Annoying files in FAT drive
in [Using XP]
|
Prev: Support for XP
Next: Ubuntu upgrade problem
From: Gualtier Malde on 21 Jul 2010 14:11 I am using an external FAT drive of 40 GB for loading files for portability and such. At this point there are two folders named: RECYCLER and System Volume Information. I don't know how they got there - they weren't there when I got the drive - or even from which computer they came. I use the drive in my XP netbook and my W2000 Notebook. The system will not allow me to delete the files or format the disk, even in Safe Mode. They take 500 MB and it's not as though I can't spare the space, but this type of thing worries me because I don't know anything about them. I would appreciate learning about them - thanks gm
From: Grinder on 21 Jul 2010 22:51 On 7/21/2010 1:11 PM, Gualtier Malde wrote: > I am using an external FAT drive of 40 GB for loading files for > portability and such. > > At this point there are two folders named: RECYCLER and System Volume > Information. I don't know how they got there - they weren't there when I > got the drive - or even from which computer they came. I use the drive > in my XP netbook and my W2000 Notebook. > > The system will not allow me to delete the files or format the disk, > even in Safe Mode. They take 500 MB and it's not as though I can't spare > the space, but this type of thing worries me because I don't know > anything about them. > > I would appreciate learning about them - thanks > gm Those are management files put there by the operating system to enable the Recycle Bin and System Restore respectively.
From: Steve Urbach on 21 Jul 2010 23:46 On Wed, 21 Jul 2010 11:11:08 -0700, Gualtier Malde <valacapt(a)yahoo.com> wrote: >I am using an external FAT drive of 40 GB for loading files for portability and >such. > >At this point there are two folders named: RECYCLER and System Volume >Information. I don't know how they got there - they weren't there when I got >the drive - or even from which computer they came. I use the drive in my XP >netbook and my W2000 Notebook. > >The system will not allow me to delete the files or format the disk, even in >Safe Mode. They take 500 MB and it's not as though I can't spare the space, but >this type of thing worries me because I don't know anything about them. > >I would appreciate learning about them - thanks >gm You have been told that they are system files. Normally, they are HIDDEN (Hide system files option) There is another ADVANCED setting that limits the size of the restore folder. You should understand all the ramifications before you start muckin' about in the core system areas :)
From: Gualtier Malde on 22 Jul 2010 19:03 On 7/21/2010 20.46, Steve Urbach wrote: > On Wed, 21 Jul 2010 11:11:08 -0700, Gualtier Malde<valacapt(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > >> I am using an external FAT drive of 40 GB for loading files for portability and >> such. >> >> At this point there are two folders named: RECYCLER and System Volume >> Information. I don't know how they got there - they weren't there when I got >> the drive - or even from which computer they came. I use the drive in my XP >> netbook and my W2000 Notebook. >> >> The system will not allow me to delete the files or format the disk, even in >> Safe Mode. They take 500 MB and it's not as though I can't spare the space, but >> this type of thing worries me because I don't know anything about them. >> >> I would appreciate learning about them - thanks >> gm > You have been told that they are system files. > > Normally, they are HIDDEN (Hide system files option) > > There is another ADVANCED setting that limits the size of the restore folder. > You should understand all the ramifications before you start muckin' about in > the core system areas :) > Thanks, both of you. After reading I went to Folder Options > View and to my surprise the "Hide protected files..." box was un-checked. Don't know how that happened, but it certainly isn't my intention, anywhere. The files disappeared then, but still there. I'll try to read up on this subject over the next days and weeks. But there is a remaining problem: I can't unplug the drive without getting yelled at. I click on the little icon but it says that the computer is accessing the drive. This wasn't always the case; there was a time when those files weren't there and the drive dismounted same as anything else. Anyway I have looked around and can't find anything to do other than reboot. Disabling the drive in Device Manager had no effect. I don't have enough USB ports to tie that one up for the entire run. What can I do? gm
From: Grinder on 22 Jul 2010 19:32
On 7/22/2010 6:03 PM, Gualtier Malde wrote: > On 7/21/2010 20.46, Steve Urbach wrote: >> On Wed, 21 Jul 2010 11:11:08 -0700, Gualtier Malde<valacapt(a)yahoo.com> >> wrote: >> >>> I am using an external FAT drive of 40 GB for loading files for >>> portability and >>> such. >>> >>> At this point there are two folders named: RECYCLER and System Volume >>> Information. I don't know how they got there - they weren't there >>> when I got >>> the drive - or even from which computer they came. I use the drive in >>> my XP >>> netbook and my W2000 Notebook. >>> >>> The system will not allow me to delete the files or format the disk, >>> even in >>> Safe Mode. They take 500 MB and it's not as though I can't spare the >>> space, but >>> this type of thing worries me because I don't know anything about them. >>> >>> I would appreciate learning about them - thanks >>> gm >> You have been told that they are system files. >> >> Normally, they are HIDDEN (Hide system files option) >> >> There is another ADVANCED setting that limits the size of the restore >> folder. >> You should understand all the ramifications before you start muckin' >> about in >> the core system areas :) >> > Thanks, both of you. After reading I went to Folder Options > View and > to my surprise the "Hide protected files..." box was un-checked. Don't > know how that happened, but it certainly isn't my intention, anywhere. > The files disappeared then, but still there. I'll try to read up on this > subject over the next days and weeks. > > But there is a remaining problem: I can't unplug the drive without > getting yelled at. I click on the little icon but it says that the > computer is accessing the drive. This wasn't always the case; there was > a time when those files weren't there and the drive dismounted same as > anything else. Anyway I have looked around and can't find anything to do > other than reboot. Disabling the drive in Device Manager had no effect. > > I don't have enough USB ports to tie that one up for the entire run. > What can I do? This does not directly address your problem, but if you don't have enough ports, I would buy an add-in usb card, or a *powered* hub. (The card is an attractive option if your existing ports are just USB 1.1) |