Windows 10: Using/understanding junctions and links

My question is about understanding what a junction or link means. Short version first, longer second.

This link:





Properties indicates "backup" is a folder is on the C: drive and is 156 GB (C: is a 110 GB SSD).





The properties for the files show the C: drive location as well.

So, if the path for the link does not show in properties and the file/folder size is clearly too larger to actually exist on the C: drive, how do I determine where the files are actually located?

Long Version/additional details

~2 years ago, I wanted to relocate my iPhone backup folder to a larger data drive.

At some point--between Windows updates and iTunes updates, the link/junction isn't working properly.

I know there are options I could follow for moving the USERS directory or creating links and such to allow me to relocate the backup and get things working again.

Before I do that, I thought I'd like to try to figure out what has happened so I can either avoid it in the future or do something different, plus locate/relocate the existing backups. Right now, I just need to know how to decipher this junction since the information doesn't seem to show up in Properties.

As a long time Windows and before that DOS user, I hate using iTunes, but it is what it is. Kind of stuck with it for now.

thanks, Mike

:)

 

Symbolic link (Junction/s), how-to mklink? Please help with Junction?


Hi all, having been a member at Seven then Ten forums for a fair while I'm hoping to find a straight answer here..? Apologies in advance if this is too verbose.
Windows 10 system booting from (UEFI) NVME with 2xSSDs + 2 MHDDs for storage...

An application (Xperia Companion) which will not let me select or personalise the location for saving backups of my cellular phone data...

Think I found a fair definition of the differences at the Computer hope site which would suggest it's a Junction I need:

I want Xperia companion to save backups to F:\Sony Backups NOT the default C:\Users\GD\Documents\Sony. Would the Junction (link) allow me to to fulfill my wants and could someone please demonstrate the mklink commands needed?

with thanks and regards,
Dave

 

SYmbolic Links and Junctions

rd /s <name>

All versions of Win10 have mklink that can make both dir symbolic links and junctions. Create a dir junction for your use case using
mklink /j.

Define "better". I'm sure there are apps that do the same thing, either independently by calling the Win32 API functions or by acting as mere frontends to mklink itself. IMO if you can use mklink properly why should you need anything else?

 

Junction Links, Windows 10

Hi Martin,

Junctions or Symbolic Link are basically advanced shortcuts wherein you create a Symbolic Link from the original location of the file/folder referencing to your desired location. For example, you have a program that requires its files to run in C:\Programs
but you want this directory saved in D:\Programs. You can move the directory to your desired location then create a Symbolic Link in C:\Program pointing to D:\Program. The program will still try to access its files from C:\Program but will be redirected to
D:\Program and everything will just work as if it were in C:\Program.

What you actually want, however, cannot be achieved by using Junctions. If you are looking for a way to change the default locations where your downloads, music, photos, videos go in to, please follow these steps:

• Open your File Explorer.
  
  
• The folders under Quick access on the left pane, namely Desktop, Downloads, Documents, Pictures, Music, and Videos are situated in
  C:\Users\<username> by default. Right-click on one of the folders (we'll go for Download this time) and select
  Properties.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Go to Location tab, enter your desired location or select
  Find Target, and click OK.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Repeat the process on the remaining folders if desired.

Let us know how it goes.