Stop steam saving save files on C:\\

[Netherstorms]

Just to give you a quick background, I am running Windows 7 Home Premium, which is installed on my 120gb SSD.

I download and install all my games onto separate hard drives in my computer, as to not clutter my SSD. However, for some reason Steam still puts a bunch of save files on my SSD, often right in "My Documents", even though the game is installed onto the other drive.

Any reason why / how to stop this?

This is a problem because;
1) My SSD is getting cluttered and full
2) All my files aren't being kept together

[Azza ☠]

You have the Steam Client already on a separate hard drive right?
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7418-YUBN-8129

You will find it's most likely some save game files end up under your "Documents\username]\My Games\", but they shouldn't be that large?

You probably can ignore that and look for bigger areas to clean.

---

Free up Virtual Memory, as the more system memory you get, the bigger the virtual memory footprint is.

At 8GB Memory, you can optimally set the Virtual Memory Page Size down to 4GB.

At 16GB Memory, you can set the Virtual Memory Page Size down to 1GB.

So go Control Panel > System > Advance System Properties > Advanced > Performance > Settings

Under that 'Advanced' tab, you have Virtual Memory.

Set Custom Size:
Initial Size (MB) : 4096
Maximum size (MB): 4096
or
Initial Size (MB) : 1024
Maximum size (MB): 1024

Apply and reboot to take effect.
Note: Just don't disable the page file completely.

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You can also disable Hibernation File, for more room too. Start > Run > type 'cmd.exe'. Right click Command Prompt and choose Run as Administrator.

To turn off or disable hibernation, type the following command at the prompt:
powercfg –h off

Then you can delete the large file called 'Hiberfil.sys' on your C:\

If you ever want it back, repeat the steps with "powercfg –h on" and Windows will recreate it.

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Reduce System Restore space.

Control Panel > System > Advanced System Settings > System Protection (tab)

Select the C:\ and then "Configure". There's a disk space usage bar there, you can allow it to create restore files to a set point. I would suggest around 5-6GB is more than enough for 3-6 restore points, so reduce it to that.

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Consider using CCleaner:
https://www.piriform.com/CCLEANER

Remove temporary files, reduce your internet cache size, etc. Files you don't run as applications, such as music, photos, documents, etc - could be safely moved off onto another drive.

---

You should have 70GB free on a 120GB SSD by now, with Win 7 installed + latest service packs, etc.

[Morbo]

Not much you can do about this I don't think, the games pick where they put their own saves.

You may be able to move My Documents though: http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/how-move-windows-7-personal-folders-my-documents-another-drive.htm if that helps at all.

[Air]

Alright, just follow these steps:

• Go to C:\Users\<your user file>\
  
• Right-click your documents folder and select "Properties"
  
• Go to the "Location" tab
  
• Click "Move..." and select the new location(you may have to manually move files over)

This will change the default Documents folder location and new game saves will then be written there.

This method will also work with other folders that are within your user folder such as your pictures folder.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Yea just change the location for your My Documents so all that goes to a HDD instead. Then anything that would normally save there, like saved games/configs will go into that folder structure on your other drive. But again it is the games that dictate all this as far as where those kinds of files go, not the game client.

I have noticed though that this folder for Steam can grow quite a bit over-time > C:\Users\<YourUser>\AppData\Local\Steam\htmlcache

As for more space savers for your SSD, go through what AZZA said and do those.
As well as limiting the space reserved for System Restore, and to manually clear that out every once in a while. Also can help to run Disk Cleanup too and clear out old junk, like temp files from Windows Updates.

[Adam Beckett]

Here's a way, beyond the "Change Document Library Location", which is a built-in feature of Windows OS:

You can move (almost) every folder to any harddrive you want by using "MS Junctions". You can find it on the official Microsoft website:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/junction

Basically, you cut/paste the folder you want to any location and then SYMLINK the folder to the place it is supposed to be.

This works with all folders, except a very few Windows System folders, which need privileged access, beyond Administrator rights.

If you want to avoid either games filling up your SSD C: drive, or want to prolong the life-cycle of your SSD drive, this method - aside from "Documents" folder moving - helps you.

There are many games, which follow NO "best practice" but nest themselves all over your harddrives. From TEMP folder, to AppData/Roaming ... /Local ... /LocalLow(!) ... C:/ProgramData etc, etc - no place is safe from game developers.