Trouble saving libraries in an external drive

Vox Chronos

Hello. My current computer has very limited storage space and since I don't have the money for a new computer, I planned to use a 1 terrabyte external drive to store the instruments. Kontakt installed perfectly fine, but every time I try to install the instruments, I can't because it says the installation path is invalid. Getting the instruments on the external drive is the only way I'll be able to use them, since my computer doesn't have enough storage. Is there a way to fix this so it works?

mykejb

I installed Komplete onto a computer with limited internal space earlier in the week. The way I did it was to to leave the Application and the two VST locations in Native Access as the default. Created a content folder on the external drive (I called mine D:\Native Instruments) then changed the Content location to that folder. Created a download folder (imaginatively named D:\Downloads) and changed the Download location to that location. That way all the temporary stuff has space to download.

See if that works for you

-- Mike

Milos

I had the same issue and this tip solved it:

Just make a custom folder inside This PC specificaly for NI plugins.

Let me know if it works.

Milos

I forgot to say something:

After you make a custom folder inside This PC, go to the File Management and change the VST3 location to that folder.

Then make sure that there are no plugins on the older folder, for the sake of memory storage.

Again, let me know it this solves the issue.

Vox Chronos

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/113587#Comment_113587

Could you elaborate? I have a Windows 11 computer if that helps. Where would you recommend I make the custom folder? Or can it be anywhere?

Vox Chronos

Also by plugins do you mean instruments? Or are you talking about VST plugins?

Vox Chronos

I don't see an option to change the VST3 location. Could it be because I'm using native access 2?

Vox Chronos

VST3 location is hardcoded and cannot be changed.

Kymeia

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/113590#Comment_113590

Seriously do not do this if you don't want to mess up your system and NI installs. The VST3 path has to be in a set location.

Milos

Again, he can just later delete the files from the older folder if the memory is the problem as well...

Kymeia

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/19514/trouble-saving-libraries-in-an-external-drive

You should not install the plugin itself onto the external drive, that should go in your plug-ins folder on the main drive. What needs to be installed on the external drive is the Kontakt libraries. However I suspect the problem may be the lack of space on the main drive, just to install onto your external drive still requires some disk space on your main drive which is where Native Access will download the installers to and run them from. You could try setting the download folder and the content location in Native Assess settings to both be on the external drive so your PC is not having to use the internal drive as much.

Vox Chronos

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/113611#Comment_113611

I tried that and that's how I ran into the invalid installation path problem. I haven't been able to find help on this anywhere else.

mykejb

I installed Komplete onto a computer with limited internal space earlier in the week. The way I did it was to to leave the Application and the two VST locations in Native Access as the default. Created a content folder on the external drive (I called mine D:\Native Instruments) then changed the Content location to that folder. Created a download folder (imaginatively named D:\Downloads) and changed the Download location to that location. That way all the temporary stuff has space to download.

See if that works for you

-- Mike

Vox Chronos

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/113691#Comment_113691

Praise God! That worked! Thank you!

Kymeia

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/113663#Comment_113663

OK but it's the same as what was suggested below that you said worked. Downloads and content on the external drive, plugins on the main (in the default locations). Anyway glad you got it working.