Issue encountered with Steam service.
Issue encountered with Steam service.
I only have one game from Steam called "Skyrim" installed, and I upgraded to a new HDD. I moved the Steam files to the new drive because I no longer need the old one. After that, when I tried to launch Skyrim, it told me it couldn't find the Steam files. I don’t want to re-download everything or reinstall all mods—it’s frustrating with Steam.
I didn't reinstall Steam, just transferred the files to a new hard drive.
As @JaredM54 mentioned, you can't simply move files after reinstalling Steam. To protect your games, always use Steam's backup or restore tools. Otherwise, unless you reinstall on the original drive and follow the right steps, you'll need to re-download everything.
Both of your ideas are incorrect. You need to create a new Steam library folder, place the game there, and configure Steam in settings. You can have multiple library locations and move them freely. When installing or downloading, Steam will recognize the existing files and verify them before allowing play.