I installed Google Drive and want to use it in order to backup some data scattered across my HDD.
I cannot get it to use these different directories because I can set only one folder in Google apps. I tried to create junctions and hard links to the outer directories, however it does not work ... any ideas how to correctly set it?
You could use what I used when I had the same issue with Dropbox. And that's to use: NTFS Junction Points like you said.
It's pretty much a worm hole in the file system that makes a shortcut without appearing like one to applications. There are downsides to using these as an antivirus would scan both folders (despite physically being the same), amongst other things.
Try something like Junction Link Magic instead of command lines if it helps.
Update: it appears JLM does not create junction points the way we wanted. Instead use Junction Master which creates hard links, and that will lie to applications the way we need it to. You can read more here.
Creating a link in Junction Master will allow Google Drive to see it in the options.
If we look at it in terms of shortcuts, consider a Junction Link as the shortcut file, and Destination as the original location.
And consider looking at tutorials to do this for Dropbox, as Google Drive similarly has only a single sync folder.
Oh and I'd avoid juntion points between drives!
I have significant experience with Junction Points and Symlinks and note the following results:
Junctions & SymLinks inside the Google Drive directory did NOT sync
Hardlinks offered no direct solution
Moving the actual directory to the Google Drive and creating the Junction from the ORIGINAL location TO the NEW (Google Drive) location DID sync (probably this would work for SymLinks as well)
Also: I haven't seen a problem with having junctions cross (LOCAL) drive boundaries (C: -> F:) and have done this extensively over the years). SymLinks are required to cross MACHINE boundaries (C: -> NetworkShare).
It's a PITA to move the directory and then link (and feels 'unnatural') but it works fine that way.
You could drag the actual folder to the Google Drive folder. Then create a shortcut to it where you originally had the folder.
using the /d parameter with mklink on windows worked very well for me
cd %userprofile%\Google Drive
mklink /d Documents %userprofile%\Documents
From the Command Prompt:
mklink /J "C:\Users\<username>\Google Drive\<folder>" C:\path\to\folder
Now Google Drive for Windows has a option for this. You just need to go to Preferences -> My Computer -> Choose Folder, then you can pick up a directory outside the Google Drive main directory, and it will be synced for you:
The uploaded directories, will be not available under the standard Google Drive directory. To access them online, you need to go to drive.google.com -> My Compututers -> Your Computer Name:
insync application for Windows, Mac and Linux supports aliases, shortcuts and ntfs junctions
Download from insynchq.com for 2 week trial, then 10$ one-off payment thereafter.
NOTE: I do NOT work for them
http://blog.redhed.org/2012/04/use-existing-folder-for-google-drive.html
Use Existing Folder for Google Drive I find it a bit annoying that my Google Drive folder has to be named "Google Drive". It is possible to place the Google Drive folder wherever you like if you go into Advanced configuration before you start using it, however no matter where you locate it it creates a Google Drive directory for storage of the files. I wanted to use an existing folder for Google Drive. I have a folder that I use with Live Mesh and Dropbox that I like to use for files synchronized to the cloud. I figured there would be a registry key or configuration file somewhere that would allow me to change the Google Drive location, but I could not find either. I decided to try something different. I used a symlink to point my Google Drive folder at my existing synchronized folder. Google Drive insists on being configured with an empty folder at the start (at least that is what I have read), so I temporarily removed the data from my synchronized folder, created the symlink, started Google Drive and then moved the data back.
Here are the steps you should follow.
Temporarily remove data from the existing folder you want to use. In my case I have a folder located at C:\Users\user\Documents Synchronize that I use for data synced to the "cloud". I removed data from that folder and put it somewhere else temporarily.
Create the symlink Run Command Prompt as Administrator and then create the symlink. My command looked like this:
mklink /J "C:\Users\user\Google Drive" C:\Users\user\Documents\Synchronize
The quotes are necessary since there is a space in Google Drive. The location I used for the symbolic Google Drive is the default location that the Google Drive installer will use. You can put it wherever you like, but since it is a symbolic link it isn't really going to take up any space, so it doesn't matter. The /J switch makes it a hard link. (C:\Users\"your username"\Google Drive is the default location for Google Drive)
If you want more information about symbolic links look here: howtogeek
Install and configure Google Drive You can just use the default configuration unless you created the symlink folder in a weird location.
Move data back to your existing folder I put my data back in C:\Users\user\Documents Synchronize and it immediately started to sync to my Google Drive in the "cloud".
Hurray!
Just a quick answer (to summarized) which work in windows 10:
mklink /D "C:\Users\name\Desktop\Your_shortcut" "C:\Users\name\AppData\Folder_to_link"
The first link will create the folder shortcut that points to the path of the second link.
(The symlink will look like a normal windows shortcut, but you will see the difference in file "type", it's not a "shortcut" but a "file folder" which has shortcut tab on it)
Just to synthesize another question/answer:
/D Creates a directory symbolic link. Default is a file symbolic link.
/H Creates a hard link instead of a symbolic link.
/J Creates a Directory Junction.
Link specifies the new symbolic link name.
Target specifies the path (relative or absolute) that the new link refers to.
/J and /D are different: only /J will work if you access the path from another machine.
Using mklink worked fine for me on Windows 10. Be sure to run CMD as Administrator.
C:\WINDOWS\system32>mklink /j "C:\Users\James\Google Drive\MyFolder" "C:\Users\James\Documents\MyFolder"
Junction created for C:\Users\James\Google Drive\MyFolder<<===>> C:\Users\James\Documents\MyFolder
Click on the Google Drive icon in your system tray (usually bottom right of your Windows task bar) Choose Preferences Choose Disconnect account, your Drive will be disconnected but your files will stay on your PC Click on the Google Drive icon again Sign in when asked, step through the set up until you reach screen 2 of 2 – then click Advanced setup Click Change to choose the folder name and location Your files will EITHER: 1) be re-synced down to your PC in this new location Delete the old folder and files – if you want to. 2) Compare existing files if you moved the Google Drive folder, or all contents into a new folder you choose.
