Note: No guarantees, at your own risk, yadda yadda yadda

It's actually pretty simple. Steam only needs Steam.exe to be able to update itself with the rest of the required files. So go into your Steam directory/folder and delete all the files (NOT the directories) EXCEPT Steam.exe. Again, NOT the directories/folders, just the files, and NOT Steam.exe.

You can also use this method to change where Steam is installed by moving all the directories/folders inside the main Steam directory to another location, then moving JUST Steam.exe and running it.

Of course in either case make sure Steam isn't running.

You may want to backup the files you're about to delete in case something goes wrong.

Steam has a guide on how to move your install or re-install and keep your currently installed game. Its easy to find and all you really do is keep your steamapps folder and after you move/re-install just verify your games cache's and your good to go (see full instruction for exact details on all the steps and how it works)


Edit: here is the guide -

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

Ah, that's probably better. I wish they'd add the link to this guide to the sticky at the top.

So many installations destroyed by uninstalling Steam...as that deletes all your games =/

a stated...just back up your steamapps folder!
install steam where you want it and copy that folder back! simples!
used it to change HDD's, install on new pc's the lot...works every time!
alot of the time you dont even need to reverify the games cache, as long as no patches have come out since etc.

Yea it should be a sticky, specially in the mod forums so people who have steam installed to Program Files can install it in a "game" folder for example, for proper modding, back in oblivion having it installed in the program files folder caused problem with validating new mesh/textures or something along those lines, im not sure if Skyrim will be the same way, but i expect it will be. ( also this could have been solved already and i missed it, as i have been out of the modding loop for a long while)


for people who don't like to click links ( i know your out there) here is a direct copy.


1. Exit the Steam client application.
2. Browse to the Steam installation folder for the Steam installation (continuing the from the last section example, this would be the new location of D:\Games\Steam\.
3. Move the SteamApps folder from the Steam installation folder to your desktop.
4. Review the Uninstalling Steam topic for instructions to uninstall Steam (this must be done to remove your old Steam installation settings from the Windows Registry).
5. Review the Installing Steam topic for instructions to re-install Steam to the desired location.
6. Move the SteamApps folder into the new Steam installation folder to copy all of your downloaded game content, settings, and saved games to the new location.
7. Start Steam and log in to your existing Steam account to confirm that the move was successful.
8. For installed games, verify your game cache files and you will be ready to play.

steam itself also has a backup and restore games option that you can use also.

Not exactly...if you uninstall Steam it also uninstalls a bunch of stuff from the registry which means all the games in your steamapps folder will appear to Steam as uninstalled.