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Improve Handling When Storage Runs Out

LaunchBox for Windows

šŸ“‹ Summary

Improve LaunchBox behavior when a drive runs out of space during imports, media downloads, or file updates.

ā— Problem

If a drive becomes full while LaunchBox is downloading artwork or updating files, users may see an error and be unsure how to recover.

This can be especially confusing for less technical users who later move or clone their library to a larger drive but do not know whether LaunchBox can continue normally.

šŸ’” Proposal

When LaunchBox detects that storage is full, provide clearer recovery options and guidance.

This could include:

  • A clear ā€œdrive is fullā€ message

  • The affected folder or drive path

  • A retry option after space is freed

  • Guidance to free space or move the library/media folder

  • Better handling of incomplete media downloads

šŸ§© Use Cases

  • A user runs out of space while downloading game artwork

  • A user moves their LaunchBox setup to a larger drive

  • A user wants to retry failed downloads after freeing space

  • A less technical user needs clearer instructions on what went wrong

šŸ“¦ Benefits

  • Reduces confusion after storage-related errors

  • Helps users recover failed downloads

  • Prevents LaunchBox from feeling broken after a full-drive issue

  • Improves reliability for large libraries

āš ļø Considerations

LaunchBox should not attempt to resize drives or partitions itself, but it can provide clearer messaging and recovery tools when storage problems occur.

Posted by stephenslaunchbox2025 Ā·
Status: Open To Community3 comments

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Comments3

  • AstroBob changed status to Open To Community
    Teamā€¢

    Jul 14

    Pinned

    Hi there!

    Thanks so much for submitting this request and for taking the time to explain your use case ā€” that context is always super helpful.

    Iā€™ve gone ahead and fleshed out the main idea using the info you provided, and Iā€™m opening it up to the community for further discussion and feedback. Please let me know if this fleshed-out version doesnā€™t match your original intended request.

    Feel free to let me know if you have any extra thoughts, examples, or edge cases you think might be relevant!

    Cheers,
    The LaunchBox team

  • stephenslaunchbox2025

    ā€¢

    Jul 16

    oK it was during the update of the retrobat that it occured but i had been downloading cover art just before. it just needs something to stop it from wrecking itself when it updates. cause lack of space on hard drive. thanks it work from inside the system by going two layer down into retrobat files to a deep inside. i put retro on a drive all by itself for making sure it will work right. but i have to go to drive e: then retrobat/retrobat/retrobat/Batgui application. file size 63, 574 kb to make it start and then i can play games. interestly enough it is still used by playstation one the whole time and worked so it starts it from somewhere else too. not sure i am finding all games but some are so old even i donā€™t want to play them. I am sorry i just forgot something. i will try to tell you about it later. got to go study. old man stuff.

  • stephenslaunchbox2025

    ā€¢

    Jul 14

    Allow expansion of storage areas determined by launchbox when hard drive are cloned larger.

    I was getting some art on my retroarch games and i have an old hard drive. well it is full at the time and i didnā€™t know it but then an error occured (in french saying hard drive is full) and it wonā€™t work right anymore. but in hopes that it will fix itself one day i am cloning the hard into a much larger hard drive to attempt to get my games back as i am not good at this stuff that is new to me. i try to add a files and it never wants to let me find it and then drive is full so i canā€™t so now it as clone will have enough room but will it allow it to be done??? anyway i plan to attempt if this works in cloning to add more games until it expands into the new area as i donā€™t know how to do it myself. Any ideas would help thanks.