Can I easily move my 2TB HDD with only games from an old PC to a new one?

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Josh5890

Josh5890

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Nov 24, 2009
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I am building a new PC this weekend. My current set up has a 2 TB with all of my games (including Steam, GOG, Origin, Battle Net files) and a 500 GB that has the OS and other misc data and it currently runs on Windows 7. My new set up will have a 250GB SSD and I will use the 2 TB for games. I plan on installing Windows 10 as well.

Will it be as easy as just plugging it in the new PC or will I have to jump through a hoops, especially since I am switching OS's.

Also if it matters, I will be upgrading the old PC to Windows 10 with the free install this weekend too. Will I be better off keeping 2 TB plugged in when I upgrade the older PC or should I take it out before doing the upgrade?

Thank you very much for any help.
 
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Aww Ok then.

So as far as upgrading your old PC to windows 10. Does not matter if you have the 2TB drive plugged in or not.
If you are selling the PC or purposing it for something else, once you have windows 10 on it I would completely reinstall windows on it so it will be a fresh load and you don't have games and other applications you don't need on it. Otherwise I would at least uninstall the games after you get them installed on the new computer.

In regards to the games: as stated you will have to research each game to see if you can transfer it, or if you have to fully reinstall it.
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boosted1g

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Jun 12, 2013
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You have a few problems here.

First of all you cant upgrade to windows 10, then put the drive in a different computer. Unless you specifically went out of your way to buy a retail version of windows 7 then you have a OEM/System Builder license. This license is bound to the motherboard so you cant reuse this license of windows 7 (or windows 10 if you upgraded it) with your new PC.

Secondly of all you cant just move the games to a different PC.
When you install the game it might put the bulk of the files on the 2TB drive, but the game also installed some user files and registry keys to your windows installation.
By just moving the drive to a different computer, there is nothing in the new computer's load of windows to help it do anything with those files.

Some games provide a way to transfer it, others you will have to manually do a full reinstall with.

In regards to upgrading with 2tb plugged in or not, there is no difference; see the first point I made about licenses.
 
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Josh5890

Josh5890

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To clarify, I bought an OEM disc of Windows 10 to install on the new PC. I am upgrading my current PC with the current license that I own. I will have two different Windows 10 licenses in my possession.
 
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boosted1g

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Jun 12, 2013
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Aww Ok then.

So as far as upgrading your old PC to windows 10. Does not matter if you have the 2TB drive plugged in or not.
If you are selling the PC or purposing it for something else, once you have windows 10 on it I would completely reinstall windows on it so it will be a fresh load and you don't have games and other applications you don't need on it. Otherwise I would at least uninstall the games after you get them installed on the new computer.

In regards to the games: as stated you will have to research each game to see if you can transfer it, or if you have to fully reinstall it.
 
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Josh5890

Josh5890

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Ok. Thank you for the insight. I'm probably going to back up the save data that I need to and then just re-install them again on the 2TB. I have a lot of games already on it.
 
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