STEAM detects ARMA 3 as UNINSTALLED

[Valken 623]

Hi guys,

 

I need help as this has occurred before and I have no idea why. I restarted my system and it boots into Windows fine. I then update a few mods from Armaholic then load Steam.

 

Upon loading, it shows that ARMA 3 is NOT installed. ARMA 2 CO for example is installed.

 

I checked and all files are STILL on the SSD.

 

It is annoying because STEAM takes up 2x-3x of the actual file space to reinstall and my SSD is small and nearly full. I have to somehow delete a bunch of stuff just to have STEAM redetect whatever is already installed!!!

 

Any idea how I can force steam to "validate" the files are already on the SSD instead of deleting ARMA 3 and reinstalling it?

 

Thanks!

[tpw 2315]

I had this happen a few months ago after getting clever and deleting a few of the wrong files out of steam. ALL my games, several hundred GB worth, were marked as uninstalled. However, provided you haven't physically deleted the game data then you can just reinstall. As part of the install Steam will check if you already have any game files, and should only download those that are missing.

 

TLDR; don't delete A3, just click the install button. 

[badluckburt 78]

What happens when you start Arma 3 from it's folder?

 

One thing you could try is delete all of Steam's own files and just keep the Steam.exe, if you run it then, it will reinstall itself and hopefully see your Arma 3 install again.

Instructions are under How do I move my existing Steam Installation?

 

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7418-YUBN-8129

[Valken 623]

Update - When I click on INSTALL on STEAM , it tells me I need 15 GB to reinstall, which I don't have on the SSD. Grr..

 

I also deleted all the files from the STEAM folder, except steam.exe, and no go. Did not recognize ARMA 3.

 

So eventually, I deleted a bunch of stuff, and then STEAM proceeds to validate the current install and patch it up to 1.63x in DEV. Tooks about 2 hours for some reason and now at least I get to play in Tanoa again.

 

Thanks for all of your help. The next to do is buy a much larger SSD.