I shudder to think about a Windows re-install, unless you've got a slip-treamed copy with all of the updates. I used to think Win7 re-installs were bad, but MS turned the heat up to solar-intensity from a 10 mile distance... I would avoid that. Steam isn't exactly the easiest thing to re-install either, and if you do that, Steam ~has~ to go in the Program Files directories. Once it's installed though, you do want to 'Manage' your game Library, and put that in a directory that is not 'protected' by Windows, which includes the User folders, Program Files folders, and the whole Windows folder structure, among others. Once you have Steam installed, and prior to installing any games, use the Steam desktop app on your computer (not online) to create a folder for your games. Then choose that folder for the download / install...
