Can I pass my games from one computer to the next ?

I am going to receive a w90 very soon, but I am wondering even if I have installed the games on my other laptop, and they don't have the setup file, will I be able to play the games on my w90, automatically ?

 

They should. Can't guarantee anything though.

 

You cannot, you need the Setup Files so that the games can be installed in your W90 properly, there is not only the files located in Program Files, but Registry Lines, for example, configurations, DirectX Settings, Registration Keys, etcetera...

You will need the original setup files and discs if you want to install your games in your new W90, unless you copied over everything related to the games, and that is a much heavier task than just re-installing the games in your new computer.

You could also make a disc image of the existing hard drive in your current computer with a program such as Norton Ghost, but this task would be just as hard as copying the games' files, registry lines, etcetera... into your new computer, and will require time and advanced knowledge.

Good luck with your new computer, CowEatsMe10.

 

Yep. Exactly.

Actually, some games can be transfer and some games can't be transfer.
Games such as Warcraft III TFT, Left4Dead, Maplestory, Call of Duty are transferable and playable after the transfer.
Games such as FIFA09, GRID and so on are not playable after transfer.

 

Note that I'm not really sure how it works with other games, but with TFT you'll have to do a little bit of registry hacking to make the game work properly. I mean, it'll work without any registry changes, but you won't be able to patch it properly because patches won't be able to find the install drive. Which means you won't be able to get on BNet and such.

 

As many people said, it works with some games and with some others it wont work. So far ive noticed that it works with Steam games, Call of duty games and WoW (probably forgetting a few others as well )

 

Yep! You need a small installer. But if you don't have, it doesn't even matter, the game still can be play. Just you can't patch your game using official patcher.

 

I know it doesnt work with cod4. It does work for demigod. not farcry 2. works for oblivion and fallout 3. works with starcraft, diablo 2. it does work for ut3.

This is what I know because I installed these to external hd and switched pcs

 

It does work with CoD4 (probably formatted my computer 10 times with Cod4 on D: drive and after reinstalling Windows it was working just fine

 

Thanks guys for your help . I have 20 something games on my other laptop, I think I can move some like fallout 3, and ut3, but well . Guess I will give it a shot .

 

Just reinstall, what's the big deal?

95% of the time it won't work because of registry entries and calls to dll's etc.

Steam, on the other hand, you can just move your games directory and it works fine.

 

weird. but i did not do the same as you say you did. I installed the game on a different computer with an external hd...then I tried to play it on another computer, and it did not work because it was missing some dll files

 

Pardon me if I'm wrong; I'm new to this. Games acquired through Steam don't have install files on your computers no?

I mean, I hvae TLR on my computer and the only install files showing up are those for the actual Steam Client. That means that for Steam games you simply need Steam and you can access all your games/save games through it no?

 

they do have install files, they are on the steam apps folder, but yes the only way to use them (play, install, uninstall) is through steam

 

Ah okies. I thought that it'd be very convenient if the save games or other data for say single player Steam games wasn't kept on the computer beacuse that way you wouldn't hvae to restart every time lol

 

Valve is cooking up something similar to what you are describing, called "Steam Cloud". Right now it only works for games made by Valve and it keep tracks of your unlocks, achievements, etc, for online games. It might expand to include other games in the futures though.

 

steam basically solves this problem by consolidating your game purchases to one client that has access to everything you have ever purchased.

i have boycotted all non-steam games for quite some time. there are too many triple-a titles on steam for me to deal with CD's, keys, installing games, patching, and other nonsense.

plus, i mostly just play L4D anyway...