Administration - Games
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      Epic Games Launcher - Multiple System Images

      This article describes steps necessary to mitigate extra administrative work when using the Epic Games Launcher with Multiple System Images.

      Problem

      Multiple System Images are in use at a given center. When installing or updating Epic Games Launcher or its game library on one system image, the launcher is unable to locate the game library on the other system image.

      Solution

      1. Boot up a Machine running one of the system images with which you intend to utilize the Epic Games Launcher.

         

      2. Install the Epic Games Launcher per the Recommended Game Launcher Configuration guide.

         

      3. Install a game of your choosing (refer to steps 11-15 of the Recommended Game Launcher Configuration guide for Epic Games Launcher.

         

      4. Move (do not copy) the following folders into G:\Launchers\Epic Games\:

         

        %LOCALAPPDATA%\EpicGamesLauncher

        %PROGRAMDATA%\Epic

         

         

        NOTE 1:

        The above folder paths include environment variables which will expand to the correct path in your unique environment. Please copy and paste them into a Windows File Explorer address bar to locate them easily, then navigate up a directory to easily move the folder from its current location.

         

        NOTE 2:

        This process of moving the folders is only necessary one time after the Epic Games Launcher is installed.

         

        NOTE 3:

        The final path for each of the moved directories will be:

        G:\Launchers\Epic Games\EpicGamesLauncher

        G:\Launchers\Epic Games\Epic

         

      5. Observe that the directories no longer exist in %PROGRAMDATA% or %LOCALAPPDATA%, but do exist within G:\Launchers\Epic Games\.

         

         

      6. Open an elevated command prompt.

         

      7. Create a Directory Junction from the original folder locations to the new location you moved them to.

         

        mklink /j "%LOCALAPPDATA%\EpicGamesLauncher" "G:\Launchers\Epic Games\EpicGamesLauncher"

        mklink /j "%PROGRAMDATA%\Epic" "G:\Launchers\Epic Games\Epic\"

         

         

      8. Observe that there are now Directory Junctions in %PROGRAMDATA% and %LOCALAPPDATA% for the G:\Launchers\Epic Games\Epic and G:\Launchers\Epic Games\EpicGamesLauncher directories.

         

         

        NOTE:

        Aside from the "shortcut" type icon for the folder, when you browse to these directories they will function as though they are still in the original location, even though they are a pointer to the G:\ drive location.

         

      9. Shut down the Machine these changes were made to.

         

      10. Apply Writebacks for the System Image and Game Image pair for the machine you just shut down.

         

        (See Applying Writebacks for more information).

        Enter a comment when prompted (typically initials of the administrator, the date, and the contents (e.g. games, applications updated).

         

        Example:

        ABC - 01-12-2021 - Updated Fortnite, COD:MW (launched to install shaders), and Google Chrome.

         

         

      11. Boot up a Machine running your next system image and delete the Epic Games Configuration folders from the system image:

         

        %PROGRAMDATA%\Epic

         

         

        %LOCALAPPDATA%\EpicGamesLauncher\

         

         

      12. Repeat steps 6 through 11 for each additional System Image in order to create the Directory Junctions.

        

      Additional Information

      If your center must run multiple system images because multiple Machine types with different hardware (e.g. AMD vs nVidia graphics cards, AMD vs Intel CPUs, etc) exist that cannot run on the same system image, some applications installed on one system image may not function correctly on a second system image without workarounds.

      In this case, Epic Games Launcher stores its configuration in a location on the system image, which means without moving its configuration to the games image which is shared between the system images, this issue will continue.

      This same general procedure can be used for any game or application that stores its configuration files on the system image (e.g. in the user profile, or elsewhere on the C:\ drive).