Windows/NTFS has links, but they aren't used for this (and software support for them is ... iffy, which can be an issue with backup tools etc, for which they aren't just transparent). These "known folders" are roughly implemented as environmental variables containing paths to the configured folder.

Soft and hard links are only supported on NTFS formatted disks.

Soft links are supported on ReFS, but hard links are not.

True, but ReFS isn't supported in consumer versions of Windows so not really worth mentioning.

Somehow I missed that Microsoft removed the ability to create new ReFS volumes in regular Windows 10 Pro. Quite frustrating, thanks for the heads up.

I created a vhdx file on windows 2016 server, formatted it with ReFS and copied it to my PC. And I mount the vhdx as D:. It's such a silly way to do something.

They are used for the old "My Documents" folders though, right? So why not use them here too, just as a fallback?

I think that works through the same principle, not through links.

My Documents, Application data and few others are links.

TIL, thanks!

Links have been a feature since vista, at least

Since Win 2k; I'm using Link Shell Extension[1] that puts nice and simple GUI feature in context menus and on icons (green shortcut arrow for example or chain).

[1] - http://schinagl.priv.at/nt/hardlinkshellext/hardlinkshellext...

Do they work though? I remember trying to use them in the past and never found them to function exactly right.

I use them for tons of stuff. Such as moving spotify song cache (not the same as offline storage location that you can specify in settings) so that it wouldn't use precious SSD space for cache (which was quite the inconvenience back when SSDs were very small/expensive).

It doesn't work well with applications that have a habit to remove and recreate the directory that you want to link though (for obvious reasons).

I use mine for shortcuts to drives on servers.

    C:\Shares\Server01\C -> \\server01\c$

    C:\Shares\Server02\C -> \\server02\c$

    C:\Shares\Server02\D -> \\server02\d$

    C:\Shares\Web01\webroot -> \\web01\e$\files\stuff\wwwroot

I guess I need to relook them then. Would definitely make a few things easier in my life. I really don't want my steam directory on my main machine, being able to hard link it to an iscsi drive would be nice if that's possible.

Steam has the option to use a different drive, no need for symlinks. https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7418-YUB...

Yeah, but not over the network. It specifically disallows UNC paths.

Map the UNC path as a network drive and probably won't notice.

Tried it... unfortunately didn't work. It knows.