Why does "Allocating disk space" take so long?

[VongolaXth]

It sometimes takes up to 10-30 minutes if not longer, waiting for the actual download. I do not know if it is supposed to take that long or if they're just too lazy to fix it? Sure, to make sure that you have enough space to actually download the full game is quite cool but it takes way too long. And don't forget that most people do know about if they can fit the game on their device or not. I would prefer a message like "make sure you have enough space (60gb) to download this game" and to let the download instantly start.

But maybe it is only a problem with me and my device?

[Hodman]

I don't know what is causing this but in my case this process takes 1 minute or less.

[VongolaXth]

Just now i had an "update" or "fix" with 1,7mb for path of exile which took about 10 minutes to actually finish the download just because of this "Allocating disk space" ... just wow.

[VongolaXth]

Messaggio originale di Hodman:

I don't what is causing this but in my case this process takes 1 minute or less.

For bigger games too? If yes, then it might me a problem on my end...

[Hodman]

The other day I installed a ~8 GB game and I've installed bigger games and I haven't experienced your issue.

[Cathulhu]

It's definitely not normal and indicates something is interfering with Steam reading or writing data to your harddrive(s).

[Satoru]

It doesn’t

The only time it does is if you have some ancient 5400rpm drive or your anti virus is killing the preallocation

[CSX]

Messaggio originale di VongolaXth:

Just now i had an "update" or "fix" with 1,7mb for path of exile which took about 10 minutes to actually finish the download just because of this "Allocating disk space" ... just wow.

It takes so long because Path of Exile stores almost everything in a big 26GB file. Steam cannot look inside the file and has to recreate it with the changes, no matter how small they are.

[Cpt Sanders]

Messaggio originale di Satoru:

It doesn’t

The only time it does is if you have some ancient 5400rpm drive or your anti virus is killing the preallocation

I have a raid 0 NVME array that takes forever to pre-allocate. Steams software is older than some of the users on this forum. It is poorly optimised and hasnt been updated since Vista.

[ChiliP2000]

I have that same issue but I figured it was taking longer because I use an external hard drive. I don't know if that has anything to do with it.

[MoonC A T]

Messaggio originale di ChiliP2000:

I have that same issue but I figured it was taking longer because I use an external hard drive. I don't know if that has anything to do with it.

Absolutely it does

[Cathulhu]

Not sure it warranted necro'ing a three year old thread.

[Iceira]

Has been debat to death and proofed Laptop is not same as desktop in I/O disk read and write.

Have power cord on and full performance might help, but still dont ruleout old disk advice in top of this.

in battey mode, so long that days can be showed, all depend how litte free room and RPM disk in top of this, worse possible senario. ( other disk task use disk same time, aka. boot disk, viatual ram swap file. ) pretty sure you know, dont have move to disk in top of this, and yet i bet there is always someone that do not know this.

pretty sure a steam moderator will close this soon. ( they seem to get the msg atm. with old post aient working anymore. )

[VongolaXth]

But good to know you're still up and running Cathulhu :D