Transferring Games

Is it possible to put a game's files onto an external hard drive, then dump it on a new computer, and have a working game?

 

A lot of games(like other software) make entries in to the OS registry during the setup/install process. Those entries might be required when the game is launched.

Your best bet would be to do a copy and see how it goes. Why not just install it from the CD again?

 

Would the key still work? I thought that the key becomes useless after it's been used once.

 

No, keys never become useless. The only game I know of is Guild Wars, where you tie your account and key together.

Edit: Well they CAN become useless, if you get your key banned. But you get the idea.

 

For MMOs key=account. For other games, it's just that you can't have to online session with the same key at the same time.

 

i dont think its possible on most modern games, as i tried moving games from on HD to another on the same computer and they wouldnt work so i had to reinstall them all.

 

Ahhh, thanks everyone.

 

It worked for me. I installed games on an external freeagent drive using my dads work laptop. Played on that until I bought an m1730, plugged in the drive, and I was good to go.

A lot of people say you can't, not sure why. Maybe it's just hit or miss?

 

But did you install the game on the external hard drive, or install it on your internal hard drive and dump the game files onto the external hdd? We're talking about the 2nd scenario.

 

You could clone the HDD , make an image of it and put it on the other drive.
Thing is, the space used is the same as the ammount needed.