[HELP]Windows Steam Backup Compatibility

[kidlat14]

Good day,

 

I'm planning to move out of the Windows 10 platform and go with Ubuntu. I'm just wondering, are Steam backup files that were created on the Windows platform compatible with Linux? I have a monthly cap with my internet data so it will be a pain in the ass to redownload my entire steam library on Linux.

 

Thanks.

[Nettly_]

From experience I could never even do it from one Windows install to another without re-downloading. Live alone to Ubuntu. I would have to say no man, sorry.

[Caennanu]

I do not know if the files are supported under Ubuntu, but unlike Safyre up here, i have always installed the games on a different drive than the OS drive, including the client, and never had an issue when re-installing windows and using steam without downloading all the games again. Just have to set the folder correctly within the client.

[Sauron]

If the games are Linux native you'll have to redownload them since the executables will be different. If they need to run using proton you *might* be able to use the backup but I wouldn't be surprised if you couldn't.

[Nettly_]

On 7/1/2019 at 2:25 AM, Caennanu said:

..., but unlike Safyre up here, i have always installed the games on a different drive than the OS drive, 

Yeah I have all my computers are laptops or hand-me-downs with one hard disk drive, so I would not do that because I only have one drive. I actually never knew that each drive would be done separate. Thanks for this new information  

[Caennanu]

11 hours ago, SafyreLyons-5LT said:

Yeah I have all my computers are laptops or hand-me-downs with one hard disk drive, so I would not do that because I only have one drive. I actually never knew that each drive would be done separate. Thanks for this new information  

Even that i won't recommend it, you could load your game files on a removable harddrive. Within steam everytime you start just add the drive as source location and it should automagically enable the games. (linus (and others) uses a similar technique in his testing)

[Koeshi]

On 7/3/2019 at 7:03 AM, Caennanu said:

(linus (and others) uses a similar technique in his testing)

I've always had a bit of an issue when I see people recommending this, because they are invariably saying to have a large slow mechanical drive for bulk storage (which I agree with) and then saying put your game files on there, which is something that I would want to be loading quickly.

[Caennanu]

1 minute ago, Koeshi said:

I've always had a bit of an issue when I see people recommending this, because they are invariably saying to have a large slow mechanical drive for bulk storage (which I agree with) and then saying put your game files on there, which is something that I would want to be loading quickly.

I agree, that's why i started with that i wouldn't recommend it. That said, there is ofcourse faster both internal and external solutions for the same suggestion. You could put a 2,5 SSD on a hotplug dock if you want some speed, or use a firecuda or the likes if you want to combine speed with storage. All of both are options worth considering if you need a sollution like this. But my recommendation would always be to have it a native drive thats not swappable, but also doesn't contain the windows installation.