So I installed my GTA V onto my hard drive I got, it installed just fine. It made a steam library on it and everything, Plus I've been using it for a few weeks now. The game would run fine and I could install mods and us them just fine as well. But today I woke up and was greeted to an error message. I tried to launch GTA V and it said I needed to install the game first. This happens sometimes when I plug the hard drive in after I turn the computer on, so I just restarted the computer and then launched the game. However once again it said I needed to install the game. I restarted it multiple times and it did not work. I decided I would launch it from the exe in the hard drive itself. That is when I was greeted with the error message. "ERR_NO_STEAM". So I went to steam to make sure it was running. And on steam it said I didn't have GTA V installed either. Its almost like steam has forgotten that the game is installed on my hard drive, like steam has just neglected its existence. Which made me think that the game in my hard drive somehow unlinked its self from steam. Is that possible? Is there a way to fix this? And preferably not just uninstall the game and reinstall because how do I know it wont just happen again.   so....

 

1 - Is this scenario even possible?

2 - What caused it to happen?

3 - How can I fix it (And ensure it wont happen again)

And ideas would be greatly appreciated,

thanks.

It sounds like GTA V has been wiped from your hard drive, which means you do not have it installed anymore.

 

Steam does not "store" any hard copies of the games, it is a host where you can download the purchased games from; so Steam cannot "disconnect" with your hard drive because they are never "connected." When you're installing a game, you're downloading it from Steam to your hard drive. 

 

Install GTA V to "fix" this "issue." To prevent it from happening again, make sure you know where is your game installed, and don't "accidentally" delete the game folder. 

 

If it's a hard driver issue, consider upgrade it to a better/reliable one.

2 hours ago, unitedOrange66 said:

It sounds like GTA V has been wiped from your hard drive, which means you do not have it installed anymore.

 

Steam does not "store" any hard copies of the games, it is a host where you can download the purchased games from; so Steam cannot "disconnect" with your hard drive because they are never "connected." When you're installing a game, you're downloading it from Steam to your hard drive. 

 

Install GTA V to "fix" this "issue." To prevent it from happening again, make sure you know where is your game installed, and don't "accidentally" delete the game folder. 

 

If it's a hard driver issue, consider upgrade it to a better/reliable one.

I already have the game installed, it just wont run it... Like I still have the same game files that were working a week a go, and then all the sudden steam says its not installed, but it is. that's why I'm so confused because I can even run the EXE. but when I do it says "ERR_NO_STEAM"

6 hours ago, Kane L said:

I already have the game installed, it just wont run it... Like I still have the same game files that were working a week a go, and then all the sudden steam says its not installed, but it is. that's why I'm so confused because I can even run the EXE. but when I do it says "ERR_NO_STEAM"

Make sure Steam is installed on your PC, and make sure it is installed on the same hard drive as your GTA V copy. 

16 hours ago, unitedOrange66 said:

Make sure Steam is installed on your PC, and make sure it is installed on the same hard drive as your GTA V copy. 

I don't think steam is installed on the same hard drive. That's probably the problem, thank you.