Transferring Steam to a new Hard Drive?

EastCoasthandle · Dec 3, 2009

What's the best way to transfer all your steam games to a new hard drive? Can you just copy the entire folder to the new HD and hope for the best?

Mussels · Dec 3, 2009

yes, it works just fine.

Occasionally you have to reinstall steam (when changing OS's, i believe) but you can just slap the old folder over the new one and it works fine.

theubersmurf · Dec 3, 2009

Just copy the steamapps folderto a new install of steam.

EastCoasthandle · Dec 3, 2009

Ok, thanks for the advice. I also found their instructions. I'll post it here for anyone else who might want to know. source

How can I move my Steam installation from one hard drive to another?
Answer
Important:

Please ensure that you have your Steam account name and password before following this procedure. Also ensure that your account is linked to your current email address so that you can reset your password if necessary.

If you would like instructions to save backup copies of your games please see the Using the Steam Backup Feature topic.

Please observe the following process to move your Steam installation between hard drives or machines:

1. Exit the Steam client application.
2. Browse to the Steam installation folder (C:\Program Files\Steam by default) for the Steam installation you would like to move.
3. Move the steamapps folder from the Steam installation folder to your desktop.
4. Review the Uninstalling Steam topic for instructions to uninstall Steam (this must be done to remove your old Steam installation settings from the Windows Registry).
5. Review the Installing Steam topic for instructions to re-install Steam to the desired location.
6. Move the steamapps folder into the new Steam installation folder to copy all of your downloaded game content, settings, and saved games to the new location.
7. Start Steam and log in to your existing Steam account to confirm that the move was successful.

AsRock · Dec 3, 2009

Like other said just copy it to another HDD. When i reinstall the OS it's just fine left on the other partition you just need to make a shortcut from it and thats it.

Lionheart · Dec 3, 2009

thanx man, this will come in handy

PP Mguire · Dec 3, 2009

I have left my steam folder on my 1tb drive for a few years now and have changed OS's many times. All it does is tell me i need to reinstall the steam service. Probably the only good thing about steam.

ToTTenTranz · Dec 3, 2009

PP Mguire said:
Probably the only good thing about steam.

That and the ability to buy cheap games and playing them a few moments after you bought them, without ever having to leave that cosy chair in front of your PC.

Wrigleyvillain · Dec 3, 2009

Yeah at one point I moved over and replaced the whole app folder instead of just steamapps and that worked fine too though I had to log into VAC again in-game.

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Memory	XMS 8500C5D @ 1066MHz
Video Card(s)	HD 2900 XT 858/900 to 4870 to 5870 (Keep Vreg area clean)
Storage	2
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Audio Device(s)	X-fi Plantinum
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Transferring Steam to a new Hard Drive?

EastCoasthandle

New Member

Mussels

Freshwater Moderator

theubersmurf

EastCoasthandle

New Member

AsRock

TPU addict

Lionheart

PP Mguire

ToTTenTranz

Wrigleyvillain

PTFO or GTFO

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