The Anti-virus Times

A virus infection created symbolic links in the Microsoft Security Client directory. So now we have to delete both symbolic links and invalid directory trees. But how can we delete symbolic links? Whenever we try to delete them, an error message appears.

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/t/507588/virus-infection-created-symbolic-links-in-microsoft-security-client-directory

As a matter of fact, in Windows 3.0 the notepad was stored in the Windows folder, while under Windows NT 3.х it resided in System32. Despite the fact that both Windows versions are ancient history, the notepad can still be found in both folders. Interestingly, in some Microsoft operating systems, that’s not the case.

For example, in Windows XP and Windows Vista, notepad.exe is present in both folders. Yet, the developers behind Windows Server 2008 decided to remove the application from the Windows folder, leaving it only in System32. They probably assumed that fewer applications would be run under a server edition of Windows, and, thus, compatibility issues with third-party applications would be less likely to occur.

http://www.outsidethebox.ms/12735

Asymbolic (soft) link (also known as a symlink or soft link) is a special file system entry that doesn't contain any data except for a path to a file or directory. Thus, when you go to open a link, the file it refers to is what actually opens, not the link. The number of symbolic links to a file or directory is unlimited.

Creating a symbolic link under Windows 10, 8.1, 8 and 7 is very easy. To open the command prompt, press Win+R; enter cmd and press ОК. If you're going to work with system files, you may need to open the command prompt with administrator privileges.

The command used to create a symbolic link looks like this:

mklink /j "symlink location" "the location of the target file or folder"

Here the key /j indicates that the link is to be created for a directory. If you want to create a link to a file, this option doesn’t need to be indicated.

For example, if I want to create a symbolic link to the folder mklink on the local С drive as the folder mk on С, I need to enter the following command (the symbolic link's name and the respective file's name don't need to be the same):
mklink /j "C:\mk" "С:\mklink"

The result will be as follows.

https://geekteam.pro/kak-sozdat-simvolnuyu-ssyilku-v-windows-10-8-1-8-7

Under Windows, an alternative method exists for folders:

1) copy the folder for which a symbolic link needs to be created;

2) open the folder:

C:\Users\*username*\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Network Shortcuts

The AppData folder is hidden.;

3) Right-click on the directory window, and select Paste shortcut. A symbolic link will be created to the source directory, and you’ll be able to move to the desired location and rename it.

http://skesov.ru/sozdanie-simvolnoy-ssyilki-dlya-papki/

https://geektimes.ru/post/50878/

Symbolic links are easy to identify—in a file manager they are displayed using a specific icon. If you enter dir, you will see SYMLINK next to them. With hardlinks the situation is not so obvious.

To check whether any hardlinks exist for notepad in your system, you’ll need to launch the command prompt with administrator privileges. Use fsutil to view any existing hardlinks to a file:

fsutil hardlink list %windir%\notepad.exe

Surprise! There aren't just two instances of notepad under Windows. There are an additional two in the winsxs folder. Under 64-bit Windows editions, there exist six of them.

This happens because the folder System32 contains 64-bit versions of files that include notepad (here is another bizarre Windows feature from the past). Meanwhile, the folder SysWOW64 stores the 32-bit notepad.exe which has a hardlink in winsxs. You can check this out on your own.

http://www.outsidethebox.ms/12735