INstalling DS in Windows 11
Choppski
Posts: 627
Hi everyone, I have a new computer and it's windows 11. My old one is windows 10. Is there anything I need to know about how and where to install Daz studio so that after I transfer my scene files, presets etc, they will open? My content is mostly on an external drive, so that I am not worried about. Honestly mostly worried about having to reinstall several tools and plugins. I know the drive path for my content like scenes, presets, etc on my current computer, but not sure if that will be the same on windows 11. Any advice appreciated. I have a ton of setup to do on the new computer before I can think about daz studio, but I want to be able to view my current scenes.
THanks in advance!
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The main thing is to make sure that it is not in WindowsS mode, which prevents the isnbtallation of anything not from the Windows App store.
A ton of setup?
A migration to new computer + OS Win11 can be easily done ~ Pls check this full procs. You may get it done in half an hour....
https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/comment/9128591/#Comment_9128591
Ok, so If my current setup is that my library on external drive is F then when I copy the ssd should be F also?
I have much of what is listed on that page on an ssd drive but it is not the one where my libraries are because I don't know if I have room. I guess I can try. All the files you are mentioning are NOT the content library, so must I have those files on the save drive as the conent library? Sort of confused about that.
If I understan, the plan you indicate is essentially to overwrite ds with data from my old computer. will that work if I am currently using DS4,22 but have to install 4.24 because that is what's available?
THanks for the information
Better be F if you can make it 'cause that'll save some of your effort to re-configure the path(s) in Content Directory Manager (CDM) ~~ If you cannot make it, just do the re-configuration in CDM.
Content Libary is much simpler comparing to Smart Content, and it just comes from your Daz Library or Libraries that you set up the paths in CDM. As long as you simply migrate (copy/paste) your Daz Libraries to wherever a DISK on your new PC or an SSD, make sure the paths of them are correctly configured in CDM, that'll do ~
In your case, you can either upgrade to 4.24 in you old PC before overwriting, or firstly copy the application folder of 4.22 to your new PC firstly, then install 4.24 there with DIM. If you want to keep 4.22, replicate its application folder and add a suffix to the folder name.
I am not sure what the application folder is.
About a year ago I started using the install manager simply because manual installation meant I kept having packages with filenames too long for windows. And, I like the ability to review where i installed stuff. I know how to set up the libraries in DS (preferences, Content Directory Manage) to direct them to my external drive. I have also gone through the problem of moving to a new computer and then having to find files for every scene file. THAT is what I was hoping to avoid. And it would be great if I could transfer my install manager information. If I could keep 4.22 I would also be thrilled. I am just not sure I follow everything in your directions. But I can always try.
And the registry part you mention confused me a bit.
Or rather, I don't understand what you mean by replicate the 4.22 application folder and add a suffix. I found what you mean by application folder in the other thread. I can copy that to the new computer, THEN install ds4.24, then replicate the application folder with an added suffix? Sorry to keep asking questions. I know the program well, but not the underpinnings--clearly!
Add older version number to the folder name as a suffix ~~ like the ones shown in below screenshot.
And if I do that, when I open ds it will use the earlier version?
Also, I would do this before doing anything mentioned in the earlier thread?
No ~~ you need to create different shortcuts for different older DS version.
Yes of course.
OK thanks. I have asked daz if they will give me a download of 4.22, but if they won't I will definitely try this. Thank you for your help. Somehow I assumed that Windows 11 might have a very different file setup.
I made the upgrade from Win10 to Win11 in Q2 of last year. File setup in Win10 and Win11 are 100% same.
You're welcome. Good luck !
OK one last question, if I don't install DS 4.24, the DS4.22 I copy over won't work, correct?
It'll work, still.
@Choppski,
I’ll be following the same path as you in about a week. I’m a hobbyist who has been using a laptop (Windows 10 Pro, 16 GB RAM, RTX 2060 with 6 GB VRAM) exclusively DS for more than six years now. I bought a new desktop last week (Windows 11 Home Pro, 32 GB RAM, RTX 4070 Super with 12 GB VRAM) and will pick it up on Friday.
I’m running DS 4.21 and DS 4.24 Beta on my laptop and I too have all of my content on an external 5TB drive except for that which installed with Daz Studio itself to my root SSD drive. I install DAZ3D content with DIM and manually install content from other sites. I have another 5 TB external drive with the same content installed manually. My plan is to install both versions of DS on my new desktop and to initially use the backup external drive for installed content. I’m thinking that later, I may copy the installed content to the desktop’s internal drives; it comes with a 1 TB SSD and a 4 TB HDD.
Here's wishing us both good luck on our journeys.
How did you find a laptop with that kind of storage? I think I am going to need to upgrade from my 2TB external to a 4. I have a similar laptop to your new one except it came with only 1 TB of SSD storage.
I did a lot on online browsing to find what I wanted at a price that I was willing to pay. I bought my Lenovo laptop in August 2019. It has a 500 GB SSD and a 1 TB HDD. I was happy with it then and am happy with it now. With the changes coming with Daz Studio 2025, I wanted a computer with a newer video card that has more memory than my laptop’s 6 GB and I did not want an RTX 5000 series GPU. After two or three weeks of searching, I settled on a CLX desktop at Best Buy. The brand may not be that well known, but I first saw a display model several years ago at a Navy Exchange store; NEX still carries CLX desktops as well as other well known and less well known brands.
i just saw this. So if I just copy over everything without installing DS 4.24 on the new machine, my 4.22 will work?
You need to migrate DS settings from %appdata% as well as merge the registry after copying DS application folder... so as to make it literally work
Actually you can freely practice the steps in my post to develop the experience of migration... no harm at all.
Ok thanks. However, right now I am dealing with the realization that windows 11 does not use the users/username/document path but users/username/onedrive/document. My one drive isn't on or signed in and I don't want to sync because then I have to pay MS (evil) for GB. So I am not sure if the plan you outlined will work for me.
I never use OneDrive and the folder structure of win user in Win11 is 100% as same as Win10 on my side. I uninstalled OneDrive many many years ago.
Besides, my migration steps has nothing to do with OneDrive. Also suggest you never place Daz Library to OneDrive.
I am trying to get rid of one drive. I have to use it for work, but the issue currently is that the folders for document have a drive path that uses it even though I am not signed in. Working on getting rid of it.
Ok so I switched to a local account. and I learned how to change the folders to the path I want. God I hate Microsoft sometimes.
I think it worked. at least I can open 4.22. But it tells me I can only have one version running. AND, it asks me about a document folder in one drive which has nothing from DAZ in it. not sure why it is doing that. I should be able to open 4.24 also, right?
I can open both, so thank you. 4.24 is not bad though. I keep getting a message about the need for a specific documents drive. It's odd. And the app is wonky. Like if I load a figure or scene, it the app minimizes and then gets large again. I think I should upgrade the memory, and likely add an SSD which I discovered I can do. Again, thanks.
If things continue to be "odd" I could technically uninstall everything, install 4.24 on my old machine, then do the whole thing again right. The DIM for sure picked the right document location, but I wonder about the new ds app. Or maybe it's just one item. Not sure.
If they're both DS General Release, yes, you can only run one version. If you want to run both DS 4.22 and DS 4.24, install latest DS 4.24 Public Build (Beta version) instead.
I've not experienced DS asking for a document folder... any screenshot ?
When loading a figure or a scene, DS window minimizes then maximizes ? Never seen that in Windows 10 / 11 ~~
BTW, have you registered all the installed plugins ?
The message is weird. It says that it cannot find Users/username/onedrive/documents. but then it says for more information contact info@alessandro something.com. I looked him up. He's the PA that does all the animals. I suspect that there is some issue with that item. In any case, I just hit ok and everything seems fine. I will stick with 4.24. I should have tested it before switching computers. Many of my tools weren't there right away, but that was easy enough to fix.
Yes, except animate which I did not think I have, but I will check.
And yes, it minimizes and then maximizes.