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Can you copy and paste game files onto your external hard drive and would it still work when you copy and paste it.

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Short answer: sometimes — it depends on the game and how it was installed. asked the right question: a few indie/portable titles will run if you copy their game folder, but many commercial games register files, install runtimes/drivers, or use online activation that a simple copy doesn’t move. was also on point about performance: the external connection affects load times and playability.

Before copying, check these practical things:

  • File system: FAT32 has a 4 GB single-file limit. Format the drive as NTFS or exFAT for large game files.
  • Save locations: game saves and settings often live in Documents or AppData, not the game folder — copy those if you need the progress.
  • Launcher/DRM: if the game is managed by Steam/Origin/Uplay/Epic, use the launcher’s move/backup feature or reinstall to the target drive; otherwise activation or missing registry entries can block startup (as warned).
  • Drive reliability: external HDDs with aggressive sleep settings or flaky USB can corrupt data during play; prefer a stable USB3/Thunderbolt connection or an external SSD.

If you must move a big install but keep the original path (useful for stubborn installers), move the large data folder to the external drive and create a junction so the OS still sees the original path. Run an elevated command prompt and example:

mklink /J "C:\Program Files (x86)\Game\LargeData" "E:\Games\GameLargeData"

Test by launching the game; if it fails, try “Run as administrator,” verify game files (Steam), or reinstall to the external drive.

Final notes: ’s experience (some games work, some don’t) is typical. If copying doesn’t work, the safest approach is to reinstall to the external drive or use the platform’s tools — and always back up your save files before experimenting.

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Member Avatar for CimmerianX

Depends on the game and type of file. In addition, external HD are limited by the speed of the USB (if that's what you are using to connect). eSata, USB 3.0, or Thunderbolt offer faster speeds and are a better choice over usb/usb2.0.

Member Avatar for cyberkingz

are the size is huge?

Member Avatar for rubberman

Note that most commercial games are DRM-encumbered. They post a key file or a key in the registry and if you used their tools to install the game on your system, you may have to alter the registry to find the new location of the game files themselves. IE, just copying the visible files may or may not work for you, and you may have to some additional futzing about to make it work.

Member Avatar for Afeef

depends on game, battlefield 2 and battlefield 4 worked but when i did same with AC, i didn't work .

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