TS2017 and TSW running side by side

[michaelhendle]

Hi
Like Anthony I'm becoming a old fogy,I want to keep running TS 2017,at present,TSW,will only be used occasionally,or until some UK and European Routes are,made,so after it has downloaded to my current drive,can I just cut and paste it into another drive,without touching the exc.
Mike

[holzroller]

Not really Mike, what you need to do is choose another directory when you download it. If you cut and paste Steam won't know where it is. As has already been said steam will allow you to have games on several different drives called libraries, but you must use steam to create them. It's not difficult as described in Tims thread. For existing games there is an easier way than deleting and re-downloading, provided you have the space on your existing drive for the duration of the move. In your Steam library simply click on steam top left of the page, select backup and restore, then follow the prompts to backup the game you wish to move. You don't have to actually burn it to any discs, Steam will create a file on that hard drive with the game backed up, including saves. Once this is done delete the game using delete local content for that game, then go back to backup and restore and this time select restore, choosing to create another directory where you wish to move the game to. This is particularly useful if you wish to avoid big downloads. Forgot to add, once the game is safely re-installed you should also delete the backup files, otherwise you won't regain the space from the game.

[LundeSDK]

I used this approach when moving TS to another drive:

1. Add the new location (e.g. D:\Steam) as a Steam library in Steam (Steam -> settings -> downloads). Steam will then create the steamapps folder.
2. in Windows: copy game folder (RailWorks) to your steam games folder on other drive. E.g. from C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common to D:\Steam\steamapps\common.
3. in Steam: uninstall the game (right click on game and choose: delete local content)
4. in Steam: install the game into other drive (where you've already copied the files). Just select the new libray you've created when Steam asks where to install.
Steam will just verify that all files are present and change its settings, registry setting and any other settings that point to game location.
5. Done. No download necessary, no manual changing of settings.

[holzroller]

When steam verified the download did you lose your AP packs and other non-steam mods?

[Ajay1]

Gee, I'm glad I started this topic,so many ways to go. Unfortunately it's now Monday morning here now and about to head of for work for a few hours,so will have to pick up when I get back.

[bri2808]

When steam verified the download did you lose your AP packs and other non-steam mods?

Did on mine... Hence why I decided to go to the moving the whole lot steam included as I knew I would need to reinstall it anyway

[bri2808]

Gee, I'm glad I started this topic,so many ways to go. Unfortunately it's now Monday morning here now and about to head of for work for a few hours,so will have to pick up when I get back.

Work gets in the way of everything

[holzroller]

Going with the back up and restore to another library you keep all your mods, so an easier way to do it, if like me you don't fancy spending the next two weeks reinstalling them all, but pre-supposes you have enough room on the drive for a compressed back up file(s). I maintain a clean version in the same drive as TS, renaming the two railworks folders as required, I probably couldn't back up due to lack of space on the drive even without the clean version, so my option to move to another partition would probably have to be, remove the clean version through steam and then re-download to the new folder, once installed copy over the Asset and content folders from my old working game so that I would regain all the mods, sound packs etc. Not so much of a pain as individual restoration.

[gptech]

Sorry I'm a little late in answering Antony, real life stuff took precedence today.

( a correct , correct , correct should be sufficient if my understanding of the procedure is right)

Correct, correct and correct for those,

It then does its thing and reinstalls all necessary files (the long long process) and at the end of it all being prompted by Steam to log in again using the verification code sent to authenticate my account

More or less, though you'll be prompted to verify your identity before anything is downloaded.

What happens then about the original installation and all else on the E drive? and all the third party addons/routes etc that are installed via their own exe programs,the likes of Just Trains and so-forth ?

You original installation will have become a rather handy back up copy of your Assets and Contents---either cut and paste these 2 folders elsewhere or leave 'em where they are--everything else can be junked.
No need to run any installers again---they only write information to your hard drive, once it's there you can move it about as you see fit--though that of course does mean that you wouldn't be able to remove them via "Add/Remove Programs" in the Control Panel.
Once you copy those folders into your new installation you're done...all your modifications, AP, JT etc addons will be there, and working.

Using the Steam feature to create a library on another dis or discs is a grand idea, it fits in closely with the Microsoft vision of programs being in one locatation and the data they work on in another, but bear in mind that you're in control of managing this--if you can "get your head round" this concept that's fine of course.
One thing that does worry me is the advice being given to delete the game---if the procedure goes boobs up and you've nothing to fall back on........

[Ajay1]

OK , back on the scene. I'm sure that with all the info provided here I should be able to transfer my now functioning Steam/TS2017 installation from its original internal HD location E Drive to its new hopefully functioning external location P Drive.

Now this is what I still can't quite get my head around!! As I mentioned in the beginning when I started this thread, I propose to have Steam install the new TSW on the vacated internal E drive. Am I going to end up having two Steam Client installations (one on the internal, and one on the external HD) and two Steam startup shortcuts on the desktop? or just one ?

If not, (after transferring all the necessary Assets & Contents Folders etc required for TS2017) what can I safely delete from the Steam folder at the original location Drive E ?

Hope you understand what I'm trying to get at here ?? The more and more I think about it, my head seems to be going round in loops. Need some light relief for the moment. I'll go and watch some TV.

Thanks again.

Antony.

[gptech]

Now this is what I still can't quite get my head around!! As I mentioned in the beginning when I started this thread, I propose to have Steam install the new TSW on the vacated internal E drive. Am I going to end up having two Steam Client installations (one on the internal, and one on the external HD) and two Steam startup shortcuts on the desktop? or just one ?

Yes and no, depending on what you decide.
Using the "library location" option you could have TS2017 on one drive, TSW on another, both linked to the single Steam installation. From Tim's post earlier:

You can spread your Steam installation over multiple drives, and choose for each game where to install it.That sounds, to me, MUCH easier than moving the whole Steam installation.I looked up the steps, there's an easy way to do it.When you click "Install" on any non-installed Steam game, there's a label "Choose location for install", and a drop-down allowing you to choose installation-locations (one folder per drive).That drop-down should have an entry "Create "new Steam library on drive X".

This isn't something I've tried, so whether it's a wee bit more involved than that I can't say.

Having 2 working instances of Steam would give you 2 instances of both games so that's probably not the best option in your case--you're after making some space, not filing it again with what you'll have moved.

(after transferring all the necessary Assets & Contents Folders etc required for TS2017) what can I safely delete from the Steam folder at the original location Drive E ?

Once you've done the initial transfer of Steam to your external drive, do nothing until you've ascertained that TS2017 runs as fast and as smooth as you'd like. If that pans out OK the Assets and Contents folders from your original installation would be better off tucked away somewhere safe---the golden rule being "don't change owt unless you can reverse that change". Yes, those folders aren't strictly needed as you'll have a working copy of the game, but there's no basket in the world big enough for all the eggs! What would you do if the drive with your only copy of your 'goodies' failed?
Other than that, once you're satisfied that your copy on the external works OK, you can just junk the old Steam installation.

Then, when TSW is released and you come to install it go for the 'Library' option, creating anew library location on your internal drive.

[Ajay1]

Well, that about covers it,I think. All I need now is to pluck up the courage (and the time) and attempt the transfer.I'm still very much into wanting the internal (TSW) external(TS2017) HD option and torn between moving and running both on say a 3TB external HD,which would be by far the easier. Problems problems problems!!!!

[Ajay1]

Quick update,although I have not yet started my transfer of the Steam Client, I have decided and purchased a 4TB HD,that should be ample room to now have both TS2017 and TSW together instead of splitting them and would likely last for years to come.Will attempt transferring when time permits,hopefully over the weekend.

[Ajay1]

but it's easier to just cut Steam.exe out of it's present location and paste it into a new one such as F:\Games\Steam, depending on what letters are assigned to your externals.

Gary, I'm about to attempt the transfer process that you have outlined by the cutting and pasting of the Steam.exe method. Before I do though,one more niggling thought came to mind. While working on the transfer process should I be able to continue playing TS2017 in the original location by copying back for the time being, the Steam.exe from it's new location renaming the one in the new location so that that one is not being looked for? Or is that likely to cause problems at some stage during the transfer?

Antony
















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[gptech]

If you copy and paste Steam.exe rather than cut it out of the old installation you'll effectively end up with 2 instances of Steam. Both will work, but you may have to go through the "submit my code" routine when you switch between them. Other than it taking an extra minute to get into Steam because of this everything will be as it is now.