How to get Steam to recognize existing game files
Easiest way I've found: Go to your Steam Library, click 'INSTALL' on the game you already have files for, then point the installation to where your game files are already located. Steam should then say 'Discovering existing files for...' and voila, you should be good to go!
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Just move the game files into the common folder under Steamapps in your Steam directory, then restart Steam. When you hit install, it usually finds the existing files.
Honestly, just re-download the game. Steam's finicky with recognizing files, and you'll save yourself a headache.
Sometimes deleting the appmanifest file for that game in your Steam folder, then trying to install the game as you normally would, forces Steam to recognize the existing files. Worked for me when I was shuffling games between drives.
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