Transfer files to other datadrives.

Maxitsu · Dec 20, 2012

Before you start to laugh this is a serious question and i am a big noob if it comes down to computers. I can open a browser, chat, install a game and play it. but thats it as far it go's. oh and i can send a email.

So now i have a good computer and i can't use it properly :crazy:

My computers main harddrive whit the OS installed on it has 100GB, and its almost full. No worries, I have a second harddrive of 1000GB and its empty.

Now I want to tranfer all games, Iracing simulator, etc... to my empty hard drive. Now how can you tranfers them. :scared:

Is it as simple as cut and past or does it require something more. I am scared when i tranfer them my game and other things won't work again.
For some reason when mi need to install something my computer gives me often not the choice to install it one datadrive2. :dunce:

RUstAuSi · Dec 20, 2012

I think transferring works with Steam games, but I am not sure about standalone games like iRacing.

Pako · Dec 20, 2012

You might have a few different scenarios here.

Steam Games:
1.) Go into each game and use steam's backup utility on all your games.
2.) Uninstall Steam
3.) Re-install steam, but install it in a directory on your second drive.
4.) Use the "Restore Game" utility in Steam to restore your games from your previous backup done in step 1.

This will insure that all shortcuts and registry entries are correct.

Window's Games:
1.) Backup your saved game data. Each publisher may have a different directory that your game saves reside. You will have to figure that out on a per game basis.
2.) Uninstall the game.
3.) Reinstall the game onto the extra hard drive.
4.) If your saved game data was removed during the "uninstall" process, copy your saved game data back to the default directory.

You might also want to research where the configuration files are for each game as well if you use custom keyboard layouts, resolutions settings, etc.

Note: If you have Origin or uPlay games, you will want to use a similar process that was used for migrating your Steam games as well.

Hope that gets you going in the right direction.

BobK · Dec 21, 2012

Whatever happened to just using xcopy?

One command, entire contents of old drive copied to new drive.

Gdog96 · Dec 21, 2012

Normally when you download something, before you install it, it will give you an option to install in 'local disk C' (your 100 gig drive). Before you click install, change that to your other drive (most likely 'local disk D' or something. Hopefully that will work for you in the future

Bluntified · Dec 21, 2012

Here's an easy solution, leave your games and software on the old hard drive and just move the other files to the new one! Things like pictures, music, and movies can be moved easily.

I always use my primary hard drive for software and an external for backup/moveable files (music).

Pako · Dec 21, 2012

Bluntified
Here's an easy solution, leave your games and software on the old hard drive and just move the other files to the new one! Things like pictures, music, and movies can be moved easily.

I always use my primary hard drive for software and an external for backup/moveable files (music).

I also prefer this method.

BobK
Whatever happened to just using xcopy?

One command, entire contents of old drive copied to new drive.

What do you do about all the registry entries, shortcuts and program paths created during the initial install?

BobK · Dec 22, 2012

Pako
What do you do about all the registry entries, shortcuts and program paths created during the initial install?

What about them?

Keep in mind that I'm talking about replacing the existing drive, not installing the new drive as a second drive.

Grayfox · Dec 22, 2012

Pako
You might have a few different scenarios here.

Steam Games:
1.) Go into each game and use steam's backup utility on all your games.
2.) Uninstall Steam
3.) Re-install steam, but install it in a directory on your second drive.
4.) Use the "Restore Game" utility in Steam to restore your games from your previous backup done in step 1.

This will insure that all shortcuts and registry entries are correct.

You could just copy the steamapps folder too

Should look something like this
C:\Program files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\

The paste into the new location, so it ends up being like so.
D:\Steam\steamapps\

Pako · Dec 22, 2012

BobK
What about them?

Keep in mind that I'm talking about replacing the existing drive, not installing the new drive as a second drive.

Keep in mind the original poster just wanted to move his games to his larger drive, keeping his system and non-game files where they are.

@Grayfox,
I have also done it this way with mixed results. Seems in the end I had to backup or re-download the games from steam anyways. It's been over a year since I have done this so maybe they have updated the steam client to allow this kind of data transfer.