If I reformated...

Would I still be able to play HL2?

Ummm I mean this with the greatest respect when I say "Duhhhh you
will". Steam makes it so that if you log on to your account from
anywhere you can download and play your games from anywhere. So in
short yes, you just have to either download HL2 or reinstall it.

Note If you downloaded it and
you dont want to again, use the back-up files utility that comes with
steam and burn it onto a DVD or CD.

Ok was just wondering cause of the whole unlocking of files thing. I mean, to valve they might see it as me lending my CD to someone else.

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting Wild Card</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>Ok was just wondering cause of the whole unlocking of files thing. I mean, to valve they might see it as me lending my CD to someone else. </DIV></DIV>

that is what i never understood. how do they know who's cheating and who just had to reformat. Also after you reload, don't they know you will go thru about 12 hours of that "1337 autoupdating"?
Definitely "back up game files..."

Because, it isn't determined from anything other then you steam account ID. Reformatting doesn't matter because it doesn't effect the steam servers. Your account still exists on their servers all you have to do is sign in.

Now, whether you should be formatting or not is another question entirely :rolleyes:

Actually, if you have a spare partition, just go ahead and save your entire Steam folderto that. Then, throw a shortcut on your desktop to the Steam.exe in the Steam folder, run it, log in, and call it a day.

I mean, to valve they might see it as me lending my CD to someone else.

If you tell somebody else your account password, there's nothing to stop you from doing exactly that. The only problem is that you can't both play at the same time.

I mean, to valve they might see it as me lending my CD to someone else.

If
you tell somebody else your account password, there's nothing to stop
you from doing exactly that. The only problem is that you can't both
play at the same time.

As mentioned in dozens of threads before this.. Steam isn't big brother
esque control and anti-piracy guarantee, it's a way for Valve to
circumvent the publisher and increase their profits.

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting Crono</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>Now, whether you should be formatting or not is another question entirely :rolleyes: </DIV></DIV>
Well you've heard of my computer performance issues. Besides, whats the harm in a reformat? :biggrin: