moving entire game from one pc to another

[greenquesadilla]

i plan on getting a nice desktop PC towards the end of the summer and i would like to know if it is possible to move my entire skyrim directory directly from my laptop to the new computer. if so, what hardware will be needed?

normally, i wouldn't care. however, i have put a lot of time into my game and i would really hate to loose my progress.

[gregathit]

You just need a cable or wifi connection. You can do it one of two ways:

1. If you don't have a lot of mods then just install steam and download skyrim to your new pc, install your couple of mods and then manually move your saved games over and you are set.

2. If you have a bunch of mods then install steam, then go to your laptop steamapps folder and find the skyrim folder. Move the entire skyrim folder over to your new pc putting it into the steamapps folder that will be there after you installed steam. Then manually move your saved games over.

If you have a bunch of games you can actually move all of your steam games at one time without having to reinstall all of them with the same method as listed in number 2. Here is the steam page for more info: https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7418-YUBN-8129

[greenquesadilla]

what about NMM data? is there anything special i have to do to keep the mod list consistent?

[gregathit]

You may have to install NMM after moving things. I have never used NMM so I don't know if it stores data or itself for that matter outside of the skyrim folder. As long as you move the entire folder your mods will go with it.

[sammythesquirrel]

nmm sucks at this stage anyway try again in 3 months and it might be worth using

[Guest GingerTom]

Correct me if I'm wrong but also you would have to move it into the same drive letter: Mine is under 'G' right now. You would have to create that drive if you don't have it. (But you probably have it under 'C'--right?

[gregathit]

You do "NOT" have to have the same drive letter or anything like that GingerTom, so stand corrected.....

You are just moving the steamapps folder. You do need to install steam apps to the new computer so that is what takes care of the drive issue. Also remember NOT to install steam to the default program files directory if you have Win7 or Vista. Instead install it to: C:\Games\Steam\ or something like that. You can even install steam to another hard drive too if you like....I did!

Now if you are talking NMM then same thing. Install it on the new computer after you move steam and drop in the steamapps folder (don't forget to move your saved game files too!).