Can someone explain game installs and hard drives?

[lwgnlseven]

Hey guys, to start off, I'm using a 64gb SSD for my OS + all my basic programs. Then I have a 1TB HD for games, music, movies, etc. I have steam installed on the 1TB as well as all my games installed to that drive. However, game saves and game settings are stored on the SSD in a "My Documents > My Games" folder. A few of the games create game save/settings folders around 500-600 mb.

I'm trying to keep my SSD as free and clean as possible, yet these folders are being created on the SSD. Now if I move those folders to the 1TB and load up the game, it will act as if the game is being run for the first time, and will re-create those folders. Is this normal? Do these folders/files HAVE to be on the OS drive? I'd like to keep these files on the much bigger drive but it appears that it just will not work... Thanks for any help.

[Kreij]

You may be able to move the "My Games" folder to the HDD and then put a shortcut to it on the SSD so the games think it's there. Not sure, haven't tried it, but I'm sure others around here have.

[lwgnlseven]

Originally Posted by Kreij

You may be able to move the "My Games" folder to the HDD and then put a shortcut to it on the SSD so the games think it's there. Not sure, haven't tried it, but I'm sure others around here have.

Unfortunately that did not work. I moved the folder over to the HDD and created a shortcut to it and placed it in the original SSD folder. Then I launched the game and it recreated a new folder rather then linking to the HDD one.

[purecain]

what i usually do is create another folder on a storage drive lets say (D) and name it 'program files'...

then when installing a game and prompted to browse for install location i just select d program files and viola!!!

i think youll find after updates your 64gb becomes full with just windows 7, if thats what your using...

youd be better of using a 2tb drive and using intel srt smart response technology... alternatively use a similar software from your ssd manufacturer...

good luck..
hope that helps

Sorry op.. i didnt read your post properly.... Doh!!!

[Kreij]

Maybe the same as moving the My Documents folder?

[erixx]

It's about saved games guys.... The games create subfolders in My documents.

A save and simple measure is to move your whole My Documents folder to the HDD. This is already build in Windows and easy. Just right click on the My Documents icon in c/Users/YourName/My documents, and click con Properties.
Then click on the "Location tab" and personalize as you like.

Your documents (everything in this folder!) will be moved to were you want!!
And you can do this to many other folders, like My Videos, etc.

[Benetanegia]

You can move your My Documents folder like this:

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/w...a-fd49a007fd82

The My Documents folder is part of Windows 7's new Documents Library. A library combines multiple folders that contain similar types of files.

To move your documents to the D drive:

1. Create a new documents folder on the D drive.
2. Right-click the new folder and click Include in Library > Documents .
3. Click Start > Documents .
4. Double-click My Documents to show its contents.
5. Drag and drop the files to the new folder.
6. Press F5 to refresh the view.
7. Under Documents Library , click locations .
8. Right-click the new folder and click Set as default save location .
9. [Optional] Click My Documents and click Remove .

[manofthem]

Originally Posted by erixx

It's about saved games guys.... The games create subfolders in My documents.

A save and simple measure is to move your whole My Documents folder to the HDD. This is already build in Windows and easy. Just right click on the My Documents icon in c/Users/YourName/My documents, and click con Properties.
Then click on the "Location tab" and personalize as you like.

Your documents (everything in this folder!) will be moved to were you want!!
And you can do this to many other folders, like My Videos, etc.

+1 This is what I was going to say.

[Kreij]

@Benetanegia : You posted the same link that I did. lol
I was too lazy to include the text though ... so good job.

[Benetanegia]

Originally Posted by Kreij

@Benetanegia : You posted the same link that I did. lol
I was too lazy to include the text though ... so good job.

Yeah I noticed that, I'm slow.

In my defense, I was trying to figure out if you can move only the My Games folder, but many games create their own folder so better move the entire Documents folder.

[Kreij]

I agree, and since he want's to keep the SSD as clean as possible moving the whole My Documents folder is a good idea as it contains all kinds of stuff (games, downloads, etc.)

[lwgnlseven]

Thank you ALL. The link posted + the other responses were exactly what I was looking for. I was able to move the folder with ease and free up some space on my SSD Thank you so much guys!

[Jetster]

I thought to do this you had to relocate the whole User folder with a shortcut to the original. I tried one time to move the My Documents and it just defaulted and created another original back on the C drive

But really the saved games are not that big. My BF3 is only 4 Mb. I only play multiplayer though

http://www.starkeith.net/coredump/20...another-drive/

[xBruce88x]

Nope... there are options built into windows that will relocate where the folders actually exist in your system. I can't remember the exact steps for win7... I'll post them when I get to my Win7 pc

[erixx]

Originally Posted by xBruce88x

Nope... there are options built into windows that will relocate where the folders actually exist in your system. I can't remember the exact steps for win7... I'll post them when I get to my Win7 pc

Just read my post (or others) above...! All the main "virtual library" folders can be cleanly relocated: right click/properties/location is your friend.

[xBruce88x]

ah yea that's pretty much it... It has another added benefit..

you don't loose your personal stuff if windows gets f'd over. just re-install and redirect the docs. heck your game saves will be there too! I have my windows on a separate partition at all times now.

well.. except my laptop... but all the important stuff is on my desktop anyway... curse this little 40gb 5400rpm ide drive

[eidairaman1]

Originally Posted by xBruce88x

ah yea that's pretty much it... It has another added benefit..

you don't loose your personal stuff if windows gets f'd over. just re-install and redirect the docs. heck your game saves will be there too! I have my windows on a separate partition at all times now.

well.. except my laptop... but all the important stuff is on my desktop anyway... curse this little 40gb 5400rpm ide drive

Windows is still messy with directories on other drives when it comes time for windows to be reinstalled because of certain programs putting files or links into the OS drive such as DLLs, stuff in registry, add or remove programs. If windows had a way of making a backup registry for that other drive and being able to resync the registry of that drive with the OS drive to restore all settings from the previous OS install...

[xBruce88x]

yea.. i was referring to documents and the like and any "my games" save data in the documents folder. programs would still need re-installed and such.

[eidairaman1]

Originally Posted by xBruce88x

yea.. i was referring to documents and the like and any "my games" save data in the documents folder. programs would still need re-installed and such.

ya thats the drawback of windows in that aspect.