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Windows

Windows is less flexible than some other operating systems in respect of support for hard links and instant (Atomic) moves. In most cases, you need to use a single disk containing both your download location and media library. However, there is an option detailed below that will allow you to make use of hard links and instant (Atomic) moves if you run a two-disk setup.

Recommendation

If you want to make extensive use of hard links, we would recommend switching to another operating system. For more information and suggestions on this topic, join our Discord support channel. The link can be found at the bottom of every guide page.

Alternative recommendation

If moving away from using Windows with multiple disks is not an option, we suggest ignoring hard links and instant (Atomic) moves and using StableBit DrivePool. This will allow you to pool multiple disks to appear as one big disk, making it much easier to maintain and set up your file and folder structure.

It is possible that Windows Storage Spaces supports hard links, but this has not been verified by the Guides team. We are unable to provide support for setups that use Storage Spaces.

Folder Structure

The data folder has sub-folders for torrents and usenet, and each of these has sub-folders for tv, movie, and music downloads to keep things organized.

The media folder has nicely named TV, Movies and Music sub-folders. These are where your libraries reside, and what you’d pass to Plex, Emby, or JellyFin.

Whilst we have used data, you can name the root folder/share whatever you want. We suggest following the guide folder naming to make it easier for yourself and others to help you.

Folder Structure (one-disk setup or using DrivePool)

For this example, we will assume you have a one-disk setup with a large drive added as drive D:\, or are using StableBit DrivePool that created one big disk as drive D:\.

D:\data
├── torrents
│   ├── books
│   ├── movies
│   ├── music
│   └── tv
├── usenet
│   ├── incomplete
│   └── complete
│       ├── books
│       ├── movies
│       ├── music
│       └── tv
└── media
    ├── books
    ├── movies
    ├── music
    └── tv

After you create the base folders to use it's time to follow the #examples-how-to-set-up-your-paths-inside-your-applications for a one-disk setup.

Folder Structure (two-disk setup)

This is a bit more work, but the next best option you can do if you don't want to use the #alternative-recommendation with StableBit DrivePool.

For this example, we will assume you have one disk added as drive D:\, and a second disk as E:\.

disk 1

D:\data
├── torrents
│   └── movies
├── usenet
│   ├── incomplete
│   └── complete
│       └── movies
└── media
    └── movies

disk 2

E:\data
├── torrents
│   └── tv
├── usenet
│   ├── incomplete
│   └── complete
│       └── tv
└── media
    └── tv

After you create the base folders to use it's time to follow the #examples-how-to-set-up-your-paths-inside-your-applications for a two-disk setup.

Examples how to set up your paths INSIDE your applications

At the moment, we do not have Windows-based screenshots for all of the apps, but they might be added later.

So, in the meantime, use the Examples of how to setup your paths INSIDE your applications. However, for the paths, use the info provided below depending on whether you have a one-disk setup or a two-disk setup.

Linux used forward slash / and Windows uses backslash \
So if you see paths with a forward slash replace it with a backslash for Windows

We will assume you have a one-disk setup with a large drive added as drive D:/ or are using StableBit DrivePool that created one big disk as drive D:\.

D:\data\media\tv
D:\data\media\movies
D:\data\usenet\complete
D:\data\usenet\incomplete
D:\data\usenet
D:\data\torrents
D:\data\torrents
D:\data\torrents

We will assume you have one disk added as drive D:/ and a second disk as E:\.

D:\data\media\movies

Make sure your category paths are set up correctly so the media file ends up in the correct folder.

D:\data\usenet\complete
D:\data\usenet\incomplete

Make sure your category paths are set up correctly so the media file ends up in the correct folder.

D:\data\usenet

Make sure your category paths are set up correctly so the media file ends up in the correct folder.

D:\data\torrents

Make sure your label paths are set correctly so the media file ends up in the correct folder.

D:\data\torrents
D:\data\torrents
E:\data\media\tv

Make sure your category paths are set up correctly so the media file ends up in the correct folder.

E:\data\usenet\complete
E:\data\usenet\incomplete

Make sure your category paths are set up correctly so the media file ends up in the correct folder.

E:\data\usenet

Make sure your category paths are set up correctly so the media file ends up in the correct folder.

E:\data\torrents

Make sure your label paths are set up correctly so the media file ends up in the correct folder.

E:\data\torrents
E:\data\torrents

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