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How can I create an NTFS junction point in Windows XP?
How to create an NTFS junction?
Answers
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.
Maxim Welikobratov
Posted 2010-05-28T09:34:15.560
Reputation: 211
7
Try junction utility from Sysinternals, it's available on W2k+
Note: This tool only allows you to link local volumes. You can't symlink to a remote location. – Aaron Franke – 2017-02-28T03:46:13.187
I.e. it does not support the symbolic link proper, but only the “directory junction” — an older form of NTFS reparse point developed for Windows 2000. – can-ned_food – 2017-10-14T04:12:36.693
6
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.
Dominik Weber
Posted 2010-05-28T09:34:15.560
Reputation: 285
NTFS Junctions do not actually provide multiple references to MFT items. Thinking that they are exactly like multiple hardlinks with file nodes is a misconception — one which I also shared until recently. They are simply reparse tags on directory nodes. You can test this by making a directory junction and then using fsutil reparsepoint delete the_directory-junction_you_made_to_test_this. You will have a distinct and probably empty directory node. – can-ned_food – 2017-10-14T05:34:40.980
19mklink doesn't exist on winxp, I believe. – skaffman – 2010-08-23T19:48:20.700
5mklink introduced in Vista – None – 2012-07-11T18:36:17.313
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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
Toughy
Posted 2010-05-28T09:34:15.560
Reputation: 133
1
Here's the "live" link for junction.exe.
Orwellophile
Posted 2010-05-28T09:34:15.560
Reputation: 451
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.
BenH
Posted 2010-05-28T09:34:15.560
Reputation: 189
4mklink is not native to xp - it was only introduced on Vista. – cup – 2015-11-07T17:40:34.150
0
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.
Roman R.
Posted 2010-05-28T09:34:15.560
Reputation: 133
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.
vasili111
Posted 2010-05-28T09:34:15.560
Reputation: 479
When I try to create a symlink to a remote folder, I get the error "Cannot create a link at: [foldernamehere]". An empty folder is created, but no link. – Aaron Franke – 2017-02-28T04:14:05.083