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Difference between revisions of "Glossary:Game data"

From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
m (→‎HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE: fixed code use)
(added Windows data paths details (very basic description for now))
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* For Steam games right-click the game in the Steam library and choose ''Properties'', then go to the ''Local files'' tab and click ''Browse local files''.
 
* For Steam games right-click the game in the Steam library and choose ''Properties'', then go to the ''Local files'' tab and click ''Browse local files''.
 
<!-- TODO: Add a blurb about non-Steam games (/opt, /usr/games) and non-Steam games that do not use package managers -->
 
<!-- TODO: Add a blurb about non-Steam games (/opt, /usr/games) and non-Steam games that do not use package managers -->
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==Data paths (Windows)==
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===%USERPROFILE%===
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<code>%USERPROFILE%</code> points to the current user's profile folder.
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===Appdata===
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<code>%APPDATA%</code> and <code>%LOCALAPPDATA%</code> contain
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Some settings are also stored in <code>%USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow</code>; this location does not have a short environmental variable so must be specified in this longer form.
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===%PUBLIC%===
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<code>%PUBLIC%</code> points to the Public user profile folder shared between all users.
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===%PROGRAMDATA%===
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<code>%PROGRAMDATA%</code> contains program data shared between all users; for Windows XP use <code>%ALLUSERSPROFILE%</code>.
  
 
==Windows registry==
 
==Windows registry==

Revision as of 21:14, 11 May 2014

This page is a stub: it lacks content and/or basic article components. You can help to expand this page by adding an image or additional information.

Installation folder

The game's installation folder is where the game's files are stored. Save files are sometimes stored here as well but many newer games will put them in a different location.

Windows

  • For non-Steam games right click the shortcut and choose Open file location.
  • For Steam games right-click the game in the Steam library and choose Properties, then go to the Local files tab and click Browse local files.
  • Changes to %PROGRAMFILES%, %PROGRAMFILES(X86)% and %WINDIR% are redirected to %LOCALAPPDATA%\VirtualStore on Windows Vista and newer when the process is not running as an administrator; Steam and most MMOGs change folder permissions to save directly into the installation folder.

OS X

  • For non-Steam games open Finder and click Applications on the side. Some games will be in folders.
  • For Steam games right-click the game in the Steam library and choose Properties, then go to the Local files tab and click Browse local files.

Linux

  • For Steam games right-click the game in the Steam library and choose Properties, then go to the Local files tab and click Browse local files.

Data paths (Windows)

%USERPROFILE%

%USERPROFILE% points to the current user's profile folder.

Appdata

%APPDATA% and %LOCALAPPDATA% contain

Some settings are also stored in %USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow; this location does not have a short environmental variable so must be specified in this longer form.

%PUBLIC%

%PUBLIC% points to the Public user profile folder shared between all users.

%PROGRAMDATA%

%PROGRAMDATA% contains program data shared between all users; for Windows XP use %ALLUSERSPROFILE%.

Windows registry

  1. Open the Registry Editor:
    • Vista and newer: open the Start screen/Start menu, type regedit, press ↵ Enter.
    • Windows XP: press ⊞ Win+R, type regedit, press ↵ Enter.
  2. Go to the folder named.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER

32-bit programs writing to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software are redirected to a Wow6432Node folder there; omit Wow6432Node if you are using a 32-bit version of Windows.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

Programs writing to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE without administrator elevation are redirected to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\VirtualStore\MACHINE on Windows Vista and newer.
32-bit programs writing to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE are redirected to a Wow6432Node folder there; omit Wow6432Node if you are using a 32-bit version of Windows.