Solved External Drive Question

Koukol · Mar 24, 2015

Hello,
This is an embarrassing question but I'm a bit paranoid about deleting things I don't know now.

I've noticed a few things on my WD and Seagate drives that are not movie, music or picture files I put on.
Is it safe to remove these and do I empty the trash bin?

MilesAhead · Mar 25, 2015

Can you give some examples of filenames of stuff you are finding?

I usually don't enable recycle bin for externals unless it's one I leave hooked up all the time. Windows can get confused if you plug and unplug the same type and size drives, like with a docking station. Otherwise it shouldn't be an issue.

Koukol · Mar 25, 2015

MilesAhead said:
Can you give some examples of filenames of stuff you are finding?

I usually don't enable recycle bin for externals unless it's one I leave hooked up all the time. Windows can get confused if you plug and unplug the same type and size drives, like with a docking station. Otherwise it shouldn't be an issue.

I have something left over from some pictures I took called "thumbs.db"
When I try to get rid of it I get a warning.

There's also some strange stuff in the trash bin.

MilesAhead · Mar 26, 2015

thumbs.db is just thumbnail info. The shell makes it to load faster when displaying thumbnails in Explorer. There's no need to keep it.

Koukol · Mar 26, 2015

MilesAhead said:
thumbs.db is just thumbnail info. The shell makes it to load faster when displaying thumbnails in Explorer. There's no need to keep it.

Thanks, MilesA
I still don't understand why there's a trash bin on my Seagate and whether I should empty it from time to time.

MilesAhead · Mar 26, 2015

When you view Explorer Computer in Tiles Mode does it show the drive as removable or up with the other HDs?

Koukol · Mar 26, 2015

MilesAhead said:
When you view Explorer Computer in Tiles Mode does it show the drive as removable or up with the other HDs?

I don't know what you mean

Are you asking if the Seagate shows up in the Computer section?

MilesAhead · Mar 26, 2015

Koukol said:
I don't know what you mean

Are you asking if the Seagate shows up in the Computer section?

If Windows knows it is a removable drive it should show in this section

If Windows thinks it is a permanent drive it would show it above the line with the HDs.

Edit: So if it thinks it is a permanent HD it might assign Recycle Bin storage for it.

Koukol · Mar 26, 2015

MilesAhead said:
If Windows knows it is a removable drive it should show in this section

View attachment 28991

If Windows thinks it is a permanent drive it would show it above the line with the HDs.

Edit: So if it thinks it is a permanent HD it might assign Recycle Bin storage for it.

The Seagate is listed above with the PC drives.
It says "drives and devices 4"
What's puzzling is I now have a "Network Locations 1" below the line which has "BrianMusicpc" and when I open it it's full of empty files.

MilesAhead · Mar 26, 2015

A quick check you can do is right click on the external drive in Explorer, click Properties, click the Tools tab. Make sure "fix file system errors" or words to that effect, is not checked. Run the scan. By not checking to fix any errors it will do a read only scan instead of scheduling it for next boot. If it finds errors it will say so.

Koukol · Mar 26, 2015

MilesAhead said:
A quick check you can do is right click on the external drive in Explorer, click Properties, click the Tools tab. Make sure "fix file system errors" or words to that effect, is not checked. Run the scan. By not checking to fix any errors it will do a read only scan instead of scheduling it for next boot. If it finds errors it will say so.[/QUOTE

OK...no errors found.

Do I empty the recycle bin?

MilesAhead · Mar 27, 2015

I would make sure you have any files you want, if there are any, before experimenting. You could try setting "Hide System Files" in folder view. But I have no idea what you have on there.

Koukol · Mar 27, 2015

OK
Thanks Miles!

MilesAhead · Mar 27, 2015

Sure thing.

Solved External Drive Question

My Computer

Eclectician

My Computer

My Computer

Eclectician

My Computer

My Computer

Eclectician

My Computer

My Computer

Eclectician

My Computer

My Computer

Eclectician

My Computer

My Computer

Eclectician

My Computer

My Computer

Eclectician

My Computer