How To Create HardLinks, Junctions and Symbolic Links on Windows

Hardlinks and symbolic links are common to Unix / Linux / Solaris file systems. However they are not normally available under windows. The NTFS filesystem of Windows NT4 / W2K / WXP / WXP64 supports HardLink functionality, but HardLinks can only be created via the POSIX command ln, which is shipped with the Windows resourcekit. Windows resource kit is not freely available. Also hardLinks can only be created via the command prompt, which is hard for many and cumbersome for multiple files. Fortunately for you there are several free tools available to solve your problem.

Junction from Sysinternals

Brief Review
Command line utility, supports linking directories only (junction). Source code available too.

Junction Link Magic from Rekenwonder

Brief Review
GUI utility, supports linking directories only (junction).

NTFS Link Shell Extension (Editors Choice)

Download here.
Brief Review
GUI utlity, implements an extension to the Windows shell explorer, so that HardLinks, Junctions, and SymbolicLinks can be comfortably created via right mouse click on a selection of one or multiple files. Recommended.

General Limitations (all)

• Supported plattforms are NT4 / W2K / WXP / WXP64.
• HardLinks can only be made on NTFS volumes, under the supported plattforms.
• HardLinks can only be made within one NTFS volumes, and can not span accross NTFS volumes.
• HardLinks can only be made on *fixed* NTFS volumes.
• HardLinks can only be made on local NTFS volumes.
• Junctions can only be made on NTFS volumes, under W2K/WXP.
• Junctions can only be made within one NTFS volumes, and can not span accross NTFS volumes.