I was wondering what files Steam (the digital distribution platform) installs and where on a Windows (7) PC.Does it add anything that runs at start-up or add any files to important system folders?
Why are my steam downloads so slow when I have 50-80 MBps? Update Cancel. A d b y H o n e y. Have you tried this Amazon trick? The price Amazon shows isn't always the lowest. Luckily, this tool can help you outsmart the marketplace. Why does Steam make my Mbps so slow? Without the Steam downloads I get around 30 Mbps, but with downloads I. File depending on the application managing the download(usually steam or steam-like app or browser), it will buffer the parts(segments) of t. Its usually written in bursts. Simply saying downloading a file has nothing to do with your RAM. Dec 18, 2013 - Hello everyone My steam doesn't seem to download constantly, it downloads in bursts or segments. Does anyone know what i can do to fix this?
2 Answers
The default Steam installation directory is Program FilesSteam. (Steam is not 64-bit, so it will install in Program Files (x86) if you have a 64-bit OS).
It also registers a Windows Service with the executable Program FilesCommon FilesSteamSteamService.exe
It doesn't add anything else to other directories. All the content (e.g. the games) you install through it will be placed in Program FilesSteamSteamApps, but might itself add additional files in other places.
The default is to run Steam at start-up, but this is easily changed in the options, or at install time. You may want to check the Services Control Panel (Win + R + 'services.msc' + Enter) afterwards to verify that Steam Client Service is also disabled.
Note: Steam itself exposes a critical vulnerability in changing folder permissions of its Program FilesSteam directory, allowing all unprivileged users to replace, modify and/or remove Steams core binaries.
It does install a service and runs on startup by default, though it is easily changed in the options (or you can do it manually, it doesn't restore the autostart if you remove it). The default install location is 'Steam' under your default 32-bit Program Files folder, e.g. C:Program Files (x86)Steam on 64-bit Windows.
I don't think it puts anything in system folders, but I don't know. It surely doesn't modify anything important.
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The basic problem: When updating a game through Steam, I get an initial spike of network activity, then the download stops.
As displayed by Steam, the speed tapers off:
When looking at the actual network traffic, it spikes once, and then dies entirely:
Some notes here:
- Once the download is down to 0, it stays at 0. Pausing and unpausing the download has no effect. To restart the download, I need to restart Steam.
- Actual data is apparently received for that second, so it is not a case of total blockage. The next time I start Steam, the few MB of data I downloaded are still there. (In theory, I suppose I could get the 1GB download by restarting about 200 times...)
Now, the interesting parts: I can get a less unstable download by placing a severe throttle on the bandwidth.This way I can get a few hundred MB of data rather than about five MB. Nevertheless, it still eventually chokes.
I start the Steam client from a console. The output is rather verbose, but here's an example:
The CAPIJobRequestUserStats - Server response failed 2 line is the only one that looks promising, but searching for it hasn't gotten me anywhere.
Additional information:
- Steam works perfectly on the Windows partition of the same machine.
- The DNS troubles some have mentioned don't seem to be the issue - or at least, installing and restarting dnsmasq didn't do anything.
I am running Kubuntu 15.04 now, the problem was identical under Kubuntu 14.04 and 14.10. System information (as reported by Steam):
Any and all insight is appreciated at this point!
1 Answer
Turns out it was a problem solved by dnsmasq after all.
Steam
I can't tell you why it didn't cut it earlier, but on a fresh Ubuntu 15.10 install, I went through the following steps:
First, installing some libraries:
Steam Download In Short Bursts
and then installing Steam. The speed displayed the same characteristics (initial spike, then nothing, as before). However, this time installing dnsmasq and restarting the service did the trick.
I consider the issue solved, although I would have preferred a solution that didn't involve a full OS reinstall.