Windows 10: Windows 10 1903 or higher, Duplicate USB devices showing in File Explorer, why is it still...

This is not a new problem, I have seen this annoying issue reported for years by several users, but I have never seen a straight answer explaining the reason for the duplication.

All the threads on the subject are locked.

I have seen the workaround temporary solution by modifying the following registry entries, either by deleting or renaming the entries to .old.

I have not seen any explanation for the purpose of the duplication and I cannot see one.

Can anybody explain the purpose of the duplicate drives showing in Widows Explorer and the meaning of NameSpace\DelegateFolders in the following Registry entries ?


HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\DelegateFolders\{F5FB2C77-0E2F-4A16-A381-3E560C68BC83}


HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\DelegateFolders\{F5FB2C77-0E2F-4A16-A381-3E560C68BC83}


Since I did not want to delete the entry just in case I needed to restore it, I renamed it as {F5FB2C77-0E2F-4A16-A381-3E560C68BC83}.old and that eliminated the duplication in file explorer.


Still I'd like to have an explanation of the purpose for the duplication in Explorer.

A clear explanation rather than a canned answer will be appreciated. Thanks.


See sample in picture below with drive E: showing up twice.




:)

 

Windows 10 Tweaks

Pressing “Windows+Pause Break” (it’s up there next to scroll lock) opens the “System” Window.

Windows 10: In the new version of Windows, Explorer has a section called Quick Access. This includes your frequent folders and recent files. Explorer defaults to opening this page when you open a new window. If you’d rather open the usual This PC, with links to your drives and library folders, follow these steps:

• Open a new Explorer window.
• Click View in the ribbon.
• Click Options.
• Under General, next to “Open File Explorer to:” choose “This PC.”
• Click OK

credit to Lifehacker.

 

duplicate usb drives in windows 10 file explorer

This FIX resolved my problem of duplicating USB drives in left hand tree in Windows 10 File Explorer

 

Duplicate drive listed in explorer.


I had read some good tutorials on how to remove unwanted items from the side explorer navigation pane and was interested if someone knows how to remove a duplicate of a drive showing up?

Here is what I am dealing with:





The duplicate listing of Drive F: which is a USB Flash drive is not necessary and I would like to remove one of them.

Any ideas?

EDIT:

I think I found it here: Add or Remove Duplicate Drives in Navigation Pane in Windows 10

I'll give it a go and find out.

It appears that the drives listed under "This PC" are not considered duplicate listings and the reg file does not have any effect on those listings.

So imperially or practically, I guess I don't really have a duplicate listing of the drive unless the branch of "This PC" is expanded.