Windows 10: How to restore default shell folder values and fix 'D:\System Volume Information'. Access...

Discus and support How to restore default shell folder values and fix 'D:\System Volume Information'. Access... in Windows 10 Software and Apps to solve the problem; Hey, So I recently added new ssd and named it D: , I moved my download folder by going to properties and location and setting it to D:/ , when I tried... Discussion in 'Windows 10 Software and Apps' started by SHREYAS1, Sep 8, 2024.

  1. SHREYAS1 Win User

    How to restore default shell folder values and fix 'D:\System Volume Information'. Access...


    Hey, So I recently added new ssd and named it D: , I moved my download folder by going to properties and location and setting it to D:/ , when I tried reverting it back it threw Failed to build the list of regular subdirectories under 'D:\System Volume Information'. Access is denied.", I tried to edit my registry and it got worse and messed up my other folders, I can not find MAIN user under C:/Users/ folder now. Here is the screenshot of my registry keys of user shell folders. Please help me.

    :)
     
    SHREYAS1, Sep 8, 2024
    #1

  2. Downloads merged with D:/; "Restore Default" fails due to "Access Denied" for "D:\System Volume Information." How to fix?

    After clicking "Restore Default", choose *No* when you see the “Do you want to move all the files from the old location” prompt.

    Move the files manually to the Downloads folder.

    See also:

    Fix: Accidentally Moved Videos or other Shell folders to D:\ root
     
    Ramesh Srinivasan, Sep 8, 2024
    #2
  3. LMiller7 Win User
    delete System Volume Information

    The "System Volume Information" folder was first introduced in Windows 2000. This predates System Restore. Documentation was sparse and it's size was small. But it was considered of sufficient importance that by default even an Admin level account could not access it. In Windows 2000 Admin accounts were always elevated. In Windows 2000 it was the only folder in the root of the drive so protected.

    In XP the folder came to be used by System Restore points. Over the years since then it would not be unreasonable to suggest that it contains other undocumented data as well. There is much in Windows that has never been publicly documented.

    If space is a concern it would be best to delete restore points by the provided facility rather than deleting the folder. Doing so would require granting your account the rights to do so. You should think twice before doing this with a system folder.
     
    LMiller7, Sep 8, 2024
    #3
  4. alljamin Win User

    How to restore default shell folder values and fix 'D:\System Volume Information'. Access...

    Remove System Volume information folder from external drive

    As I did not receive any other answers to my question and it is still open - I decided to provide my own answer.

    Here is the approach what does not involve installing any third party solution. The original solution can be found here.

    Here is the quick re-cap of the mentioned above solution:

    1. You need to TakeOwnership over the System Volume information folder. For doing so, you need to create TakeOwnership.reg file which can also be downloaded here.
      This is what goes inside the TakeOwnership.reg file:

      Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

      [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT*\shell\runas]
      @="Take Ownership"
      "NoWorkingDirectory"=""

      [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT*\shell\runas\command]
      @="cmd.exe /c takeown /f \"%1\" && icacls \"%1\" /grant administrators:F"
      "IsolatedCommand"="cmd.exe /c takeown /f \"%1\" && icacls \"%1\" /grant administrators:F"

      [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\runas]
      @="Take Ownership"
      "NoWorkingDirectory"=""

      [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\runas\command]
      @="cmd.exe /c takeown /f \"%1\" /r /d y && icacls \"%1\" /grant administrators:F /t"
      "IsolatedCommand"="cmd.exe /c takeown /f \"%1\" /r /d y && icacls \"%1\" /grant administrators:F /t"
    2. For the created TakeOwneship.reg file to take effect you need to run it, meaning just double-click on the newly created file.
    3. After Taking ownership (running the .reg file) you need to run following commands in command prompt (opened with Administrator privileges):
      1. Attrib -s -h -r "{drive}:\System Volume information" /S /D
      2. RD "{drive}:\System Volume information" /S

    Where {drive} is the letter what your external drive has.

    That all the steps what I have taken in order to be able to delete the System Volume Information folder from the external HDD. This worked fine for my machine Win 10 Pro x64 and I've got my extra 124GB.

    @Scott in his comments points out for a missing explanation for a more precise description of what exactly these commands do as well as proving why this method exactly works and other methods do not work.

    • Regarding to the meaning of the commands - I am not aware exactly what they do, I can only refer "primitively" that these shell commands help to take "full ownership" of this particular folder (more precise/technical description is welcome).
    • This method "works" better than others, because I was not able to find any other method what actually "work". And only following precisely these steps helped me to delete the folder in order to free up space on my external HDD.

    Hope this will help others who have similar issue.
     
    alljamin, Sep 8, 2024
    #4
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How to restore default shell folder values and fix 'D:\System Volume Information'. Access...

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