External HDD games installed crashing on startup

[EXAGamer]

Bought a new external HDD to help with dealing with games growing in size. Set up a steam folder and an Origin folder in my new HDD based on instructions on how to move files. Launching Battlefield 1 initially Origin couldnt detect the game installed but restarted and it detected it fine. Tried to launch the game and it crashes each time.

Any help?

[The Giving One]

Not detecting the game as installed is just one reason why using externals with Steam and games is not recommended :

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=8379-RYIP-2998

Many here do use externals with Steam games, but everything has to be set up properly, especially with antivirus that might not like the drive being connected, in some cases.

[EXAGamer]

Originally posted by The Giving One:

Not detecting the game as installed is just one reason why using externals with Steam and games is not recommended :

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=8379-RYIP-2998

Many here do use externals with Steam games, but everything has to be set up properly, especially with antivirus that might not like the drive being connected, in some cases.

steam an origin do detect the games as installed the problem is now the games are crashing on startup

the hdd itself is running fine, im wondering if its the wire since i read on the page for my hdd that the wire could be a problem but i gotta wait on it to ship

obviously an internal hdd would be better but i wanna use an external one in the meantime esp since the laptop is only an inbetween thing until i build my pc

[The Giving One]

Originally posted by EXAGamer:

steam an origin do detect the games as installed the problem is now the games are crashing on startup

the hdd itself is running fine, im wondering if its the wire since i read on the page for my hdd that the wire could be a problem but i gotta wait on it to ship

obviously an internal hdd would be better but i wanna use an external one in the meantime esp since the laptop is only an inbetween thing until i build my pc

Yes, you might be ok now with the detection of the files, but later you might have issues.

Did you try verifying the game files ? I would also make sure that the external is not going to sleep at an inopportune time, or getting disconnected otherwise.

Make sure your USB drivers are fully up to date also, if that is how your drive is connected. Make sure your Windows Power plan is set up to have the drive running all the time you play Steam games installed on it.

Make sure your security software is not blocking anything concerning the drive and the games installed on it.

[EXAGamer]

Originally posted by The Giving One:

Originally posted by EXAGamer:

steam an origin do detect the games as installed the problem is now the games are crashing on startup

the hdd itself is running fine, im wondering if its the wire since i read on the page for my hdd that the wire could be a problem but i gotta wait on it to ship

obviously an internal hdd would be better but i wanna use an external one in the meantime esp since the laptop is only an inbetween thing until i build my pc

Yes, you might be ok now with the detection of the files, but later you might have issues.

Did you try verifying the game files ? I would also make sure that the external is not going to sleep at an inopportune time, or getting disconnected otherwise.

Make sure your USB drivers are fully up to date also, if that is how your drive is connected. Make sure your Windows Power plan is set up to have the drive running all the time you play Steam games installed on it.

Make sure your security software is not blocking anything concerning the drive and the games installed on it.

Again the detection is fine now like i said I dont have many other options in the meanwhile unless game companies would like to make their games smaller. I understand its not as good as an internal but this laptop is not meant to be my main system just a holdover until i can fully build my PC.

My drivers should be up to date since its automatically done through windows update.

Im not sure what you mean by verifying the game files aside from me telling you its there.

I cant find where to see the Power plan to make sure I can keep the HDD running but right now the issue isnt continuous running its simply crashing on launch. I click start, the game boots up and starts running but before I even get to the title screen it just crashes and opens up Origin.

No other files seem to be having issues with it unless Origin is stopping it.

[EXAGamer]

So i figured out the power thing and my drivers are up to date so its none of those problems.

Like i said I launch BF1 the game actually opens and everything but will only open for maybe 20 seconds before completely closing on me.

My new wire is going to come in on Wednesday im thinking the wire is the problem based on other reviews of the HDD (WD Elemental 2TB)

[The Giving One]

Originally posted by EXAGamer:

So i figured out the power thing and my drivers are up to date so its none of those problems.

Like i said I launch BF1 the game actually opens and everything but will only open for maybe 20 seconds before completely closing on me.

My new wire is going to come in on Wednesday im thinking the wire is the problem based on other reviews of the HDD (WD Elemental 2TB)

It might be the external or the wire, but if it is launching but then crashing, I doubt that is the problem.

What I meant by verifying the game files is right clicking the game in your Steam library, and then "properties" at the bottom of the drop menu.

Then "local files". Verify integrity of game files button is there. But first, you would have to make sure that any security software is happy with the connection of that drive.

I had one once that autoran a support link for the drive's issues, and my antivirus flagged this autorun feature as malicious.

You have to exclude the Steam files on that drive from any security software in real-time scanning, then verify the game files and then try again.

Also, the automatic updating of drivers for Windows 10, assuming that is your OS, is what I hate most about that OS. I always suggest not to trust Microsoft to make sure your drivers are up to date, but check the official website and install them manually, in case that is relevant.

Yes, I see you said you made sure they are up to date now. That would not cause the crashing, no, but I included that to hopefully make sure you would avoid other problems using the external drive.

[EXAGamer]

I know this may seem like a dumb question (obviously im not very tech savvy) but normally when the antivirus flags something as malicious there's usually a popup but there isnt one how can i tell? My antivirus really hasnt done much regarding my external drive at all

[The Giving One]

Originally posted by EXAGamer:

I know this may seem like a dumb question (obviously im not very tech savvy) but normally when the antivirus flags something as malicious there's usually a popup but there isnt one how can i tell? My antivirus really hasnt done much regarding my external drive at all

It's not a dumb question but actually a good point. Still, it is recommended that Steam and all games be excluded in your antivirus and any other security software you have :

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=9828-SFLZ-9289

As you can see, there can be other software that can possibly cause games to crash after launch.

I can only suggest you make the exceptions in security software, and then verify the game files, and then try to play the game again.

See this also, even if this is not a first time setup of the games on that drive, but I suggest you treat it as such for troubleshooting purposes :

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=6218-USFX-5568

From your post, it seems you have played the games in question on that laptop before, but I will ask this to be sure. That laptop has the hardware that supports playing the games on the external, right ?

What I mean is, the laptop meets the minimum system requirements on the store page for the games in question that are on the external, correct ?

[EXAGamer]

Its a fair question, yeah the laptop can play the games im trying to install, i was playing on it before buying the external, the external is just because the game sizes are so big.

Nothing has stopped steam in the past from launching games.

[The Giving One]

Is there any way at all you can make room on your internal drive, and use the Steam feature to move the install folder to the internal drive you have ?

You need to make sure you have plenty of free space still left on any drive, even after moving files if you decide to do that. Drives need free space for disk operations. Filling one up or almost filling one up can cause problems very often.

I know that might be an issue for you, but just saying this because that would maybe confirm it is a problem with the external itself, or the connection of it.

Process of elimination is the idea. But I hesitate in suggesting this now, because it is launching but then crashing after a few seconds, so it really seems like something you should be able to correct, and sorry I have not suggested the right fix yet.

[EXAGamer]

The game was originally on my internal and i moved it using the steam feature and same story happened i tried fully installing it to my external though i could try again (problem is its 6 hours to download) and still im not sure if origin isnt giving me a problem or if its steam or the computer.

I have space on both so there's no issue there.

I just allowed my antivirus to allow BF1 so hopefully that wont stop it and im verifying the files right now.

[The Giving One]

You should not have to redownload the game at all, if only moving the install folder.

Yes, do try the exceptions from your antivirus and then verify the files and go from there.

[EXAGamer]

i only tried the reinstall since it wasnt working and i didnt have this info now

[The Giving One]

Originally posted by EXAGamer:

i only tried the reinstall since it wasnt working and i didnt have this info now

Ah, yes. I see and understand now why you did that before. Verifying the game files should be just as good as reinstalling the game from scratch, and saves times and bandwidth for those that have costly internet bandwidth usage.

[EXAGamer]

well i tried all your advice and nothing worked im going to move the install back to my internal try to see if it still works there and then try to move it back once my new wire comes in