change HL2 install locations

[Chris Solomon]

For years (since way back when i was using Windows XP Pro SP3 stil) i have had my steam library on an external HDD that had a massive amount of storage to store my games. this is mostly because every system i have gotten since my (self built) XP desktop, has had a tiny primary drive that didn't have much room store stuff. Fast Forward to now. i had to replace the teeny tiny NVME drive that came with my current system. so i figured i would go as big as i could get. I got a WD_Black SN850X 4Tb drive, that's a massive amount of space compared to the 256Gb drive that i replaced. I now have room for some, if not all my steam library on my system.

I tried using steams built in tools to move the games locations, but it keeps failing saying something about shared files (or something) but even when i select ALL the Hl, HL2, TF2, and the various things from the steam store ( Hl source, day of defeat, etc - basically complete orange box stuff) it still fails. i have tried moving the titles individually and also going into the storage tab in steam settings and selecting them all at once for moving, but the moving still fails. how else can i transfer the game title from E:\program files (x86)\steam\steamapps\common\ to C:\program files (x86)\steam\steamapps\common\ ? I can move the files manually, but how do i get steam to register them to the new location?

Obviously, i could just uninstall and reinstall to the new location, but i would like to avoid having to re-download the stuff again, because my internet is crap. I am stuck getting only 10 mbps downloads. and downloading the game takes forever, because i'm not the only one using the connection. its why having a 'portable' copy of my game library has always been so important to me since i started using steam. up til now, it has prevented problems when i had to move to a new system or do a clean install of windows.

[Calmly Frenetic]

Steam offers a "Back up game files..." option for installed games, so you don't have to download them again after uninstalling. It creates a compressed backup that can be saved to a local or portable drive.

After uninstalling all related games (including sourcemods, and SDKs in the "Tools" category of the Library) you may also need to manually delete any folders that remain. (Keep a copy of any custom config files or mods that may be left behind in those folders.)

[Chris Solomon]

LOL... i actually forgot about that option because steam made it so you can no longer do a bulk backup of the steam library. I actually used to use that feature back in the day until i noticed that on at least some titles, not all the files were being backed up and an internet connection was required to download the remaining files. in the Original BioShock I and II for instance, the entire game except the executable and some key library files would get backed up. to play after restoring the game was impossible until steam downloaded the remianing files. I don't know if this was meant as a an anti-piracy deterrent or what. i later discovered when i bought physical copies of Left4Dead and TF2, that the files on the install DVD's were packaged exactly the same way as a steam back-up, with certain key files missing (never mind the game updates that also had to be downloaded before playing. i'm not counting that in this case.) the DVD's basically had an installer that installed Steam and restored (installed) the game from the steam backup on the DVD disc. keep in mind this was back when TF2 was not F2p and if you wanted to play you actually had to buy the game (and license key).

anyways.....


I will try backing up the games and then uninstalling them, before restoring them to my C;\ drive. I just wish i could still do a bulk backup like in the old days.... being able to backup all the HL, HL source, and Hl2 related stuff in one go would be handy.

[Chris Solomon]

so, i backed up the files for Hl2, portal, TF2, etc and moved them over to C:\. i uninstalled the games from steam, but when i try to reinstall the gzames, it says the install location cannot be changed. further more it, seems to locked trying to put the game on E:\ again.

not sure where to go form here...

[Calmly Frenetic]

Are there any other possible related games, mods or tools installed?

Set your Library filter to show "Tools", and look for anything installed there, such as the two episodes of HL2 or any of the SDKs.

Check for sourcemods here:
...\Steam\steamapps\sourcemods\
Simply move any mod folders elsewhere, then restart Steam.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=208783207 ^ This guide provides a link to other possible source engine games:
http://store.steampowered.com/search/?category2=16

[mojo_musica]

Originally posted by Chris Solomon:

so, i backed up the files for Hl2, portal, TF2, etc and moved them over to C:\. i uninstalled the games from steam, but when i try to reinstall the gzames, it says the install location cannot be changed. further more it, seems to locked trying to put the game on E:\ again.

not sure where to go form here...

Create a new partition on the big new drive, name it E:\ and set up the Steam library on it.

[Chris Solomon]

Originally posted by mojo_musica:

Originally posted by Chris Solomon:

so, i backed up the files for Hl2, portal, TF2, etc and moved them over to C:\. i uninstalled the games from steam, but when i try to reinstall the gzames, it says the install location cannot be changed. further more it, seems to locked trying to put the game on E:\ again.

not sure where to go form here...

Create a new partition on the big new drive, name it E:\ and set up the Steam library on it.

E:\ already exists. I am still keeping most of my game library there, especially the older games that wont benefit from faster drive speeds.

[Chris Solomon]

Originally posted by Calmly Frenetic:

Are there any other possible related games, mods or tools installed?

Set your Library filter to show "Tools", and look for anything installed there, such as the two episodes of HL2 or any of the SDKs.

Check for sourcemods here:
...\Steam\steamapps\sourcemods\
Simply move any mod folders elsewhere, then restart Steam.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=208783207 ^ This guide provides a link to other possible source engine games:
http://store.steampowered.com/search/?category2=16

Okay, thanks, i will take a look at that. but i don't have any SDK's installed. But i *might* have mods installed, but they were all things downloaded from the steam store (Dystopia, Half-Life 2 Update, Black mesa, etc. i did back up and uninstall those, but am waiting on installing HL2 to reinstall them.

[SlasH]

Maybe this helps? Not quite sure if it's on topic...

All games that share the same Source engine need to be installed on the same drive.
See here: http://steamcommunity.com/app/220/discussions/0/1326718197209421906/

If you have Steam Cloud enabled, saves will be copied automatically when you play.

[Chris Solomon]

Originally posted by Calmly Frenetic:

Are there any other possible related games, mods or tools installed?

Set your Library filter to show "Tools", and look for anything installed there, such as the two episodes of HL2 or any of the SDKs.

Check for sourcemods here:
...\Steam\steamapps\sourcemods\
Simply move any mod folders elsewhere, then restart Steam.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=208783207 ^ This guide provides a link to other possible source engine games:
http://store.steampowered.com/search/?category2=16

the sourcemod directory mentioned does not exist anywhere on my system.
i have gotten all but hl2 and hl source andn one or two other titles to install to C:\. the ones i just mentioned wont let me choose where to install them, and wants to install to e:\.

[Chris Solomon]

managed to finally fix issue. fix was so stupidly simple i am face palming myself.

I went into steam settings on the storage tab and removed the library for E:\. then i told HL2 and so on to install. the game then let me install to C:\. then i re-added the library on E:\ back to steam.

I don't know why i didn't think of this before. - DERP

[Chris Solomon]

this is poerhaps a warning only for those who have physical copies of source based games (i.e. HL:2, TF2. L4D1, L4d2, etc.) i got out mny external DVD drive and my DVD for TF2 and tried to use that to reinstall the game, since my internet is so slow. i thought it would save time. I WAS WRONG.. although the game did get fully installed, the moment steam took over and it started updating, the whole game needed to be downloaded anyways. on my system this was almost 30Gb for Tf2 alone so the game did a whole reinstall. i am pretty sure this was due to updates that have happened since the game was released. so now that means the same is probably also true for HL2 disc owners too..