Splitting Steam Library

[anthonyc813]

morning

 

     asking in a new thread cause I don't wanna miss out on a good SSD deal later in the day. Is it possible to split your steam library across 2 or 3 hard drives? Meaning all my games are on a 1TB and it was suggested I try them on a SSD to see if texture pop-in reduces. I currently play a few games but have a lot stored away. Can I drag and drop the ones I play now on a new SSD and steam will open eveyrthing no problem no matter what HD its on?

[smjpl]

morning

 

     asking in a new thread cause I don't wanna miss out on a good SSD deal later in the day. Is it possible to split your steam library across 2 or 3 hard drives? Meaning all my games are on a 1TB and it was suggested I try them on a SSD to see if texture pop-in reduces. I currently play a few games but have a lot stored away. Can I drag and drop the ones I play now on a new SSD and steam will open eveyrthing no problem no matter what HD its on?

 

There are a couple of ways to do this.

 

Steam now lets you set up multiple game folders in the settings.

 

View -> Settings -> Downloads -> Steam Library Folders

 

 

Edit: If you are looking to test how it performs on other drives and you want to move the game around without uninstalling then you may be better suited to use symbolic links.

 

Here is a thread I created about symbolic links (specifically mk links). If you have a game already installed game in location X, and you want to move it to Y, you can Cut and Paste the game to location Y. Then make a symbolic link from location X to point to Y. When steam thenn goes to find the game folder in locationn X, it will find the symbolic link and get redirected to Y.

 

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/19762-has-anybody-used-mklinks-j-to-move-steam-games-not-working/

[anthonyc813]

OK thank you. Is this easier then doing a fresh install on a new drive and adding a library in steam settings?

[anthonyc813]

There are a couple of ways to do this.

 

Steam now lets you set up multiple game folders in the settings.

 

View -> Settings -> Downloads -> Steam Library Folders

 

 

Edit: If you are looking to test how it performs on other drives and you want to move the game around without uninstalling then you may be better suited to use symbolic links.

 

Here is a thread I created about symbolic links (specifically mk links). If you have a game already installed game in location X, and you want to move it to Y, you can Cut and Paste the game to location Y. Then make a symbolic link from location X to point to Y. When steam thenn goes to find the game folder in locationn X, it will find the symbolic link and get redirected to Y.

 

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/19762-has-anybody-used-mklinks-j-to-move-steam-games-not-working/

ok i read your link and it seems pretty easy. did the 480GB for 130 just now using the 30.00 off code for paypal. thats a total of 3 SSD's i bought this weekend... oy vai

i hope this reduces the texture pop-in is can stand on my favorite games

[smjpl]

OK thank you. Is this easier then doing a fresh install on a new drive and adding a library in steam settings?

 

What do you mean "fresh install on a new drive"? Do you have two drives installed? For someone who just wants to set up a second folder on another drive and install games on it and never move it, the Steam way is the easiest (you can still move it but it is slightly more awkward). If you already have the games installed and you want to move it to another folder quickly, symbolic links is probably the easiest. In saying that there isn't a major difference in functionality or difficulty. mk links just allows you to do it based on OS commands rather than using steams built in functionality.   

[anthonyc813]

What do you mean "fresh install on a new drive"? Do you have two drives installed? For someone who just wants to set up a second folder on another drive and install games on it and never move it, the Steam way is the easiest (you can still move it but it is slightly more awkward). If you already have the games installed and you want to move it to another folder quickly, symbolic links is probably the easiest. In saying that there isn't a major difference in functionality or difficulty. mk links just allows you to do it based on OS commands rather than using steams built in functionality.   

sorry dude im not too advanced with this stuff. yes I have a 128 5 year old SSD with windows and some light stuff and a 1TB just for games on steam. i been throwing away money on GPUs and other hard ware to reduce texture pop-in for 3 years... i did a thread in the graphic card section and one of the helpful hints was to try the game on a SSD and see if the world loads faster so it dosnet drive me ape shit anymore. so my original question was to see if I can buy a SSD and install some games I play today on it and hope it reduces the texture pop-in and wasnt sure if I opened steam and picked the game if it would find it and play as normal.

 

so like

C drive- windows

D drive 1TB of steam crap

F drive *new drive* game i am currently playing on steam/origin.

 

then when i am ready i can either move over something else or install it from scratch. i got evil within and shadows of mordor on sale but still on DA:I so those 2 have to wait a few weeks.

[anthonyc813]

What do you mean "fresh install on a new drive"? Do you have two drives installed? For someone who just wants to set up a second folder on another drive and install games on it and never move it, the Steam way is the easiest (you can still move it but it is slightly more awkward). If you already have the games installed and you want to move it to another folder quickly, symbolic links is probably the easiest. In saying that there isn't a major difference in functionality or difficulty. mk links just allows you to do it based on OS commands rather than using steams built in functionality.   

do i do a fresh install of the games or just drag them over to the new drive?

[smjpl]

do i do a fresh install of the games or just drag them over to the new drive?

 

Sorry dude. I am working at the moment.First I am not sure how well this will solve your texture problem or if it will. I am not saying it won't, I simply am unsure.

 

Moving the games though, you should look up a guide to clarify but I am 95% sure that you just:

 

1. Use settings (shown earlier) to add new drive.

2. Copy the game from its current (old) folder location to new location. (Maybe save to a temporary location first while you uninstall game (nets step). Again 95% sure it doesn't make a difference but just to be on the safe side)

4. Select uninstall game from steam (therefore from old location).

5. Now move game to new location (if you took warning in step 2)

5. Install game through steam but select new folder location (there should be a drop down menu when installing)

6. The game should begin installing and then jump to 100% complete without having to download again.

 

If you are unsure where to install - If you right click the game in steam and select properties, you will see the local files tab. Hit that and click 'Browse Local Files...'. You should see your game inside the 'common' folder which is inside the Steamapp. You wil need to put the game in that common folder. When you tell steam to use the ssd in step 1, it should create that same folder structure.

[anthonyc813]

Sorry dude. I am working at the moment.First I am not sure how well this will solve your texture problem or if it will. I am not saying it won't, I simply am unsure.

 

Moving the games though, you should look up a guide to clarify but I am 95% sure that you just:

 

1. Use settings (shown earlier) to add new drive.

2. Copy the game from its current (old) folder location to new location. (Maybe save to a temporary location first while you uninstall game (nets step). Again 95% sure it doesn't make a difference but just to be on the safe side)

4. Select uninstall game from steam (therefore from old location).

5. Now move game to new location (if you took warning in step 2)

5. Install game through steam but select new folder location (there should be a drop down menu when installing)

6. The game should begin installing and then jump to 100% complete without having to download again.

 

If you are unsure where to install - If you right click the game in steam and select properties, you will see the local files tab. Hit that and click 'Browse Local Files...'. You should see your game inside the 'common' folder which is inside the Steamapp. You wil need to put the game in that common folder. When you tell steam to use the ssd in step 1, it should create that same folder structure.

cool thanks. was gonna hold shift and drag and drop to delete from on edrive and copy to the other. with your step by step guiide the My games folder in Documnents with all my save files, can that be just moved over?

[smjpl]

cool thanks. was gonna hold shift and drag and drop to delete from on edrive and copy to the other. with your step by step guiide the My games folder in Documnents with all my save files, can that be just moved over?

 

If they are not in the folder then they will be downloaded from steam cloud so you should be good either way,

[anthonyc813]

If they are not in the folder then they will be downloaded from steam cloud so you should be good either way,

thanks again man. i been googling this all day at work... im at the point where I just wanna do a fresh install of the few games I currently play when the new SSDs come in the mail. split between 3 240's and see if that helps my texture pop in that drives me nuts. too many forums said my CPU and GPU wont bottleneck or slow each other down so its not a hard ware issue... maybe its just a crappy 1TB i bought a few years ago?