Why won’t Star Citizen install on my external hard drive?
If you’re excited to dive into the immersive world of Star Citizen but struggling to install it on your external hard drive, you’re not alone. Many players have reported the same issue, leaving them wondering what’s causing the problem. In this article, we’ll dive into the common causes of installation errors and provide solutions to help you successfully install Star Citizen on your external hard drive.
Why can’t Star Citizen be installed on an external hard drive?
While it’s technically possible to install Star Citizen on an external hard drive, it’s not recommended by the developers themselves. According to Cloud Imperium Games, Star Citizen requires a specific configuration and settings to run smoothly and efficiently. Here are a few reasons why they suggest installing the game on a local drive:
| Reason | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Performance | External hard drives typically have slower read/write speeds compared to internal hard drives, which can result in slower loading times, higher latency, and lower FPS. |
| Installation Folder | Star Citizen has strict requirements for the installation folder, which is only accessible on a local drive. |
| Launcher Cache | The RSI Launcher is designed to cache frequently-used files on the installation drive, which is more effectively managed on a local drive. |
Solution: Check your installation requirements and settings
Before proceeding with the installation, make sure you meet the game’s minimum system requirements, specifically the storage requirements:
Minimum System Requirements
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| Operating System | 64-bit Windows 7 SP1 or later, macOS 10.9.5 or later, 64-bit Linux with recent updates |
| CPU | 3.2 GHz Intel Core i3 (or equivalent) |
| RAM | 8 GB |
| Storage | 80 GB available space for installation |
Additionally, check your installation settings and library folder to ensure it’s set to the correct path:
Settings Check:
- Launch the RSI Launcher.
- Click on "Settings" and then select "Library Folder".
- Verify that the "Location" is set to an internal drive (C:/ or equivalent).
External Hard Drive Installation Failures
If you still attempt to install Star Citizen on an external hard drive and encounter errors, don’t worry! We’ll break down the common errors and their solutions:
"Insufficient Disk Space Error"
- Caused by: External hard drives often have limited free space, which can trigger the error.
- Solution: Free up additional disk space on the external drive or consider installing on an internal drive.
"Installation Folder Error"
- Caused by: Star Citizen requires a specific installation folder structure, which is not supported on external drives.
- Solution: Install the game on an internal drive instead or consider using a workaround such as a virtual machine with an internal drive.
"Launcher Cache Error"
- Caused by: The RSI Launcher caches files on the installation drive, which may be affected by external drives’ slower performance.
- Solution: Consider relocating the launcher cache folder to an internal drive for faster performance.
Final Word
Installing Star Citizen on an external hard drive might not be the best idea, but it’s still possible with some compromises and workarounds. We hope this article has helped clarify the reasons behind installation issues and provided solutions for getting the game up and running on your external hard drive. Remember to meet the minimum system requirements and verify your installation settings for the best gaming experience.
What do you think about our findings? Share your experience with installing Star Citizen in the comments below!
Related Reading: How to Install and Setup Star Citizen on your System
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