[BUG] npm update where package.json has rel-path-to-local-pkg on windows makes bad junction

Is there an existing issue for this?

• I have searched the existing issues

Current Behavior

[BUG] npm update where package.json has rel-path-to-local-pkg on Windows makes bad junction in referencing packages node_modules directory.

  "dependencies": {
    "efekt": "file:N:/local/ws/AfBuild-ws/.projects/cordova/.af/kits/efekt",
  },
VERSUS
  "dependencies": {
    "efekt": "file:../../kits/efekt",
  },

On Windows w/v7.5.1 creates a junction (not a symlink) and the path it computes is invalid (incorrect). One can manually correct it, but any repeat of the npm update cmd will replace with a new BAD junction entry.

Error: ELOOP: too many symbolic links encountered, stat

  errno: -4067,
  syscall: 'stat',
  code: 'ELOOP',

Expected Behavior

The expected behaviors would be:

1. use a Windows symlink reparse-point, not a junction reparse-point (longer explanation of the distinctions on Windows and their significance can be provided if necessary). If you don't want it traced as link, use a distinguished file-attribute to indicate that.
2. use a relative path (not an absolute path) in the link; again, explanations can be provided. Always resolve true-paths (flatten paths before processing links).
3. the real-issue; whatever is done create and validate that the resulting generated link to the local-pkg in node_modules is valid and not a BROKEN link.

Steps To Reproduce

1. In windows
2. With basic package.json described above
3. Run 'npm update'
4. You'll find a BROKEN/BAD junction was created in npm_modules.

Environment

• OS: Windows 10 PRO
• Node: 15.8.0
• npm: 7.5.1

Reproduce the issue on Windows 10 with the package.json dependency using a relative file path, then run npm update and inspect the generated entry in the referencing package's node_modules directory. Trace the link creation and path resolution behavior; done means the local package link is valid after npm update and does not produce the reported ELOOP error.