Poll of the Day > Game manager in the style of Steam just for my DRM free / CD games on my laptop?

(+) Yeah! (+)

So I've been putting some older games on my laptop, mix of GOG titles and discs games (with No CD patches once installed, this DVD drive is fucking loud). Rather than using a desktop folder as I am now, I'm wondering if anyone knows a suitable low spec manager where I can launch my games from that can go on my taskbar like Steam on my desktop. I'm unwilling to install Steam just to add them as Non Steam games, this system isn't particularly powerful after all, and it also would cause issues if I'm on my desktop and just want the nephews to play a game.

https://i.imgur.com/j4Z3qUE.png
Not the best method, as you can see.
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If all you care about is having a taskbar icon instead of a desktop one, you could just stick a shortcut to the folder on your desktop, possibly with a custom icon for ease of identification. Given that whatever launcher you use probably wouldn't be able to manage downloads anyway, I think that's all the functionality you're looking for, aside from not having a UI that sets it apart from normal file navigation (which is nice, but not altogether necessary).

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Right-click taskbar -> Toolbars -> New Toolbar

Point it to your folder with shortcuts.

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kind9 posted...

Right-click taskbar -> Toolbars -> New Toolbar

Point it to your folder with shortcuts.

Tried that, but can't get it quite as I want it and isn't as useful once I get all few dozen games installed.

adjl posted...

If all you care about is having a taskbar icon instead of a desktop one, you could just stick a shortcut to the folder on your desktop, possibly with a custom icon for ease of identification. Given that whatever launcher you use probably wouldn't be able to manage downloads anyway, I think that's all the functionality you're looking for, aside from not having a UI that sets it apart from normal file navigation (which is nice, but not altogether necessary).

More want something simple for others using the system (mostly nephews needing after school entertainment until their mum finishes work) where they aren't going to accidentally rename stuff, delete stuff, move stuff, etc. The folder with all the shortcuts will be able to remain safe while they can access the games through some simple client. The problem was finding one not linked to an account where I own dozens, hundred or even thousands of games, so they don't just decide to download more. :P

Someone suggested Playnite, so I'll look at how heavy it is, but if it won't be able to download anything from my various accounts, then the brats can only play what I installed.
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there really isn't one. the toolbar that points to a folder with shortcuts is probably your best option

you could try rainway


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DeltaBladeX posted...

More want something simple for others using the system (mostly nephews needing after school entertainment until their mum finishes work) where they aren't going to accidentally rename stuff, delete stuff, move stuff, etc. The folder with all the shortcuts will be able to remain safe while they can access the games through some simple client.

steam has family view, where you can select certain games that are the only ones available when you lock it into family view, requiring a PIN to unlock it. you can also create shortcuts to other non-steam/non-game programs in steam. (though not 100% sure custom programs would work with family view.)

you could also just restrict access to that shortcut folder so that only your user can modify the files. not always easy to do that kind of thing unless you have windows professional though, but I think home versions might be a little better these days. you can also change the settings on the window to hide the sidebars and have larger icons.

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Sahuagin posted...

you could also just restrict access to that shortcut folder so that only your user can modify the files. not always easy to do that kind of thing unless you have windows professional though, but I think home versions might be a little better these days. you can also change the settings on the window to hide the sidebars and have larger icons.

The laptop does actually have Professional, but I only have the single account on it. Not sure I want to bother making a secondary account for guests, I'm too lazy to log into mine.

Sahuagin posted...

steam has family view, where you can select certain games that are the only ones available when you lock it into family view, requiring a PIN to unlock it. you can also create shortcuts to other non-steam/non-game programs in steam. (though not 100% sure custom programs would work with family view.)

Didn't know about locking it in Family View to lock down installations, but I'd still take anything else, because account would be in use on my PC when they are using it.

Thanks for the suggestions though.
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DeltaBladeX posted...

The laptop does actually have Professional, but I only have the single account on it. Not sure I want to bother making a secondary account for guests, I'm too lazy to log into mine.

doesn't necessarily require logging into another account, as long as the current user only has read access (and some other user has write access). configuring it is as easy as visiting the security tab on the properties window.

(there is a registry setting available to enable opening windows explorer windows as administrator that makes it a lot easier to do this, though I seem to have lost the ability after upgrading to windows 10. not sure if it's still available or not.)

(it also helps if the current user is not an admin, and you have a separate admin login that you know the password to. most people don't run their computers this way, but they should.)

depending what you're trying to do, maybe just setting the read-only flag on the shortcut files could be sufficient too.

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Sahuagin posted...

depending what you're trying to do, maybe just setting the read-only flag on the shortcut files could be sufficient too.

I forgot that even existed.

And it just asks for permission, nothing they can't confirm anyway since I don't do accounts. Dang it. -_-
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Well, this software is doing well enough that I'll probably stick with it.
https://i.imgur.com/mdAvjYT.png

And I already know what I'm installing next.
https://i.imgur.com/IJYxNMO.jpg
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rainway is exactly what you want btw

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