Loading games from a USB

[rowley]

I'm trying to install Half-Life on a flash drive but I don't know how. Do I just copy and paste the local files? If not, what do I do? Do I need Steam installed on the computer I'm trying to play the game on? If so, that wouldn't work since I'm trying to play on a school computer, so would there happen to be any work-around? I know it's possible since I've seen a dude playing Counter-Strike on a school laptop. If you could please provide me with assistance, or redirect me to a solution, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[tacoshy]

Originally posted by Lil Johnny Test Vevo:

I'm trying to install Half-Life on a flash drive but I don't know how. Do I just copy and paste the local files? If not, what do I do? Do I need Steam installed on the computer I'm trying to play the game on? If so, that wouldn't work since I'm trying to play on a school computer, so would there happen to be any work-around? I know it's possible since I've seen a dude playing Counter-Strike on a school laptop. If you could please provide me with assistance, or redirect me to a solution, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

well you could install steam on an USB drive.
YOu also can store halflife on an USB drive by moving the steamapps folder or creatign a new libaryr by steam itself (steam->settings->downloads->steam library->add enw library).

[rowley]

Originally posted by tacoshy:

Originally posted by Lil Johnny Test Vevo:

I'm trying to install Half-Life on a flash drive but I don't know how. Do I just copy and paste the local files? If not, what do I do? Do I need Steam installed on the computer I'm trying to play the game on? If so, that wouldn't work since I'm trying to play on a school computer, so would there happen to be any work-around? I know it's possible since I've seen a dude playing Counter-Strike on a school laptop. If you could please provide me with assistance, or redirect me to a solution, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

well you could install steam on an USB drive.
YOu also can store halflife on an USB drive by moving the steamapps folder or creatign a new libaryr by steam itself (steam->settings->downloads->steam library->add enw library).

Sorry if I come off as dumb but I'm kind of new to this, and I don't really undestand the second method you just explained so I'll just ask about the first?. How do I install Steam to a flash drive? After I do, do I have to reinstal the game to the flash drive, or can I just copy the local files? After I do that, can I just plug in the flash drive and play it?

[The Giving One]

It is not recommended to install Steam/games to external hard drives.

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7418-YUBN-8129

It is not recommended that you install Steam to an external hard drive, due to potential performance issues.

You can do it and it will work, but be aware of possible performance issues and other issues that may come from doing that.

You should be able to go onto the USB drive and make an empty folder. Call it "My USB Steam Games" or whatever.

Then, go to Steam in the top left, then settings, then downloads. Use the "Manage Library Folders" button on top. Then navigate that menu and "add a library folder". The folder you add must be empty, so you cannot just add a drive that has files on it. The folder must be empty, so just add that "My USB Steam Games" to the list.

Then, when you install a game, Steam will ask if you want to install it to that USB drive. Not sure how this works if you unplug the drive and replug it again, but it "should" work.

But again, be aware of the issues that come up sometimes by using externals.

[tacoshy]

Originally posted by The Giving One:

The folder must be empty, so just add that "My USB Steam Games" to the list.

Then, when you install a game, Steam will ask if you want to install it to that USB drive. Not sure how this works if you unplug the drive and replug it again, but it "should" work.

The folder doesnt has to be empty. but It should be or at least should already be a steam library created on another PC.

The Performance issue of games one xternal drievs is due to the low speed of most external drives or by using USB 2.0 USB 3.0 (5 Gbps) is more then fast enough to not bottleneck any HDD. If you have USB 3.1 (10 Gbps) you easily can even run a SATA III SSD at its full potencial and speed.

If you have games already installed on an external drive including an USB stick and removed it previosly then you just have to restart steam and it will find it on its own when the USB stick gets designated the same drive letter which always will be unless you connect another drive befor it.

Installing steam on an usb stick works just like installing steam on any other drive. During installation you choose the drive and fodler where you want to install steam too. This will be required because if you're unable to install steam on your school laptop then you have no other way to open steam games.

[The Giving One]

What I normally like to suggest is simply storing game files on the USB or external, instead of installing them there. Then when you get ready to play that game, you just drag and drop the files into your Steam installation on your PC's internal drive. You get better performance, save space due to not having a bunch of games installed at once, and keep the games always downloaded so you don't have to wait on internet speeds or connection issues or simply time to download them.

All that may be needed is verify the game files. Saving the .acf file for the game is a good idea also.

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=2037-QEUH-3335

EDIT...

The folder doesnt has to be empty. but It should be or at least should already be a steam library created on another PC.

If you try to add a folder to the list that has any files in it, normally you see an error message saying the folder must be empty when created and added. Yea, you can empty the folder first then add it to the list, then place your other files back in there, but like you said, it is best to have it empty. Thanks. There is something going on with the post above, as I cannot quote anything due to things locking up.

[Teksura]

You absolutly can install games onto a USB device (I have all of my Steam games on a external hard drive and haven't ever encountered any serious issues). However, you need to be aware that any game you do this on may suffer performance issues as a result. If you encounter problems, you should move the game to your local drive instead.



It's not recommended because it's very hit-or-miss. Some games will run fine with no problems, some will not.

[tacoshy]

Originally posted by fauxtronic:

If you absolutely insist on installing games to a USB drive then at least get a USB 3.1 drive because they are faster than (SATA III) mechanical hard drives. Then - if it does work - at least you won't lose any performance.

Still not recommended though because some games don't play nice with the drivers.

Even USB 3.0 is faster then any HDD... USB 3.0 is 5 Gbps = ~500MB/s and there even some SSD's that can get to that speed.If you take an USB stick however it is depending on the flash chips and the controller that is used.

Originally posted by Teksura:

You absolutly can install games onto a USB device (I have all of my Steam games on a external hard drive and haven't ever encountered any serious issues). However, you need to be aware that any game you do this on may suffer performance issues as a result. If you encounter problems, you should move the game to your local drive instead.

It's not recommended because it's very hit-or-miss. Some games will run fine with no problems, some will not.

It not recommended because its easier then explaining how to make it run proberly. USB is not the limitation but that the majority just buys external drives instead of buying a fast 7200RPM desktop 3.5" HDD like WD Black or WD Gold and putting them into a External HDD case and run it with a power dapater via 2nd USB or power line.

Enthusiast like me even run SSD's as external drives to copy files and run stuff from there. Nice to copy files to or from an external drive with 520 MB/s.

[guyman]

Thanks, I saw my friend playing ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ half life 2 on a school desktop and I said “wtf how” to which he then pointed at a usb he had stuck in the computer, I’m going to play ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ ultrakill and the teacher will be clueless of my power

[Blake]

This thread was quite old before the recent post, so we're locking it to prevent confusion.