OK! It works after some fiddling!
So, I am here to help anyone brought by searching results (or needs to see this thread too)
I have the steam install for windows 7 on 64-bit. I
tried back in october to get buffy working with the steam version, tried some workarounds but they did not work (da_vinci had useful posts, but I did not succeed). I didn't worry about it as I just would get my cd versions back eventually (I bought the game on steam specifically for the purpose that "well now I will never have to worry about it again, I will always have the game").
So, this beta version on steam is a wonderful gift. However, after switching to the beta version, I was getting the exact problems ChrisSaffer had in this thread. First trying to load buffy had error that Mods/ods/buffy did not exist. The solution to that was just admin setting junk. I then had a warning message that the install varied from standard install in the victory screen of the game and it was not a valid HOF version. The asset checker for buffy returned no errors, and I had the same error of saying Mods\Buffy-3.19.003 \ was an error (NOTE the inserted " " character at the end, that was also posted in this thread. No one seems to know where that is from).
The solution is as posted in the thread: installing the game to C:/users rather than C:/Program Files (x86)
I did not reinstall steam in any capacity, just added a new steam library:
Steam allows multiple "libraries" or better said, you can have more directories with games for steam games.
I uninstalled all Beyond the Sword content and reinstalled to that steam library (in steam, go to settings:/downloads:/steam library folders to add a new library. At installation of a game, you can choose the library. Mine is set up in My Documents).
So my directory is c:/[path to My Documents]:/steamapps/common/~ and the buffy mod is in that directory rather than C:/program files (x86):/steam:/steamapps:/common/~
No idea why that effects permissions or anything (I have single user PC and everything I do has Full Control priveleges) but whatever, it works, and fiddling other stuff did not work.
It is running as windows xp service pack 3 compatible; I know the same stuff w/ asset checker recommends xp compatability but some users have posted windows 7 works.
edit- I got here from CFC search function, I am not a SGOTM player.