Solved External Drive Question

Koukol

Member
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?
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion dv7
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.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion m9515y
    CPU
    Phenom X4 9850
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Some Radeon Cheapie with 512 MB Ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    CRT
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    750 GB SATA 3G
    2 SIIG Superspeed docks w/WD Caviar Black Sata II or III
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.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion dv7
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.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion m9515y
    CPU
    Phenom X4 9850
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Some Radeon Cheapie with 512 MB Ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    CRT
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    750 GB SATA 3G
    2 SIIG Superspeed docks w/WD Caviar Black Sata II or III
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.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion dv7
When you view Explorer Computer in Tiles Mode does it show the drive as removable or up with the other HDs?
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion m9515y
    CPU
    Phenom X4 9850
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Some Radeon Cheapie with 512 MB Ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    CRT
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    750 GB SATA 3G
    2 SIIG Superspeed docks w/WD Caviar Black Sata II or III
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

Capture.PNG

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.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion m9515y
    CPU
    Phenom X4 9850
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Some Radeon Cheapie with 512 MB Ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    CRT
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    750 GB SATA 3G
    2 SIIG Superspeed docks w/WD Caviar Black Sata II or III
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.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion dv7
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.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion m9515y
    CPU
    Phenom X4 9850
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Some Radeon Cheapie with 512 MB Ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    CRT
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    750 GB SATA 3G
    2 SIIG Superspeed docks w/WD Caviar Black Sata II or III
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?
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion dv7
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.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion m9515y
    CPU
    Phenom X4 9850
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Some Radeon Cheapie with 512 MB Ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    CRT
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    750 GB SATA 3G
    2 SIIG Superspeed docks w/WD Caviar Black Sata II or III
Sure thing. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion m9515y
    CPU
    Phenom X4 9850
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Some Radeon Cheapie with 512 MB Ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    CRT
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    750 GB SATA 3G
    2 SIIG Superspeed docks w/WD Caviar Black Sata II or III
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