already installed

[Harry™]

I have GTA V on an external drive. that drive is now in a USB external enclosure hooked up to my new laptop.. I reinstalled steam (new boot drive etc etc. is there any way for steam to recognize my old install on my new computer?? with my slow internet, currently on day 3 of installing the 180 GB game.

[psykoteky]

You can create a new steam library and point it to the external drive.
Of course, you may need to move some stuff around depending on how you have the folder structure setup there. Like... external:\steamlibrary\steamapps\common\'grand theft auto v'

Or as above - copy folder, paste in proper location, apply appmanifest with steam closed.
You can use your own, or there is one in this link -
https://steamcommunity.com/groups/psyshelp/discussions/3/5197701062338311850/

/goodluck

edit - You're going to need to give more details. What 'new' install location? What is old location? What 'exactly' did you do? Did you replace appmanifest_271590.acf as stated? Are you putting it in the proper location relevant to the install of gtav you are attempting to use? Are you using a steamlibrary or not? What is the folder/file structures? Do you still have 2 copies of appmanifest_271590.acf floating around - should only be 1. Did you do all this appmanifest manipulation WITH steam closed entirely? Many ways to have issues or fix.

edit - per your screenshot, we are talking about 'steam' saying/showing the game is installed. not the garbage launcher, which could be a variety of other issues including lack of admin, vcredists, onedrive, av/sec, existing/copied/created files related to launcher in my docs / rockstar games + other locations, and other nonsense. This includes launching 'through' steam, to verify steam is using the account it believes it should, and not using an incorrect one. More info related to R* launcher issues here -
https://steamcommunity.com/groups/psyshelp/discussions/3/3055112985302542606/

/goodluck

[Harry™]

I copied everything over, but it is still trying to launch from the newly installed location

[Harry™]

ive tried everything... he renaming, moving files, app manifest thing and it will not detect the game.... oh well.. another 8 days of downloading
https://i.ibb.co/kH8Kc4w/Screenshot-13.png

[Harry™]

game randomly finished, it works, but have now a massive HUD / map glitch thing
https://i.imgur.com/RNWy2ca.jpg