Installing Steam on One Driver and Games on Another

[Jinn-Gon Qui]

How do I do that? I want to do this on my upcoming PC, and I know there's a method for that - but I want to make it exactly as if I'm installing Steam wholly on one driver.

Can I just install Steam on C: and create on D: Steam/steamapps/(and then all the other folders that are mainly games)?

[The Giving One]

You can use the add library folder option in the settings menu.

Steam in the top left of the client, then settings, then downloads. You can add a library folder there, but the folder you add initially needs to be totally empty.

[Jinn-Gon Qui]

Originally posted by The Giving One:

You can use the add library folder option in the settings menu.

Steam in the top left of the client, then settings, then downloads. You can add a library folder there, but the folder you add initially needs to be totally empty.

So you're saying in order for this work, as I create a new library, I just need to create it and leave it be until I decide to install games on that library?

[The Giving One]

Originally posted by ϜЁДЯ ϜДCŤΩЯУ:

Originally posted by The Giving One:

You can use the add library folder option in the settings menu.

Steam in the top left of the client, then settings, then downloads. You can add a library folder there, but the folder you add initially needs to be totally empty.

So you're saying in order for this work, as I create a new library, I just need to create it and leave it be until I decide to install games on that library?

You need to go to that hard drive and make a totally empty folder. Call it "D Steam Games" for example.

Then go to where I said above and add that folder to the list. After that, Steam will ask you where you want to download newly downloading games you want to install.

The folder must be empty. So you cannot just add the hard drive, unless of course, it is totally empty. But don't do it this way unless you want ONLY Steam games on that hard drive.

[Jinn-Gon Qui]

Originally posted by The Giving One:

Originally posted by ϜЁДЯ ϜДCŤΩЯУ:

So you're saying in order for this work, as I create a new library, I just need to create it and leave it be until I decide to install games on that library?

You need to go to that hard drive and make a totally empty folder. Call it "D Steam Games" for example.

Then go to where I said above and add that folder to the list. After that, Steam will ask you where you want to download newly downloading games you want to install.

The folder must be empty. So you cannot just add the hard drive, unless of course, it is totally empty. But don't do it this way unless you want ONLY Steam games on that hard drive.

Can I just create on that hard drive Steam (or originally steamapps) and leave it be, until I choose where I want to install my games?

[Cathulhu]

You can install games now and move them later when you created the new library location.

[The Giving One]

Originally posted by ϜЁДЯ ϜДCŤΩЯУ:

Can I just create on that hard drive Steam (or originally steamapps) and leave it be, until I choose where I want to install my games?

You can call the folder you create anything you want, but it has to be empty. You seem to be asking exactly how I have described to do it, unless I am misunderstanding you.

You have to add the folder to the "manage library folders" list in the settings menu, just like I said in my first reply, after you created that folder.

Otherwise, Steam won't know you have another library.

EDIT..or like the good Cathulhu said.

[Jinn-Gon Qui]

Originally posted by The Giving One:

Originally posted by ϜЁДЯ ϜДCŤΩЯУ:

Can I just create on that hard drive Steam (or originally steamapps) and leave it be, until I choose where I want to install my games?

You can call the folder you create anything you want, but it has to be empty. You seem to be asking exactly how I have described to do it, unless I am misunderstanding you.

You have to add the folder to the "manage library folders" list in the settings menu, just like I said in my first reply, after you created that folder.

Otherwise, Steam won't know you have another library.

EDIT..or like the good Cathulhu said.

Originally posted by Cathulhu:

You can install games now and move them later when you created the new library location.

I think I get it now - or I'll be confusing myself and asking the same question until it's becoming rhetoric, hehe.

Well, thanks for the help! I'm sure I can manage, as it's not hard as it sounds.

[Spawn of Totoro]

You don't need Steam on a seperate drive as there is no benefit to doing so. Steam and all my games are on my D drive. When ever I have had to reinstall my OS, all I had to do was run Steam afterwords and even my authentication was still active so I didn't have any restrictions with Steam thinking I was on a new system.

[Jinn-Gon Qui]

Originally posted by Spawn of Totoro:

You don't need Steam on a seperate drive as there is no benefit to doing so. Steam and all my games are on my D drive. When ever I have had to reinstall my OS, all I had to do was run Steam afterwords and even my authentication was still active so I didn't have any restrictions with Steam thinking I was on a new system.

That's true and needless, but I was thinking of that because I want to install my programs on my new PC, that will have an SSD and an HDD - HDD for games, SSD for programs and OS. Steam is (if not technically) a program, so that's what made me think of wanting to install the program on an SSD and the games (obviously) on the an HDD.

[The Giving One]

I guess I assumed you had a hard drive space limitation issue, so I just went with your thread and questions. Sorry, as what the good Spawn said is of course right.

Usually, users have to add a library folder because they ran out of space on the drive where Steam is installed.

[Jinn-Gon Qui]

Originally posted by The Giving One:

I guess I assumed you had a hard drive space limitation issue, so I just went with your thread and questions. Sorry, as what the good Spawn said is of course right.

Usually, users have to add a library folder because they ran out of space on the drive where Steam is installed.

Indeed, which is why I'm asking once I get my new PC that I want to install Steam on my SSD so that I can install my games on the HDD. I'm using my three and a half years old PC right now, and he's not getting any younger and faster, so I want to be able to see the feeling of how Steam boots up SO quickly on an SSD in the future.

[The Giving One]

I would suggest this, since you will have an SSD and HDD...

Store the games on the HDD. Transferr them to the SSD when you want to play that game. Then, you will have the performance of the SSD and keep the space games take up on the HDD mostly. That is what I would do.

EDIT..But you have to do this the right way. For example, you have to also have the .acf files along with the game you are wanting to play. These are kept in the steamapps folder.

[Jinn-Gon Qui]

Originally posted by The Giving One:

I would suggest this, since you will have an SSD and HDD...

Store the games on the HDD. Transferr them to the SSD when you want to play that game. Then, you will have the performance of the SSD and keep the space games take up on the HDD mostly. That is what I would do.

EDIT..But you have to do this the right way. For example, you have to also have the .acf files along with the game you are wanting to play. These are kept in the steamapps folder.

Since I have about seven or eight games that I know are big in weight, load-time, and graphics, I decided it's for the best to just install everything on the HDD instead. That will allow me to install all the games that I want to play. But I think I'll consider installing one or two games, depending on how much space I'm assuming I'll have after everything (progams installed on the SSD) is installed.

[The Giving One]

Originally posted by ϜЁДЯ ϜДCŤΩЯУ:

Since I have about seven or eight games that I know are big in both weight, load-time, and graphics, I decided it's for the best to just install everything on the HDD instead. That will allow me to install all the games that I want to play. But I think I'll consider installing one or two games, depending on how much space I'm assuming I'll have after everything (progams installed on the SSD) is installed.

Sounds good. It's all up to you. You seem to know what you are doing pretty well and have a handle on how to do it.

Of course, if you need help with Steam once you get the computer you are talking about, you can ask here and we will try to help. Good luck, unless you have other questions or comments.

[Jinn-Gon Qui]

Originally posted by The Giving One:

Originally posted by ϜЁДЯ ϜДCŤΩЯУ:

Since I have about seven or eight games that I know are big in both weight, load-time, and graphics, I decided it's for the best to just install everything on the HDD instead. That will allow me to install all the games that I want to play. But I think I'll consider installing one or two games, depending on how much space I'm assuming I'll have after everything (progams installed on the SSD) is installed.

Sounds good. It's all up to you. You seem to know what you are doing pretty well and have a handle on how to do it.

Of course, if you need help with Steam once you get the computer you are talking about, you can ask here and we will try to help. Good luck, unless you have other questions or comments.

Thanks for the acknowledgement! I think my mind is set, all right. I just can't wait to get my hands on my new PC in the next month and start configuring it as I wish.

Oh, man... I have SO many question about PC builds in general, but that's creating too many expectations and this can be answered on a more specific discussion (which I have created like 10+ discussions there), and anywhere else that are on the subject on the internet!

But I'll be sure to ask if I get into "trouble" :) Thanks again for all the help!