copySync Cannot Copy Documents Folder on Windows

[danielehrhardt]

• Operating System:
  Windows 10 Pro 64 bit
• Node.js version:
  v10.16.0
• fs-extra version:
  v8.1.0

If i use copy or copySync to copy the Documents Folder on Windows i get the following Error:

RROR Error: Uncaught (in promise): Error: EPERM: operation not permitted, symlink 'C:\Users\daniel.ehrhardt\Pictures' -> 'C:\temp\Eigene Bilder'
Error: EPERM: operation not permitted, symlink 'C:\Users\daniel.ehrhardt\Pictures' -> 'C:\temp\Eigene Bilder'

My User is a AD User.
My Command:
copySync('C:\\Users\\daniel.ehrhardt\\Documents', 'C:\\temp');

I do not Understand why, the folder Pictures is not in the Documents Folder.

[RyanZim]

That does seem weird. First off, you command is incorrect, if you're copying Documents to temp, you probably want it copied to C:\temp\Documents, you need to put that explicitly in the destination.

[danielehrhardt]

That does seem weird. First off, you command is incorrect, if you're copying Documents to temp, you probably want it copied to C:\temp\Documents, you need to put that explicitly in the destination.

Same Problem with C:\temp\Documents
Could you reproduce it?

[Inve1951]

Those are not actual folders but Windows "Libraries". They are gruesome to deal with in many situations and as such should be avoided IMO.

Some reading material: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/client-management/windows-libraries

@danielehrhardt While i haven't tested this I guess that your command tries to copy the symlink (if it even is one) to /temp. You can try to use {dereference: true} as a third argument or copy each contained file/folder separately.

In the event that you do want to copy/create symlinks you'll need the SECreateSymbolicLinkPrivilege privilege. (The Administrators AD group has that by default already.)

[brody4hire]

In the event that you do want to copy/create symlinks you'll need the SECreateSymbolicLinkPrivilege privilege.

I think it should be possible to create junction symlinks on Windows without administrators priv, see discussion in #626 /cc @oliversalzburg

[Inve1951]

@brodybits I don’t know about junctions but you do need said privilege for regular directory symlinks.

Edit: Also note that the privilege is not exlusive to administrators but can be assigned to any SID.

[danielehrhardt]

Yes, the Problem are the junctions

[danielehrhardt]

You can try to use {dereference: true}

Is also not working

[RyanZim]

You're best off using Windows native utilities for copying these core directories.

[danielehrhardt]

You're best off using Windows native utilities for copying these core directories.

This is how you fix Problems?

[RyanZim]

Node.js itself has very poor support for the various kinds of symlinks on Windows. If you want to dig in, find the problem, and submit a PR, you're welcome to. I cannot dedicate time to this.

[oliversalzburg]

Just FYI, NodeJS is not able to distinguish a junction from other types of links on Windows. I implemented https://github.com/oliversalzburg/is-junction to work around this issue and solve it in our world.

My attempts to have this integrated into NodeJS was just met by grumpy developers/maintainers who did not see the point apparently.