Consider upgrading or installing fresh.
Consider upgrading or installing fresh.
I’m planning to swap out the GPU and think it’s time to move to Windows 11. I’m split between a full install, an upgrade, or waiting a few more years while Windows 10 stays supported. I’ll have to do it eventually, but I already have over 20 programs and tools that need reinstalling to get everything back in order—and I’m not excited about the whole process. Plus, upgrade installs usually come with less stability and uncertain results, which isn’t something I want to face.
Upgrade is an option if issues arise; you can always reinstall. Generally, most systems we've upgraded from 7/8/8.1 to 10 function well, as do those upgraded from 10 to 11. Speaking for myself, my friends, and my work colleagues.
Upgrading your GPU takes about 20 minutes. Switching from Windows 10 to 11 can range from 30 minutes to a month, depending on the issues encountered. After upgrading from 8.1 to 10, I spent weeks trying to fix things before realizing it was possible. Reinstalling requires an afternoon if you're ready. However, being prepared makes all the difference. If you prefer not to deal with it, stick with Windows 10—it's still functional as long as it's not out of support.
Your Steam setup should be on its own drive or partition for simplicity. Moving games to another drive before reinstalling can save time and avoid re-downloading. You can use a script to back up configuration and save game files for non-cloud games, then restore them later if needed. It makes the process much smoother.
It seems to function now. The previous attempt to migrate a Steam library ended in failure. I have the entire setup on a dedicated QVO drive, and simply installing Steam with a single click would be much better. Some components will require a full reinstall, mainly the VR interface elements, which should cut down on the re-downloading process.
It's consistently functioning? That's been true since I started using Steam. Each time I create a new version, I perform a fresh installation. My Steam Library is duplicated on multiple drives within my PC (just in case one fails), and I've upgraded them as my collection expands—Steam doesn't notice the changes once those drives are swapped. I also keep a backup of my library folder on a NAS device. Currently, it resides on a 22 TB WD Gold storage unit. This configuration is used on my son's PC too, though with smaller drives. If Windows is wiped, you'll need to reinstall Steam and point it to the library location. It will recognize the installed games and everything appears normal. When launching titles, some minor adjustments might be needed on the Windows side—like runtime or DirectX updates—but Steam handles those automatically (though they're minor). I aim to play 100 GB titles without re-downloading them. Just remember, games lacking cloud saves store their save files on the C: drive, no matter where the SteamLibrary folder is located (regrettably). Be sure to back up these files if you value your progress. In many instances, they contain settings and custom skins that may be saved there.
Do you understand if this applies to MS Store games as well? Or is it just too much of a forced reaction to deal with?