My system information

• Steam client version (build number or date): Dec 15, 2017
• Distribution (e.g. Ubuntu): Arch, Budgie DE
• Opted into Steam client beta?: [Yes/No] No
• Have you checked for system updates?: [Yes/No] Yes

Computer Information:
    Manufacturer:  Unknown
    Model:  Unknown
    Form Factor: Laptop
    No Touch Input Detected

Processor Information:
    CPU Vendor:  GenuineIntel
    CPU Brand:         Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3517U CPU @ 1.90GHz
    CPU Family:  0x6
    CPU Model:  0x3a
    CPU Stepping:  0x9
    CPU Type:  0x0
    Speed:  3000 Mhz
    4 logical processors
    2 physical processors
    HyperThreading:  Supported
    FCMOV:  Supported
    SSE2:  Supported
    SSE3:  Supported
    SSSE3:  Supported
    SSE4a:  Unsupported
    SSE41:  Supported
    SSE42:  Supported
    AES:  Supported
    AVX:  Supported
    CMPXCHG16B:  Supported
    LAHF/SAHF:  Supported
    PrefetchW:  Unsupported

Operating System Version:
    Linux 4.x (64 bit)
    Kernel Name:  Linux
    Kernel Version:  4.14.4-1-ARCH
    X Server Vendor:  The X.Org Foundation
    X Server Release:  11905000
    X Window Manager:  GNOME Shell
    Steam Runtime Version:  steam-runtime-beta-release_2017-10-05

Video Card:
    Driver:  Intel Open Source Technology Center Mesa DRI Intel(R) Ivybridge Mobile x86/MMX/SSE2
    Driver Version:  3.0 Mesa 17.2.6
    OpenGL Version: 3.0
    Desktop Color Depth: 24 bits per pixel
    Monitor Refresh Rate: 59 Hz
    VendorID:  0x8086
    DeviceID:  0x166
    Revision Not Detected
    Number of Monitors:  1
    Number of Logical Video Cards:  1
    Primary Display Resolution:  1920 x 1080
    Desktop Resolution: 1920 x 1080
    Primary Display Size: 11.02" x 6.30" (12.68" diag)
                                            28.0cm x 16.0cm (32.2cm diag)
    Primary VRAM Not Detected

Sound card:
    Audio device: Realtek ALC269VB

Memory:
    RAM:  9887 Mb

Miscellaneous:
    UI Language:  English
    LANG:  en_GB.UTF-8
    Total Hard Disk Space Available:  132582 Mb
    Largest Free Hard Disk Block:  130130 Mb
    VR Headset: None detected

Recent Failure Reports:

The issue:

When Installing a game (trying) it becomes marked ... - Install... in the left pane, the blue INSTALL-button instantly changes into "PLAY" and the dialogue gets stuck at Creating local game files... w the dots rolling, 1-2-3 for Preparing [game]... Nothing else happens. Clicking CANCEL closes the dialogue, the game is still marked ... - Install... and the blue button still PLAY.

Clicking PLAY goes to Updating [game], PLAY GAME never gets lit. X out of dialogue.

Trying to Uninstall the game gives the dialogue Delete Game Files?, clicking DELETE shows the little infosquare Steam - Uninstall, Uninstalling %game%... frozen and the client is unresponsive. Have to monkeyBonkey@banana ~> kill -SIGKILL steam

Making a try to install other games puts the game in que in the left pane and same as above - it gets stuck at Creating local game files... . Click CANCEL and PLAY changes to INSTALL.

Steps for reproducing this issue:

1. Start client
2. Install game
3. Profit

NB

A - This is the first time in years I install steam again, Ubuntu and win back in the days.
B - I have found remedies on ze interwebz and I have acted accordingly: reinstall Steam, move gamefolder to different disk (partition in my case), restart computer, changing regions for download and some more I cannot rememeber - no avail.
C - In some logs I find signs of connection to servers not working well. See below.
D - In stdout there is sometimes a cascade of lines but apparently this belongs to another issue at github, unrelated to this matter and the phenomena being all harmless according to issue.
E - In some occasions behaviour is irratic. One time, all in a sudden, a game was installed (!) Not able to reproduce.
F - I have been fiddling w this now for a few days and AFAIHM I have not found anything mapping my problem in full. Just partially and what remedies those suggest has not helped my case.

Steam stdout
Steam stats_log
Steam site license log