Can games be transferred to an external drive or another computer like files can be? I am in the middle of a couple of games but am considering buying a new PC. Can the games I am playing be moved to an external hard drive and then transferred into the new computer so that I don't lose my progress? Or, can the games be transferred from the old computer into the new one?

I was told that if I buy a new computer, the contents of my hard drive can be transferred to the new one but I don't know if this pertains to games.

Thanks!

Think you can save the saved games file to a disc, then install the game on the new computer and moved the files over. I bow to anyone with superior knowledge though

Which games are you talking about? If you're talking about adventure games, it's usually better just to transfer the saves, like Upsydaisy suggested. If you're talking about casual games, you'd probably have to copy the whole game folder over, possibly more, depending on the game.

I am playing an adventure game and a casual game. How do I do this because once I hook up the new computer, I won't have access to the old one?

If I use an external hard drive, I can try to do it with that if it will work. I haven't figured out how to copy individual files or programs to the external. When I plug it in, it backs up everything but I can't tell if it has also backed up the games. It just tells me that the back-up is complete and there are no instructions so it is very confusing to use.

And as far as the games themselves, you will have to reinstall them from the CDs or installation files.

Get a USB flash drive and copy your saves to that. Any USB flash that's over 4 GB should be plenty, but you could just as well get an 8 GB one because they're not that expensive now.
***USB Flash drives at Newegg***
I like the Patriot brand because they don't come with unwanted software on them.

Jenny and Draclvr,

So I can copy my saved games to a USB Flash and then install the game on the new PC? After I do that I can retrieve the saves from the USB Flash and I won't lose my progress? Slick!

That sounds pretty easy to do as long as I can figure out how to add/retrieve saves from the Flas. Hopefully it will come with instructions!

Thanks!!!!

You never said what two games were involved.
Usually it's enough to copy saves from adventure games. But for a casual game you may need to copy more if you can't figure out where the game keeps its save(s).

I moved XP saves for Morrowind to a Vista, wasn't easy but it worked. I have found in some games that you reinstall on a different machine (or same one but new hard drive) you will have to play through until the first save that you can make in the new install. I tried creating a "saves" folder, but it didn't work. Vista has it's saves in a strange place, you really have to dig for them. Draclvr can help you with Windows 7, moving them from the flash drive is the easiest part of it.

hawkavonpuka,

I was wondering about that since I would be upgrading to Win 7 from XP. I am playing Black Mirror 2 and the latest Women's Murder Club. I am not as worried about WMC because I might have it finished before I make a change with my computer. I am still looking into upgrading but if I do that I will replace my hard drive so I will still have to reload the saves into it from the flash drive.

I thought that I had found a perfect new computer that was reasonably priced and wouldn't need too much upgrading only to find that it has an integrated video card so it can't be upgraded

The presence of integrated video doesn't mean you can't add a video card to it. It's the lack of a PCI-Express slot or a weak proprietary power supply that would keep you from adding a video card.

Oh, I didn't know about that. I talked to a sales person at Best Buy and he said that this PC wouldn't work for me since I want to upgrade the video card. He said that I want a dedicated card and not an integrated one that is installed on the motherboard. Just when I think that I am beginning to understand all of this, I find out that I don't!

Actually you can upgrade the video card Gatsbygirl. Just disable the integrated card and remove the mb drivers for it. Then put the new card in a slot and install th drivers for it.

Regards,

Barry

As Jenny said, "The presence of integrated video doesn't mean you can't add a video card to it. It's the lack of a PCI-Express slot or a weak proprietary power supply that would keep you from adding a video card."

You have to make sure the PC you buy has a PCI-Express slot. That is where you install the video card. You will also need to know what size the power supply is. Video cards will be rated as to the power supply required. It is hard to imagine a new pc not having a pci-express slot but you can never take anything for granted.

I would ask to see the manual that shows the motherboard, that way you can see if it has the PCI Express slot. Also, keep in mind that most of the newer ones will use an additional cable from the power supply to plug into the card, I think it is a 6 pin. One of the reasons why you need a power supply with higher wattage. I recently installed an Nvidia 9800 GT, but already had a 575 watt PS in the computer. It runs just fine.

Someone here on GB helped me find the hiding place on Vista for the saves, I hope I wrote it down somewhere, if not I will look for the info again.

I searched through my posts and I found the topic. This should work for Windows 7 too, if it hides things the same way Vista does. Transferring saves The links to the screen shots on my photobucket are broken, if you need them I should be able to create a new link, hopefully I didn't delete them, just moved.

Lots of good info from you guys! The PC I wanted was sold out online and in most stores but there was one at a store about 45 minutes from me. I was told that they could transfer it to my local store. When I thought that the video card couldn't be updated, I didn't buy it.

It has a 300 or 350 watt power supply and I told them that I wanted one with 500 watts and I gave them a list of video cards (provided by Jenny 100) that I was interested in. I didn't know to ask about the pci express slot or the additional cable and don't remember if I saw that in the specs. I might call and see if it is still available and ask about the pci slot.

Thanks!

Most pre-built computers that you buy in stores will come with a low-powered power supply that can't support much more than what came with the computer. That's why you have to find out if the power supply can be updated to support a video card (and in your case, if they will do it for you).