Need to move Sims 2 out of C drive....Help!?

[amber]

Hello! This is my very first post :)

Over the psat few months my Sims has been slowing down dramatically, taking up to five mins to load etc. and just getting ridiculous. I wasn't able to work out what it was, so I bought a new graphics card (Nvidia geforce 7600) and upgraded to 1gb RAM, but to no avail!

Then I was doing something in C drive a few days ago and realised that I only have 700mb space left! Derrr! No WONDER Sims has been running so slowly. I tried compressing old files, clearing space etc. but there wasn't much to clear - the whole drive is almost taken up by the gigantic Sims XPs.

So, obviously I need to move it to another drive, and I've bought one specifically for it (80gb) to put it in, so I'll never have anymore space issues :D

I've looked online and of course, the obvious choice is to just uninstall and reinstall in the new drive, but that's not an option as I've lost both my Seasons and Pets discs, and have no friends off whom I can borrow them!

Can ANYONE help me to move the Sims over to my new drive...I've heard it's tricky and you have to download a program to help you move the files but I've no idea what it's called or where to start looking for it.

Any help much appreciated!!!!!!! Thanks so much :p

[mjc]

Usually, something as complex as a game can't just be moved, without the uninstall/reinstall routine. There are ways around that, but it requires some familiarity and being comfortable with registry editing...I'm not familiar with what all The Sims writes to the registry, so I can't begin to guess how difficult that would be...

One thing to try, copy the entire game folder to the new drive, then right click on the Start Menu short cut for it and select properties...then change the location of the the exe file to the new drive (there should be a browse button to allow you to search for it). If it works, then you can after a few times of playing to make sure it really does work, remove the old folder on the original drive. Doing this may break the ability to actually uninstall it, though.

We can try the registry edits, if that doesn't work.

[amber]

Oooh, thanks mjc!

I'm worried about moving it without actually knowing what could happen...I'm nervous about losing it haha! I think I'm in love ;)

Do you really recommend I try option a? Truly? Because if you think it's the go I will try it...I just haven't heard of moving the Sims that way before. From what I've heard it's a lot trickier :(

[amber]

Plus, Sims2 saves to Documents, which might be an issue also? The saved games aren't in the EA folder.

[mjc]

Like said...just copy it, that way if it needs to have something more done you won't lose anything, except time spent.

As to the saved games...which is taking up the most space...the saves or the game itself?

If it is the saves, then the easier thing to do would be to move you My Documents folder, which, in XP is actually the easier thing to do.

[Sylvander]

Data files [excluding those necessary to the operation of Windows or Programs] are better kept off C:, so move all your ordinary data files off the C: drive to free up space.
You could even move them to an external USB HDD. :)
I usually keep my data files on internal partitions D: E: F: G: and use SyncBack to make identical 2nd copies of those partition contents to folders on a partition on an external USB 2.0 connected HDD.

If that doesn't free up enough space...
Install TweakUI (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/Downloads/powertoys/Xppowertoys.mspx), and use it to move the Program Files folder [all installed Programs] off the C: partition to some other partition.
Having said that, I like to keep them on C: because it's best if Windows, Programs, and the registry are all together on the same partition.
That way an image of C: gives you a whole working software installation.