Okay so for some reason I am being forced to download a 6900mb file from steam before it counts as being installed. Also the download rate is painfully slow and it tells me I will be waiting for 8 hours...it was 10 two hours ago.
Is there a way to get around this file download is it normal.

I only bought the game today and was just hopiong to play it but I have been wrestling with this Steam BS... not fun.

That file you are downloading is the game itself. So if you want to play Fallout: New Vegas, yes you will have to download this file.
Once it is done downloading, you simply click Play.

So dosen't the dam dvd have enough of the game or something, Why do I have to download the game from the net.

Because Steam is special. It wants you to use their files and their files only. Which doesn't matter either way, because you will encounter bugs, crashes, glitches, and hardware problems one way or another until they are fixed.

if you have the dvd you should be able to install from that (its how i installed my copy) now getting the game to install from the cd seams to be a problem for some people i don't know why i'm sure some one can tell you how to fix this soon

Thanks for the help Waffle.

What a sad stupid world we live in. One day I will have my vengence on steam.... For I know now that I will be killed by my family for using up all our downloads.

Thanks Sinsarmour and lets hope someone who knows how to install from the dvd comes on here and saves me.

The last Steam-enabled DVD I bought was MW2. The loader started from the DVD just as you'd expect. It ran the install from there, but when it was loaded it insisted that I validate using Steam, which wasn't bad at all. I do remember another game that ignored the DVD, which was infuriating. I guess it depends on how the devs of the game want the install process handeled.

DaveyOz, go http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1120441-please-read-before-posting/ and read post #3.

Okay I may feel like an idiot but what do I have to do to run the installer executable a second time. I have just got the worst headache now.

You can run it right off the disk I believe. I don't have one but I'm guessing if you just right click the Drive you put the disk in inside the Computer folder and click Open, then just find a setup.exe or something similar that doesn't have to do with Steam. It may have a Fallout type icon, or just a generic setup icon, I'm really not sure.

I have the same problem FFS, I own the game on DVD disc but I still have to download it, so is there nothing on the disc or somthing? and what was the point in going to the store if I have to download in anyway.
Man I got off work early got the game from the shop rushed home and now I have to wait 5 hours for this [censored] to download before I can play. STUPID STUPID STUPID.
My download is 6,657MB

I hope it dosen't freeze, I was playing at my friends on the PS3 version and the game froze when I opened the pip boy

Looked at the dvd contents and only found a steam setup. This bites. Waiting hours and having a slow net contection is the reason why I don't download games.

Using Steam launch options to install retail games from disc

1. Log in to Steam and click on Library.
2. Right-click on the game, select Delete local content, and confirm.
3. Insert the first disc into your computer.
4. Close Steam (Steam > Exit).
5. Press Windows Key + R to open Run
6. In the Run window type:

"C:\Program Files\Steam\Steam.exe" -install E:

Replace E: with the CD/DVD drive you are installing from if is not correct.
Replace C:\Program Files\Steam if your Steam installation is not in the default location.
7. Press OK. Steam will launch and ask you to sign in if you do not have your password saved. Your installation should continue from the disc.

Thank's for your reply Cerebelum

But a message to bethesda, I should't have to do all that sh!t to install a game.

THank you. I tried to follow the steps and i am not sure if I did but now it is downloading normally. See you all later if the game stuff up again.