Putting HDD with steam games from old PC to new PC, will I have to reinstall?

[Robby Flanders]

So, Im upgrading my pc (new mobo and CPU, had to reinstall windows) but windows was on a 250gb ssd and my steam games where on 2 3TB Hdds. So, will I be able to pop the hdd with the games on it in my new PC and steam will recognize them? Or will I have to redownload every game and delete them from my HDD?

 

[theunliked]

Nope. You don't need to. Install steam (just the steam program). Then go to Steam Menu >Settings>Downloads>Steam Library Folders and choose the directory where you installed your games. It will automatically detect if there are any games on there.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Steam is not a problem...the OS is.

The OS on your SSD will not likely work with your new MoBo / CPU unless same chipset, and on board LAN, sound, etc. A fresh Windows install is recommended. I don't do Steam, prefer to buy from GOG (no internet connection req'd) so don't have to deal w/ your Steam issue.

See this link

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1768868/reinstalling-steam-games-secondary-drive.html

 

[Robby Flanders]

Steam is not a problem...the OS is.

The OS on your SSD will not likely work with your new MoBo / CPU unless same chipset, and on board LAN, sound, etc. A fresh Windows install is recommended. I don't do Steam, prefer to buy from GOG (no internet connection req'd) so don't have to deal w/ your Steam issue.

See this link

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1768868/reinstalling-steam-games-secondary-drive.html

I know, I'm reinstalling it on a new ssd and keeping the old ssd for the old mobo and cpu to make another pc. I was just worried about redownloading 100s of games

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Yeah, my 3 kids are moving away from Steam in a big way. GOG is sooooo much easier. Buy it, d/l it, it's yours forever. No internet connection required .... accidentally delete it you can redownload. If I babysit / house sit for my son, I can take my games and play them on any computer. If 5 people share a computer, you don't have to buy the game 5 times or have 5 steam accounts.

http://www.gog.com/games##sort=bestselling&page=1

 

[theunliked]

You don't need to reinstall the games. Just the Steam application. Don't worry. I actually just did it a few days ago when I upgraded to a new windows 10 build.