Origin multiple game install drives

[HowlinWolf_PL]

Looking at Origin today i just realize that there is one option missing that other distribution platform have already for a while !

- option to install games in different locations and different drives

Much needed i'd say, what your opinion on that, will we ever see that option implemented ?

as far as i know, changing the install dir won't move entire game to be ready to play again, right ?

[Carbonic · Accepted solution]

Hi @HowlinWolf_PL and Welcome to Answer HQ!

This option is already supported, although not in an entirely logical way yet.

You can set the install location in Origin's settings, so lets say you have 3 games installed on one harddrive, if you then change the installation directory in Origin and install a new game then that new game will be installed in the new location and all 4 games will work.

Now, if you want to move games then this is also possible, this guide will explain:

How to install a Origin game using a backup, Battlefield 4 used as an example.

1. Save your BF4 backup from “Origin Games\Battlefield 4″ somewhere else
2. Uninstall BF4 in Origin
3. Make sure you have the correct installation directory selected in Origin’s settings
4. Start the BF4 download in the new directory for 2 minutes
5. Exit Origin
6. Copy over the backup, overwriting all files
7. Start Origin again
8. Look at Origin verifying the files, setting up the changes in the registry and downloading the last files

[Carbonic · Accepted solution]

Hi @HowlinWolf_PL and Welcome to Answer HQ!

This option is already supported, although not in an entirely logical way yet.

You can set the install location in Origin's settings, so lets say you have 3 games installed on one harddrive, if you then change the installation directory in Origin and install a new game then that new game will be installed in the new location and all 4 games will work.

Now, if you want to move games then this is also possible, this guide will explain:

How to install a Origin game using a backup, Battlefield 4 used as an example.

1. Save your BF4 backup from “Origin Games\Battlefield 4″ somewhere else
2. Uninstall BF4 in Origin
3. Make sure you have the correct installation directory selected in Origin’s settings
4. Start the BF4 download in the new directory for 2 minutes
5. Exit Origin
6. Copy over the backup, overwriting all files
7. Start Origin again
8. Look at Origin verifying the files, setting up the changes in the registry and downloading the last files

[Senoks1]

This won't work with the newest Origin, And the most stupiest thing Origin has done is to remove the the drive option (C: , D: ) so i can only use the old Origin.exe to install games to a different drive.

[EA_Joker]

Hey @Senoks1,

to change the install folder, launch Origin, then click on "Origin - Application Settings - Installs & Saves - Game library location". You can select any folder and drive. 

Please do note that this won't affect the location for games already installed.

[MJensen95]

Do you know if Origin saves the installation path of each game in a file somewhere on the system? :-)

[Nokama14]

You can find and edit it in the registry of your PC.

1. Search for regedit
2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SOFTWARE / WOW6432Node
3. In there you find the folders of various programs and Games. In the example of Battlefield 4 you can go to EA Games / Battlefield 4 (click on Battlefield 4 folder)
4. On the right side you can now see the different key / value pairs. One of the keys is Install Dir. Edit it to change the directory.

Hope I could help

Have fun playing!

[Yurikoma]

this guy is awesome. although having to use regedit is a bit of a pain, especially for those who haven't used it before, this works and makes it so i can move all my games to their own folder without having to change the install location over and over in origin.

Just wanted to say thanks for the info.

[Nokama14]

You're very welcome! Glad I could help.

You are correct though, it is not the easiest or safest way to go, however to me it turned out to be the most reliable one without having to change the path and redownload the whole game over and over.