How to create an NTFS junction?

Question

How can I create an NTFS junction point in Windows XP?

score 11 · Answer 1 · answered Mar 26 '11 at 14:14

11

By default Windows XP dosn't have tools to make junction point. This tool (linkd) is part of Windows Resource Kit Tools.

Another tool is junction by Mark Russinovich.

answered Mar 26 '11 at 14:14

Maxim Welikobratov

211

score 9 · Answer 2 · edited Oct 17 '12 at 22:46

Is your definition of junction point a directory that is hardlinked to another one?

If so it is simple

mklink /J <new directory to be linked> <target directory>

After this there is no distinction between the directories. They have the same MFT_REF (from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NTFS_symbolic_link).

fsutil can also be helpful to query reparse-points and make hardlinks.

If you wanted to know how to programmatically do this, you can us NTFS storage driver IOCTL calls on the volume handle. But it would be easier to just call mklink.

Be advised that you have to have write and modify privileges for the target directory. You will need to run cmd.exe elevated for it to work.

score 7 · Answer 3 · answered Jan 02 '12 at 08:29

7

Try junction utility from Sysinternals, it's available on W2k+

answered Jan 02 '12 at 08:29

score 3 · Answer 4 · answered Oct 17 '12 at 22:04

You may also use Link Shell Extension as a GUI-oriented interface. It can create junctions, hard links and even symlinks on Windows XP if you install the NTFS 5 filter driver from Masatoshi Kimura as described. http://schinagl.priv.at/nt/hardlinkshellext/hardlinkshellext.html

score 1 · Answer 5 · answered Aug 19 '13 at 08:29

1

Here's the "live" link for junction.exe.

http://live.sysinternals.com/junction.exe

answered Aug 19 '13 at 08:29

Orwellophile

549
6
9

score 1 · Answer 6 · edited Jun 12 '20 at 13:48

1

NATIVE Windows XP, 7, & 8 COMMAND:

Directory Junction:
mklink /J <oldpath(link)> <newpath(target)>

Making the newpath absolute, you'll be able to move link without breaking the pointer to the newpath. If you make the newpath relative, you'll be able prevent breaking the link, as long as you move BOTH the link and target TOGETHER and maintain their relative paths.

edited Jun 12 '20 at 13:48

Community

1

answered Sep 25 '15 at 14:58

BenH

189

score 0 · Answer 7 · answered Oct 05 '12 at 19:49

You create junction point with

REPARSE_MOUNTPOINT_DATA_BUFFER* pReparseInfo = // ...
pReparseInfo->ReparseTag = IO_REPARSE_TAG_MOUNT_POINT;
// ...
DeviceIoControl(..., FSCTL_SET_REPARSE_POINTFSCTL_SET_REPARSE_POINT, pReparseInfo, ...

API call. pReparseInfo points to REPARSE_MOUNTPOINT_DATA_BUFFER structure you need to provide.

MSDN article has a community provided code snippet at the bottom of the page that shows how to use the API.

score 0 · Answer 8 · answered Jun 29 '14 at 08:51

0

You can make NTFS junction with special software. I recommend Link Shell Extension (LSE). It is freeware and easy to use. It also has good documentation with screenshots of all steps.

answered Jun 29 '14 at 08:51

vasili111

537

How to create an NTFS junction?

8 Answers8

NATIVE Windows XP, 7, & 8 COMMAND:

Linked