How to move a game from HDD to SSD without redownloading/reinstalling it?

[Justin_760]

I recently moved a game (Battletech) to my SSD because of its ridiculous load times, but steam isnt recognizing it. In my library it shows its not installed and I only have option to install it, I tried adding the game manually but only option I found was adding a non-steam game, which worked but has added another Battletech to my library, and running from that is causing issues.

Does anyone know how to make steam recognize the files?

[Cathulhu]

1. Move it back to its original state.
2. Steam --> Settings --> Downloads --> Create Steam library folder on SSD.
3. Steam --> Library --> Rightclick Game and select Properties --> Local Files --> Choose to move to SSD library folder
4. ???
5. Profit!

[Ogami]

Did you create a new Steam library first on the SDD? If not, go to the client option under "Downloads", at the top "Manage Steam libraries" and create one on the SDD.
After that , right click the game you want to move in your library and under "Properties" - "Local Files" choose " Move Install Folder". Steam then lists all the Steam libraries on different hard drives you have and you can select one to move the game to.
Thats it.

If you manually move the game you are missing the appmanifest file which tells Steam that the game is installed. That file is in your steamapps folder in your Steam installation directory.

The one for Battletech is called appmanifest_637090 . Copy that over to the same location on the new library and restart Steam, the game should then be recognized as installed. Delete the one on the old library of course first.

But the method above is easier since Steam does all that then by itself.

[Glimmer]

Add a Library folder to the SSD if you don't already have one. Use the client's method, don't create one by hand.
Steam > Settings > Downloads > STEAM LIBRARY FOLDERS

To move a game from one Library folder to another, right click on the game in the Library screen of the client and select Properties. Local Files tab and then click the MOVE INSTALL FOLDER... button.

If you manually moved the game to a Library folder, you likely did not grab the Appmanifest file associated with the game. Either move the file to it's correct location in the SSD, or tell Steam to install the game overtop of the existing game. It will recognize the files are there and just download/recreate what it needs.

If you manually moved the game to the folder without using Steam to first create the Library folder You will need to rename the current folder on your SSD. Use the client to properly set up a Library folder and then move the game files from the renamed folder into the newly rebuilt Library folder.