Switching between portable files

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I have an issue with changing computers/networks with my PORTABLE file setups.

I run my MT4/MT5 files in portable mode in my GoogleDrive.  I create a shortcut and change the properties.  That seems to be working well enough.  I setup my charts, EAs, presets etc.

BUT, when I then open the file on another computer this is where the issues start.

When I open the shortcut everything appears to be how it should, however my MQL5 account is signed out, and even after signing in, my Market expert advisors just don't work.  They are showing in the navigator screen.  I refresh them.  I try to add them to the now chart, and it just does nothing. 

I have to delete the EA, go to market, search again, download again, then attach it to the chart, then reconfigure my presets.  Multiply this by many charts and many files, it becomes very time consuming.

(The starting letter of the directory can change depending on the computer, so I ensure I create a new shortcut and go through the portable process again. Regardless of whether I use the original shortcut or the new one - it makes no difference.)

Does anyone know why this would be and how I can fix it please!!!!  It's not just one EA - it's any that I use from Market.

 

Please read the following. It also applies in this case ...

Forum on trading, automated trading systems and testing trading strategies

MT5 Issue after Imaging onto a New SSD

Fernando Carreiro, 2024.09.23 22:22

The encryption used for account credentials and market product activations is dependant on various hardware IDs and OS IDs.

By changing your hard drive to a new SSD, all those encrypted details are lost because the hardware ID is no longer the same.

You will have to re-enter all the account credentials and re-activate all market products (which will cause you to lose an activation count on each).

 

A possible solution is to "share" only some of the directories. I use Microsoft Onedrive instead of Google drive and I make use of NTFS Junctions for certain folders between multiple "portable" setups.

For example, I share my "MQL5" folder, between setups, where all Indicators, EAs, Scripts, etc. are stored. This allows all my setups to share that folder, so when I add non-market programs to it, all the setups have access.

The same folder is also available to my VPS (normal VPS, not MT-VPS), which also uses OneDrive to keep it in sync.

So, the solution is to "share" only those folders that can be handled in this way, but not the folders that contain encrypted or signed data and have individual ones for each "portable" setup.

EDIT: Please note that Market products are signed, so they only work on per machine activation basis. Each computer will have a different ID and so Market products cannot be shared between different computers. They can however be shared between different "portable" setups on the same machine (with the same Windows user login and MQL5 Community login).

 
Fernando Carreiro #:

A possible solution is to "share" only some of the directories. I use Microsoft Onedrive instead of Google drive and I make use of NTFS Junctions for certain folders between multiple "portable" setups.

For example, I share my "MQL5" folder, between setups, where all Indicators, EAs, Scripts, etc. are stored. This allows all my setups to share that folder, so when I add non-market programs to it, all the setups have access.

The same folder is also available to my VPS (normal VPS, not MT-VPS), which also uses OneDrive to keep it in sync.

So, the solution is to "share" only those folders that can be handled in this way, but not the folders that contain encrypted or signed data and have individual ones for each "portable" setup.

EDIT: Please note that Market products are signed, so they only work on per machine activation basis. Each computer will have a different ID and so Market products cannot be shared between different computers. They can however be shared between different "portable" setups on the same machine (with the same Windows user login and MQL5 Community login).

Thank you.  Are you saying if I 'share' the files as you have suggested, I'll still run into this problem of the market product dropping off the chart?  Or will it fix it?
 
Fernando Carreiro #:

A possible solution is to "share" only some of the directories. I use Microsoft Onedrive instead of Google drive and I make use of NTFS Junctions for certain folders between multiple "portable" setups.

For example, I share my "MQL5" folder, between setups, where all Indicators, EAs, Scripts, etc. are stored. This allows all my setups to share that folder, so when I add non-market programs to it, all the setups have access.

The same folder is also available to my VPS (normal VPS, not MT-VPS), which also uses OneDrive to keep it in sync.

So, the solution is to "share" only those folders that can be handled in this way, but not the folders that contain encrypted or signed data and have individual ones for each "portable" setup.

EDIT: Please note that Market products are signed, so they only work on per machine activation basis. Each computer will have a different ID and so Market products cannot be shared between different computers. They can however be shared between different "portable" setups on the same machine (with the same Windows user login and MQL5 Community login).

Sorry just to clarify...  So when sharing files, do you still go through the portable process?  I'm a little confused as to how to approach this suggestion.

I usually copy the entire folder, create a shortcut and change the properties.  This entire folder sits in my drive.  Then if I need another terminal, I copy the entire folder and step through the processes again.
 
Carmen Louise Hamilton #: Thank you.  Are you saying if I 'share' the files as you have suggested, I'll still run into this problem of the market product dropping off the chart?  Or will it fix it?

As I stated, Market Products are signed and activated on a per computer basis. They cannot be shared. They will have to be local files/directories, not shared via the cloud drive ...

"Please note that Market products are signed, so they only work on per machine activation basis. Each computer will have a different ID and so Market products cannot be shared between different computers. They can however be shared between different "portable" setups on the same machine (with the same Windows user login and MQL5 Community login)."

 
Carmen Louise Hamilton #:  Sorry just to clarify...  So when sharing files, do you still go through the portable process?  I'm a little confused as to how to approach this suggestion.

You can use NTFS Junctions, with both portable and non-portable mode. I just happen to only use portable mode in my setups, but it can be used with both.

Carmen Louise Hamilton #: I usually copy the entire folder, create a shortcut and change the properties.  This entire folder sits in my drive.  Then if I need another terminal, I copy the entire folder and step through the processes again.

You can certainly copy an entire folder to another location on the same drive/computer with little to no issues, when using "portable" mode.

But, when coying to a different machine, any signed/encrypted files will fail and need to be recreated or activated on the new hardware/software setup.

So, "sharing" the entire directory via a "cloud drive" will not work. You will need to be selective about which sub-folders are "shared" and which ones need to be local only.

 
Fernando Carreiro #:

You can use NTFS Junctions, with both portable and non-portable mode. I just happen to only use portable mode in my setups, but it can be used with both.

You can certainly copy an entire folder to another location on the same drive/computer with little to no issues, when using "portable" mode.

But, when coying to a different machine, any signed/encrypted files will fail and need to be recreated or activated on the new hardware/software setup.

So, "sharing" the entire directory via a "cloud drive" will not work. You will need to be selective about which sub-folders are "shared" and which ones need to be local only.

Thanks again, can you please advise which folders are best to remain on local and this  shared?
 
Carmen Louise Hamilton #: Thanks again, can you please advise which folders are best to remain on local and this  shared?

That depends on your needs. In my case, I just needed to share the "MQL5" folder, so I did not do extensive research into all the folders to see which are "safe" or not.

Given that many of the required files, such as Profiles, Charts, Presets, Templates, etc. are under the "MQL5" directory, that will probably cover most of your needs, but you will have to experiment based on your requirements.

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