@Boopthesnek I can try to simplify things for you. If you don't understand a particular step, just let me know where you're stuck. Please understand however that doing this process incorrectly can break your game install, necessitating a reinstall, and editing or deleting other registry entries can damage other programs or even the integrity of Windows overall. So please be careful.
- Make sure the EA App and the EABackgroundService are NOT running in the Task Manager. If you see either one, right-click and End Task. The EABackgroundService would be under background processes.
- Create the new folder where you want your game(s) to go.
- Right-click the folder you're moving and select Cut, then right-click where you want it to go and select Paste.
- Hit Windows key-R, and in the run box that appears, enter regedit . Say Yes when asked if the app can make changes.
- Before doing anything else, save a copy of your current registry. Click File > Export, make sure All is selected rather than Selected branch, and save the file to your desktop.
Next, find the registry entries for the game you've moved. They will likely be here: Computer > HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > [WOW6432Node >] EA Games, with some games having entries in both locations. In those cases, you need to change both values.
Click on the game you're moving, double-click the Install Dir, and enter the new full file path for that game. Make sure it has exactly the same format as the existing one. For example, I have Mirror's Edge installed, and the string currently reads:
D:\Program Files D\Origin\Origin Games\Mirrors Edge\
If I wanted Mirror's Edge to now be installed into E:\EA Games, the new file path would look like this:
E:\EA Games\Mirrors Edge\
In addition to Install Dir, some older games may have additional registry keys that include a file path. For any of these that exactly match the old file path, change the values to the new file path. Mirror's Edge has two plus another two that point to what looks like a fake disk installer; a game I installed in the fall has only one. The point is, everything needs to be in the exact format as before except with the new file path you've chosen.
Test the first game you move after completing the process, and if it doesn't work, restore the copy of the registry you made, which is as simple as double-clicking the file you saved to your desktop and allowing it to overwrite the registry. Then try again, or stop and ask for help.
Please keep in mind that your computer's registry changes as programs are installed or removed, so the backup won't be valid for long. So make a new one any time you're about to mess with the registry.
If you're not sure how to complete one of the above steps and want to ask for help, please include the name of the game you're trying to move and its old and new install locations.
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I don't work for EA. I'm just trying to help fellow players with their games.
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