Format pc and avoid 7 days trading cooldown

build a time machine

use another pc to trade

I don't know exactly which folder is it

but save the userdata folder and the steam folder, the one inside the steam installation folder

one of those have that data saved

I re-installed Windows this past November and it didn't give me the cooldown. It just emailed me a code that I had to input and there was no trade restriction.

I don't remember exactly when they instituted the device cooldown, but as of November I wasnt restricted when I typed the code in.

Easiest way (though not fastest) would probably to get a portable browser and drop it on a thumb drive. Log in there and ride out the 7 days, then use the portable browser after you format your computer while you ride out the 7 days there. Another perk is you could use it to run on other computers without that limitation also, granted you would want to avoid public or compromised computers as always . :)

I think you should copy ssfn files and then when you reformat pc just paste those ssfn files in.

They are in steam folder and I think ssfn is file that is used to identify machine.

However I never did this so I'm not 100% sure.

Maybe Portable Firefox will be the easiest way to do it. 7 days before log in and get your 7 day ban on that device. Then format your PC. Since the cookies are saved on the portable firefox it should be fine. Then wait the 7 days to be able to use your PC.

I format every 2-3 months and have never had this problem.

login, then format, install steam and login again. there is no 7 days shit if you log in from the same IP of a known client

Copy ssfn file (& cookies from browser).

Can't you just log for the first time from another device, wait 7 days so you can trade from there and then format your main PC?
It sounds like the easier way to me.

Happened to me today after I cleared the cookies in my browser because my bank's site asks me to do it sometimes. The good thing is I can still use the market on my laptop

copy ur whole C:Program Files (x86)Steam n paste it into the new installed windows.. works for me all the time..

When installing Steam on existing Steam folder from new OS I have this problem "In order to run Steam properly on this version of Windows, the Steam service component must be installed. The service installation process requires administrator priviledges.<<Install Service>> <<Cancel>>" I get this message everytime I open Steam.exe without "Running as Administrator", if I click Cancel Steam loads normally, if I click install Windows says program stopped working, I installed Windows 8.1 on my new SSD and reinstalled Steam on HDD.
If someone knows how to solve it, would be cool ;D Turning off UAC or repairing the Steam Client Service doesn't solve it :(

As people already said, save your Steam folder, this way you keep your login, games and everything... but you might be required to install Steam over the already saved folder in order to register the protocol and service.

If you have multiple partitions this can be easy to do, otherwise you'll have to use something external, like a USB drive or smth.

Copy 2 files in Steam folder: ssfnXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX and config\config.vdf

I guess it's too late for me, right? formatted 2 days ago; then defragged the disk :/

I was able to trade by my phone but now it asked me to log in, and it says wait till 16th :(

I wonder if I can copy sb elses ssfn file and bypass this?

Steamguard doesn't block your trading after formatting hdd. I am pretty sure.

A question: When you format does your hard drive fully formats or it leaves windows? Im asking, because you're saying that you will only format hard drive.. so it doesn't delete windows?

If your Steam is on same C Drive you need format, You can try backing it on another drive. In my case steam is always on non-windows drive. Then once windows is reinstalled don't seek a fresh steam installation. Run the Steam exe from backed drive partition and it should 'update' steam. In which case it may not ask steam code and a restriction. It worked for me once.