can you transfer games to external HD?

i nEeD HeLp · Jul 26, 2010, 11:47 PM

k so i recently got a external hard drive and put a bunch of stuff on it <- not really important.
i installed battlefield 2 on it and everything was fine i could even run it off of it. my problem was that im not able to patch it to 1.5 (i think thats it) so with out that patch i would have to use a no-cd crack or carry the disc around.

can i install and patch on my main harddrive and then transer to external?

p.s. haven't tried yet but will copy/cut and paste work?

TheLaughingMan · Jul 26, 2010, 11:59 PM

The patches are all designed to install into the default BF2 directory. Since you changed that, the patch can't find the game. If it is the standard style BF2 patch, you should be able to unzip to a directory, then alter the install script file with the right location, but that could cause problems.

This should be easier and safer. Install the game on another computer as normal. Update with patch. copy and past the entire directory into your directory on the external. Then try running the game on your primary system. If you don't have another computer, I don't know.

i nEeD HeLp · Jul 27, 2010, 12:01 AM

i was just wondering because some games add things to the registry. im going to try the copy paste thing now.

i nEeD HeLp · Jul 27, 2010, 12:13 AM

how would you unzip the patch?

TheLaughingMan · Jul 27, 2010, 01:14 AM

Usually the first setup it does is to unzip itself. If this one doesn't prompt you for that, then you may be able to open it with WinRar, 7-Zip, or whatever archive software you use. Or just find it in the temp file area.

JATownes · Jul 27, 2010, 01:18 AM

No one has asked this question, and I am really curious, because I have never tried it, so I will ask it. How are your load times running off the external? Is the external USB 2.0, 3.0 or eSATA?

TheLaughingMan · Jul 27, 2010, 02:05 AM

Actually my question was why did it get installed there in the first place. I figured his load times were just garbage and ignored it.

JATownes · Jul 27, 2010, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheLaughingMan

Actually my question was why did it get installed there in the first place. I figured his load times were just garbage and ignored it.

+1 to this.

n-ster · Jul 27, 2010, 02:21 AM

esata isnt that bad compared to older laptops old ps3 etc

TheLaughingMan · Jul 27, 2010, 03:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by n-ster

esata isnt that bad compared to older laptops old ps3 etc

True. ESATA is just SATA outside the case, but most purchased Externals use 5400 RPM drives, or drives with really small caches to save money as people expect them to be slow by nature.

Even if it is ESATA with a nice 7200 RPM HDD, why on the External? It will not work on other peoples computers cause the required registry values will be missing, and punkbuster will not be able to work.

slyfox2151 · Jul 27, 2010, 03:09 AM

punkbuster would be one of the only things that dosnt work....

most games dont even need registery settings.... as long as all the Direct X files are installed and the reqierd .net framework... and visual something somthing. the games will run just fine on other PC's

chances are the files that are needed will be in the Support directory of the game anyway...

i know from expiriance.

i nEeD HeLp · Jul 27, 2010, 03:15 AM

well the load times are OK, 20-30 seconds longer, it also depends on the pc's specs. I have a esata Hard drive, the online doesn't work on a computer that doesn't already have the punkbuster files. in my opinion i think there is no point of playing of of external hard drives, to much of a hassle.

n-ster · Jul 27, 2010, 03:23 AM

nice for portability and going to a friends house etc, there are alot of pros

i nEeD HeLp · Jul 27, 2010, 03:25 AM

for the newer games you would need a fast transfer rate, i dont know if any USB's would be good enough, i know that L4D 1 can be played from a thimb drive though. <- fun lan game

n-ster · Jul 27, 2010, 03:32 AM

for newer games, you could invest into usb 3 or esata, but having a fun lan party with old strategy games can be fun! (ie: kohan, CoH etc)

else newer will just take a long time to load.. so what?

dont run your games of an external for your main rig though

TheLaughingMan · Jul 27, 2010, 03:38 AM

I just bring my HTPC with me. It is overpowered for what I use it for anyway. I have access to my steam and thus, 85% of my games, 100% of the multiplayer ones. But that is me.

Interesting notion to create a portable version of BF2. I know I can do this with some games like Warzone 2100 and AssaultCube, but that is different.

I hope you get it working.

n-ster · Jul 27, 2010, 03:40 AM

you can always temporarily install punkbuster on the comp you play on

Jul 26, 2010, 11:47 PM	#1
i nEeD HeLp Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: ontario, canada Posts: 187 (0.11/day) Thanks: 62 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts System Specs	can you transfer games to external HD? k so i recently got a external hard drive and put a bunch of stuff on it <- not really important. i installed battlefield 2 on it and everything was fine i could even run it off of it. my problem was that im not able to patch it to 1.5 (i think thats it) so with out that patch i would have to use a no-cd crack or carry the disc around. can i install and patch on my main harddrive and then transer to external? p.s. haven't tried yet but will copy/cut and paste work? __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

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Jul 26, 2010, 11:59 PM	#2
TheLaughingMan Join Date: May 2009 Location: Douglasville, GA USA Posts: 3,690 (2.51/day) Thanks: 1,365 Thanked 1,261 Times in 928 Posts System Specs	The patches are all designed to install into the default BF2 directory. Since you changed that, the patch can't find the game. If it is the standard style BF2 patch, you should be able to unzip to a directory, then alter the install script file with the right location, but that could cause problems. This should be easier and safer. Install the game on another computer as normal. Update with patch. copy and past the entire directory into your directory on the external. Then try running the game on your primary system. If you don't have another computer, I don't know. __________________ My Heat

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Jul 27, 2010, 12:01 AM	#3
i nEeD HeLp Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: ontario, canada Posts: 187 (0.11/day) Thanks: 62 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts System Specs	i was just wondering because some games add things to the registry. im going to try the copy paste thing now. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

Jul 27, 2010, 12:13 AM	#4
i nEeD HeLp Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: ontario, canada Posts: 187 (0.11/day) Thanks: 62 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts System Specs	how would you unzip the patch? __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

Jul 27, 2010, 01:14 AM	#5
TheLaughingMan Join Date: May 2009 Location: Douglasville, GA USA Posts: 3,690 (2.51/day) Thanks: 1,365 Thanked 1,261 Times in 928 Posts System Specs	Usually the first setup it does is to unzip itself. If this one doesn't prompt you for that, then you may be able to open it with WinRar, 7-Zip, or whatever archive software you use. Or just find it in the temp file area. __________________ My Heat

Jul 27, 2010, 01:18 AM	#6
JATownes Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: West Texas Posts: 1,666 (1.01/day) Thanks: 659 Thanked 407 Times in 332 Posts System Specs	No one has asked this question, and I am really curious, because I have never tried it, so I will ask it. How are your load times running off the external? Is the external USB 2.0, 3.0 or eSATA? __________________ Please rate my M1dn1ght Rig "I will only buy this if it make's me a sandwich and plays with my balls" - alexsubri Sig compliments of Stefanels

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Jul 27, 2010, 02:05 AM	#7
TheLaughingMan Join Date: May 2009 Location: Douglasville, GA USA Posts: 3,690 (2.51/day) Thanks: 1,365 Thanked 1,261 Times in 928 Posts System Specs	Actually my question was why did it get installed there in the first place. I figured his load times were just garbage and ignored it. __________________ My Heat

Jul 27, 2010, 02:21 AM	#9
n-ster Eligible for custom title Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Montreal Posts: 8,304 (5.23/day) Thanks: 1,205 Thanked 1,420 Times in 1,153 Posts System Specs	esata isnt that bad compared to older laptops old ps3 etc __________________ My Heatware

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Jul 27, 2010, 03:09 AM	#11
slyfox2151 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 2,515 (1.59/day) Thanks: 57 Thanked 528 Times in 470 Posts System Specs	punkbuster would be one of the only things that dosnt work.... most games dont even need registery settings.... as long as all the Direct X files are installed and the reqierd .net framework... and visual something somthing. the games will run just fine on other PC's chances are the files that are needed will be in the Support directory of the game anyway... i know from expiriance. __________________ “it's still EA.. they will F* it up. F*ing up games is the only thing they do consistently.” -TRIPTEX_MTL

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Jul 27, 2010, 03:15 AM	#12
i nEeD HeLp Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: ontario, canada Posts: 187 (0.11/day) Thanks: 62 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts System Specs	well the load times are OK, 20-30 seconds longer, it also depends on the pc's specs. I have a esata Hard drive, the online doesn't work on a computer that doesn't already have the punkbuster files. in my opinion i think there is no point of playing of of external hard drives, to much of a hassle. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

Jul 27, 2010, 03:23 AM	#13
n-ster Eligible for custom title Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Montreal Posts: 8,304 (5.23/day) Thanks: 1,205 Thanked 1,420 Times in 1,153 Posts System Specs	nice for portability and going to a friends house etc, there are alot of pros __________________ My Heatware

Jul 27, 2010, 03:25 AM	#14
i nEeD HeLp Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: ontario, canada Posts: 187 (0.11/day) Thanks: 62 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts System Specs	for the newer games you would need a fast transfer rate, i dont know if any USB's would be good enough, i know that L4D 1 can be played from a thimb drive though. <- fun lan game __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

Jul 27, 2010, 03:32 AM	#15
n-ster Eligible for custom title Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Montreal Posts: 8,304 (5.23/day) Thanks: 1,205 Thanked 1,420 Times in 1,153 Posts System Specs	for newer games, you could invest into usb 3 or esata, but having a fun lan party with old strategy games can be fun! (ie: kohan, CoH etc) else newer will just take a long time to load.. so what? dont run your games of an external for your main rig though __________________ My Heatware

Jul 27, 2010, 03:38 AM	#16
TheLaughingMan Join Date: May 2009 Location: Douglasville, GA USA Posts: 3,690 (2.51/day) Thanks: 1,365 Thanked 1,261 Times in 928 Posts System Specs	I just bring my HTPC with me. It is overpowered for what I use it for anyway. I have access to my steam and thus, 85% of my games, 100% of the multiplayer ones. But that is me. Interesting notion to create a portable version of BF2. I know I can do this with some games like Warzone 2100 and AssaultCube, but that is different. I hope you get it working. __________________ My Heat

Jul 27, 2010, 03:40 AM	#17
n-ster Eligible for custom title Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Montreal Posts: 8,304 (5.23/day) Thanks: 1,205 Thanked 1,420 Times in 1,153 Posts System Specs	you can always temporarily install punkbuster on the comp you play on __________________ My Heatware

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