How do I change one steam game's file path?

[LeanFuture]

I have an external 4tb hdd with steam installed and all the games with it. However, I want to use my pc's ssd drive for skyrim to cut back the load times. How do I change the file path on steam for just that one game so I don't get the "missing executable" error?

[Tev]

Have you tried Steam -> Settings -> Downloads -> Steam Library Folders
Creating a folder on the said SSD, planting Skyrim there and trying to 'Install' (given the client doesn't detect it installed at that point forcing it to go and see the files existing on the said drive.)

[LeanFuture]

I've tried the check file cache option after copy, pasting skyrim on the ssd and it just starts downloading skyrim again for some reason. Yes, I've also set up a secondary location doing as you described.

[LeanFuture]

Hah, I think I got it. I'll post it here just incase anyone else needs to know.

First, set up a secondary folder using the steps layed out by Teutep.
Then install http://download.cnet.com/Steam-Mover/3000-2248_4-75764205.html Steam Mover. It's virus free. Point it at the steam file and then the secondary file.

Move the game with steam mover and it will rewrite the path in steam seemingly. Then right click game -> properties ->local files and then Check integrity of file cache. That should let the game start up then.

Phew. Thanks for the help Teutep!

[Tev]

I wasn't really of much use here, but glad you got it working! :)

[Putter]

I downloaded steam mover but I don't understand how you actually move the files. I open the steam mover and I can see all the game titles but then I click the arrow to select an alternative file location to move to and it says "CANNOT CREATE NEW LOCATION HERE" yet there are no folders present or anything there at all.

[Teotwawki]

You can move install locations from within the Steam client, no need for 3rd party software.

Go to your LIBRARY list
right click the game that you want to move
> choose "Properties"
> click the "LOCAL FILES" tab
> choose "MOVE INSTALL FOLDER"

[19951788015]

@teotwawki there is not a setting like that.

[Iceira]

Originally posted by Eléxa:

@teotwawki there is not a setting like that.

yes there is. but its not all that know it, or forgot its there.

but you also need Steam Library Folders add a drev so it can move there.

[batclod]

[edited] answer posted in the wrong section.

to modify the game path:

rename the folder

example
/home/username/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/The Count Lucanor
to
/home/username/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/TheCountLucanor

and then the game manifest file

/home/username/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/appmanifest_440880.acf

the line
"installdir" "The Count Lucanor"
modified:
"installdir" "TheCountLucanor"

and restarted steam
this solved.

[r1zzl3r]

yes

[Agarthan]

Why the ♥♥♥♥ did Steam break changing file paths with this stupid overlay.

[Glimmer]

Originally posted by Agarthan:

Why the ♥♥♥♥ did Steam break changing file paths with this stupid overlay.

The move option is still there for most games. Manually copy/pasting the files still works, although you have to remember to grab the appmanifest file for the game. If you go about with the manual copy/paste I'd recommend closing Steam first, it doesn't always play nicely with things messing with it's files while it's active.

With either method, you need a Library registered prior to moving the game.

[wojtekonlajn]

Just to let you guys know how I solved this:
Apparently Steam settings cannot be changed so that game installation folder is a different folder on the same drive (at least for me it didn't work to choose a different path on C:). So if you don't feel like partitioning your drive just for that, you can mount your desired folder as a virtual drive in windows using subst command (google it for instructions), and after that you can use Steam settings to set default steam installation folder to that virtual drive (or any subfolder if it).

[Katie]

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