How do I grant users permission to create hard links (using GPO or registry entries)?

Question

I'm working in an AD domain with one DC running Windows Server 2012 R2, and clients running mostly Windows 7 Professional.

I need to be able to grant certain user groups the permission to create hard links, hopefully via mklink /H SINK SOURCE.

I've already found a GPO which grants the permission to create soft links (that is, to run mklink SINK SOURCE) - for reference it's at Computer Configuration > Policies > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Local Policies > User Rights Assignment > Create symbolic links - but I need to be able to set the equivalent policy for hard links.

A registry entry to achieve the same end would be equally as useful - I can set a GPO to make the appropriate registry changes.

http://superuser.com/questions/193632/access-is-denied-error-when-i-mklink-on-windows-7 — Greg Askew, Oct 28 '15 at 18:26
@GregAskew It looks as though that answers the question only for soft links - something which I've already covered in my question. — snoopy91, Oct 29 '15 at 11:50
Creating hard links requires administrator permission, and there is not a builtin Windows right to grant permission to create hard links. — Greg Askew, Oct 29 '15 at 12:09
In Windows 8 and forward however, standard users can create hardlinks without any additional configuration or permissions. — tfrederick74656, Nov 11 '15 at 16:59

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Nov 12 '15 at 16:09

1

Easy answer: after much searching it seems as though it can't be done. Standard users cannot be allowed to create hard links in Windows 7.

answered Nov 12 '15 at 16:09

snoopy91

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How do I grant users permission to create hard links (using GPO or registry entries)?

1 Answers1