783. Symbolic Links (SymLists, mklink)

·       Symbolic Links: To create a “Symlink” to make Windows believe a folder’s data is still on the C:  drive, but really in D:\SymListFolders, do the following:

1. Create a Target-folder with same name as Source-folder path that is to be linked, using “-“ instead of “\” in full path name. [Really don't need the same name, but doing so gives you a visual indication of what the full path was.] For example, to link the data Thunderbird uses for addresses and other things, the Source-folder is originally c:\“Users\teob6\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\hqme2hyq.default”, and the Target-folder to create will be “D:\SymListFolders\Users-teob6-AppData-Roaming-Thunderbird-Profiles-hqme2hyq.default” folder
2. Copy all subfolders and files from the Source-folder [in the example,  c:\“Users\teob6\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\hqme2hyq.default”] to the Target- folder [“D:\SymListFolders\Users-teob6-AppData-Roaming-Thunderbird-Profiles-hqme2hyq.default” in the example]. The Target-source will now hold the data, not the Source-folder on the C: drive)
3. Delete or rename the existing Source-folder on C [in our example, c:\“Users\teob6\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\hqme2hyq.default”]. It must before attempting an mklink command. This frees up all space used by it in exchange for space now on the D drive.
4. Bring up CMD box by typing CMD in Start then RUN as ADMINISTRATOR
5. Create the Symbolic Link by doing: “mklink /d  Source-folder  Target-folder”. [In my example, do “mlkink /d  C:\Users\teob6\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\hqme2hyq.default  D:\SymListFolders\Users-teob6-AppData-Roaming-Thunderbird-Profiles-hqme2hyq.default].
6. Now, whenever an application or anything goes after the Source-folder which was on C: originally, it instead operates against the Target-folder on D:. Specifically, the Target-folder will be in D:\SymListFolders\Target-folder [as created above].
7. I am now able to backup system data, like Thunderbirds data, using normal backup procedures, plus, space is used on D: instead of c:

 To remove the link, simply deleted it on C:. It will have a folder ICON with arrow in it designating a SymList to another location. Then if still required, create the folder back to the path on c: removing the “-“ and replacing the “\” and the md command, or just create the paths via File Explorer.