will simply affirm their complacency and bolster their contempt for their fan base.

And I'll never be convinced that a 100MB patch ON DAY 1 can be construed as a good sign. Especially when the scheduled release date has been put back.

OK. I've said my piece. I'll shut up now before I'm banned.

Best of luck
VGB

[miniwally]

What would you say is the quality of your internet. Is it broad-band or dial-up? I'm pretty sure other steam games don't work online with the latter connection type.

it's broadband :'( i really want to play online but i can't and how do i chat?

[ArtillerySmoke]

I have another question:

I bought the Collector's Edition and apparently have 6 exotic units included. According to some, I have to register these units with Steam in order to unlock them.

Do I have to do this right at initial install, or can I play a bit and then go back and register the exotic units to unlock them, any time I want?

Thanks

[Cecil XIX]

How do I get Steam to start in offline mode? Whenever I try it, I get two windows, one on top of the other. The rear one says "This operation cannot be completed when Steam is in offline mode." And the one in front of it says

"Could not connect to Steam Network.
This could be due to a problem with your Internet connection, or with the
Steam network. Please visit www.steampowered.com for more info."

[pevergreen]

File "Go Offline..."

[Cecil XIX]

Huh. So you have to have Steam go online in order to be able to use it offline. :inquisitive:

Oh well, thanks pevergreen.

[pevergreen]

When you login, there may be an option to select offline mode.

Not sure, I auto login.

[Suraknar]

Well...I had steam because I got the demo last week, and I was going to uninstall Steam thereafter.

When I bought ETW and came home to install it I noticed it uses steam for activation so all that went smooth and all.

However this makes me wonder...

What about people that do not have the Internet(yes it exists still even today)? They can't play this game?

[pevergreen]

Correct, they must have steam connect, activate the game and install the release day patch, then they can play offline.

[miniwally]

Well...I had steam because I got the demo last week, and I was going to uninstall Steam thereafter.

When I bought ETW and came home to install it I noticed it uses steam for activation so all that went smooth and all.

However this makes me wonder...

What about people that do not have the Internet(yes it exists still even today)? They can't play this game?

i was thinking bout that as well bit of a shame.

Any1 know reason for my problem?

[Barkhorn1x]

Huh. So you have to have Steam go online in order to be able to use it offline. :inquisitive:

Oh well, thanks pevergreen.

Here is what I do - fast and easy for XP:
1. Make sure that you visit "msconfig" and set Steam to not start with your PC
2. Disconnect from the internet
3. Hit the ETW icon
4. You will get a pop-up box asking you to retry your connection or start Steam in off-line mode
5. Select off-line mode and the game will load.
6. For updates - start the game through Steam with an active internet connection and it will automatically check.

[Gorm]

I am trying to download the game from Steam. It seems to be caught in a loop, constantly displaying "Download starting". When I clicked on "Launch", it states, "The game you are installing requires a drive with NTFS file system and cannot be installed on a FAT32 filesystem." Then there is a link explaining how to convert the HD.

I have used Steam for Half-Life 2 with no problems. Is this an "Empire" issue or a Steam issue? I could convert my HD, but it recommends to back up the files (of which I have no extra drive to do this).

Any suggestions?

[pevergreen]

I am trying to download the game from Steam. It seems to be caught in a loop, constantly displaying "Download starting". When I clicked on "Launch", it states, "The game you are installing requires a drive with NTFS file system and cannot be installed on a FAT32 filesystem." Then there is a link explaining how to convert the HD.

I have used Steam for Half-Life 2 with no problems. Is this an "Empire" issue or a Steam issue? I could convert my HD, but it recommends to back up the files (of which I have no extra drive to do this).

Any suggestions?

I just read that its a FAT32 file error. Because the game tries to download files bigger than 4gb (animations/models pack) FAT 32 doesnt like it. From what I read, its a windows XP thing and you will have to reformat your hard drive.

So basically, you are right. You have to reformat to download those big files.

edit: for backup, you should be able to buy 8gb USB sticks for about $15, useful things to have anyway.

[Gorm]

I just read that its a FAT32 file error. Because the game tries to download files bigger than 4gb (animations/models pack) FAT 32 doesnt like it. From what I read, its a windows XP thing and you will have to reformat your hard drive.

So basically, you are right. You have to reformat to download those big files.

edit: for backup, you should be able to buy 8gb USB sticks for about $15, useful things to have anyway.

Can I reformat without backing up? They said I could, but recommend to back up. The drive is partitioned. It is a 500 GB, half of which I use for game files, the other is the backup for my Mac (I have Windows installed as a boot option on my iMac). The big issue here is the size of what I need to back up.

[pevergreen]

They suggest you back up because they don't want people complaining about loss of data. If you just have everything you want, its safe to reformat the partition.

So, yes it is safe and perfectly fine to reformat without backing up.

[CountMRVHS]

I've read through this thread and I'm afraid it bodes poorly for my ability to buy & play ETW.

Here's my situation:

I have 2 computers at home, one of which is a relatively old one that is used for internet and other mundane tasks. The other computer is relatively new and is used only for gaming -- it doesn't ever go online; we don't even have it hooked up to go online.

Our internet connection is dial-up, terribly slow, and the online computer won't be able to run ETW. It's not like we're somehow willfully refusing to upgrade to broadband; it simply isn't available where we live. So even if the gaming computer was hooked up to the internet, I highly doubt I'd be able to get into Steam and do what needs to be done there.

Is there, then, some way that I could use *another* computer to access the internet and Steam? Can I, for example, register the game via my wife's work computer (which has a broadband connection), then bring the game home, install it, and play on my gaming computer?

I'm afraid I know what the answer will be...

[A Very Super Market]

Hmm...

I think you could buy the boxed version, hook up your gaming computer to dial-up, and steam will be able to verify it. Then you can set it to offline mode, and disconnect your gaming computer forever. And play Empire. You simply need to have steam running, and offline mode needs no connection (obviously)

You won't be able to patch, but do you think you can manage to download them?

[CountMRVHS]

Thanks for the reply.

I assume getting later patches and the like would be no problem for me, provided they are released in the same way they've always been. I've been downloading patches and mods from my wife's work computer, then just zipping them over to the gaming computer.

Your approach sounds promising, but I'm worried about a couple of issues:

1) We got our gaming computer a year ago. To be honest, I'm not sure if it even *can* be connected to the internet, because I'm not sure if it even has a modem. Do new computers even come with modems these days? I get the feeling most computers aren't made with dial-up connections in mind.

2) Assuming it's possible to get it online, what exactly is involved with getting steam to verify everything? Do we need to download something, and if so, how big? With our dial-up connection, I worry that any downloading would take hours, and we'd lose the connection before the download was completed (this has happened several times to me -- hence my current practice of using my wife's better work connection).

[A Very Super Market]

You need to download steam, and that is it. I'm not sure how big of a file it is, but I suppose you could just download the setup on your wife's computer and whisk it over to the unconnected one.

As for verification, it shouldn't take too long, since all it does is check if your game is legit or not.

[Suraknar]

Thanks for the Info, I know steam is a popular thing and some have been using for a long time.

Yet what happens if I uninstall Steam after installing the game? Will it uninstall the game too?

It is just that I like my solo games to be...well...solo and installed where I want them, it did not even give me a choice of where to install the game it installed it where steam was.

[A Very Super Market]

You cannot choose where you install your games. It must be in the steamapps folder for steam to let you play. I think uninstalling steam will also uninstall your games, but you can just move the game folders somewhere else and not need to download them again. You just can't play them

[pevergreen]

Yes you can register the game at another computer.

And as AVSM said, you must have steam running to play this game, to do so otherwise is illegal.

[Gorm]

They suggest you back up because they don't want people complaining about loss of data. If you just have everything you want, its safe to reformat the partition.

So, yes it is safe and perfectly fine to reformat without backing up.

I did it with no problem. Here is a link on how to do it from Steam (in case anyone else has the same issue):
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=2509-ULZC-1733

[Suraknar]

You cannot choose where you install your games. It must be in the steamapps folder for steam to let you play. I think uninstalling steam will also uninstall your games, but you can just move the game folders somewhere else and not need to download them again. You just can't play them

Thank you. I guess I have to get used to Steam then.

[Gorm]

I can't download the manual. Says it is corrupted.

??

[Barkhorn1x]

I can't download the manual. Says it is corrupted.

??

Do a right click, "Save as..."

[KarlXII]

I'm having problems with my STeam account. It's gone! It's almost like it evaporated!

(Grabbin' the coat)

[A Very Super Market]

You can't login?

If you changed your name, the user ID is the one you first registered with.

[Gorm]

Do a right click, "Save as..."

Did a right click on the game in the Steam list, selected "View Player Manual" and get the browser window open and get the error message, "File damaged".

Opened the Properties panel: cannot right click on player manual link.

Where else can you get the manual? I am surprised to not find it in the game folder, as many other games include this.

[Gorm]

Did a right click on the game in the Steam list, selected "View Player Manual" and get the browser window open and get the error message, "File damaged".

Opened the Properties panel: cannot right click on player manual link.

Where else can you get the manual? I am surprised to not find it in the game folder, as many other games include this.

I was able to download the manual using the same URL on my Mac. Must be a browser issue.

[Gorm]

I have been having graphics issues with the game where some text gets scrambled. Now, during the original download, I had a problem with the HD not being the right format. I fixed that issue. So, I was wondering if it is possible to delete the game from the HD, and then download it again? Or will I lose everything? Steam seems to be very slow in contacting me about this problem.

[Barkhorn1x]

I was able to download the manual using the same URL on my Mac. Must be a browser issue.

Yes, probably was - I use Firefox.

[Gorm]

Yes, probably was - I use Firefox.

I was using Firefox. I found, though, it was Acrobat Reader that was corrupted.

:inquisitive:

[seireikhaan]

Erhm...

My steam just stopped working. Its not appearing in the toolbar, and when I click on the shortcut, nothing happens.
EDIT: Well, Steam is back, but now its telling me Empire is "currently unavailable". :help:

[Daie123]

I :daisy: hate Steam! I registered just to say this!

First I came here, looking for help, because I had installed the retail Special Forces version, but it wouldn't open. After having tried opening the game a couple of times, it started downloading. I don't know if this was a patch or the entire game, so looked on the web for help - it said to delete the game and try installing it again (Official Sega page: [I had an URL here, but I can't post it as this is my first post - it was the official Sega help site]). So I did. When it was done, it was the same problem all over again. It started downloading something, without telling me what it was - quite annoying! And it was so SLOW, around 30-50 KB/s when I'm normally at around 4-500 KB/s, I thought this to be strange as this was a game I had just payed for, not some free server where I was download some random stuff.

So I turned to the Sega page again - told me to restart the Download and tell Steam where I was located (I chose Scandinavia as this was most fitting). Now it's downloading at 30-250 KB/s, going up and down a lot, but is probably on an average of 50 KB/s. I still do now know if this is a patch (which I hope) or it's the entire game (which would totally :daisy: me up).

I'm not good at computers at any rate, but I use it a lot and is probably better than the average computer user. When I have this much trouble with getting to play this game, I know that I'm not the only one (unless my version of the game is broken in some way). This is quite unacceptable for several reasons:

- Very slow downloading speed for a game that I have just payed for. I would expect to get top notch speed, when it's not a free server.
- A fairly high knowledge of computers and certain programmes is needed to install the game. I've never had any troubles installing a game before today.
- No information about what the Steam programme is doing - I have tried clicking on everything that seemed logical, and no info has been availble.
- (This is only a minor issue, but as I wanted more whine here you get it): When paying extra to get Special Forces edition, I would expect them to incode the data into the DVDs, so not having to download this. Especially with the slow download speed.


Of course I acknowledge the fact that I can be unlucky and have a bad version of the game, but I doubt it. I could also be a complete retard when it comes to Steam, and it might be so simple but I just fail to see it. Of course, I don't believe that as I see myself as fairly bright, but it could be.


Thank you for reading my rant, was nice letting the Steam (LOL GEDDIT!?) out. My download is now at 15 %. All in all I expect to spent around 10 hours installing this game. Not nice.

[A Very Super Market]

Wow, you are quite impatient.

First, you should have at least read the rest of the thread, and changed your server to US- East Coast. That appparently makes it faster, but I don't know.

Second, 10 hours is short. Very short, in fact, when I waited 2 days to download Empire.

Steam is downloading files from the server and stuffing it into the steamapps folder. You can find it later and do whatever to the game, but you can't move it our without the consequence of not being ably to play. If you put it back in, then it will be fine.

You're using a lot of F-bombs, and the mods will be tempted to instagib you, so edit it out.

I don't see how you need a lot of knowledge of computers, you download steam, activate the download and thats it. Generally speaking, you should restart steam before starting the download to avoid sudden download stops, but thats only a matter of clicking "file" and "exit steam"

[seireikhaan]

I realize I'm being terribly impatient here, but can anyone help me with what the problem is here with my Steam?

[A Very Super Market]

Have you tried a reboot?

[pevergreen]

try a reboot, or at worse, copy the steamapps folder and reinstall steam. You won't lose the game then.

As for Mr. Swearer, its quite possible it was the patch. So settle down please. Post reported.

[seireikhaan]

Well, it took a while, but rebooting did finally work. I'm a tad concerned however. Why would it bar me from playing like that?

[A Very Super Market]

I doubt it was anything special, just a program messing up.

[miniwally]

why does steam keep randomly signing me out or getting disconnected when i play on E:TW?

[miniwally]

Steam freezes when i press join game or spectate online everything grays out and no progress onto next screen help plz i want to go online :'(

[Polemists]

So I recently bought Dawn of War 2, installed it fine, was downloading steam, things were good. Went to restart steam, no get steam error and it won't connect to the network. Even in offline mode I get a connection error. Chances are high i'm going to have to uninstall steam, and reinstall empire completely along with DOW 2.

Moral of this story, steam is not a very friendly program when it has more then one game in it.

I am going to try to back up my empire files when I reinstall, but since I can't actually see where my saves are...seems slim I will manage to keep them....oh well.....:skull:

[RZST]

uhm, i have approx 10 games installed via steam.....nothing wrong with it.

if it was a network error did you check your uh, network settings? modem? internet line? ethernet?

[Polemists]

It's a steam network error. My internet is working just fine, surfs fine, works fine, does fine. I played Empire total war the past 2-3 days just fine. Installed DOW II, steam broke, it's that simple. Now I'm trying to figure out how to fix it.:smash:

The error is that it cannot connect to steam network, then if I put it offline I get same error.

When installing DOW2 the game installed just fine, activated just fine. Then it went into patching, got about 80% of way and all the problems started.

Havn't seen anyway to fix steam, and since there is no setup file it dosn't seem like you can easily reinstall it.

Further since steam handles all games, if one game causes a error that means you can't play any of your other games either.:thumbsdown:

Also since I can't find where it put DOWII's patch I can't delete that, if indeed that file is causing the problem.

I tried deleting Clientblob after the error hoping it would reupdate itself into a fix, no soultion. Now i'm going to try Appupdatedstats delete and let it reupdate and hope it works.

Steam updates fine, it just won't connect to the main steam hub for whatever reason.

As this may be more of a dow2 error then a steam error feel free to pm me if the devs decide this topic is irrelvant. Yet as it is a steam error i'm getting and not a application or internet error I think the problem has to do with steam somehow.

[A Very Super Market]

Ptolemists, don't do anything yet.

Go into program files
Go into steam
Go into steamapps
Take ETW out
Reinstall steam
Put ETW back in

Chances are, it didn't corrupt any files, just steam itself.

[Polemists]

Yes but that's my point, how do you reinstall steam? Other then deleting it and redownloading it?

It dosn't seem to have any setup file app I can see.

[A Very Super Market]

Well, thats the way you uninstall anything. Just the other things have their own programs.

[Polemists]

Funny nearly every other program I have I can go into add/remove programs, hit repair and it will fix.

Steam will not.


I miss the days when I could just you know, install a game and play it, those were nice :wall:

[pevergreen]

ETW discs have steam on them. The steam exe is like 1.7 mb.

[Polemists]

I did not know that.


So I went home, and completely reinstalled steam from scratch. Removed it and reinstalled it using the official steam file on the website.

Now it seems to jump when updating.

Sometimes it gets to 26 then restarts, 32 restarts, farthest I saw it get was 68 before it went back to 28 and started again. I'm not sure if it just keeps updating itself, or what, but it's annoying. I dont' really know what to do other then to reinstall it and try again until it stops doing to crazy mutli patch thing.

Soultions are welcome, but really I don't want to hear I love steam and steam works for me. I want soultions. This problem is vexing, consider me vexed.

[A Very Super Market]

Have you tried restarting steam? Apparently, that works.

Also, if it is simply updating, force it into offline mode until you have the patience to put up with program crazyness.

[Polemists]

I solved the issue by the following means after many trials and errors last evening. I'll list when i did, may not help anyone.


I completely uninstalled steam by using the uninstall program from the steam download install on the steam powered site.

I used Dawn of War's 2 CD to install steam, and then hook to games for windows first this time. I let steam update.

I had to restart steam once but after that it updated fine.

I installed Empire

I let empire update.


Both games seem to work now and problem solved, HUZZAH

So I think morale of this story is to use the steam on your cds and not the steam from steam's website.

[A Very Super Market]

Quite peculiar, your situation....

[Polemists]

Not at all, actually you read around there are quite a few problems with Dow 2 and ETW working together with steam.

The problem is in the Games for Windows Live .dll file. Which if you exit out of steam why updating for whatever reason will make steam think your registry is incorrect and require you reinstall it completely.

Some people even had to reformat things.

This seems to be do to fact it's first time to programs have to overwrite steam to tell it to launch with them. (Where as games like Half-Life 2 and Half-Life don't require steam to launch)

[BharatRakshak]

Question: I am yet to buy ETW. I was going to buy, but I have read some of the comments here about how the AI doesn't transport troops by sea, so I am holding back. I believe patches are being made to fix issues like this. What is the deal with patches? If I am connected online, will ETW automatically be able to update and download these patches from Steam? In that case I won't mind buying the game right now, but not otherwise.

[Wausser]

If you have automatic updates on in Steam, then the game will automatically update as soon as a new patch comes available.

[aimlesswanderer]

When I tried to install, it wanted to install Steam, I told it to piss off, and was surprised that the whole game install process stopped. I never thought that the developers would make us install an extra program just so we have the priviledge of playing the game which I bought. For multi yes, or as an option, but not compulsory! Why didn't they just stick with the old method? Now I have another program running, the save games are in some random place, and the game files are in the stupid steam folder.

I bought the bloody DVDs, maybe I should have waited a year or so till a decent version came out.

[pevergreen]

As before, this game is a steam game. It will be with steam. If you don't like it, I guess you made a mistake when you bought this game.

If it was not steam, then it would be secuROM. Would you like something with possible Ring 0 access on your computer? Something you can't delete? Something that uninstalling the game doesnt get rid of? If it doesnt like something you do, it can stop you from using your computer?

Steam is currently the best DRM out there. Be thankful.

[Tarquinius]

So I fear I've just screwed myself over:(. I had to re-install steam to get it working again, for it wouldn't start anymore, not even in offline mode. Yet whilst doing so I forgot to copy my empire files. Does this mean I've just lost all the progress I've made in my campaings, I'm not sure where the save files are stored but I seemed steam just took everything with it while de-installing.

[A Very Super Market]

GAH, why didn't you copy your ETW files?

Alright, anything inside the steam folder is gone. Luckily, your saves are not in there, so I think you'll at least have those

[Tarquinius]

Haha, slip of the mind I guess:dizzy2:. Anyway, after re-installing Steam it was able to find my old game so it prevented me from having to start all over.

[mrfister169]

ok i am not good with computers or forums or figuring things out. can anyone tell me what disc 2 is for? i put it in and nothing happens. sorry for dumb question

[A Very Super Market]

There are too many files in ETW to put on one disc, so they made two.

Halfway through installation, it will ask you to put disc two in. Simple?

[Northnovas]

Okay I finally got the game delivered. I set up the new computer and added my Steam profile. It's nice and clean with no demo. I understand there was one patch released already. When I install the game and activate will the patch be downloaded automatically or do I have to look for it?
Any other tips for a proper install would be appreciated. :grin:

[A Very Super Market]

You install, then click launch.

Steam auto-updates, as long as you have internet, which you obviously do.

[Incongruous]

Ok, so I installed the latest patch, ETW is once again broken, I re-started my pc, steam now will not let me login because it cannot connect to its servers.

What should I take away from my two week experience with Empire? CA released ETW as a broken and unfinished product, Bopa now very sad...
Looks back at the days of STW and MTW, when CA made great games, not just good ones, begins to cry.

[Kulgan]

I can not start my TW game anymore as of today, thank you steam!

I really find it outragous I buy a game I have to start with some program and that program does nothing. And don't start me on starting a procedure where I have to do that and that to fix my game, I shouldn't be fixing someone else's mess

I might was well start burning my money this way, at least that gives me some heat out of the process

[Superteale]

I have question for you gentlemen out there;
I have ETW on steam, but I have yet to get a message regarding patches. How do I know wich patches steam has applied and how do I change steam`s auto-download settings if I want to turn the autopatching on or off?

[lugh]

I have question for you gentlemen out there;
I have ETW on steam, but I have yet to get a message regarding patches. How do I know wich patches steam has applied and how do I change steam`s auto-download settings if I want to turn the autopatching on or off?
My Games -> Right click on Empire, choose Properties. The updates tab is what you're looking for. Not sure how to pull the version number of your current install though, sorry.

[Vlad The Impaler]

my ESET (nod32) security programe is seeing steam as a virus. without deactivating the antivirus and firewall I cannot play Empire:no:

[Babblearossa]

my ESET (nod32) security programe is seeing steam as a virus. without deactivating the antivirus and firewall I cannot play Empire:no:

did you try the tip from typing 'eset steam' into google and clicking "I'm feeling lucky"?

[Vlad The Impaler]

I deactivated the checking for steam but is seeing somthing inside of steam as a virus

crypt 32. win or something like that

I have no viruses on my comp and is a clean copy of xp

[pevergreen]

What antivirus is this, and what is the exact message?

[Babblearossa]

I poked around the steam forums, ESET seems to pick up a lot of steam apps as viruses due to the heuristic scanning and how steam compresses them. The only solution I saw was to exclude the steam folder from scanning.

[Jimmytwohand]

Does anyone know if i can i still play the demo while downloading the full game via steam please? Bought it last night with the whiskey goggles on not realising it would still be downloading now, ridiculous download speeds for a game this size...

[Babblearossa]

Does anyone know if i can i still play the demo while downloading the full game via steam please? Bought it last night with the whiskey goggles on not realising it would still be downloading now, ridiculous download speeds for a game this size...

They go into different folders so yeah, you should be able to.

[Jimmytwohand]

Cheers dude. Didnt actually manage to test it as couldnt find the demo folder. D/L finally cracked the dizzy heights of 100kbs so got it a bit quicker than i thought.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

ETW worked fine for week to 10 days, but now ctd's whenever I hit "grand campaign." As this is about the only aspect of the game I really play, this is a problem.

SB-FXi driver updated, same prob. Re-install from Steam, same prob. Uninstall, reinstall from box, still same prob.

Sent note to Steam, none of their suggestions worked -- uses NFTS already instead of FAT32.

Note out to Sega.


Is this a steam issue or a game issue? If game, what do I do? If steam, what do I do? Tried apothecary, but zero response.

[Babblearossa]

removing the empire config stuff fixes something that sounds like what you're describing.

on xp it's here
C:\Documents and Settings\YOURUSERNAMEHERE\Application Data\The Creative Assembly\Empire
on vista it's somewhere like
C:\Users\YOURUSERNAMEHERE\AppData\Roaming\The Creative Assembly\Empire

apparently the uninstall doesn't remove this directory, and it's the one with config data that can go wonky.

remember to copy your saved games out of there if you want to keep them.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

I will give that a shot. I thank you (regardless) for taking the time to help.


To all appearances, wiping that directory out and forcing it to be recreated seems to have solved the problem nicely. Thanks!

[quadalpha]

I've been out of the loop, but I'm having a problem when I tried to start ETW again after a few months. It's all updated, but when I click the launch button in Steam, the little "Preparing to launch" box pops up for a second and then disappears, and nothing else happens. Ideas anyone? I suppose I can always redownload and reinstall, but that would be a pain.

[Lord Nelson]

Heres the problem, I have downloaded empire and it will let me into the road to independance bit of the game no problem. As soon as i attempt to go into the grand campaign, thats when problems occur. I always get that message saying it has stoped working and windows is looking for a solution etc. I have updated my drivers (I think) and I thought that was the problem but why would it let me into one bit and not the other if this was the case. I have tried updating steam defrag the lot.

Im wondering if anyone else has had this problem or what they think the solution might be.


Any help would be much appreciated.

[Braden]

Necro post resurrection!!

Basic question. I have bought a second hand copy, retail boxed version from eBay but STEAM will not allow installation as the game code has already been registered.

Suggestions? Apart from the obvious one of contacting the seller for said info.

[huggisscra]

Great, now people are botting for this title. Means my efforts of actually working for it were in vain.

[Ishmael]

Hi folks,

My game hasn't been updating properly since the last patch/mandatory DLC download. On steam it states that the game is at '0%-updating' but never progresses- it's downloading something, as it managed to blow half my monthly download limit when I wasn't watching it :embarassed:. I posted this issue over in Apothecary, and a nice fellow suggested to restart Steam a few times, which helped temporarily (it went back to 25% complete) although I couldn't download it as my download limit was used up. Unfortunately, now that I can download it, restarting Steam is doing nothing. Does anybody know how I can solve this-I can't play without the patch, and its getting kinda frustrating.

Thanks!

[pevergreen]

go into where you installed steam.

copy the steamapps folder to somewhere safe

uninstall steam

reinstall steam

copy steamapps folder back in.

You'll have to 'redownload' all your old games, but it detects them there and doesnt download anything.

I've had instances where a single game just stops working overnight and it took me 5 reinstalls of steam to get it working.

[Ishmael]

Ah, thanks pevergreen-that fixed it.

[t1master]

do you need the disks to reinstall on a different computer? or does steam allow you download from their server?

[pevergreen]

Thats the beauty of steam. Any game you have against your account on steam can be redownloaded from anywhere in the world at any time, you just have to login.

Having the discs will just speed it up (if you have slow internet) or just reduce the amount you need to download.

[t1master]

so say i rebuild my pc or wipe my hd, all i gotta do is log into steam and i'll have all my games there waiting to re-install? sounds sweet.

[barwiel]

Hi guys, I have bought the dvd version of Napoleon total war (retail), which unfortunately requires online registration with Steam. My stationary PC internet is really slow (I have a faster connection on laptop) and I have been waiting for more than 2 hours now since starting that damned steam "activation wizard". Any of you know how many megabytes it must exchange with Steam until it finally verifies my cd-key and register this game? I would be most grateful for an answer.

[Tomisama]

You have probably figured it out by now, but for the record if you have dvd version of this game, you do not have to download it.

Be sure you read the instructions, because the download can take 5 hours, the upload fron disc is less than a half an hour to 45 minutes, if I remember right.

You will need to have a Steam account, and Steam will find the game and list it is all.

Good Luck!

[barwiel]

Thanks for replying. Yes, I have figured it out by now, although the solution ended up to be quite "extreme". But what I meant in my previous post was that Steam requires you to download updates for itself as well as for the game before you can go into the "offline mode". So asking about the amount of data exchanged I meant this. How I went around this? Well, I took out my hard disk, visited my good old brother, downloaded all the neccessary stuff using his internet and started again in the offline mode. What were the lessons I've learned? They were two actually: 1. Steam is a piece of crap that can prevent or seriously impare your ability to play the game you have legally bought (although my rage also goes against sega and CA who didn't provide any solution for customers without a fast internet connection) 2. It's nice to have a brother with fast internet living nearby :)

[pevergreen]

What were the lessons I've learned? They were two actually: 1. Steam is a piece of crap that can prevent or seriously impare your ability to play the game you have legally bought (although my rage also goes against sega and CA who didn't provide any solution for customers without a fast internet connection) 2. It's nice to have a brother with fast internet living nearby :)

The percentage of customers without an internet connection is low. So having to verify it that way is not a lot of trouble. Steam is a great platform, but if you ignore all the other benefits:

1. No more secuROM etc
2. Decent Multiplayer servers

Two easy improvements over the last set of TW games.

[barwiel]

I don't mind having to verify the authenticity of a game by internet. But I should be given an option of not having to update steam or a game "online" if I don't want to (btw, the option of not updating is "just a delay in updating" as I have recently learned from Steam's "support"). Just check the cd-key or whatever they check, and voila. I think Steam is very inflexible in this area. Perhaps after such changes a number of the now potential customers without a decent internet connection would buy the game and let them make more money. But it's just my opinion, not based on any hard data. You seem to know better.

[pevergreen]

I don't mind having to verify the authenticity of a game by internet. But I should be given an option of not having to update steam or a game "online" if I don't want to (btw, the option of not updating is "just a delay in updating" as I have recently learned from Steam's "support"). Just check the cd-key or whatever they check, and voila. I think Steam is very inflexible in this area. Perhaps after such changes a number of the now potential customers without a decent internet connection would buy the game and let them make more money. But it's just my opinion, not based on any hard data. You seem to know better.

Don't dismiss your opinion that fast.

As I understand it, the steam installation is:

Install the game from your DVD/s. Steam then registers the fact you have the game and adds it to your profile (having already checked the CD key). From there, cloud support stuff is uploaded, if the game has it, and then before the game will launch, steam will verify the integrity of the files and update. No matter when you install it that will happen. If you install a year after release, bad luck, you have to be up to date and so sit through the patches. If its on release day, you still have to do it (Yes, I had to wait for a little patch to download on the release day of E:TW)

It has a number of benefits, and to those who have a setup where internet access is hard to come by/limited/not on their gaming computer, yes, steam is not the greatest thing in the world for them. But its not the worst either. I'd rather have steam than secuROM.

[barwiel]

Well, maybe after all it isn't that bad. It does make you think more creatively before you start the game, in order to make it work.. :thinking2: Then it pays off when you finally start playing the game and you can manouver your armies more effectively. And BTW, I love Napoleon:Total War. Just finished-off Kutuzov near Prague with one swift thrust by the Old Guard:)

[jawalla]

has anyone thought of steam coming out with an empire 2? that was by far my favorite game but i wish they could expand it into africa and the german unification all the way up to world war 1

[leonardo davinci]

i have a question. how do you uninstal empire from steam? i don't see an option to uninstal the game. i need the space for S2TW. please help! i already bought the game, and i don't want to bring it back.

[Fisherking]

You can uninstall from your computer but the game is kept on steam so if you ever want to reload it is there. The game belongs to your account.

[mxmymz]

i paid and downloded and installed the game The sims3 . But can not play anymore . it is said "unable to start the game, service intialization failed (0x024e424f)". and i installed and downloded again from steam, even try othe conputer to try.still cannt play.
and sometimes it is said" steam error, this game is currently unavaliable, please try again another time". i don know why .plz help ..thx

[critviz]

How long does a regular Steam Download take?? I've being downloading NTW and it tell me 7 hours. I have a speedy internet and dont understand why it would take so long!! Is there something wrong with my pc or is it steam??

[Fisherking]

You can try switching download servers. That can make a big difference.

I have never had one that slow. Also if it is an option it is best to use a DVD copy to load a game and let seam update the files when ever possible.

In the end it may be that your ISP was slow for some reason. With steam you can often get download speeds of 500 kbs.

I don’t know why yours was so slow.

[MiyazakiTenshi]

Hello, I have a windows 7 laptop and today i have purchased and downloaded Star wars Knights of the old republic. for some reason every time i click on it to play it, the game says ''Star wars knights of the old republic has stopped working'' then it checks for a solution as to why it's not working.

But then it came up with changing my screen resolution to '1366 x 768' when that is already my screen resolution. And i have tried restarting my laptop but nothing has changed. Please help.

Thanks, Phillipa.

[Fisherking]

Try posting the problem down in the Hardware and Software area of the Forum.

Someone there may have some things you can try.

[InsaneApache]

I recently lost my internet connection for five days and was therefore was unable to play ETW and NTW. Now I understand why CA did this but it's a bit of a bugger to shell out for two games (upwards of £50) and not be able to play them.

Surely there must be a way to play these games if you have no internet.

I'm not holding my breath though.

nm. After trawling the net I found the answer.

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?135162-Can-t-play-single-player-due-to-no-internet-connection-!!!

Typical.

BTW Thanks Monk.

[andres452]

Hola, te agradezco por la información.