How to create and manipulate NTFS junction points

MORE INFORMATION

Sample Usage

• To create a junction point to your desktop:
  1. At a command prompt, type linkd mydesktop user profile\desktop (where user profile is the name of the user profile).
  2. Type dir mydesktop to display the contents of your desktop.
• To list the available volumes on your system, at a command prompt, type mountvol.

  \\?\Volume{e2464851-8089-11d2-8803-806d6172696f}\ C:\ 
  
  \\?\Volume{e2464852-8089-11d2-8803-806d6172696f}\ D:\ 
  
  \\?\Volume{e2464850-8089-11d2-8803-806d6172696f}\ R:\ 
  					

  NOTE: The string after "Volume" is the GUID that is used to identify a unique volume even if the drive letter changes.
  
  
• To mount your CD-ROM onto an NTFS junction point:
  1. At a command prompt, type md cd.
  2. Type mountvol cd \\?\Volume{e2464850-8089-11d2-8803-806d6172696f}\.
  3. Type dir cd to display the contents of your CD-ROM.
• To mount another volume onto an NTFS junction point on your system drive:
  1. At a command prompt, type md ddrive.
  2. Type mountvol ddrive \\?\Volume{e2464852-8089-11d2-8803-806d6172696f}\
  3. Type dir ddrive to displays the contents of drive D.
  NOTE: When you display the contents of a folder by using the "dir" command, NTFS junction points are indicated by {Junction}.
  
  
• To delete junction points:
  • To delete the mydesktop junction point, at a command prompt, type linkd mydesktop /d or Delrp mydesktop.
  • To delete the CD mount point, at a command prompt, type mountvol \\?\Volume{e2464850-8089-11d2-8803-806d6172696f}\ /d.
  • To delete the ddrive mount point, at a command prompt, type mountvol \\?\Volume{e2464852-8089-11d2-8803-806d6172696f}\ /d.

Usage Recommendations

• Use NTFS ACLs to protect junction points from inadvertent deletion.
• Use NTFS ACLs to protect files and directories that are targeted by junction points from inadvertent deletion or other file system operations.
• Never delete a junction point by using Explorer, a del /s command, or other file system utilities that walk recursively into directory trees. These utilities affect the target directory and all subdirectories.
• Use caution when you apply ACLs or change file compression in a directory tree that includes NTFS junction points.
• Do not create namespace cycles with NTFS or DFS junction points.
• Put all your junction points in a secure location in a namespace where you can test them out in safety, and where other users will not mistakenly delete them or walk through them.

Feature Comparison to DFS