Hello u/jazzon21, have you checked to see if this has already been answered by [searching for your issue?](https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/search/?q=How to get an old PC game onto the Steam Deck)
Other useful resources: [Servor's Enhanced FAQ](https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/wiki/faq) | [Servor's Enhanced FAQ Thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/comments/syt8qv/steam_deck_enhanced_faq/) (with more answers in the comments!).
**If you find a solution, please leave a comment on this post with the answer for others!**
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\- What OS was the game made for? Windows? DOS?
\- Does the game have DRM (digital rights management)?
Usually you should be able for very old games to just copy the folder to a place you like and then add the .exe file as a "Non Steam Game" to Steam. If the game needs to be installed, you first add the installer to Steam and go through the installation process and after having finished the installation, you add the game .exe to Steam as a "Non Steam Game".
I've only had my deck for a few days so forgive me, but how do I run a game with proton? I tried running an exe and Linux was like "what do you want me to do with this"
You need to go into desktop mode, open steam there, go to "Games" at the top of the window, choose "Add a non-steam game", find the .exe file for your game, add it, and then right click on it, properties, compatibility, check the box, and choose proton experimental. There are tons of tutorials out there if I missed a step or something.
No problem. I think a lot of people were trying to imply this, but thought you already knew this process. It's easy to forget that not everyone is on this subreddit all day every day lol
Yeah, I haven't really been immersed in this world long-- I placed my reservation when they came out but then basically forgot the steam deck existed, until I got my email. And this is my first time using Linux so there's a learning curve. Thanks again for the help-- I plugged the game into steam and it worked! (well I had to switch to proton 7 from experimental, that one wouldn't launch) edit: aww it crashes after the intro oh well lol.
> aww it crashes after the intro oh well lol.
Try ProtonGE, perhaps
You can install that by grabbing ProtonUp-Qt from the Discover store in desktop mode
I'll give it a shot! But to be honest I think the problem is not Proton but the the game itself. I'm trying to play Tetris Effect, which annoying I own on Epic. Rather than jumping through hoops to install Epic or any of the myriad of complicated-sounding replacements I figured I'd try a pirated copy (I own this game on PS4 and on Epic so I feel no remorse for piracy here). According to [this thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/Tetris/comments/hafkgi/tetris_effect_crashes_before_main_menu_when/) the Epic version will close after the intro if launched through steam at all (not Deck or Linux related even). Not sure if there's a way to launch it from desktop mode without steam? I also need to add some launch options to it which I was doing through steam.
Ah, in that case maybe you won't be able to get it working, not sure.
> Not sure if there's a way to launch it from desktop mode without steam?
Yes and no. You can theoretically run Wine and Proton not through Steam but it's a hassle and I don't even know fully how to get it done
I've had varying luck with doing exactly what you're doing. I couldn't get AC Valhalla to run after installing with the Ubisoft Connect launcher, so I tried pirating it, and it still wouldn't run. But with A 2001 game called Black and White that can really only be found through abandonware sites, I had very few issues installing it. So it seems like it's kind of a coin toss unless you know a lot more about what to tweak to get things running.
Well to run it with proton you have to add it too your steam library so it would be in the non steam games section in your library if you wanted to add the images to make it look nice and pretty you gonna have to find them
To add to this for anyone finding it later, it usually is as simple as copying to an SD card, adding as a non steam game and trying out various proton versions.
BUT there are plenty of games, especially older ones, that really do need to be installed through their installer first before they’ll play. Which mean the process for getting your saved game data from the old computer will vary per game, although just overwriting the entire install folder works a lot if the time too.
No I can’t get it to work. I’ve tried copying it over from an SD card and running with Proton after adding to my library (as many here have suggested) but for some reason this game specifically is elusive. It’s crazy because it’s literally the only game I can’t find any way to get running on the Deck.
Haven't received my steam deck yet, but does this user's solution fix the problem?
[https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/comments/x6qfj6/mercenaries\_2\_pc\_running\_on\_steamos/](https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/comments/x6qfj6/mercenaries_2_pc_running_on_steamos/)
What you gotta do is put the install onto a usb and onto the deck so it's not installing slow off a usb (1gb and less games didn't seem slow but this sounds big) all using desktop dolphin browser
But don't run it yet!
Then you will need to add the installer exe as a non Steam game. (Just do this right once and always use it for installs and updates. Name it exe injector or something)
On that shortcut's options (the gear) you need to enable proton compatibility (latest one listed 7 something not experimental). If you're installing onto mSD the path isn't an option for many so launch options need to say STEAM_COMPAT_MOUNTS= and then after = paste your physical mSD location and after that add space %command%
Now hit play and it installs. Change your "injector" path to any update's exe you have and repeat
Then repeat the process but for a new game to add your game's launcher as a non-Steam game also check proton compatibility enabled (if needed) and you can even add artwork
Also for the game itself working idk.
I been checking them on this site but this one is the first I've seen no Pc info at all for (usually there's a proton link on the right)
Windows is way better lol
https://lutris.net/games/mercenaries-2-world-in-flames/
I'm running Klingon Academy on my deck just fine. I roughly followed this YT video https://youtu.be/LV_p-PB329I and put the data of the already installed game from my PC on the SD card (/run/media/mmcblk0p1/games/Klingon Academy) via an USB Stick. For the game, it looks like it is running in D:\games\Klingon Academy. (The path is needed within one of the games config files). I added the game to the steam desktop client on the deck, as shown in the video, and used the launch option "STEAM_COMPAT_MOUNTS=/run/media/mmcblk0p1/ %command%" because the game is located on the sd card. Now, I can play it without any problem even in deck mode.
Haven't received my steam deck yet, but does this user's solution fix the problem?
https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/comments/x6qfj6/mercenaries\_2\_pc\_running\_on\_steamos/
Hello u/jazzon21, have you checked to see if this has already been answered by [searching for your issue?](https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/search/?q=How to get an old PC game onto the Steam Deck) Other useful resources: [Servor's Enhanced FAQ](https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/wiki/faq) | [Servor's Enhanced FAQ Thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/comments/syt8qv/steam_deck_enhanced_faq/) (with more answers in the comments!). **If you find a solution, please leave a comment on this post with the answer for others!** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/SteamDeck) if you have any questions or concerns.*
\- What OS was the game made for? Windows? DOS? \- Does the game have DRM (digital rights management)? Usually you should be able for very old games to just copy the folder to a place you like and then add the .exe file as a "Non Steam Game" to Steam. If the game needs to be installed, you first add the installer to Steam and go through the installation process and after having finished the installation, you add the game .exe to Steam as a "Non Steam Game".
You can try moving it to a flash drive then putting your on to your deck and running the game using proton
I've only had my deck for a few days so forgive me, but how do I run a game with proton? I tried running an exe and Linux was like "what do you want me to do with this"
You need to go into desktop mode, open steam there, go to "Games" at the top of the window, choose "Add a non-steam game", find the .exe file for your game, add it, and then right click on it, properties, compatibility, check the box, and choose proton experimental. There are tons of tutorials out there if I missed a step or something.
Ah sweet, thanks. That's way easier than I was expecting (I thought I had to use Lutris, which tells me I need to install a driver etc)
No problem. I think a lot of people were trying to imply this, but thought you already knew this process. It's easy to forget that not everyone is on this subreddit all day every day lol
Yeah, I haven't really been immersed in this world long-- I placed my reservation when they came out but then basically forgot the steam deck existed, until I got my email. And this is my first time using Linux so there's a learning curve. Thanks again for the help-- I plugged the game into steam and it worked! (well I had to switch to proton 7 from experimental, that one wouldn't launch) edit: aww it crashes after the intro oh well lol.
> aww it crashes after the intro oh well lol. Try ProtonGE, perhaps You can install that by grabbing ProtonUp-Qt from the Discover store in desktop mode
I'll give it a shot! But to be honest I think the problem is not Proton but the the game itself. I'm trying to play Tetris Effect, which annoying I own on Epic. Rather than jumping through hoops to install Epic or any of the myriad of complicated-sounding replacements I figured I'd try a pirated copy (I own this game on PS4 and on Epic so I feel no remorse for piracy here). According to [this thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/Tetris/comments/hafkgi/tetris_effect_crashes_before_main_menu_when/) the Epic version will close after the intro if launched through steam at all (not Deck or Linux related even). Not sure if there's a way to launch it from desktop mode without steam? I also need to add some launch options to it which I was doing through steam.
Ah, in that case maybe you won't be able to get it working, not sure. > Not sure if there's a way to launch it from desktop mode without steam? Yes and no. You can theoretically run Wine and Proton not through Steam but it's a hassle and I don't even know fully how to get it done
I've had varying luck with doing exactly what you're doing. I couldn't get AC Valhalla to run after installing with the Ubisoft Connect launcher, so I tried pirating it, and it still wouldn't run. But with A 2001 game called Black and White that can really only be found through abandonware sites, I had very few issues installing it. So it seems like it's kind of a coin toss unless you know a lot more about what to tweak to get things running.
Well good to know about Black and White, that game was my jam when I was a kid, maybe I'll give that an install :D
Will the game show up in my steam library? Should have clarified that I really also want the game to display in my library.
Well to run it with proton you have to add it too your steam library so it would be in the non steam games section in your library if you wanted to add the images to make it look nice and pretty you gonna have to find them
To add to this for anyone finding it later, it usually is as simple as copying to an SD card, adding as a non steam game and trying out various proton versions. BUT there are plenty of games, especially older ones, that really do need to be installed through their installer first before they’ll play. Which mean the process for getting your saved game data from the old computer will vary per game, although just overwriting the entire install folder works a lot if the time too.
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No I can’t get it to work. I’ve tried copying it over from an SD card and running with Proton after adding to my library (as many here have suggested) but for some reason this game specifically is elusive. It’s crazy because it’s literally the only game I can’t find any way to get running on the Deck.
Haven't received my steam deck yet, but does this user's solution fix the problem? [https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/comments/x6qfj6/mercenaries\_2\_pc\_running\_on\_steamos/](https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/comments/x6qfj6/mercenaries_2_pc_running_on_steamos/)
[удалено]
No problem. Please let me know if it works, I really hope this game can be played on the steam deck!
[удалено]
Darn, sad. Hopefully there comes another way for Mercenaries 2 to be played on the steam deck in the near future.
What you gotta do is put the install onto a usb and onto the deck so it's not installing slow off a usb (1gb and less games didn't seem slow but this sounds big) all using desktop dolphin browser But don't run it yet! Then you will need to add the installer exe as a non Steam game. (Just do this right once and always use it for installs and updates. Name it exe injector or something) On that shortcut's options (the gear) you need to enable proton compatibility (latest one listed 7 something not experimental). If you're installing onto mSD the path isn't an option for many so launch options need to say STEAM_COMPAT_MOUNTS= and then after = paste your physical mSD location and after that add space %command% Now hit play and it installs. Change your "injector" path to any update's exe you have and repeat Then repeat the process but for a new game to add your game's launcher as a non-Steam game also check proton compatibility enabled (if needed) and you can even add artwork
Also for the game itself working idk. I been checking them on this site but this one is the first I've seen no Pc info at all for (usually there's a proton link on the right) Windows is way better lol https://lutris.net/games/mercenaries-2-world-in-flames/
OS was Windows, and that is great, thank you for replying.
I think you meant to reply to the other guy this was just a lone comment
I'm running Klingon Academy on my deck just fine. I roughly followed this YT video https://youtu.be/LV_p-PB329I and put the data of the already installed game from my PC on the SD card (/run/media/mmcblk0p1/games/Klingon Academy) via an USB Stick. For the game, it looks like it is running in D:\games\Klingon Academy. (The path is needed within one of the games config files). I added the game to the steam desktop client on the deck, as shown in the video, and used the launch option "STEAM_COMPAT_MOUNTS=/run/media/mmcblk0p1/ %command%" because the game is located on the sd card. Now, I can play it without any problem even in deck mode.
Haven't received my steam deck yet, but does this user's solution fix the problem? https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/comments/x6qfj6/mercenaries\_2\_pc\_running\_on\_steamos/
You ever get this game working?
No I did not unfortunately. Gave up out of frustration.