extend hard disk space by symlinking directories to a secondary drive.

relink-gog-folders.cmd

@echo off
rem CHANGE THESE FOLDERS APPROPRIATELY!!
set OFDIR=M:\SITES\GOG_OVERFLOW
set DESTDIR=R:\SITES\GOG

echo ---- relink GOG disk folders ----
echo . (c) 2022/08 shakeyourbunny
echo.
echo PRIMARY GOG archive disk folder: %DESTDIR%
echo OVERFLOW GOG disk folder       : %OFDIR%
echo.
echo !!!! CHECK YOUR FOLDERS FIRST BEFORE PROCEEDING !!!!!
echo (you also need admin privileges for doing that)
echo.
echo.
echo !!! symbolic links on %DESTDIR% WILL BE DELETED AND RECREATED!!!!
echo.
echo Stop now with ctrl+c or ...
pause


cd /D %DESTDIR%
echo Removing all symbolic links on %DESTDIR%.
for /f %%c in ('dir /al /b') do rmdir %%c

dir /b /Ad %OFDIR% > overflow_directories.txt
for /f %%c in ('type overflow_directories.txt') do mklink /D %%c %OFDIR%\%%c
echo.
echo Done.
pause

This script adds all directorys from %OFDIR% into the %DESTDIR" as symbolic links.

In essence, you just move your offline GOG folders to the other drive into %OFDIR%, start the script and they will be linked back as symbolic links. The download scripts (ie gogrepoc) should not notice a difference and their downloads will be redirected to the respective folder in %OFDIR%.

Some notes:

• it does only work with NTFS drives (and within Windows)
• your logged in user needs the SeCreateSymbolicLinkPrivilege privilege.
• if you are not administrator, add yourself in the local security policy under Security Settings > Local Policies > User Rights Assignment > create symbolic links policy.
• double check before the first start, if you got the directories right.