Junction - Sysinternals (original) (raw)

This browser is no longer supported.

Upgrade to Microsoft Edge to take advantage of the latest features, security updates, and technical support.

Junction v1.07

Article
09/29/2022

Introduction

Windows 2000 and later support junction points, where a directory serves as an alias to another directory on the computer. For example, if the directory D:\WIN specified C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32 as its target, then an application accessing D:\WIN\DRIVERS would in reality be accessing C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS. Unfortunately, Windows 2000 comes with no tools for creating junction points. You have to purchase the Windows 2000 Resource Kit, which comes with the linkd utility for creating junctions. I therefore decided to write my own junction point-creating tool: Junction. It creates NTFS junction points, it allows you to see if files or directories are actually reparse points. (Reparse points are the mechanism on which NTFS junctions are based. The Remote Storage Service uses reparse points as well as volume mount points.)

Note

Windows does not support junctions to directories on remote shares.

Using Junction

Syntax

To obtain reparse point information: junction.exe [-s] [-q] <file or directory>
To create a junction point: junction.exe <junction directory> <junction target>
To delete a junction point: junction.exe -d <junction directory>

Parameters

Parameter	Description
	Path to the file or folder to query for reparse point information
-s	Recurse subdirectories
	Name of the junction point to create or delete
	Full path to the target of the junction point to create
-d	Delete the junction point

Examples

To determine if a file is a junction, specify the file name:

junction c:\test

To list junctions beneath a directory, include the –s switch:

junction -s c:\

To create a junction c:\Program-Files for "c:\Program Files":

junction c:\Program-Files "c:\Program Files"

To delete a junction, use the –d switch:

junction -d c:\Program-Files

Return codes

0 - on success
-1 - on failed creation of new junction
0 - on failed deletion of junction (e.g. if file not found)
0 - on the check if a file is a junction fails (e.g. if file not found)

Download Junction (504 KB)

Runs on:

Client: Windows Vista and higher
Server: Windows Server 2008 and higher
Nano Server: 2016 and higher