  an ntfs junction point is a symbolic link to a directory that acts as an alias of that directory. this feature of the ntfs file system offers benefits over a windows shell shortcut (.lnk) file, such as allowing access to files within the directory via windows explorer, the command prompt, etc. unlike ntfs symbolic links junction points can only link to a local volume; junction points to remote shares are unsupported. sysinternals junction documentation junction points are a type of ntfs reparse point. they were introduced with ntfs 3.0, the default file system for windows 2000. the windows 2000 and windows 2003 resource kits include a program called linkd,microsoft knowledge base, 2007-02-20, how to create and manipulate ntfs junction points, http://support.microsoft.com/kb/205524/en-us to create junction points; mark russinovich of winternals released a tool called junctionmark russinovich, 2010-09-08, junction, http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896768 which provided more complete functionality. windows xp includes "fsutil";http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/fsutil.mspx?mfr=truemasatoshi kimura released a filter driverhttp://schinagl.priv.at/nt/ln/ln.html#symboliclinksforwindowsxp for the soft/symbolic link functionality existing in windows xp's ntfs version, to be accessible to the end user. windows vista, windows server 2008, and later operating systems include an mklink command-line utility for creating junction points. ==examples of use== ===program redirection=== by setting a junction point that points to a directory containing a particular version of a piece of software, it may be possible to add another version of the software and redirect the junction point to point to the version desired. ===saving disk space=== the contents of a junction use almost no disk space (they simply point to the original files in the original directory). if you need to have multiple points of entry to a large directory, junction points will serve that purpose well. junction points should not be confused with a copy of something as they simply point to the original. if directories need to be modified separately a junction cannot be used as it does not provide a distinct copy of the directory or files within. ===circumventing pre-defined paths=== since reinstalling windows (or installing a new version) often requires deleting the contents of the c: drive, it is advantageous to create multiple partitions so only one partition needs to be deleted during the installation. however, some programs don't let the user choose the installation di
Disk_file_systems Windows_disk_file_systems