Windows 7 Symbolic Link - Cannot create a file when that file already exists

Question

I'm trying to create a symbolic link between two directories. I have a directory called TestDocs and TestDocs2. I will be doing all my work in TestDocs, but I need it all to be reflected in TestDocs2. So all files that are in TestDocs2 will be replicated in TestDocs, and if I add a file, change a file, etc in TestDocs it should be reflected in TestDocs2.

So I thought it would be as simple as just doing this:

mklink /D TestDocs TestDocs2

But when I do that I get the error:

Cannot create a file when that file already exists

Why am I getting this?

Also, do I have the order of my TestDocs and TestDocs2 wrong in the command?

Thanks for the help, Symbolic Links have always confused me!

Answer 1

The correct usage is:

MKLINK [options] {link} {target}

You're creating a link, so the link is the new link you're about to create.
And the target is the link's target, which is the existing directory.

Answer 2

Here is how that worked for me. I wanted to relocate my C:\ProgramData\Package Cache to F: partition.

Steps I had to do:

1. Physically move "C:\ProgramData\Package Cache" to F:. Now I had "F:\ProgramData\Package Cache" and "C:\ProgramData\Package Cache" is gone since I moved it.

2. In cmd run (all in one line, split here for readability)

   mklink /J "C:\ProgramData\Package Cache" 
             "F:\ProgramData\Package Cache"
   

3. Result:

   Junction created for C:\ProgramData\Package Cache <<===>> 
                        F:\ProgramData\Package Cache`