How do I move alot of games from one computer to another?

[Melectricus]

I built a new computer for my son with essentially all new parts and have it up and running.

What is the easiest way to get the dozens of games and saves etc from his old computer to the new one? I planned on doing a file save/transfer via windows but if my recollection is right it won't handle the games. I can't just move the hard drive because I have raid set up on the new computer and a different storage HDD for the new one and I need the old HDD to sell his old computer.

1. copy all game program files to the new computer, but will loose I loose ability to remove the program via uninstall.... also initializing of program to better settings may not take advantage of better components?
2. Reinstall games from cdrom and figure out what the save and settings files are?
3. Any other suggestion?

I never had to move this much stuff and am just wondering how to do it. Didn't know if I should post in software or general hardware.

thanks

 

[Dravic]

Originally posted by: Melectricus
I built a new computer for my son with essentially all new parts and have it up and running.

What is the easiest way to get the dozens of games and saves etc from his old computer to the new one? I planned on doing a file save/transfer via windows but if my recollection is right it won't handle the games. I can't just move the hard drive because I have raid set up on the new computer and a different storage HDD for the new one and I need the old HDD to sell his old computer.

1. copy all game program files to the new computer, but will loose I loose ability to remove the program via uninstall.... also initializing of program to better settings may not take advantage of better components?
2. Reinstall games from cdrom and figure out what the save and settings files are?
3. Any other suggestion?

I never had to move this much stuff and am just wondering how to do it. Didn't know if I should post in software or general hardware.

thanks

only one way with games, re-install on the new computer, but move over the saved games file/folder.. major pain in the but, but windows, the registry, and dll hell in general make moving program installations from one computer to another not possible by mere mortals..

reinstall and copy/move of the saved games folder.

there was a short lived movment in the past to make a uniformed saved games folder so that would be all you would haved to move for all your games, but not many developers jump aboard.

 

[stevty2889]

The only way you could move the programs and games and have them still work, would be to clone the old hard drive to the new computer, and run a windows repair install. But if there were any viruses, bugs, software glitches or spyware on the old machine, all of that would be cloned as well. Your safest bet is to just re-install all the games on the new machine, and find the save files on the old one.

 

[JSFLY]

just copy the files from the save folder onto a flash drive. Reinstall the games on his new comupter and copy the save files onto there as well. EZ

 

[RussianSensation]

#2 is what I did. I looked for every game folder of saved profile/progress. Reinstalled the games and pasted those files in the new empty Save folders.

 

[bluemax]

This thread is for YOU!

How to: Upgrade your motherboard without reinstalling Windows.

Why bother reinstalling ANYTHING if it's not necessary?

This method is AWESOME! The only downside is my OS needs a reinstall just because Windows gets mucked up so badly over time. Using this method, I've kept the same install over two/three upgrades!

 

[Melectricus]

I figured the program reinstall was where I would have to go.... Thanks guys.

bluemax, I quick scanned the link, I have to look at this more closely

edit SP

 

[JimPhelpsMI]

Hi, Copying Executables will usually not work as they spread themselves all over your HD. Norton Uninstall Delux will move them with all necessary files, but only works about 80%. Best is to install from the original install files. Text files and such can be copied OK. Hope this helps a bit, Jim

 

[Auric]

If the drive cannot be cloned, then file and registry copying is the next easiest (and potentially less messy) and certainly not a beeg deal. Games, unlike many other applications, do not install system files so it is easy peasy to simply copy the game's main folder and any related sub-folders from My Documents where user configs are sometimes stored. Then run regedit and export game keys from HKCU and HKLM to be imported on the other machine.

Those who install games on a seperate volume may also find this handy as the OS volume can be obliterated at will and games can be "reinstalled" in seconds. While Add/Remove Proggies items can likewise be exported/imported, it is an unneccesary step due to aforementioned simplicity of game installs making them equally simple to remove manually.