Ok, so after a recent HD problems, I am going to backup my Steam collection - but I wanted to put them on DVD with my custom installer so I can use them on a different computer without the need for (Steam haters look away) *Steam* (Ok, look back now).

I already got Elder Scrolls Oblivion GOTY to work, I just replaced the Exe with a no cd one and it works great..

I know a lot of games I simply will not be able to do this with, but one I do want to do is Thief 3 - Deadly Shadows.

I replaced it with a no cd executable while it was in the Steamapps folder, and it worked while I didn't have Steam running - but when I moved it to the desktop it had the hourglass symbol for 20 sec or so, and then it disappeared, but Thief didn't startup... T3.exe and T3Main.exe were both in Processes, but it didn't start the game.

Any idea how I can make it independant from Steam?

EDIT: And any idea how easy it would be to do this with Section 8: Prejudice?

There is a site that covers games and to copy them in the world. Not only should they have all the cracks you need. There forum is also very comprehensive in covering the back up issues.

I can't link directly, the blue ones won't like it...

I thought they just had no cd patches?

I don't really understand why what I am doing is 'naughty', I own all the games legally through Steam... but just Thief 3 is one of my fav games atm, so I wanted to back it up, and I find it a bit of a hassle copying Steam from computer to computer (I change computers a lot).

If they do have a way I can play it I will be very happy, but as I said, I thought they only had No Cd's...

Their forum (filefront) covers a lot about backups, you should check it out. I haven't really used it in a long time, since I don't back up my digital only games and since I've abandoned retail I don't need cracks anymore :-).

I've linked it, because they have a very strong "anti-piracy" stance and should be safe, even for the guys in blue.

Ah, thank you SimonG - I'll look to see what they have...

I think it is actually not the T3.exe (the one which the nocd replaces), it is actually T3Main.exe, because when I start theif out of the Steamapps folder it brings those two up in Processes...

I dunno, but hopefully I can find something in your link. Let you know either way shortly!

Ok, they didn't have anything for the Steam version of Thief 3, but do you think I should make an account and post a question?

The fault is: you should wait for GOG to have T3 and all your problems will vanish.

Yeah, that's true.

But how long will that be? Since it is a fairly newer game it will they may not even be able to get it for another couple of years, no?

Thief 3 and Deus Ex 2 rely heavily on registry keys, that tell the games where everything is at. Find the entries created on their first launch, export them, edit them...

See attached.

Does this mean it uses SecuROM as well as Steam? And if not could you give me instructions on how to export/edit etc. them?

I am creating an installer for them so they are easier to use, and I am using Inno Setup, so maybe it has a function to write that to the registry? Do you know how do do these things?

I have no clue what it uses, it will be gone with a nocd exe. Right click Thief key folder, export, get the reg file, open it in notepad and have a look. Edit it carefully to match the current path to game files, save. Double click .reg, yes. Run game.

Not necessarily. Thief: Deadly Shadows had a SecuROM disc check when it came out, but no DRM (SecuROM went into that market a couple of years later, I think). If the Steam version doesn't need you to have a disc in your drive then the disc check is not being used and those registry entries are just an unused artifact.

Yup, it worked!

But how can I make it change to whatever the directory I selects in Inno Setup? Or I could put the .reg file in the install and I have to click it before I play, but what would I put in that would make it set the current directory as the one in the registry?

Hm, well I didn't have Steam running, so I started it up with my wireless turned off, it came up with a question of whether I wanted it to start it Offline mode, I clicked yes, it started up like normal, and I was just playing Garry's Mod.... is your client up to date?