moving runtime library to new drive?
cdpro_2831bbd990
Posts: 1,430
I read the thread in the technical forum...but, really wasn't getting all the answers. So, I'm hoping someone can clarify.
I have about filled my main drive with content. I'd like to move everything over to my data drive. How simple is this? Is it just a matter of moving the "MyDaz3DLibrary" from "Public Documents" to the new drive, then telling Studio where the content is located? Or, is there some additional work needed to clear up shortcuts or file references from within Studio?
Also, will moving the content affect all of the other categories like "Products" and "Smart Content?"
If anyone has a step by step tutorial for this, I'd love the link!
Thanks.
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Comments
For DIM-installed content in DS that is all that is needed - the potential issue is DIM's install records and Connect-installed content.
Hi Richard, I have a similar/related question. I'm not very computer savvy so I'm always worried about messing things up.
Currently I have DS on my desktop and I install everything with DIM. I would like to download DS to my laptop but I can't download the content to the laptop as it has a smaller drive (surface book). I have tried using gotomypc, but that doesn't work (as soon as you try to pose, things go haywire). So, I would like to copy my library from my desktop onto an external portable drive, and use the external drive only with my laptop. Every few months, I can re-copy to the desktop drive to the external drive (so i capture my new purchases). Would that work? And exactly what would I copy from the desktop to the external.
I hope I have given enough info that my question makes sense.
I would suggest the following:
1) Export User Data if you ake any custom categories, tags, metadata
2) Copy your content folder(s) to the external
3) Attach the external to your laptop and re-import metadata
Bear in mind that if you create scenes or presets on the laptop, you'll need to copy them back to the desktop. You may want to use something like Syncback to backup from the desktop to the external to avoid spending the time copying files that haven't changed, and to remove files from the external that have been removed from the desktop.
Thank you @fixmypcmike. Can you tell me exactly what to download to my laptop? Looking at the daz dowlnloads page i know i need ds 4.9, but do I download resources etc or is that part of my library so I don't have to download, but they will be on my external drive. I believe the latter is right, but I'm checking.
Also, do I download ds with dim? Is it ok to do it twice (I used it for desktop, can I now used it on laptop). I know it keeps track of what is installed/uninstalled so I don't know if it is possible or the best practice.
It keeps track on each computer, so if you install DIM on the laptop it will show everything as uninstalled. You can filter in DIM on Software vs. Plugins vs. Content -- software and plugins should be installed on the laptop using DIM, content will all be in your content folders.
Awesome, thank you!
So, since I install everything with DIM, should I uninstall via DIM and then reinstall to the newly specified drive? If I do that, where will all those install packages be located? Can they be moved as well, since they are taking up huge amounts of drive space on my C drive? I'm never really sure how much of the downloaded package is saved separately from the installed library files.
Moving just the library folders seems easiest. But, I do like DIM to keep track of what is installed or not.
I guess what I'm asking is: what are the potential issues with the install records and Connect content, and how to fix them so I don't have missing or duplicate content and records?
One more thing...How will moving content affect previously saved scene files and presets? Will Studio automatically update those scenes and find the correct files?
You don't need to uninstall/reinstall - the only potential issue, if you tell DIM to use the current path for updates instead of the original, is where an update removes a file (as has happened in a few cases) - since it will be looking in the wrong place for the file to remove it will leave it. One option is to use a text editor to batch-edit the Manifests to correct the install path.
The downloads folder can be moved in DIM's preferences. The Manifests (and Thumbnials) folder can't, but can be moved by editing the account.ini file in C:/Users/YOU/AppData/Roaming/Daz 3d/InstallManager/Accounts/
For the record, I have moved all of my content on both my PC and my laptop to portable drives and once you have everything pointed in the right direction it works perfectly. There is a thread with exact details on what to do floating around somewhere, I will hunt it down and post a link. It makes it very easy to point DIM in the right direction etc.
Okay here is the thread that explains it in detail.
Also very important to wear your ear muffs, hum "Ride of the Valkyries", and wear an orange sweater when you do this.... otherwise... calamity. :)
I'm looking at the thread, right now...looks like it is about converting older sets to Iray...Is this the right link?
Probably not lol. Let me see if I can find the right one.
Okay I fixed the link to point to the right place