Need help with symbolic links

groston · 09 Jun 2020

Windows 10, build 19041.329

I am trying to set up a computer with Windows 10. The problem I am having is this: After I installed Windows 10, I then followed the advice given here, How to move user folders to different location on Windows 10 | Windows Central, to move all of the folders under C:\Users\MyUser to D:\Users\MyUser. I managed to do this without a hitch.

Today, after installing more software on the computer, I notice about one dozen symbolic links in the folder C:\Users\MyUser that were not there when I did the aforementioned move. As an example, one of the newly existing symbolic links is My Documents. But, here is the problem: I cannot figure out to where these links are pointing! All of the links are owned by user System, not MyUser. In addition, the Location tab, cited in the linked article, does not exist for any of the links.

Two of the programs I installed, in an attempt to make Windows 10 more comfortable to use, were OldNewExplorer, see Download OldNewExplorer - MajorGeeks and Open Shell, see Welcome to the Home page of Open-Shell-Menu | Open-Shell-Menu.

To complete this setup, I really need to move the symbolic links to the D drive, or I simply need to delete the links and create the folders on the D Drive. Even though these links do not seem to have any files associated with them, I want to be sure not to accidentally delete any files. Suggestions as to a way forward, including any need registry changes, are sought. Thanks!

Try3 · 10 Jun 2020

Those links appear if you enable viewing of System & Hidden items. You do not need to do anything with them. Windows created them but they will not get in your way.

Have you moved the C:\Users\%UserName% folder itself or only its subfolders such as C:\Users\%UserName%\Documents, C:\Users\%UserName%\Music, ...?
- I think the procedure you linked to involves moving the whole lot, the C:\Users\%UserName% folder itself.
- The latter is safer because Windows is designed for this to be done.

There are TenForumsTutorials about moving C:\Users\%UserName%\Documents, C:\Users\%UserName%\Music, ...?

Denis

Bree · 10 Jun 2020

groston said:

...I notice about one dozen symbolic links in the folder C:\Users\MyUser that were not there when I did the aforementioned move. As an example, one of the newly existing symbolic links is My Documents. But, here is the problem: I cannot figure out to where these links are pointing!

Open a Command Prompt. The command dir /A will show the paths of Junctions. To see all junctions in your user folder, try dir /s /A | find "JUNCTION"

Need help with symbolic links-junction-paths.png

groston · 10 Jun 2020

Try3: Just moved the subfolders - will think about/try to move the C:\Users\%UserName% folder itself
Bree - Thank you, that worked just fine

Try3 · 10 Jun 2020

groston said:

Just moved the subfolders

Good

groston said:

will think about/try to move the C:\Users\%UserName% folder itself

Personally, I wouldn't bother. It used to cause problems in Windows 7 [I think it was that 'Repair install' aka 'InPlace upgrade' procedures would fail], I assume it causes the same problems in Windows 10.

Denis