Windows Command Line – How to Create a Hard Link Using mklink

command linehardlinkmklinkwindows

I've no problem in creating junctions and symbolic links through mklink, but can't create hard link using this command. It returns "Access denied", have tried on both Windows 7 and 8.1 on different machines, cmd started with administrative privileges.

D:\>mklink /d /h dirA dirB

Of course dirB exists. Is there something I should do to run this command without error?

Best Answer

I'm pretty sure you can't create a hard link to a folder, only files. Symbolic links /D and junctions /J would work for folders though.

Also when creating hard links, keep in mind that you cannot create links between 2 different drives (even on the same physical hard drive).

A short explanation from another SU answer:

A hard link is a file system feature that cannot cross a file system boundary. You can't hard link files on C: to D: because they are separate file systems. They might each contain the same type of file system (eg. NTFS) but they are separate file systems.

Related Solutions

Windows – Why can’t normal users on Windows create symbolic links

Symlinks are actually less dangerous than hardlinks, true. I don't think the issue here is security, but administrative efficiency. I think Microsoft made the right decision as it will drive system administrators nuts when users start to create symlinks everywhere without knowing what they are doing.

In Mac OS, shortcuts are symlinks. So conceptually it's less confusing, since it's been like that since the beginning. And for Linux fans, you don't need to be told what symlinks are. ;-)

But it's not true for Windows. Imagine explaining to the average user the difference between a good old Windows shortcut, a symlink and directory junction/hardlink, and you'll soon realize that giving such power to the masses will be opening a huge can of wriggly tech support worms.

Windows – Fix mklink Error ‘Cannot Create a File When That File Already Exists’

the syntax is incorrect. mklink has the following synatx:

mklink [options] <Link> <Target>

Target is the file/folder that exists, and Link is the created one that links to the target.

so the command should be:

mklink /D "E:\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup"  "C:\Users\odellt1\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup"

See the Microsoft Documentation for mklink usage.

Best Answer

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Windows – Why can’t normal users on Windows create symbolic links

Windows – Fix mklink Error ‘Cannot Create a File When That File Already Exists’

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