stockdam Posted January 27, 2011 Report Share Posted January 27, 2011 I have a 128GB external drive that uses FAT32. It is used in a custom designed data recorder. When the drive is connected to a PC, the user just copies files from the drive.This works fine except that for some reason the Recycle folder and System Volume Information is put onto the drive even if the user has not moved, copied or deleted anything. This doesn't happen all the time.Our recorder detects any change to the drive and will not accept any drive that has been modified (there are reasons for this).I don't want to fill up the drive with dummy files and make it appear to be full.So how can I prevent Windows adding the Recycle folder etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bludgard Posted January 27, 2011 Report Share Posted January 27, 2011 Hello,stockdam.Welcome.Navigate to the external drive in Explorer as seen in screenshot below.Organize>Folder and search options>View.Make sure that the highlighted are selected and Apply>OK.If this doesn't help,we'll try something else. EDIT:If each machine is configured differently,it will show different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MANEMAN Posted January 27, 2011 Report Share Posted January 27, 2011 Hi there, and Do what Bludgard has just said first and if you still have the fault read below:If this external drive is connected to various different computers it could well explain why, - "It doesn't happen all the time"If a user has his/her computer set to "Show Hidden Files and Folders" in "Folder Options" Then possibly they will be seen.I have copied the following for you so that you may better understand exactly what is going on."The RECYCLER folder is the recycle bin. The recycle bin on your desktop is simply a shortcut to all the RECYCLER folders in your computer. If you have a C:\ D:\ and E:\, your recycle bin shows the contents of C:\RECYCLER D:\RECYCLER and E:\RECYCLER. Having these RECYCLER folders on each drive saves the OS from having to copy a deleted file or folder from any other drive to the C:\ drive." "If you right click the main recycle bin and choose properties, it is possible to 'Configure Drives Independently." Should you choose that option, you can set the size for any drive to that which you prefer--including zero. It is also possible to bypass the Recycle bin entirely by checking the box for "Do not move files to the recycle bin..." in the tab for any drive." As a precaution, do a scan of the whole system with particular refrerence to the external drive with * MALWAREBYTES * I say this because "Recycler Folder" is only used on NTFS partitions, (You are reporting it on FAT32) therefore it could be suspect malware. Without knowing your operating systems, or using FAT32 myself any more, I am erring on the side of caution. :) John. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stockdam Posted January 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2011 Hello,stockdam.Welcome.Navigate to the external drive in Explorer as seen in screenshot below.Organize>Folder and search options>View.Make sure that the highlighted are selected and Apply>OK.If this doesn't help,we'll try something else. EDIT:If each machine is configured differently,it will show different.Maybe I didn't explain clearly but the option of showing hidden and system files was on in order to see when the recycle folder and system vol files were being put onto the drive. Our tests showed that they were being occasionally put on without the user doing anything except viewing the disk. I'll do some more research on this.I don't know if it's possible to prevent the recycle bin being put onto an external drive without first connecting the drive and by then it may be too late. So what I'm looking for is a way to prevent a PC/laptop from ever creating a recycle bin or restore point onto any external drives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MANEMAN Posted January 27, 2011 Report Share Posted January 27, 2011 So what I'm looking for is a way to prevent a PC/laptop from ever creating a recycle bin or restore point onto any external drives. Try what I quoted it may work."If you right click the main recycle bin and choose properties, it is possible to 'Configure Drives Independently." Should you choose that option, you can set the size for any drive to that which you prefer--including zero. It is also possible to bypass the Recycle bin entirely by checking the box for "Do not move files to the recycle bin..." in the tab for any drive." You could always write a simple script that deletes it (Batch file perhaps controlled by AutoHotkey for cheapness.)You would have to put it on every computer that is likely to access the external drive though.Have you yet come to any conclusions why it is happening on a FAT32 Drive ? If it says "Recycled" it's usually ok. If it says "Recycler" something could be amiss.Once again a reminder that "Recycler" can be Virus/Malware based.John. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb Posted January 28, 2011 Report Share Posted January 28, 2011 One way of achieving this is to place the drive on a networked server instead of the user's computer. This way, no recycle bin is created or used when the drive is accessed through the network. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stockdam Posted January 28, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2011 @ MANEMAN - Yes I will try that. I want to see if that option works for all external drives (I doubt it) or if it only works for one session.@ ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb - I have previously mounted the drive as a network drive, putting it onto a server is not an option as the user will not always be connected to a network.........I'll need to look at it again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MANEMAN Posted January 28, 2011 Report Share Posted January 28, 2011 Pat's idea was a good one. How about expanding on that and going "Cloud" ?Using * DROPBOX * (2GB Free))Or * SKYDRIVE * (25BG Free)Permanent sync to the main computer.I' ve been using it to store my browser and it's settings (Maxthon) for a long time now.John. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stockdam Posted January 28, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2011 Pat's idea was a good one. How about expanding on that and going "Cloud" ?Nope......the drive is not a normal Windows drive. It is used as a data recorder.....Windows is only being used to extract the data. The format of the folders and the files on the drive are strictly controlled and that's why I don't want Windows touching anything......why can't I just write protect the whole drive in s/w! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stockdam Posted January 28, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2011 I've tried to disable the recycle bin for the external drive. It works but is reset when the drive is formatted.........due to the nature of the drive it will be reformatted often to clear the data on it.Give me the old floppy disks.......at least you could make them read only. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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