HDD to SSD advice

Mr G

Mr G

Mr G

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I have a Samsung 970 Evo 250GB NVMe setup for OS/apps and a mechanical 1TB HDD for games.

I want to remove the 1TB HDD and replace it with a new 1TB SDD. The question is, how do I transfer all my games without having to redownload them all again?

I know how to reassign drive letters, etc?

Just missed out on the TeamGroup 1TB for £99.99, any news on this deal returning @Gibbo
 
For data only drives it's as simple as just using explorer to copy and paste everything from the old drive to the new drive.

Then shutdown and remove the old drive, and then change the drive letter of the new drive to match the old one.


Either that or you could still use something like Macrium Reflect to copy the whole drive for you.

If you wanted to retain your hard drive (E.g. for additional data only storage) and the majority of your games are on Steam, then create another steam library on the new drive, and then use Steam's move option to move games to the new library
 
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Not sure about other games, I know when I've moved my MMOG (FFXIV to be precise) it didn't like the new files and had to download all over again - all 100gb of it...lol

https://lifehacker.com/how-to-move-a-pc-game-to-another-hard-drive-without-re-1714706774
Move the Game and Direct Your Game Manager to the New Location
If you’d prefer not to download extra software, you don’t have to—both Steam and Origin have ways to “detect” installed games after you’ve moved them. You just have to perform the right steps in the right order. If you’re using Steam:
  1. Create a folder in the new location where you’ll store your games. If you’re on Steam, you’ll need to do it through Steam. Head to Settings > Downloads > Steam Library Folders and click “Add Library Folder”.
  2. Navigate to your new Steam library folder and create a new folder within it called steamapps. Then, create a folder in steamapps called common.
  3. Head to your current Steam folder and find the folder for the game you want to move. You’ll likely find it in steamapps/common. Copy the game’s folder, e.g. “Borderlands 2”, to the new steamapps/common folder you created in step 2.
  4. Open Steam, right-click on the game you’re moving, and select “Delete Local Content”. This will uninstall the game from its original location.
  5. When that’s done, click the Install button to re-install the game. In the “Choose location” dropdown, choose the Steam folder on your new hard drive.
  6. Instead of re-downloading the game (which could take hours), Steam will detect the existing files there and make any necessary minor changes. When it’s done, you should be able to play the game as usual.
If you’re moving an Origin game, the steps are very similar, but just a tad simpler:
  1. Open Windows Explorer and create a folder in the new location where you’ll store your games.
  2. Head to your current Origin folder and find the folder for the game you want to move. Copy it to the new location, and delete the old files.
  3. Open Origin and head to Origin > Application Settings > Advanced. Under “Downloaded Games”, click the “Change” button and direct it to the folder on your new hard drive. Don’t worry, this only affects newly-installed games, so your current library will not be affected.
  4. Return to the “My Games” view and click the Download button to re-install the game. Instead of re-downloading the game (which could take hours), Origin will detect the existing files there and make any necessary minor changes. When it’s done, you should be able to play the game as usual.
  5. If you want to install future games to your old hard drive, repeat step 3 with the old location.
 
Thanks for the how-to, if only Windows store could get it's act together! Glad I held off reinstalling FM7 and FM4, over 150GB!
 
tamzzy said:
Not sure about other games, I know when I've moved my MMOG (FFXIV to be precise) it didn't like the new files and had to download all over again - all 100gb of it...lol

https://lifehacker.com/how-to-move-a-pc-game-to-another-hard-drive-without-re-1714706774
Move the Game and Direct Your Game Manager to the New Location
If you’d prefer not to download extra software, you don’t have to—both Steam and Origin have ways to “detect” installed games after you’ve moved them. You just have to perform the right steps in the right order. If you’re using Steam:
  1. Create a folder in the new location where you’ll store your games. If you’re on Steam, you’ll need to do it through Steam. Head to Settings > Downloads > Steam Library Folders and click “Add Library Folder”.
  2. Navigate to your new Steam library folder and create a new folder within it called steamapps. Then, create a folder in steamapps called common.
  3. Head to your current Steam folder and find the folder for the game you want to move. You’ll likely find it in steamapps/common. Copy the game’s folder, e.g. “Borderlands 2”, to the new steamapps/common folder you created in step 2.
  4. Open Steam, right-click on the game you’re moving, and select “Delete Local Content”. This will uninstall the game from its original location.
  5. When that’s done, click the Install button to re-install the game. In the “Choose location” dropdown, choose the Steam folder on your new hard drive.
  6. Instead of re-downloading the game (which could take hours), Steam will detect the existing files there and make any necessary minor changes. When it’s done, you should be able to play the game as usual.
Click to expand...

That article is ancient - you don't need to do any of the manual steps 2-6, once you've created a new library, just click on a game in steam and "Move Install Folder"

https://www.howtogeek.com/269515/ho...e-to-another-drive-without-re-downloading-it/
 
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