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

[The Biles]

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?

[Shyster1]

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

[The Biles]

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.

[Shyster1]

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?

[The Biles]

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.