New Hard Drive without losing MSFS2020 files

[Reginald H 0]

I currently have a 256GB ssd C drive and 2TB D drive. MSFS2020 is on my D drive purchased through MSStore.

I have just purchased a 1TB ssd to replace my C drive so i can run the sim from the ssd instead of the data drive for performance reasons.

I am ok with reinstalling windows 10 and FSX in steam and downloading all my addons for FSX, i have done it a few times before.

My issue is MSFS2020 folder is currently 300GB and will take me 3 days to redownload or more, i would rather fresh install windows, install MSFS2020 to drive C then copy over everything from D to C if that would be possible. in the D msfs2020 folder i have community (32GB), content (1.8GB) and Official (270GB)

So will it break the new game if i delete the 2 large folders and replace with what is on my D drive??

Thanks in advance for any info I might receive, this is from MSStore not Steam

[JimBrown 596]

Unless you really need to, you may want to clone your existing system drive onto the new drive. Macrium Reflect (free version) can handle that for you. Would be a lot easier than reinstalling everything.

https://pureinfotech.com/clone-windows-10-hard-drive-ssd-macrium-reflect/

...jim

 

[JimBrown 596]

Ok, I re-read your message and see that you wish to move your MSFS installation from D-drive to C-drive as well. Since I'm on Steam, and you're on MSStore, I'll leave it to someone else to give you the correct advise.

Although, cloning will get you up and running quickly...

...jim

 

[JimBrown 596]

Some one else can correct me, but I believe this should work.

After you have installed Windows 10, but before you install MSFS, create a new folder on your C-drive (call it MSFS, so C:\MSFS) then copy the Community and Onestore folders from your D-Drive to the new folder on C-Drive. Once that is done, then install MSFS but when you get to the "Installation Manager" screen, make sure you change the path in the lower right to the new folder C:\MSFS. It should then see all the data there and NOT download it all again.

Now, since I'm on Steam, and you're on MSStore, best wait for someone else to confirm that this will work.

...jim

 

[Reginald H 0]

Thanks for the cloning advice, i was thinking about this before, i only have 1 slot for the ssd on the laptop though so i would need a different method, i can boot from my d drive though so i will look into it more, this will help with the FSX and other software though so it will be a bonus.

 

[Reginald H 0]

7 minutes ago, JimBrown said:

Some one else can correct me, but I believe this should work.

After you have installed Windows 10, but before you install MSFS, create a new folder on your C-drive (call it MSFS, so C:\MSFS) then copy the Community and Onestore folders from your D-Drive to the new folder on C-Drive. Once that is done, then install MSFS but when you get to the "Installation Manager" screen, make sure you change the path in the lower right to the new folder C:\MSFS. It should then see all the data there and NOT download it all again.

Now, since I'm on Steam, and you're on MSStore, best wait for someone else to confirm that this will work.

...jim

 

This could work, i will try it, thanks for your input, i was hoping someone might have had the exact same issue, and could tell me what happened when they tried it

[pmplayer 9,696]

10 minutes ago, JimBrown said:

Some one else can correct me, but I believe this should work.

After you have installed Windows 10, but before you install MSFS, create a new folder on your C-drive (call it MSFS, so C:\MSFS) then copy the Community and Onestore folders from your D-Drive to the new folder on C-Drive. Once that is done, then install MSFS but when you get to the "Installation Manager" screen, make sure you change the path in the lower right to the new folder C:\MSFS. It should then see all the data there and NOT download it all again.

Now, since I'm on Steam, and you're on MSStore, best wait for someone else to confirm that this will work.

...jim

 

Yes, this should do the job and should work..

I am on the MSFS store Version.

cheers 😉

[Reginald H 0]

OK thanks guys, this will be my plan then. I am now looking at options to clone the c drive somehow, thinking i can uninstall MSFS2020 from the new drive, then do as you suggested.

[Bobsk8 12,942]

 

[vgbaron 3,728]

1 hour ago, Bobsk8 said:

 

I used the move function in windows and had no problem at all. All subsequent updates, installs etc went to the right place without a hitch.