# How to fool Windows and clean your C drive without deleting anything. Without Admin access.

If you are a Windows user, chances are you have run out of space in C drive, at one point or another. This tutorial will help you clean up C drive using directory links aka [NTFS junction point](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NTFS_junction_point).

> This lets Windows and all other programs believe that the specified directory exists but actually, it's just a pointer to the new path, which can also be on another drive.

It's like a shortcut but better.

## Steps

Without further ado, let's see the code.

1. Cut the folder which is taking up space. e.g.
    

```bash
C:\Satish\Some Folder
```

1. Paste it in another drive. e.g.
    

```bash
D:\Can be another Folder
```

1. Run the following command in Command Prompt
    

```bash
mklink /J "C:\Satish\Some Folder" "D:\Can be another Folder"
```

This will create a directory junction that points to the new path.

Now when you navigate to `C:\Satish\Some Folder`, it will show contents of `D:\Can be another Folder`, but Windows and other programs will be oblivious about that.

## Limitations

Neither the Windows NT startup process nor the Windows Vista startup process support Junction points, so it's impossible to redirect certain system folders:

* folder containing `hiberfil.sys` (if it's configured to be outside root directory)
    
* `\Windows`
    
* `\Windows\System32`
    
* `\Windows\Config`
    

However, it is possible to redirect non-critical folders:

* `\Users`
    
* `\Documents and Settings`
    
* `\Program Files`
    
* `\Program Files (x86)`
    

## Warning

* Creating junctions for `\Users` and `\ProgramData` pointing to another drive is not recommended as it breaks updates and Windows Store Apps.\[[1](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/949977/relocation-of-the-users-directory-and-the-programdata-directory-to-a-d)\]
    
* Creating junctions for `\Users`, `\ProgramData`, `"\Program Files"` or `"\Program Files (x86)"` pointing to other locations breaks installation resp. upgrade of Windows.\[[2](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2876597/error-installing-windows-because-users-or-program-files-folder-redirec)\]
    
* Creating junctions for `"\Program Files"` or `"\Program Files (x86)"` pointing to another drive breaks Windows' Component Based Servicing which hard links files from its repository `\Windows\SxS` to their installation directory.