STEAM and hard copies?

[PlayingMantis]

Just a general practical question about steam since I am new to it all.

If I download and purchase HL2 over STEAM, will I be able to make a hard copy of it as a back up (and use it for re-installation)? I mean, say I need to format my hard disk because of some sh**ty virus, will I loose my half-life 2 copy? Will I be able to download it again without purchasing it for a second time? How does it work?

Thank you.

 

[Letters]

As was probably said already 50 times today, the answer to both questions is yes. You can redownload over and over because you create an account, and your key is tied to that account.

 

[Adrien C]

Yes you can.

 

[Yombi]

You can backup your GCF files if you want. You can donload the games from steam as many times as yah want

 

[Chris D]

There's two things you can do.

a) Back up the cache files
b) Re-download them again from Steam for free