You have run afoul of the Steam "licensing" for the game, Boo McFly. Everything you do has to be done through Steam. You also do NOT want to be in an MS "protected" folder with the game, such as "C:\Program Files (x86)", which is what Steam defaults to. For reference on that:
Moving a Steam Installation and Games. That really should read "Moving a Steam Installation and/or Games", but I digress...
The first big major bit of news to break to you, is that if you have the Steam version of "Silent Hunter: Wolves of the Pacific", you are piloting a Brewster Buffalo against a bevy of Mitsubishi A6M Zero... you don't stand a chance. You are dealing with v1.3 of the game, and there are very few mods available for that version of the game anymore. strike 1. You also cannot use the Ubisoft v1.4 Patch to update your Steam game... strike 2. And the next pitch is ~on the WAY~... that leaves you with purchasing the Steam version of "
Silent Hunter 4: Uboat Missions Addon"... sorry 'bout that - but wonder of wonders, it just so happens to be "On Sale" right now for 66% off at $3.39 US on the US store...
- do I need a fourth copy?...
In the meantime, you can copy the Steam game, just like you did. I have made a
7zip of the interior of my Silent Hunter folders, such that it is just the Data, Support, etc. folders, and NOT the folder named by the install program. That way, I make myself a new folder somewhere else, such a "Games \ Steam \ SH4FotRSU" or whatever I want, and then copy my zip file into that, extract it, and instant "install". All that is now left to do is go into the Steam app on your computer, log-in and add the game to your Steam Start menu.
When you start the Steam app, it goes through its "Update" routine, then gives you the log-in screen, and if successful with the log-in (it just took me three tries to remember my password
), then close the "Chat" krapp and the advertisements. You should have your "Library" menu open. At the bottom of that screen is an "[+] Add Game". Click on that dude. Then click on the sub-menu for "Add a non-Steam game..." You should get a new little pop-up window. From that, it's usually easiest to just click the "Browse" button and drill to where you just put that copy of the game. Now, on my big computer, my Library is on the F:\ drive, so I've actually got all of my copies of SH3 in that folder, so that I have "F:\Games \Steam \SteamApps \common \Silent Hunter 3", and my copy then for Living Silent Hunter 2015 went into a folder I made named LSH2015, and my GWX version went into a "GWX" folder, both under "common". Your choice though. So I've got "Silent Hunter III", "LSH2015" and "GWX" (and an "NYGM") all under "Steam \SteamApps \common, with no issues (qualified with a "yet")...
Once you have your "target" SH4.exe file selected in the dialog, you'll be back at that "Add a game" dialog. Click on the "Add Selected Games" button, which will take you back to the Library view (unless something "Windows" or "Steam" gets in the way - like an update - sheesh!). That shortcut may or may not need to be renamed, depending upon whether or not it picks-up the name of the folder you just got the SH4.exe from. If its a Steam game, it will usually name the shortcut the same thing as what their "default" value is for the game. If it is a non-Steam game you are adding, it will usually pick the folder name for you. Anyway, after you rename the shortcut, if desired, you can click on it and "Run" it like you would any other Steam game from the Library folder. You still cannot run the game though from the folder's copy of SH4.exe, because the Licensing will fail. Do it from the Library, or create a shortcut for it on the desktop. Right-click on the file in the Library listing, and choose "Create Desktop Shortcut..." from there. Either way, you will have to log-in to Steam when prompted, in order to run the game, because it goes through the license checks, even when you add a non-Steam game...
God speed, and let us know how you do! Also, as the venerable, almost ancient Aktungbby says, "Welcom to SubSim!"
