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Moving games to an external drive

(15 posts) (6 voices)

Started 9 years ago by Rand
Latest reply from goodgotd

Rand
Member

Hello everyone,

I am running out of room on my hard drive because I have too many games so I am transferring them all to an external drive. There are some issues I have come across.
For one, several games did not save my progress. Where are the save files stored? I have read that some are saved in My Documents or Documents. However, I just copied one game over that does not have a folder in Documents, and it only saved about half of my progress.
Also, what about registration entries? I saw that some games had a long list of the paths where it’s stored. Despite that, I have been able to play Playrix games so far (probably all downloaded from this site). I thought at least some games would not run because the registration entry would not find the game where it was supposed to be and therefore, not run.
I also see there are files stored in other areas, too.
If I could get some help with this I would really appreciate it.

Posted 9 years ago #
Dragonlair
Member

Rand,

For a few of your questions, I may be able to help but not all!

Game progress and other player information is still sometimes found in the game folder itself but rarely anymore. With the "default" or "preference" of Program Files (with or without the "(86)"), that's not often done. Some known places for these files are ProgramData, Users\<username>\appdata as well as your "My Documents" folder. Appdata and ProgramData are normally hidden folders. I've taken to "unhiding" those areas as soon as I get a new machine before there are too many subfolders there. That can make it very time consuming to unhide all the subfolders. AppData is the most tedious because it can be in either Local or Roaming subfolders but rarely in LocalLow. It can even place folders at the base "Appdata" level.

The confusion comes when it's not clear how it's saved. Sometimes it's the game name, sometime the game name under the developer and if there are several, that's even more confusing.

If you're still on the same computer, just different running place, it should not be an issue. In cases other than the games from GOTD, I would recommend a re-install rather than a replace with the new location listed. An uninstall should not be needed since any registry entries would reflect just be re-written to replace the older versions. Then the older installed files can just be deleted.

If you do move, the one thing you might want to check is the uninstall registry pointers. You might have to Modify them to reflect the change. I find CCleaner as a good way to quickly and more safely get to just the problem keys and then fix them using regedit.

If you do use CCleaner's registry checker, you can ignore errors such as MUIcache and application Paths and almost anything related to your games OTHER than uninstall pointers. If you find something else, you can alays fix that, too.

I don't think I have to remind you to be cautious with regedit. That's why I use CCleaner. I don't have to search for the entries I need - it tells me and I just go into regedit at that point.

I hope this helps get you moving on your project!

Posted 9 years ago #
ChrisS
Administrator

You might also consider either Steam Mover or Junction Link Magic. Both provide redirection for the Windows File System so when you move your game, or other application, to H: the computer functions as if it were still on C:. You'll find a lot of info via a search. Backup your system first and set a restore point in case something goes horribly wrong.

Posted 9 years ago #
mikiem2
Moderator

Dragonlair covered it very well.

Maybe note that when you go looking for folders in the Users folder, the folder(s) you're after may not be named the same as the game, but use the name of the company who developed it instead. I've gotten confused myself since the game developer might not be the company that sold, packaged, or gave away the game.

One thing I've found that can sometimes help is to start a game or app, at least the 1st time, as admin -- moving apps & games over from one of my VMs, I've found that if there's something to configure or registry entries that need to be created or changed, simply running the app may do that, but to make changes it may need the extra permissions it gets when run as admin. That Will Not change the uninstall entries that Dragonlair talks about.

Most of the games on GOTD are fairly simple in that you can copy the folder for the game wherever you want. When that's not the case, Dragonlair is very correct in saying that the best option is a reinstall, but I've come across situations when the installer does not give you any choice of locations. What I've done then is, after a disk/partition image backup & a ERUNT registry backup, searched the registry using the partial path for the app or game, e.g. Program Files\Some Game. That search should find all the entries that need to be changed. It does not always work however -- where an app or game looks to find files/folders may be in a configuration file somewhere, or even hard coded in the app/game.

In some cases I've only been able to move the folder(s) consuming the most disk space. Sometimes the software will let me change the folder(s) used in the program itself -- for other apps I've changed where Windows itself stores folders, e.g. I've changed the location for Public Pictures in win7, moving 800+ MB of content used by a couple of editing apps. Sometimes a shortcut pointing to the new location works. You can also add a redirect, which works the same way as Windows having a Documents and Settings folder that doesn't really exist -- Bing or Google for info, and make sure you have a full backup you can restore beforehand. That's I think what Chris points out.

Finally Do Note that it's possible to mess up the software's DRM -- another reason a reinstall is preferred. Each drive partition has a serial number, & software can check that. I've got apps [from Corel] that use 3rd party software for DRM, that may not like it if the Corel app isn't where it's supposed to be. In many cases whatever DRM measures phone home, so if/when DRM blocks you from running software, putting things back the way they were may not make any difference -- the company's server(s) may still block you from ever running it again. At the least that's a hassle where you have to contact the company -- at the worst, there's no one to contact whom will listen.

[It's not hard to find stories of folks locked out of their very expensive Photoshop licenses, seemingly forever. Digiarty caused a minor uproar when they revoked the registration/activation for one of their WinX giveaways (not a GOTD) leaving those users no recourse. I've experienced what seems to be the same thing with EaseUS software. Those are just a few examples of companies with software that phones home & can be turned off at whim.]

Posted 9 years ago #
Flib Gibbet
Member

I'm glad that junctions have already been mentioned because using them makes moving games (or any other programs) to other drives so easy. Simply find the folder where a game is installed, move it to where you want it (you can rename it too if you want), then create a batch file (a text file with .bat file extension) containing DOS commands of the form:-

mklink /j "<path where the folder used to be>" "<path where it is now>"

and the game folder will seem to be back to where it used to be, except that it will take up no disk space on the original drive. No re-installation of the game is necessary, just move the game folders. Creating a batch file to do it saves having to type in the commands again should you need to re-junction. To remove a junction simply delete the junction version of the folder.

I have used this method to move all my games (program and data folders) to a G: drive, Steam itself to an S: drive, and also run my internet browsers from a RAM drive to speed them up. Junctioning means that I just do the default installation of a program and don't need to work out whether a program can be installed on a drive other than its default.

Posted 9 years ago #
mikiem2
Moderator

NOT saying anything bad or critical about anybody, but I think one reason stuff like junctions isn't talked about more, SpodoCommodo, is that you lost a good many folks the moment you wrote "DOS commands". :)

One situation that can make that sort of thing useful is when you move the Windows system drive/partition to an SSD. I can't work so I'm perpetually broke, & only got an SSD because it was part of a rebate deal & cost ~$25. It's not huge. I want files that are read often on the SSD, with stuff that's only occasionally used on my regular drives.

Posted 9 years ago #
Dragonlair
Member

I agree about the comment concerning "DOS". I can still work with it and still find it the fastest way to get a "printable" listing of the contents of a folder using dir with a redirect of the output. It still requires lots of editing but it's fast!

Maybe we should learn to use the "new" name for "DOS" -- "Command Prompt". A computer salesman told me years ago (with ME) that DOS was no longer provided. Say what?????

Posted 9 years ago #
Rand
Member

Thank you all for your help. I tried Steam Mover and it seems to have moved my Steam games over but there were errors on some. I also attempted to move some different games over but I eventually started receiving errors. I have not gone beyond that point and am now just copying the files over. I think using the mklink would work but I have a number of games I would have to go through, plus I believe I copied most of them over.

As far as losing saved games, I can live with some not being saved but others I would prefer not. I will have to look over what was suggested for that. I don't know why they can't just have the save file in the same place as the actual game.

Posted 9 years ago #
Dragonlair
Member

Rand -- older games did put the profile and game information with the game. However, as time went on, the use of Program Files (or Program File (x86) if you had a 64 bit machine) became more common and is now the "recommended" location for most products. That causes one BIG problem with that kind of thinking. Those folders have restricted write access so you would have to play the game in admin mode. That's not nice and makes for a messy setup.

If I can avoid it, I do not use Program files in any way shape or form! Fortunately, the few times I have to move to avoid that, the only thing I have to fix is the uninstall pointer and I use CCleaner to get to it.

I do agree, I wish there were ONE place to keep all this stuff. As it is, it makes a royal mess of at least 3 different folder areas of the board!

Posted 9 years ago #
goodgotd
Member

Maybe we should learn to use the "new" name for "DOS" -- "Command Prompt". A computer salesman told me years ago (with ME) that DOS was no longer provided. Say what?????

Actually, IIRC, Win ME actually still ran 'on top of' a DOS [Disk Operating System, and that, unless I am mistaken, still was mostly 16-bit, or at least started the CPU in that mode] base layer- it just made it harder to get to. It was the last of the Win 95/Win 98 branch of the Windows OS core programming.

Windows 3.x was much more loosely integrated with the basic OS- just a GUI shell you started after MS-DOS got finished booting. [OK, most people had it auto-launch from autoexec.bat.]

The Win NT/Win 2000/Win XP and up branch were full 32 bit [and later 64 bit] 'standalone' operating systems that the Command Prompt is more of a emulated MS-DOS rather than allowing direct hardware access as the other branch's Command Prompt did.

Same as OS/2 2.0- but windows was so widely used it had a DOS emulator and ran Windows 3.0 on it. in 4 megs of RAM.

Command Prompt is what the good old text entry prompt has been called since before MS-DOS... CP/M had a command prompt, Microsoft BASIC called it the same thing in the 8-bit days... and I think the mainframe BASIC used the same term.

I started my training in 1976 on a Honeywell 6000 via teletype & text-only terminals.

The next year we had Z-80 based 64k memory Microsoft BASIC microcomputers instead of the hated Hollerith Card punchers.

God, they were slow- but bloody amazing to us at the time.

I'd love to go back in time & walk into the classroom with this 10 year old laptop and show my DP teacher then what he'd have much better to play with before he died, earlier this year. he gave me this laptop to me 2 years ago when the original HDD ate itself. :)

I miss him.

But DOS and the Command Prompt were never the same thing- sloppy speech habits mutated the terms into the language just like 'Xerox copies'- not many call it 'Xerographic copies' anymore. regardless of brand. and yeah- off topic at escape velocity.

I used to use Change of Address 32 to move programs, but M$ broke it a long time time ago. Regshot gives a hint of what might be needed to move stuff, but catches a lot of Windows being, well, Windows and making changes even as it's being scanned *for* changes. AARGhh.

Posted 9 years ago #
mikiem2
Moderator

Regshot gives a hint of what might be needed to move stuff, but catches a lot of Windows being, well, Windows and making changes even as it's being scanned *for* changes. AARGhh.

If you think Regshot captures a lot of useless data, &/or that Windows has a lot going on under the hood, check out Process Monitor from Sysinternals at microsoft.com. It can be an eye opener the 1st time you run it. ;)

At any rate, in case it's useful at all to anybody...
The best way I've found to monitor software & software installation [& uninstallation], is to use InstallWatch Pro in a XP Pro VM with hardly any software installed. The reasons for a VM in this case are 1) it's easily restored, so it doesn't accumulate files/folders/reg entries from software installs, 2) nowadays there's little if any difference vs. win7/8/8.1/10 in the core results you're after, yet there can be orders of magnitude less worthless data, 3) having a copy of Windows with no software installed is kinda useless for anything but testing.

The main reason I don't want software installed is that shared files are so common -- that's part of the original basis for Windows after all, not having each program supply it's own drivers etc. And if a software install adds something you've already got, how will you know? The 2ndary reason is that if you're going to do before/after snapshots to compare, the fewer files you have to record, the less time it takes.

As that applies to locating software where you want, or moving it afterwards...
While I did move a bit of stuff off my win7 system disk/partition when I added a SSD late last year, my main, constant concern is the effects of an install on Windows. [A big ego is apparently common among developers today, since they seem to assume you'll not bother with any other software once you install their pride & joy.]

Long story short, I see what an app needs after installation [as opposed to what it adds or changes], & very often I can skip running the setup routine on or in my regular copies of Windows. When a 64 bit version of an app is available, I'll monitor the 32 bit version in my XP Pro VM, & so know where to look & what to look for in a win7 64 bit VM, where Regshot 2 might also come in handy.

I save a 7-zipped copy of the files that are installed, & that are needed [e.g. I'll usually skip the C/C++ runtimes if I've already got them installed]. An example: Files added in a folder under Username\ Application Data\ in XP Pro go in a 7z file named UsrAppDta.7z. They'll often be recreated by running the app in win7 64, but if not, the expanded files will go in Username\ AppData\ Roaming\. I save a text log of files added, & one of files modified. I save copies of registry adds & changes.

That generally lets me put software where I want -- if there are any paths stored in the registry, a simple find/replace on the .reg file opened in Notepad takes care of it. If I later want to [re] move it, a look at my saved records tells me everything I need to know. Often, especially if I'm a bit unsure whether I'll keep an app, I'll save the file added & modified logs along with the .reg files in a .7z file in the app's folder.

I've got it down to where all that takes me very little added time, but I have no idea if anyone's ever going to be interested in what seems like a lot at 1st glance. If some part of that works for you, you might reduce the impact of software installation, sometimes very considerably -- you might avoid software that really is nasty to Windows -- you might often avoid software that would be incompatible with what you've already got -- it might be easier to put software where you want, & you might more easily move it [or remove it] later.

The closest I can imagine to a Gotcha, is that you will have to become experienced in what is garbage & what is not. It's not hard, & you don't have to be smart or have any special training or anything -- you just have to become experienced by looking at logs or records & such when you monitor installs, with an occasional foray using Google/Bing. It really doesn't take long before you start to recognize the types of registry entries that are most always added during an install, &/or when you run any app -- you quickly learn to ignore them.

Posted 9 years ago #
Rand
Member

Dragonlair - If I had to do it all over again, I would have installed everything in one folder. I didn't know CCleaner could do that. Thanks!

mikiem2 - That's an interesting suggestion. I'll keep it in mind. Thank you.

I appreciate everyone's input. I'll go from here. 8)

Posted 9 years ago #
goodgotd
Member

mikiem2- That sounds great- alas, I am stuck with WinXP- can't even get Win 7 to try on the one machine that might run it. :(

Posted 9 years ago #
mikiem2
Moderator

I am stuck with WinXP- can't even get Win 7 to try on the one machine that might run it. :(

If it interests you, Google/Bing on the win7 trial -- it can easily be used for quite a while with a built-in command line tool to rearm once a month.

Also if it's of any interest, you can try the win10 preview on a USB drive. If it will run on that one rig -- it has roughly the same requirements as 7 -- I expect Microsoft will initially offer it for ~$30 like win8, and maybe even less as it will be a free upgrade from 7... Microsoft REALLY wants folks to jump on 10, so much so that rumors suggest it might give it away in some cases to get people away from XP, e.g. in China. 10's allegedly due out this summer in time for back to school sales, with 11 [or whatever they'll call it] coming out in about a year.

[The reason I suggest installing to a USB stick or drive is it allows you to leave your current Windows install untouched in case it doesn't work. If you've got ~20GB of disk space to spare but no USB drive, or simply prefer to do it this way, you can boot to 10 (or 7/8/8.1) installed to a VHD. You'd have to add VHD capability to XP, & use EasyBCD to add the win7 boot loader & menu -- the downside is you'd likely have to restore a backup to get rid of that win7 boot loader & menu if you wanted to get rid of it.]

FWIW it's too early to say how it will compare with 7 from an average user perspective, e.g. lots of it's unfinished or missing in the public releases, but I think 10 should be lighter weight as well as use fewer hardware resources than 7. Under the hood it has some improvements from 7, though you likely won't notice anything if you run it today, & the often hated touch interface of 8/8.1 is gone by default if you install it on a non-touch PC.

Posted 9 years ago #
goodgotd
Member

If it interests you, Google/Bing on the win7 trial -- it can easily be used for quite a while with a built-in command line tool to rearm once a month.

Also if it's of any interest, you can try the win10 preview on a USB drive.

Thanks for the tips, I'll look into it. As more programs lock out XP, lifetime update deals feel like bait-n-switch.

Posted 9 years ago #

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