Recently, we talked about how to resolve the issue of folders and files turning into shortcuts inside a USB drive. Now, we came across yet another very similar problem concerning USB devices. This time we found that whenever we plug the USB drive, things work perfectly, but when we physically remove the disk, you may see some system folders transferred into it. Basically, these seem like System folders like $SysReset, etc. Have a look at the following screenshot.
Prevent System Volume Information folder creation on USB
When we just started facing this trouble, for the first time, we deleted these transferred folders and they were erased. But then we plugged the USB again and removed the USB, the same thing repeated. If you too are facing this problem, you may get irritated with this. There are two ways you can get rid of this issue.
Read: System Volume Information folder in Windows.
Using GPEDIT Do not allow locations on removable drives to be added to libraries setting
1. In Windows 10/8.1 Pro & Enterprise Editions, press Windows Key + R combination, type put gpedit.msc in Run dialog box and hit Enter to open the Local Group Policy Editor.
2. Navigate here:
Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Search
3. In the right pane of the above-shown window, look for the setting named Do not allow locations on removable drives to be added to libraries and double click on.
This policy setting configures whether or not locations on removable drives can be added to libraries. If you enable this policy setting, locations on removable drives cannot be added to libraries. In addition, locations on removable drives cannot be indexed. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, locations on removable drives can be added to libraries. In addition, locations on removable drives can be indexed.
4. In the above-shown window, click on Enabled and then click Apply followed by OK. Close the Local Group Policy Editor and restart the machine, plug in the USB and plug out. You’ll be no longer facing the trouble.
Using REGEDIT DisableRemovableDriveIndexing key
If your edition of Windows does not have the Group Policy Editor, do the following:
1. Press Windows Key + R combination, type put regedit in Run dialog box and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
2. Navigate here:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows
3. In the left pane of this location, right-click over Windows key and select New -> Key. Name the newly created sub-key as Windows Search.
Now select the same sub-key and come to its right pane as shown in the image above. Right-click in the blank space, select New -> DWORD Value. Name the newly created DWORD as DisableRemovableDriveIndexing. Double click on the same DWORD to get this:
4. In the above-shown box, input the Value data as 1. Click OK. You may now exit Registry Editor and reboot, this should fix the issue significantly.
I hope this helps!
Just because you tried in Win 8 it doesn’t mean that is doesn’t work in Win 7. All that you sowed here, in Win 8 is on the same paths and same settings as in Win7. in fact it does work indeed which you must’ve mentioned from the very beginning!
^^ Thanks for this update. Not checked on Windows 7, but cool if it’s working there too :)
These files are normal, they’re normally hidden. The extra files are related to which File System is loaded on the USB drive. If it’s Fat32 it probably won’t make them or it may be the other way around, if it’s NTFS.
^^ Of course, these files are normal :) Won’t have any adverse effects on system.
I don’t have Search in GPedit; is this normal?
same as me here…and i wondering is there any solutions.
We have an application that requires a “clean” USB-key, so I tried the Registry patch (on a “core” 8.1) but that did not work (no effect at all). Double-checked everything – anybody have any guesses ? This is really important for us . . .
Registry patch worked for me, 8.1 (non-pro). Then re-booted, deleted the “System Volume…” folder on a USB stick, it does not reappear any more. Check once again. “Windows Search” sub-key has space between ‘Windows’ and ‘Search’. Parameter is DWORD type (32 bit). Don’t forget the value 1.
Well, my 70-year-old brain is not what it used to be. I had inserted the new key under “Microsoft” and not under “MicrosoftWindows”, but it was your comment that triggered me to re-verify the whole procedure, so thank you – it works !!
I tried the suggestion above and it didn’t work… what else do you suggest??
Hi Kapil, is the same procedure in windows 8.1 in spanish (LA) version?
The system-volume-information-folder is being displayed in my usb. I had windows 8 pro & as suggested above I followed the link ,but “Do not allow locations on removable drives to be added to libraries” was missing in the search options. Again I tried redit option & followed the commands as told. Here too “DisableRemovableDriveIndexing. ” was missing.
Recheck everything again, create the subfolder(DisableRemovableDriveIndexing). It surely should come
I tried the suggestion above and it didn’t work. Checked and rechecked everything again.
windows can’t find gpedit.msc
Maybe your edition of Windows does not have it. In Windows 8, the Group Policy is included only with Windows 8 Pro / Server Editions.
^^ Try the REGEDIT method in that case :)
Those hidden files and folders completely messed up my dashcam. I had to delete them to get it happy again. They are not harmless on some non-Windows machines and devices.
RegEdit method works fine with Windows 10 Home too.. Thanks :)
Group Policy didn’t work for me Win 8.1 pro, it did in fact create the key in the registry under Windows Search, but still SysVol is being created on removable media. And no, its not part of System Restore either. (eg, only C drive is in there. And many others have reported the same problem).
Regedit key works for Windows 10. Thank you!
I should mention, the folder does not create *if* you just pull the USB stick, but the moment you *eject* the USB, like you are supposed to do, to be safe … at that point, again the System Volume Folder is created on USB. And worse on this, is that this “fix” only works on one computer at a time.
Microsoft should *NOT* have enabled this on *ANY* machine for any removable media, it should have been optional and required users to act to enable. AND it should be something that still prompted with nag screens after the fact .. a warning .. “Eject with index and sysvol?” “Eject without index / sysvol” and brief explanations of both. That way you go to a friends computer, and *they* won’t accidentally put them on your stick.
Its a windows f*’d up nightmare.
i dont seem to have a ‘windows search’ in the registry editor under ‘windows’.
same here
Well not in your case. In my case, i wanted to copy song to the usb drive without making a folder. My DVD player won’t be autoplay if there is a folder inside the drive. So, in order to make it autoplay, I need to remove the system volume information folder which is readable folder from my portable DVD player.
there is no ‘windows search’ option on my windows 10 :(
Does not seem to work in Windows 10. Mine is Windows 10 Pro. I tried the registry method (doesn’t work). For the first GPEDIT.MSC method, I did not find the policy in it so I could not enable it.
The registry fix worked for me on Windows 8.1 Home and Windows 10 Home but after Windows 10 was upgraded to 1511 the fix stopped working. Any other suggestions?
In recent versions of Windows 10, as well as the above, you need to stop the Storage Service too (type Services into the start menu to find the management applet)
Thank you for this info, it helped me!
On my Win 10 home gpedit does not show search field.
Tried regedit but found the key in another position, modified it but still not working.
Found the key here:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftPolicyManagercurrentdeviceSearch
Is it the same?
it doesn’t have windows search in regedit or even in local group policy what should i do?
Hello Kapil Arya,
I’m on Windows 10 Home, so I needed to install the Group Policy Editor, which I’ve done. However, I couldn’t get to
Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Search
because there is no Search under Windows Components.
What should I do to proceed?
December 3rd, 2016
Got this to work in Windows 10 Home 64-bit.
This version of Win 10 does not have a policy editor, so you have to use regedit
I built the registry key as described
Restarted, but still same issue.
THEN, I read Stephen’s comment from March 2016, and turned off the “Storage Service” in the services.
If you need more detailed instructions, let me know and I’ll try to post them here.
I needed this to be able to use the SleepyHead software with my CPAP machine and not have it make the card unusable by the machine.
Update…I was able to restart and insert the SD card and it still did not build a System Volume Information folder. The “Storage Service” service was still not running when I restarted. I don’t know how that gets triggered to start.
So…when I first tried this regedit change, it did not stop the SVI filder. But my “Storage Service” service was running at the time. Once I stopped that service the regedit fix seemed to kick in.
That means that each time I go to check my CPAP data, I will check to see if that service is running.
For all I know, not having the service running is all I really needed to do, but now that it’s working, I’m not gonna mess with it!
OK, so none of this actually worked for me if the Storage service gets started again. I found a solution to at least get RID of the folder after the fact. I’ll post it here, but you need to be a little bit savvy:
-Open a command prompt as an administrator
-switch to the drive letter of the SD/USB, in my case E
E:
(the prompt should change to the new letter)
-change the attributes of the folder to remove System, Hidden, and Read-only flags
attrib -S -H -R “System Volume Information”
-Delete the folder and subfolders
rd /S /Q “System Volume Information”
-Close the window
exit
-Yank the USB/SD card WITHOUT do that “Safely Eject” process
If you safely eject, it will write that folder back out there.
I found this on a board where a person was having the same problem with the same machine, and I have tested it a few times now.
same here. I don’t have windows search in registry editor.
Because you should create it idiot! Read and understand!