TF2 can't be installed in alternate locations?

[Pocket]

I didn't realize this back when the SteamPipe updates first hit, because I was already using my D drive for map backups and didn't want both copies of all my active maps to be on the same drive. But lately updates have been giving me "disk error" messages with no known cause, so I decided to try migrating TF2 to my secondary SteamApps folder on the D drive. Little did I know, that's not allowed! Yes, folks, for some reason, even after all the trouble they went to and caused making TF2 SteamPipe compatible, one of the major advantages of the SteamPipe system still does not work with it.

It's not just me, right? This is a real issue that affects everybody?

 

[Exactol]

I got disk errors all the time on my laptop. Usually fixed by restarting steam, or my comp.

 

[Egan]

Yeah recently I've gotten a flurry of disk read errors from TF2 updates, restarting PC is only thing that's working for me.

 

[Pocket]

I had a thought, today: Is it possible that the disk errors are caused by having Hammer running when it's trying to download an update? Since Hammer is now inside the game files but not treated as part of the game for the purposes of checking whether it's still running.

 

[puxorb]

Look up "symbiotic link" for hard-drives. It allows you to keep the navigation on your main drive while the data itself is on your secondary drive. I had this setup on my PC where all my steam games were on my D drive, but TF2 was located on my C drive (SSD) for faster load times.

 

[worMatty]

Yes, whenever Steam downloads an update for TF2, and I have Hammer open, if I try to launch the game I get the disk write error. Closing Hammer then allows me to play the game. I came to notice it when I tried to compile, and run the game, but because there had been an update in the BG, I got that error.

 

[Pocket]

Huh. So closing Hammer is enough to fix it? Geez, I wish I had figured that out months ago.

Still don't get why Source games can't be installed anywhere other than the default SteamApps folder though. I recently discovered that the Left 4 Dead games are like this too for some crazy reason, despite having never had any files in common with the Orange Box branch. Maybe I should alert Steam Support, for all the good it won't do me.

 

[worMatty]

I imagine it's for simplicity. The Steam library automatically manages the games when you download and install them, as of course we all know. I imagine adding an option to install them in an alternate location during installation would increase potential problems.

Symbiotic linking sounds like a great way to keep things in different places. I looked it up on the web but couldn't find much info. However, it reminded me of Symbolic links. I'm not sure if those can be used.

 

[A Boojum Snark]

You already can install games to other locations. That feature was added several months ago. He is saying that Source games don't give that option. (which I can confirm at least with Ep1... I have everything else installed).

edit: forgot I hid some games. nope. looks like valve is just lazy. CS:S and HLDM:S can be installed to other places. TFC, Ricochet, DOD cannot, even though they are goldsrc.

 

[worMatty]

Ah, I didn't know that. Thanks, ABS. You just lead me to find the content library locations bit in the options. I hadn't noticed it.

Perhaps it is a bug, then, or if it's intentional, the only reason I can think of is easier customer support, since they belong to Valve. The games don't depend on Steam, other than for authorisation and the workshop, right?

 

[Pocket]

Guys.


I figured it out.


Why Left 4 Dead and Left 4 Dead 2 couldn't be installed somewhere special.


I still had the Authoring Tools installed in the default location.


I uninstalled them, and tried to install Left 4 Dead, and lo and behold, the dropdown was there. "D:\Steam" was even auto-highlighted.


Gee, I sure wish Valve had a way to report issue with the Steam client, because I'd love to recommend replacing the missing dropdown with a message like "This program can only be installed in ______ because other apps that require its files are already installed there." Bonus points if they can identify them by name.

 

[Pocket]

Hi. Me again with an update, just in case you were curious. Looks like Valve noticed the frustrating behavior Steam exhibits when trying to update a game while Hammer is open, because it's different now — instead of getting stuck on "Update Required", it just repeatedly restarts the update from the beginning.

*sigh*