Moving SOME of my steam games to an SSD.

[games_maxed]

Just got an SSD and I have about 10-12 steam games on my hard drive. I have about 90 GBs free after installing Windows 7 on the SSD so I'd like to put some games and editing programs on there. However, the only game I have through steam that would really benefit from an SSD is Amnesia: The Dark Descent because it has some ridiculous level load times. The rest I'd like to keep on my HDD. How can I do this?.

I looked at the article that Steam themselves posted on this but they only tell you how to move the whole library. I only want to move one game.

Of course, I'm wanting to avoid downloading the games again. Mostly because I live in a rural area and although my download speeds aren't that shabby (8 Mbit/s) I get throttled pretty quickly down to about 200Kbit/s.

 

[CraveMode]

This is a little late, but anyone else with the question.. this is all you have to do:

1. Go to Steam settings and add a game library for the other HDD or SSD you are moving games to. I made a D:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\ to mirror the steam install on C:

2. Copy the game folder in \common\ to the other drive, and then go back into \SteamApps\ and find the .acf for the game (looks like appmanifest_XXXXXX.acf) To find what acf is for your game, go to steam, go to your library, click "View store page" and when it loads the game's store page, right click and copy url... go into your browser and paste the link, the number at the end is the .ACF number. Now, move that .ACF into the /SteamApps/ folder on the other harddrive.

3. Once all files are copied over for your game folder and the .ACF for it, go into steam and right click your game > Delete Local Content. This will uninstall your game at the old location, aslong as you moved your files to the new drive, it shouldn't delete them.

4. Last, once it says to Install Game, click Install Game and choose the library location you added where the game now resides. It will "Discover" the files and not download anything.

 

[MrJak]

I know this was already answered, but I want to provide what I feel is a much better solution: Steam Mover, a free program that will let you quickly switch a Steam game's install folder without reinstalling, or manually deleting files; I highly recommend it.

 

[ClaretT]

This is a little late, but anyone else with the question.. this is all you have to do:

1. Go to Steam settings and add a game library for the other HDD or SSD you are moving games to. I made a D:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\ to mirror the steam install on C:

2. Copy the game folder in \common\ to the other drive, and then go back into \SteamApps\ and find the .acf for the game (looks like appmanifest_XXXXXX.acf) To find what acf is for your game, go to steam, go to your library, click "View store page" and when it loads the game's store page, right click and copy url... go into your browser and paste the link, the number at the end is the .ACF number. Now, move that .ACF into the /SteamApps/ folder on the other harddrive.

3. Once all files are copied over for your game folder and the .ACF for it, go into steam and right click your game > Delete Local Content. This will uninstall your game at the old location, aslong as you moved your files to the new drive, it shouldn't delete them.

4. Last, once it says to Install Game, click Install Game and choose the library location you added where the game now resides. It will "Discover" the files and not download anything.

This does not work anymore, as Steam no longer "discovers" anything. It will just pop up a warning saying "invalid install path"

Just use the steam mover utility in the link above. Hassle free, and actually works

Not true, this works fine. Just don't bother with the appmanifest .ACF part (step 2) as this simply tells steam a game has been installed on that drive and will therefore cause it to be deleted from both drives.

 

[Vanpotheos]

In Steam; click Settings > Downloads > Steam Library Folders > ADD Library Folder > (make the folder)

Drag and drop game files from original HDD location and paste into new SSD location...

Not sure why everyone is making such a fuss about this. Or why so many companies are taking the opportunity to sling mal-ware around.

DO NOT download any third party apps to do this.
They just want to rob you. Literally...


Here is a more detailed explanation of what I listed above: https/www.howtogeek.com/269515/how-to-move-a-steam-game-to-another-drive-without-re-downloading-it/

Hopefully this solution out-SEO's the spam-ware guys trying to brick your PC. Don't download their trash-apps, please.

 

[Keemann]

Just got an SSD and I have about 10-12 steam games on my hard drive. I have about 90 GBs free after installing Windows 7 on the SSD so I'd like to put some games and editing programs on there. However, the only game I have through steam that would really benefit from an SSD is Amnesia: The Dark Descent because it has some ridiculous level load times. The rest I'd like to keep on my HDD. How can I do this?.

I looked at the article that Steam themselves posted on this but they only tell you how to move the whole library. I only want to move one game.

Of course, I'm wanting to avoid downloading the games again. Mostly because I live in a rural area and although my download speeds aren't that shabby (8 Mbit/s) I get throttled pretty quickly down to about 200Kbit/s.

I believe you would have to uninstall the game and reinstall it and select the SSD. I'm a steam noob so maybe someone else could answer you but this is the way I install my games onto a separate hard drive.

 

[USAFRet]

Create a new folder on the other drive. In the existing SteamApps folder, each game should have its own subfolder.

In the Steam client, you can designate multiple locations. Make one of those the new folder on the other drive. Copy the relevant subfolder over to that new folder, and see what happens.

 

[games_maxed]

Create a new folder on the other drive. In the existing SteamApps folder, each game should have its own subfolder.

In the Steam client, you can designate multiple locations. Make one of those the new folder on the other drive. Copy the relevant subfolder over to that new folder, and see what happens.

The only folder in my HDD's SteamApps folder that has any games in it is "Common". So I Just Cause 2 from that common folder to the common folder in my SSD's Steam directory. Apparently I'm somehow missing random dll files and can't run some of the games. Even some of the games on my HDD are having this problem. My drive wasn't tampered with. How is this?
The most common file I'm missing is XINPUT1_3.dll. A couple games are missing this. Other files are missing in different games too. Am I just going to have to re-download these games?

 

[USAFRet]

It apparently works for some games, but not all.

You might have to track down each missing dll and copy that over.

 

[Beezy]

and the best way is to uninstall and re install, to avoid any problems with the copying

 

[games_maxed]

It apparently works for some games, but not all.

You might have to track down each missing dll and copy that over.

Well judging by the fact that my original HDD can't find the dll files, I don't think I have them. Period. Not sure how this happened.

 

[games_maxed]

and the best way is to uninstall and re install, to avoid any problems with the copying

Seems I'll have to do that.

 

[games_maxed]

Just got an SSD and I have about 10-12 steam games on my hard drive. I have about 90 GBs free after installing Windows 7 on the SSD so I'd like to put some games and editing programs on there. However, the only game I have through steam that would really benefit from an SSD is Amnesia: The Dark Descent because it has some ridiculous level load times. The rest I'd like to keep on my HDD. How can I do this?.

I looked at the article that Steam themselves posted on this but they only tell you how to move the whole library. I only want to move one game.

Of course, I'm wanting to avoid downloading the games again. Mostly because I live in a rural area and although my download speeds aren't that shabby (8 Mbit/s) I get throttled pretty quickly down to about 200Kbit/s.

I believe you would have to uninstall the game and reinstall it and select the SSD. I'm a steam noob so maybe someone else could answer you but this is the way I install my games onto a separate hard drive.

I know Steam allows you to copy them over. Doesn't seem to be working for me though. So unfortunately, I think I'll have to download them again.

 

[tsnor]

This is a little late, but anyone else with the question.. this is all you have to do:

1. Go to Steam settings and add a game library for the other HDD or SSD you are moving games to. I made a D:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\ to mirror the steam install on C:

2. Copy the game folder in \common\ to the other drive, and then go back into \SteamApps\ and find the .acf for the game (looks like appmanifest_XXXXXX.acf) To find what acf is for your game, go to steam, go to your library, click "View store page" and when it loads the game's store page, right click and copy url... go into your browser and paste the link, the number at the end is the .ACF number. Now, move that .ACF into the /SteamApps/ folder on the other harddrive.

3. Once all files are copied over for your game folder and the .ACF for it, go into steam and right click your game > Delete Local Content. This will uninstall your game at the old location, aslong as you moved your files to the new drive, it shouldn't delete them.

4. Last, once it says to Install Game, click Install Game and choose the library location you added where the game now resides. It will "Discover" the files and not download anything.

TY for posting. Will try this.

 

[ProvenHelper]

Sorry guys but the best way to accomplishing the move of one steam game to another hard drive is by doing a symbolic link.
A symbolic link lets you move a folder to another location while retaining a "link" in the original location that will instantly send requests to the new location. I actually just recorded a video about this because my 16GB GTAIV installation was eating up my SSD which is only 120 GB. I did some research and decided to try doing a symbolic link. The process was super simple and you don't have to install any special software.

[video="https/www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbNhCnW8l6Q&list=UUZvpsD4UrrK9buHsDzxqp7A"][/video]

Check out this video for the complete tutorial or just open up an elevated command prompt window and type in: mklink /?

 

[USAFRet]

Check out this video for the complete tutorial or just open up an elevated command prompt window and type in: mklink /?

oh good grief no.
Steam specifically has functionality for moving games between drives.
Moving a Steam Installation and Games

symlinks and mklink is far more hassle than necessary.

 

[MrJak]

Sorry guys but the best way to accomplishing the move of one steam game to another hard drive is by doing a symbolic link.
A symbolic link lets you move a folder to another location while retaining a "link" in the original location that will instantly send requests to the new location. I actually just recorded a video about this because my 16GB GTAIV installation was eating up my SSD which is only 120 GB. I did some research and decided to try doing a symbolic link. The process was super simple and you don't have to install any special software.

[video][video]

Check out this video for the complete tutorial or just open up an elevated command prompt window and type in: mklink /?

Technically speaking, it's the most efficient, but it's not as quick or easy as simply moving the install.
One note about using Symbolic links, and I could be wrong, but I believe they will become a huge mess when it comes to installing and uninstalling games. Great for a few games you want permanently installed, but not great if you frequently have to manage your space. Edit: Sorry, thought you were making symbolic links to important data, like levels, and letting textures load on the hard drive -- I saw this done on WoW. Steam Mover automatically does what you are saying -- creating a symbolic link for the entire game folder.

Steam's built in function for this is not too difficult, but what I provided does the same thing a tad faster, and much easier -- requires no learning from the user, and is a simple click and move user interface.
It will take more space than symbolic links, more programs than Steam's built in features, but less time and effort than either, so in that regard, it is far better, so the user has to decide what is most important.

But I think, since the OP said it's only for Amnesia, either using Steam's built in feature, or Steam Mover is their best bet, since it's only for one game. If they have no issues with third party software, then using Steam Mover is by far, the quickest and easiest option, otherwise Steam's built in feature is almost as good.

 

[RoboPhantom]

Just got an SSD and I have about 10-12 steam games on my hard drive. I have about 90 GBs free after installing Windows 7 on the SSD so I'd like to put some games and editing programs on there. However, the only game I have through steam that would really benefit from an SSD is Amnesia: The Dark Descent because it has some ridiculous level load times. The rest I'd like to keep on my HDD. How can I do this?.

I looked at the article that Steam themselves posted on this but they only tell you how to move the whole library. I only want to move one game.

Of course, I'm wanting to avoid downloading the games again. Mostly because I live in a rural area and although my download speeds aren't that shabby (8 Mbit/s) I get throttled pretty quickly down to about 200Kbit/s.

I would make a new steamapps folder by going to Steam settings then downloads then clicking steam library folders and make a new folder on the drive you want the game to be on (if you haven't already).

Then copy the game folder you want to move by right clicking the game in library and selecting properties then go to local files and click browse local files.
Move that folder to the new folder location.
Delete the game from steam then reinstall it but you won't have to redownload the games as it will detect it already being there.

 

[Mattiuszep]

This is a little late, but anyone else with the question.. this is all you have to do:

1. Go to Steam settings and add a game library for the other HDD or SSD you are moving games to. I made a D:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\ to mirror the steam install on C:

2. Copy the game folder in \common\ to the other drive, and then go back into \SteamApps\ and find the .acf for the game (looks like appmanifest_XXXXXX.acf) To find what acf is for your game, go to steam, go to your library, click "View store page" and when it loads the game's store page, right click and copy url... go into your browser and paste the link, the number at the end is the .ACF number. Now, move that .ACF into the /SteamApps/ folder on the other harddrive.

3. Once all files are copied over for your game folder and the .ACF for it, go into steam and right click your game > Delete Local Content. This will uninstall your game at the old location, aslong as you moved your files to the new drive, it shouldn't delete them.

4. Last, once it says to Install Game, click Install Game and choose the library location you added where the game now resides. It will "Discover" the files and not download anything.

This seems to work well, thank you!

 

[barno0]

This is a little late, but anyone else with the question.. this is all you have to do:

1. Go to Steam settings and add a game library for the other HDD or SSD you are moving games to. I made a D:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\ to mirror the steam install on C:

2. Copy the game folder in \common\ to the other drive, and then go back into \SteamApps\ and find the .acf for the game (looks like appmanifest_XXXXXX.acf) To find what acf is for your game, go to steam, go to your library, click "View store page" and when it loads the game's store page, right click and copy url... go into your browser and paste the link, the number at the end is the .ACF number. Now, move that .ACF into the /SteamApps/ folder on the other harddrive.

3. Once all files are copied over for your game folder and the .ACF for it, go into steam and right click your game > Delete Local Content. This will uninstall your game at the old location, aslong as you moved your files to the new drive, it shouldn't delete them.

4. Last, once it says to Install Game, click Install Game and choose the library location you added where the game now resides. It will "Discover" the files and not download anything.

TY for posting. Will try this.

This solution worked great me, one thing to mention is you need to create the 'common' folder in the new location on the SSD.