Maximum PC

I'm having issues with Portal 2 locking up and going back to the desktop with "Portal2.exe has stopped working" so I want to uninstall the game and re-install but don't want to loose my saved game. Is it as simple as copying the save folder and pasting it into the re-installed game folder?

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If you guys have a fix to this issue that would be awesome as well. And yes drivers are the latest, tried to "fix" or "validate" the game, updated steam (which I think is the culprit because it worked fine before this), uninstalled steam and re-installed, checked firewall, ect.

Look in the Event Viewer for errors in the system and application logs.This is a good place to start the diagnostics of the system.

Nasty

just check where the games are saved at, many of mine (farcry2 for example) are saved in windows files not in the game itself, and will still be there with a reinstall.

if you reinstall over the old game, the saved games (if saved in the game itself) should still be there.

i have reinstalled both of the mass effect games from steam and my saved games are still there.

P2 saves aren't put on the cloud so you'll have to back them up. Find you steam folder and go Steamapps -> Common -> Portal 2 -> Portal2 -> SAVES

Back up the SAVES folder and uninstall and reinstall Portal 2, then drop it back in place.

Steam actually has a feature that allows you to backup your games, just look in the mini-menu of options, I think it's called "Bacup and restore game data" or something to that effect. You get to choose what to backup, where to and in what capacity manner.

IIRC that option backs up the downloaded game, but not your game saves. If you restore let's say Dragon Age Origins with one of these back ups you'll find you have your game installed but without any of your characters

All my steam games had my saved profiles and settings.

Cool, I have to try it later... but I've been so lazy that I haven't put my PC inside my new Corsair 800D case... I guess I'll just take your word