Depends. A number of Filesystems on linux let you layer multiple instances on the same directory, where the newest changes are referred to first vs the older ones, so you could have the base Windows install, a Drivers install, and then a Game install all layered, any changes would go to a COW (copy on write) fourth filesystem which is where your actual changes would be, while everything else should be done on the previous three, and the games/programs/OS is none-the-wiser.

Slax, MiniOS and a few others do this as well. Even Lakka has the important files as read-only while the system is usable otherwise.

dude, it's done already. I tried using system restore to a point prior to installing that damned game. It was during the restore process that caused the entire reset. The restore process was going along, blue screen with the message "restoring the registry" for a long time, then the blue screen went away and it restarted, or attempted to restart. In all of it's attempts to restart, it ran into problems. Tried the repair tool, tried every option that was on the screen, but nothing worked. Shutting down did nothing, just as soon as I turned it back on it was the same message.

I tried all of the options listed, but the PC would no longer boot. The only way I got it to boot again was to do a factory reset. And it's done now. Can't go back now. The only thing on my screen now is the recycle bin and microsoft edge. And now I did download and install Firefox. See screenshot.

I'm sorry that this happened. I assume that you have no backup made before the reinstall? And there was a single partition, so everything was wiped instead of just the OS?
The original error did sound like that dependency was "updated" in a way that removed a file of the specific version required by the game, but if reinstalling the old version of the dependency didn't work, simply getting that specific file and placing it in the game's folder should have fixed things. Reverting or resetting the entire system for a localized issue is something that should never be done... And if it is done, the contents of the disk should first be backed up somewhere else... Not that it helps you at this point.
For the future, however, simply using Windows' built-in backup function to create a system image on an external drive ensures that you'll be able to restore the system to how it was at that point if something goes very badly, only losing the changes made since then instead of everything. And little things like documents and saved games can and should be backed up regularly, to be able to pick up from where you left off even on a different computer.
Again, I know it doesn't help at this point, and seeing them said may make you feel worse, but learning how to avoid a repeat of the incident is pretty much the only good that can come out of something like this.

In terms of what might still be done, however... Well, it's a long shot, but data recovery software may still find some old files, especially if the disk didn't go through a thorough format, but anything you do on the computer drastically lowers the chances, since any operation will overwrite something.
What's on the desktop doesn't matter, what's still on the disk does, in case it wasn't fully formatted.

Well I got Firefox working right. One down, .......

Press Ctrl+Shift+A to open the Add-ons and Themes settings and select the Dark theme. It's probably set to the System theme at the moment which means Firefox will follow the Windows setting.

Yeah, I just found that myself. I didn't remember ever using themes before but when my old eyes started barking reading black taxt on white background I must've changed it then and forgot it.

For some reason, the last few years I can't see black text on a white background near as well as I can white text on a black background. I need to ask the eye doc about this next time I can get an eye exam.

I don't want to add insult to injury, you have my honest sympathies, sir, but I would never use System Restore unless it was a serious OS issue / unwanted OS update, and only ever as a last resort to a full OS reinstall. Windows makes it sound all sunshine and lollipops, but backtracking to a previous state is messy and if there is even a hit of corruption in system backups it can end up badly. Inconsistencies after a restore are very possible. Not to mention it will unlikely revert game files deleted/changed at the time of the last save unless it's a directory which has been shadowed; restore points often just deal with system changes, not minor local directory stuff iirc.

In all your previous posts I didn't see you say you uninstalled Gothic 2 entirely or not, just the DLC which kicked off this whole thing. First to that point: uninstalling just an offending DLC doesn't always work because depending on the game a DLC might overwrite game files in the process. If you uninstall a DLC, it might be prudent to reinstall the game (or verify everything using Galaxy afterwards). Next time, back up your savegame files and uninstall the whole game. Then re-install from scratch. The best way to solve a problem in games is to start small and leave drastic measures last. Copy/delete saves. Check configs. Uninstall/reinstall the game entirely. Check library dependencies, update drivers ... and LAST, if EVER, an OS refresh if you dare.

I wish you luck piecing everything back together. I don't envy your position.

god dammit now I can't get into my steam account. I can't remember my password and I have tried getting it sent to my email 22 times now... it keeps saying I failed the capcha.


fuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuck

I don't know what to do? I tried getting an audio one but it wouldn't even do that.

fucccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccckkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

I cannot believe this. I have no idea how to get my Steam account back now. It will NOT send me a code to my email. No matter what I do. I literally have no idea how to get it back.

Steam support will give you options to recover your account if need be, if you can prove your identity (e.g. previously used credit card number).

I searched a bit about it, and looks like a lot of people are having issues with the capcha, but with the steam app only. Are you using the app too? If you are, you can try the steam website instead, or the phone app.

I encountered the same issue on another store page and found a solution by using Vivaldi. With this browser, there was no captcha.

Sorry to hear about your troubles. :(

Before you attempted to fix your problem, I would have made an archive of (ALL!) the current game saves you wanted to keep, and especially the Gothic 2 ones. On external media like a thumbdrive or similar.

And to answer your original question, YES, this sort of situation recurs frequently. In this case it was because you added an expansion to the base game. (Poor programming protocols involving backward compatibility and proper clean-up are sadly lacking.)

It is good technological hygiene to back up anything that you have created with the PC you are using. Anything, in other words, that cannot be restored from the original application installation is bespoke to you and is in danger of loss should your system fail catastrophically, as indeed yours has.

My spouse (who is legally blind but can still see to read, at least for now) has the same requirement. You might have cataracts (people with light irides are susceptible from UV damage) which would cause slow, almost imperceptible acuity degradation over time. Or it could be much worse. =P

I've just tested the captcha in the steam website and it is working (so it might really be an issue with the pc app only). In case you haven't tried the website yet, here is a direct link to the appropriate page: If you'd prefer to get there manually:
- Open the Steam website in your browser
- Click on "Support" near the top of the page
- Click on "Help, I can't sign in"
- Click on "I forgot my Steam Account name or password"

I still can't get past the capcha, either locally or online. Tried both.

It keeps saying something about the capcha (screenshot).

I don't know what to do. It will simply NOT let me past the capcha, locally or online. Is my Steam account gone forever?

Well, I must've tried that capcha at least 50 times, no exaggeration. Finally it let me past and emailed me a password reset. So that's one thing done, a million to go....