How to make removable disk act like permanent hard disk in Win 10 Pro?

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  1. Posts : 112
    64-bit Windows 10 Pro 1909
       #1

    How to make removable disk act like permanent hard disk in Win 10 Pro?


    I'm setting up a Toshiba Encore 2 Tablet for a family member. I've already updated it to run 32-bit Windows 10 Pro 1607. It came with a very small amount of internal EMCC storage (24 GB available, NTFS formatted), but fortunately it also includes a MicroSD slot, which I've populated as a 128 GB NTFS drive. I've successfully installed and run many applications to/from this MicroSD disk ("D:\").

    But this disk apparently is seen by Windows as a removable drive and so it does NOT include a Recycle Bin and Windows refuses to list this disk as available to store Restore Points, both of which I want to enable. How can I accomplish this? Am I correct in suspecting that if I can somehow force Windows to see the D:\ drive as a non-removable hard drive, it will automatically setup or enable a Recycle Bin and also allow me to turn on System Protection for the drive? If not, how can I do what I want?

    Thanks!
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  2. Posts : 15,441
    Windows10
       #2

    Not possible. Just backup drive regularly.
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  3. Posts : 112
    64-bit Windows 10 Pro 1909
    Thread Starter
       #3

    cereberus said:
    Not possible. Just backup drive regularly.
    Thanks for your reply, but the family member in question can't really perform backups and the like herself.

    And for the record, however, it seems that at least some people have managed to trick Windows into treating at least some removable storage devices (typically removable USB flash drives and the like) as if they were fixed disks. I, myself, have a strong memory of using some third-party software to do this a while back, even though I don't remember the name of the tool.

    Some people have solved this using hard links, but I don't want to go that route (at least until I've exhausted all other options). Others have used various hacks to flip the "removable" bit -- some using special software tools and others by installing special filter drivers that report to Windows that the device in question is a fixed disk.

    Here's a link that describes a solution for certain device types and situations (but none of them address my highly specific needs of MicroSD under Windows 10):

    http://agnipulse.com/2012/03/filter-drivers-removable-media-fixed-disk-windows/


    But I still think there is probably a solution/hack that will accomplish what I need...
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  4. Posts : 15,441
    Windows10
       #4

    the removeable bit solution has not worked for several years.

    You could just buy a win to go certified flash drive which is seen as a fixed drive.
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  5. Posts : 4,752
    Windows 11 Pro 64 Bit 22H2
       #5

    There is a Recycle Bin on every External drive in Windows, but it is a hidden file. However, it is associated with the Recycle Bin on the C: drive. If you accidentally or on purpose delete a file on the external drive, you can restore it from the recycle bin on the C: drive.
    System Restore does not restore personal items (ie) Documents, Pictures, Music etc. It only restores Windows System Files, Programs and Drivers. So running a System Restore to restore accidentally deleted files on an external drive will do no good, as there are no Windows files on an external drive.
    You can set up an automatic backup to another drive, and if something is deleted, they can restore it from the backup.
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  6. Posts : 4
    Windows 10 64x
       #6

    Uh, Spunk, I hesitate to contradict you but I don't think your statement is true. I've been battling this problem for years and just ran a test based on your statement,

    "There is a Recycle Bin on every External drive in Windows, but it is a hidden file. However, it is associated with the Recycle Bin on the C: drive. If you accidentally or on purpose delete a file on the external drive, you can restore it from the recycle bin on the C: drive."

    I have a Surface Pro 3 with a micro SD card in it's slot. I modified the Windows explorer view options to include hidden and system files. I saved a test text file in the root level folder and then deleted it. The delete message was, "are you sure you want to permanently delete this file?" I said yes and the file is gone. It's not in the C:\RecycleBin. There is no recycle bin on the sd card. I've searched repeatedly for a solution to this. It's the only thing that keeps me from using the sd card. I've lost things I couldn't recover - even with file recovery software.
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  7. Posts : 85
    10 Pro
       #7

    B1948J said:
    The delete message was, "are you sure you want to permanently delete this file?" I said yes and the file is gone. It's not in the C:\RecycleBin. .

    Not quite sure if I understand you or know what you're getting at. "permanently delete this file" means exactly that, you certainly aren't going to find it in any recycle bin.

    permanently
    ˈpəːm(ə)nəntli/
    adverb

    • in a way that lasts or remains unchanged indefinitely; for all time.





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  8. Posts : 4
    Windows 10 64x
       #8

    The point is that this message ONLY occurs if there is no recycle bin. Spunk said, "There is a recycle bin on every External drive in Windows...". And while I'm well aware that MS differentiates between "External" and "SD" drives in the strictest sense, the original question revolved around, "MicroSD" drives. You really should read the whole thread. The frustration comes from the fact that Windows doesn't set up and manage a recycle bin on SD cards and the original question asks if there is some bit to change withing Windows to allow this to happen. And yes, it is obvious that the user should pay thoughtful attention to a message saying the file will be permanently deleted. It is also human to hit the damn enter key as a reflex and regret it a millisecond later. I assume that was the one of the original reasons for a recycle bin to exist.

    I have a pretty good handle on the definition of "permanently". But since the data is still out there on the SD card with the file table entry marked as "deleted" - it wasn't really so "permanent", was it? It's just a hassle to have to use a file recovery utility to recover it - and hopefully it wasn't overwritten in the meantime.

    Here's another definition for you:
    2. thoughtful (adj.)

    acting with or showing thought and good sense
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  9. Posts : 85
    10 Pro
       #9

    Yes, thank you for your follow up response to my response. I apologize for not assuming you could speak English. There are many Nationalities on this forum. Hence my definition.
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  10. Posts : 5,299
    Windows 11 Pro 64-bit
       #10

    spunk said:
    System Restore does not restore personal items (ie) Documents, Pictures, Music etc. It only restores Windows System Files, Programs and Drivers. So running a System Restore to restore accidentally deleted files on an external drive will do no good, as there are no Windows files on an external drive.
    You can set up an automatic backup to another drive, and if something is deleted, they can restore it from the backup.
    Hi spunk,

    You are correct to point out System Restore tool does not restore users personal files but we can use ShadowExplorer program to restore lost or damaged files from Shadow Copies. However, it is by no means a replacement for traditional backups!
      My Computer


 

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