Similar to Linux, windows has symbolic file and hardlink file as well. Keep in mind that symbolic file is not shortcut.

 

how to create a symbolic file:

 

mklink /options link originalFile_path

options:

  • J: folder symbolic link.
  • H: create a hard link
  • D: create a shortcut

eg. You have a folder called files in volume D: , you want to create a symbolic file which is called file pointing to this folder. Use this command

C:> mklink /J file D:\files
Junction created for file <<===>> D:\files

I have not tried other options, but it seems if you don’t use /J (Junction) option you will have to do a registry hack.

You can verify the link with dir command.

Usage:

This can be useful for Program that does not provide configuration option to move some big file from C: (system drive) to another drive. E.g. Itunes mobile backup ( typically in C:\Users\user_name\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup ).

So, you can move this folder to another drive, e.g. D:\Backup, and then make a symbolic file.

mklink /J C:\Users\user_name\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup D:\Backup
Show the existing links in a drive

 

dir /AL /S C:\
  • /A displays all files with a specific attribute, and L specifies reparse points (symlinks and directory junctions)
  • /S makes the command recursive
  • replace C:\ with the drive letter you want to scan, or with a path if you don’t want to scan an entire drive
Reference:

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa365682(v=vs.85).aspx