Just upgraded to SSD, how do I effectively split my library after cloning

[Prosthetic Hams]

I've just installed a SSD, cloning my HDD to avoid having to install OS / move data. Now I have a copy of my steam files on both drives where ideally I want some games on the SSD and some on the HDD.

I'm struggling to find useful information on this topic, most articles are talking about moving files to fresh or empty drives.

Is there a way to essentially update the path for each game, or delete one version of the unwanted files and point steam to the other version?

[🦜Cloud Boy🦜]

Just uninstall all the games and manually delete any remaining installation folders from everywhere. Then re-install the games you want and select the installation path you want.

[Prosthetic Hams]

I see what you're saying but I want to avoid doing downloads again. Would it work to uninstall from one drive then restore a backup of the files one the other drive.

Are there any options to have the steam files in place and then link them to the library?

[C2Dan88]

You got two copies? Formattyour HDD and then create a second steam library on your HDD. For each game you want on your HDD goto its steam properties to move it to the steam library on hdd.

[Tristan]

Originally posted by C2Dan88:

You got two copies? Formattyour HDD and then create a second steam library on your HDD. For each game you want on your HDD goto its steam properties to move it to the steam library on hdd.

@Prosthetic Hams


Do this with ur Back up software its much faster

just fallow what C2Dan88 Said

[_I_]

delete steam from teh hdd
(only format if you want to wipe the drive and lose everything on it), but make sure the boot partitions are not being used on it if you want to re-partition and make the usable partition the entire drive

start -> right click on pc -> manage -> disk management, check what partitions are on the hdd and see what they are labeled as

run steam from the ssd
steam -> settings -> downloads -> [steam library folders]
create library on the hdd

steam -> library -> right click on game -> properties -> files tab
move to other library folder

[Prosthetic Hams]

Originally posted by C2Dan88:

You got two copies? Formattyour HDD and then create a second steam library on your HDD. For each game you want on your HDD goto its steam properties to move it to the steam library on hdd.

I see what you're saying, but there's files I want on the HDD and Files I want on the SSD. I'm also aiming to avoid long data migrations since the data already exists in the locations I want.

Originally posted by _I_:

delete steam from teh hdd...

run steam from the ssd
steam -> settings -> downloads -> [steam library folders]
create library on the hdd

@_I_ Is there any benefit from having the steam client on the SSD rather than the HDD?

[_I_]

yes, client updates are so much faster, and launching steam will be near instant, and its chrome ui/browser will be on the ssd for much quicker responses

[Prosthetic Hams]

Originally posted by _I_:

yes, client updates are so much faster, and launching steam will be near instant, and its chrome ui/browser will be on the ssd for much quicker responses

Fair point

Thanks everyone for the responses I think Cloud Boy's solution:

Originally posted by 🌈Cloud Boy🌈:

Just uninstall all the games and manually delete any remaining installation folders from everywhere. Then re-install the games you want and select the installation path you want.

was closest to what I'm going for here as it's removing the files from one location and then just verifying they exist in the other. Takes a couple of mins per game.

[SeriousCCIE]

IN the library iteself there is a management function where you can "move" the game to a different drive.

I do this very regularly as I have an SSD for the boot drive, a few traditional disk drives to stick games I am not playing, and an Optane 905p that I put various games on (but that drive is not large... so I can't just Put All The Everythings onto it).

Steam understands where the files went to and how to access them if you move the game from within the Steam library interface.

If you did this via Windows Explorer, Steam can get kind of confused sometimes, and not know where things are even if you copied them to an existing library on a different drive that held different games.

Typically what I have done for backups is... copy it all to another drive outside of Steam--just using Windows.

If I want Steam to access the game content from another drive, I use the managment function of the game in the Steam library to move the file to whatever drive so it knows where it is.

Eventually my non-steam backups get old, but that's just a drag and drop away from being current.

[Jaunitta 🌸]

Just point steam downloads to your HDD
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2077936463
Rightclick / properties> a game in your SSD Steam folder commom and move installation files to the new Steam folder on your HDD
then delete the original games folders on the HDD becareful deleting the userdata folders as all screenshots are there

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Once cloned, boot to the ssd, then wipe the hdd clean and reformat it. Then launch steam client, make a new steam library on the hdd. After done you will be able to go to game properties for currently installed games and use the move option to move games from ssd to hdd.