Does Steam Mover truly move the files?
I was wondering if Steam Mover actually moved the files or just copied the files from one folder and mimiced it to another because when I click properties in my orignal steam directory it says the amount of gigs the full game is. I'm trying to move all steam games from an internal hdd to external and don't want the game cluttering both drives.
Last edited by Tasty_Guerilla; Jan 5, 2019 @ 7:02pm
Originally posted by Washell:
Originally posted by Tasty_Guerilla:
It’s cleaner
It's not cleaner.
Originally posted by Tasty_Guerilla:
As I just checked that it creates a shortcut
It does not create a shortcut. It creates a junction, which for all programs running looks like the actual folder, but is handled by the OS as a redirection to a different folder. That's why it isn't cleaner, and the technology really, really, really hates external/disappearing drives.

Steam and it's library don't like external drives either, and by combining the two you're setting yourself up for a complete reinstall and re-download of Steam and all its games.

Just make a steam library folder on the external drive and use the internal Steam options to move the games. The additional time spend now, will let you fix things when (not if) they go wrong in the future a lot quicker.
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Showing 1-9 of 9 comments
Satoru Jan 5, 2019 @ 7:23pm 
steam mover is irrelevant now

you can move games around on different drives natively. Why bother with a 3rd party tool
Tasty_Guerilla Jan 6, 2019 @ 6:42am 
It’s cleaner and takes less time.
Originally posted by Satoru:
steam mover is irrelevant now

you can move games around on different drives natively. Why bother with a 3rd party tool
Count_Dandyman Jan 6, 2019 @ 7:08am 
Originally posted by Tasty_Guerilla:
It’s cleaner and takes less time.
Originally posted by Satoru:
steam mover is irrelevant now

you can move games around on different drives natively. Why bother with a 3rd party tool

If it was cleaner and took less time you wouldn't be having to come here for support about it not truly moving the files.
Tasty_Guerilla Jan 6, 2019 @ 7:10am 
No need to get defensive, I just wanted to make sure that it truly did its function. As I just checked that it creates a shortcut and shows the file size from where it is. My mistake. Doesn't hurt to ask, right?
Originally posted by Count_Dandyman:
Originally posted by Tasty_Guerilla:
It’s cleaner and takes less time.

If it was cleaner and took less time you wouldn't be having to come here for support about it not truly moving the files.
Last edited by Tasty_Guerilla; Jan 6, 2019 @ 7:10am
The author of this thread has indicated that this post answers the original topic.
Washell Jan 6, 2019 @ 7:21am 
Originally posted by Tasty_Guerilla:
It’s cleaner
It's not cleaner.
Originally posted by Tasty_Guerilla:
As I just checked that it creates a shortcut
It does not create a shortcut. It creates a junction, which for all programs running looks like the actual folder, but is handled by the OS as a redirection to a different folder. That's why it isn't cleaner, and the technology really, really, really hates external/disappearing drives.

Steam and it's library don't like external drives either, and by combining the two you're setting yourself up for a complete reinstall and re-download of Steam and all its games.

Just make a steam library folder on the external drive and use the internal Steam options to move the games. The additional time spend now, will let you fix things when (not if) they go wrong in the future a lot quicker.
Last edited by Washell; Jan 6, 2019 @ 7:24am
Satoru Jan 6, 2019 @ 7:45am 
Originally posted by Tasty_Guerilla:
It’s cleaner and takes less time.
Originally posted by Satoru:
steam mover is irrelevant now

you can move games around on different drives natively. Why bother with a 3rd party tool

Uh it’s literally the opposite of what you just claimed.
Tasty_Guerilla Jan 6, 2019 @ 7:46am 
Not the answer I wanted, I was planning on using this tool extensively as the main drive to drive solution as I thought it would work better. I was going to download it to main hdd which is much faster then use steam mover to move the files. I think I just going to set the download to the external. B
Originally posted by Washell:
Originally posted by Tasty_Guerilla:
It’s cleaner
It's not cleaner.
Originally posted by Tasty_Guerilla:
As I just checked that it creates a shortcut
It does not create a shortcut. It creates a junction, which for all programs running looks like the actual folder, but is handled by the OS as a redirection to a different folder. That's why it isn't cleaner, and the technology really, really, really hates external/disappearing drives.

Steam and it's library don't like external drives either, and by combining the two you're setting yourself up for a complete reinstall and re-download of Steam and all its games.

Just make a steam library folder on the external drive and use the internal Steam options to move the games. The additional time spend now, will let you fix things when (not if) they go wrong in the future a lot quicker.
Tasty_Guerilla Jan 6, 2019 @ 7:47am 
Thank you, need that clarification
Originally posted by Tasty_Guerilla:
Not the answer I wanted, I was planning on using this tool extensively as the main drive to drive solution as I thought it would work better. I was going to download it to main hdd which is much faster then use steam mover to move the files. I think I just going to set the download to the external. B
Originally posted by Washell:
It's not cleaner.

It does not create a shortcut. It creates a junction, which for all programs running looks like the actual folder, but is handled by the OS as a redirection to a different folder. That's why it isn't cleaner, and the technology really, really, really hates external/disappearing drives.

Steam and it's library don't like external drives either, and by combining the two you're setting yourself up for a complete reinstall and re-download of Steam and all its games.

Just make a steam library folder on the external drive and use the internal Steam options to move the games. The additional time spend now, will let you fix things when (not if) they go wrong in the future a lot quicker.
Satoru Jan 6, 2019 @ 7:56am 
Note junctions were a hack used to get around 2 things that are no longer relevant

1) Steam used to not support more than one library folder
2) Steam used to not support moving games between library folders

Because both of these shortcomings are now resolved, tools like SteamMover really are a relic of the past and are wholly unnecessary now
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Date Posted: Jan 5, 2019 @ 7:01pm
Posts: 9