Windows 7 and symlinked folders

I had everything working great when I was using Vista(64). I recently upgraded to Windows 7(64). I had my game folders on a different drive than my system, so the files remained untouched.

Now that I am trying to get my multiboxing setup working again, I a rather strange error. (see attachment)

I had this directory structure under Vista (64)
actual install directory

Code:

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D:\Program Files\World of Warcraft\

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Sym linked directories (to the install directory)

Code:

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D:\World of Warcraft\wow1\
D:\World of Warcraft\wow2\
D:\World of Warcraft\wow3\
D:\World of Warcraft\wow4\
D:\World of Warcraft\wow5\

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In addition, all the files and directories inside were symlinked (except the WTF folder).

I have tried deleting them and re-creating them again under Win7 to no avail. Here is an example command that I was using in an admin cmd window

Code:

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mklink "D:\World of Warcraft\wow1\Wow.exe" "D:\Program Files\World of Warcraft\Wow.exe"

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This command completes and makes the link, but it still won't let me start WoW.

I tried setting up new directories that only the folders were linked and actual copies of the executable files in each folder and the system slow down was as bad if I were running multiple folders of WoW.

Has anyone run into this problem or have any ideas on how to fix it?

I've not upgraded to Win7 yet (its on my Christmas list, so I don't want to buy it myself).

I did find this utility handy for symbolic links in Vista.
There is mention of Windows 7 in the history section of the site.

The program was virus free when I used it.
But I'd recommend you scan anything you download.

http://schinagl.priv.at/nt/hardlinks...kshellext.html

Tried it using this program, and got the same error message.

Steps I took:
Ctrl - A (select all files)
right Click > Pick link source
went to my wow1 folder
right click > Drop as... > symbolic link.


anyone have symlinked folders working in win7?

I have Win7 64 and used the program at the link Ualaa posted. I've not had any problems symlinking and resymlinking my folders {after patches}. Only troubleshooting I can give is do 1 file/folder at a time and make sure you run and install as admin.

I currently use symlinked folders (only Data and Interface folders) with Win7 64 with no hassles whatsoever. Also used the link posted by Ualaa. Doesn't solve your problem, but at least you know it works with Win7.

Oddly enough, I was able to symlink every file except the two executables. They worked fine linked in Vista. I wonder why the difference. I will have to wait till later tonight to find out if I get a performance increase or not. Thanks for the help.

Hmm..

I've never tried to Symlink the executables.
But now with virtual config files for IS Boxer, I just use a single folder.

If you are Symlinking then the only files that should not be actual copies of the original should be those files you are Symlinking in other words your WoW1-WoW5 should all have the Exe file in them along with everything else copied in there. Except for Data&Interface folder which you will want to Symlink, so main folder has everything, second-fifth folder has Data and Interface Symlinked. I use same program Ualaa mentioned with 0 issues running Win 7-64.

I don't really understand trying to symlink everything including the executables. How would that be any different than running 5x out of the same folder?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Khatovar

I don't really understand trying to symlink everything including the executables. How would that be any different than running 5x out of the same folder?

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the /WTF/ACCOUNT/* will be symlinked back to the master / distribution base install. But the /WTF/Config.wtf will be created and maintained separately for each install as would the .wdb files.

If you use the same directory, you would have to manually enter in login information, have the last logged out video / sound settings and so forth. Using the same cache would likely cause glitch issues.

c:\wow\master\wtf\account\khatovar1\ and c:\wow\master\wtf\account\khatovar2\ are real directories there are no symlinks within c:\wow\master
c:\wow\slave1\wtf\account\khatovar1\ and c:\wow\slave1\wtf\account\khatovar2\ are real directories and so are their parents
c:\wow\slave1\wtf\account\khatovar1 symlink to c:\wow\master\wtf\account\khatovar1\
c:\wow\slave2\wtf\account\config.wtf is a real file
c:\wow\slave1\wtf\account\khatovar2 symlink to c:\wow\master\wtf\account\khatovar2\
c:\wow\slave2\wtf\account\config.wtf is a real file

When I did the symbolic links, I was linking Cache, Data and Interface.
The WTF, with all of the settings was not linked.

It was easier to maintain a single interface folder for addons.
And only worry about updating one folder...
And then just check which toons used addons and which did not.
Then to have some addons in each folder of wow.

IS Boxer has virtualized config files.
Which gets me everything I wanted from symbolic links.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ualaa

When I did the symbolic links, I was linking Cache, Data and Interface.
The WTF, with all of the settings was not linked.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ualaa

It was easier to maintain a single interface folder for addons.
And only worry about updating one folder...
And then just check which toons used addons and which did not.
Then to have some addons in each folder of wow.

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Of course all the accounts would sym link the ~/Interface directory to the master one, only the master one needs updating (or any of the slaves can do it whatever) No need to update them all as they are all updated when one is updated since they are all the same files.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ualaa

IS Boxer has virtualized config files.
Which gets me everything I wanted from symbolic links.

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They aren't virtualized at runtime, either way they cannot be the same file.

Just out of curiosity what program are you using to launch the wow.exe? And did you make sure to point over to the exe of each copy of wow? If not as others have pointed out then you would not need to make copies of anything just run from one folder and deal with the setup. And yeah I would not Symlink the exe, its a small file so why not have it in the wow copies.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Marious

Just out of curiosity what program are you using to launch the wow.exe? And did you make sure to point over to the exe of each copy of wow? If not as others have pointed out then you would not need to make copies of anything just run from one folder and deal with the setup. And yeah I would not Symlink the exe, its a small file so why not have it in the wow copies.

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What does 'deal with the setup' mean?

How are they getting around the ~/WTF/Config.wtf placement if they are running it in the same directory?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by HPAVC

They aren't virtualized at runtime, either way they cannot be the same file.

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Not sure if they are virtualized at runtime or not.

I do know I can create a virtual file for each character.
In IS Boxer Toolkit, I expand Virtual Files and click on Config.wtf
And then drag each character who I'd like to have unique settings down to that list.

Any changes I make, in game or at the launcher, is remembered on a per character basis.
I can change the view distance on one of my five in game.
And have it not affect the other four.
And when I log into the game in the future, the settings I changed are remembered.
This is with a single wow folder, no symbolic links etc.