The software excludes program files for security reasons.
The software excludes program files for security reasons.
I've just begun using Genie Timeline software for backups, but I noticed it automatically skipped my program files. That means my games weren't saved. Is there a reason for this? It's not clear from the software itself, but it's worth checking if backing up program files is important and why they might be excluded.
For games, Steam stores your progress. Origin also keeps your saved games.
You're referring to the location where your games are stored. They're all in the Program Files (x86) directory, which contains Steam and other applications.
Usually no data is saved in Program Files. It's meant for program files only, so restoring from a backup won't work by just copying files. You'll need to reinstall everything separately. Many people face similar situations where backups must cover specific folders like SteamApps.
I thought about saving game copies and their files to avoid needing to download them again if anything fails.
Steam games generally work with your backup software, but many other programs alter the registry after installation, making it impossible to simply copy files from Program Files. Attempting to run them on another computer will likely cause crashes.
Please feel free to confirm if you meant something different. You can restore your game files by backing them up and letting Steam recognize them again during reinstallation. The files you need to save are typically found at "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common". Once saved, simply transfer the folder to another PC or location, add it to Steam, and it should identify the existing files automatically.