External SSD games need re-install if switching to Linux?

[Chaosolous]

Ayo, I'm gearing up to finally swap over my primary PC to Linux here pretty soon. The experiment with it on my old laptop has been really enjoyable minus a few frustrations/confusions I'm still dealing with but I'm sure I'll figure it out.

I have all my games installed onto my external SSD. When I switch to Linux, am I going to need to reinstall those or will they run if I just plug the SSD back in?

I'm guessing they won't run and I'll need to uninstall all the games before switching the OS to Linux and then re-install all the games once I have Linux installed. Even though it's an external drive, right?

Like, when I install a game, it goes on an external SSD, not my Internal SSD. Do I need to uninstall those and then reinstall them once Linux is my primary OS or will they work the way they are now?

I feel like this is a dumb question but 🤷‍♂️

[Omega]

It is recommended to format Linux drives with something other than NTFS, the Linux NTFS drivers are not great.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

If you intent to use Linux, use EXFAT format method for secondary Drives, so both WinOS and Linux can properly use them at the same time.

GPT + NTFS only for the Windows OS Drive.
This is another reason I don't divide a WinOS into partitions, it's dumb. Pick a drive for the OS and partition the entire drive for the OS; not a OS Partition + Games Partition on same drive.

[BurakZG]

AFAIK you can't use Steam games that are installed on Windows supported filesystem, on Linux. Steam on linux requires proper support for file permissions, which is not there on WIndows. You don't have to uninstall anything on Windows. You will be able to connect and mount your external SSD under Linux. If it is not encrypted by BitLocker, then you will also be able to read the files that are there. You will need to make new partition on it, mount it on Steam and install games again.

[KalGimpa]

i just tried and was able to launch and play a game from a ntfs hdd

not sure if it is different for ssd, but steam did not seem to care

[Chaosolous]

I appreciate the insight, it's all valuable.

Specifically I just wanted to know if I had to re-install the games once I swapped to Linux or if I could just leave the external SSD as it is with all my games installed. That's it.

The format stuff is important to know, thanks for sharing, but it's not at all what I was asking.

Just this: Games on SSD Now & PC Windows now, if when Linux = Need reinstall?

It seems that Burak is telling me yes, I have to reinstall them.

[KalGimpa]

Chaosolous の投稿を引用：

I appreciate the insight, it's all valuable.

Specifically I just wanted to know if I had to re-install the games once I swapped to Linux or if I could just leave the SSD as it is with all my games installed. That's it.

The format stuff is important to know, thanks for sharing, but it's not at all what I was asking.

Just this: Games on SSD Now & PC Windows now, if when Linux = Need reinstall?

It seems that Burak is telling me yes, I have to reinstall them.

try it and see

if it works, you are good

if not, you would still have to go through the process

it has been some time since i made the switch, and i did format all my drives first

the hdd i am using is one i forgot i had and just installed

i did not format it for linux

it seems to be fine and plays games no trouble

but it never had games installed through windows first

[Chaosolous]

KalCuey の投稿を引用：

but it never had games installed through windows first

Yeah, I know, that's why I was asking. I'ma just give it a shot and find out. I'll report back my findings when I put Linux on the main PC here.

My instinct says no, it won't work because the games are installed with the Windows framework in mind, but I don't know enough about any of that to really say.

🤷‍♂️ Ya'll will find out when I do.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

It could just be an issue with the drive letter. Assign an external games drive a drive letter manually so it's much further down the line and thus won't change from swapping drives around over time. You can easily edit ((with notepad) the Steam Library app manifest that tells Steam where all your Steam games are located