Query : weird partition with weird folder

RichardC · 22 Apr 2020

Hi all. To start, I've got a Dell pc. It seems they add weird partitions. I've got the normal ESP partition first. It's fat32. The second partition, I believe it's created by Windows, is 40mb and is labeled "diags". The strange thing is that it's also fat32 and includes one folder: system volume information. Inside the folder is WPSettings.dat. Now from researching the web, that file has to deal with windows phone. Why would windows put it there? Is It safe to delete the contents of the partition and shouldn't it be formatted NTFS? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Anibor · 22 Apr 2020

RichardC said:

... The second partition, I believe it's created by Windows, is 40mb and is labeled "diags". The strange thing is that it's also fat32 and includes one folder: system volume information.

It´s the Dell diagnostics partition. it has nothing to do with Windows or Windows Phone.

Berton · 22 Apr 2020

System Volume Information ---Restore points?
What Is the “System Volume Information” Folder, and Can I Delete It?

zbook · 22 Apr 2020

1) Open disk management > by default some columns are compressed > widen each Status and Volume > make sure the contents within the parenthesis are in full view and that none of the characters are cutoff > view disk 0 > widen this row as needed so that all of the characters are in full view > post an image into the thread
Disk Management - How to Post a Screenshot of

2) Download and install Minitool Partition Wizard > click launch > post an image of the results into this thread
MiniTool Partition Wizard Free Edition - Free download and software reviews - CNET Download.com

3) Open administrative command prompt and copy and paste (all at one time):

Code:

bcdedit /enum all
regentc /info
diskpart
lis dis
lis vol
sel dis 0
det dis
lis par
sel par 1
det par
sel par 2
det par
sel par 3
det par
sel par 4
det par
sel par 5
det par
sel par 6
det par
sel dis 1
det dis
lis par
sel par 1
det par
sel par 2
det par
sel par 3
det par
sel par 4
det par
sel par 5
det par
sel par 6
det par

4) When these have completed > right click on the top bar or title bar of the administrative command prompt box > left click on edit then select all > right click on the top bar again > left click on edit then copy > paste into the thread

RichardC · 22 Apr 2020

Wow. First off, thanks to everyone who responded. Let me add how I got my info. First, I used MiniTool Partition wizard to assign a drive letter to the hidden partition. I used WizTree to scan the drive associated to the partition. That's where I saw system volume information folder. Expanding the folder shows WPSettings.dat. Now if this is a Dell created partition, why did windows put it there? I'm sure Dell didn't.

Query : weird partition with weird folder-screenshot-72-.png

After assigning a drive letter, windows added $Recycle.bin/desktop.ini to the partition. It wasn't there initially. One of my questions was should this be fat32 or NTFS? I guess it really doesn't matter, just curious.

Update:

I've been searching all over the net and it seems this has been going on for quite a while. Windows adds 'system volume information' to ever partition and to every usb you use. I didn't notice it before on the usbs. It's even added to macrium reflect images. I tried all kinds of fixes to no avail. Windows just keeps adding it back to everything.