How to change file directory

[Polytune]

So it's been a little while since I was last into modding and I remember having all of my games in one folder or something so it was easy to find and edit the files. Is it just as simple as making a folder for them all to go into? Also, how do I make the game download into that directory from Steam?

[obobski]

When you install a game from Steam it gives you an option to pick where you'd like the install to go - if its a "new" location it will create a "new" Steam library at that location (this is a requirement of how Steam works - you can't just have Steam download the game and install it like a non-Steam game into a non-Steam directory), but its perfectly fine with having a single game in that library.

 

Installing all of your games into a single folder "so all the files are in one place" is probably a bad idea, as you'll very likely run into dll conflicts, not to mention that many of the Bethesda games use the same file extensions, and will try to address incompatible plugins.

 

I'd say install your Steam games to wherever your default Steam path is setup (assuming it has enough space), and install your non-Steam games to the normal Program Files/Program Files (x86) (for 64-bit systems), and go from there. That'll more or less get you "everything in the same place" without any risk of conflicts.

[Fifoo]

If you have the opportunity, and for obvious reasons of optimization, the better will be to opt for installing all your games on a dedicated partition, different from your operating system, with separate directories for each game installed on your new partition. Or install them on another hard drive, which is still the best option.

The steam games need to be installed in the dedicated steam directory, the other games in their respective directories - while well specifying the paths you choose in their setup, namely on the new partition you created previously or on the new hard drive.

You will have as a result a hierarchical system, cleaner and more efficient, especially in the context of a possible future removal. The best is to avoid installing games or programs in the windows program files directory.

This tip applies to any version of the operating system, either linux or windows.

[obobski]

If you have the opportunity, and for obvious reasons of optimization, the better will be to opt for installing all your games on a dedicated partition, different from your operating system, with separate directories for each game installed on your new partition. Or install them on another hard drive, which is still the best option.

 

The steam games need to be installed in the dedicated steam directory, the other games in their respective directories - while well specifying the paths you choose in their setup, namely on the new partition you created previously or on the new hard drive.

 

You will have as a result a hierarchical system, cleaner and more efficient, especially in the context of a possible future removal. The best is to avoid installing games or programs in the windows program files directory.

 

This tip applies to any version of the operating system, either linux or windows.

 

 

There's no ability to "+1" a post, so I'll quote and say "+1" and that I agree with you. The one caveat is that many newer games love to throw stuff into hidden "AppData" folders that will reside on Windows' partition - in many cases this cannot be moved/removed and you just have to live with it. The Bethesda games will put their saves into a folder in My Documents, but you can move My Documents off of the Windows partition (I suggest doing this).