Is there any way to redirect my Program Files folder to an external drive?

I tried using Link Magic, but the source folder needs to be empty, and I am unable to delete my Programs Files folder to create a new one. Basically, I want the default programs folder on my OS partition (C to link to another Program Files folder on my data partition (D . Is there any other way to do this (either a way to delete my Program Files folder so I can make a new one or use an alternate program), or do I have to manually redirect all of my programs to install to an external drive?

 

Try reading up on junction points from the MS TechNet website, or the MSDN website, to see if that's feasible.

 

I was trying to use the junction points, but it tells me that my source folder must be empty in order to create one. This wouldn't be a problem if I could just delete/rename my Program Files folder, but I can't do that. So even if I do create a junction it isn't the default directory as I wanted (unless there is some way to change your default Program Files directory).

So I need to either a) delete/rename Program Files safely then create a junction from an empty Program Files folder, or b) find some work around like changing my default programs directory.

 

When you plug this USB drive in, does the computer see it as just another hard drive, or does it see it as removable media?

 

I'm trying to junction to a Program Files folder in a separate partition of the same HDD. My only problem is that I cannot delete or rename my original Program Files folder so I can create an empty one to junction.