Windows 10: Mounted volume does not appear in "this pc"

[Jofifi]

Hi,

I have the problem that when mounting volumes (from container-file same as from USB-Drive-partition) for the second time, the volume is not shown in Windows Explorer - "this PC" (but can be accessed by typing M:/ into explorer address bar).
This is a problem, because this is the only way to see how much free space I have in a volume.

Problem (VC 1.24-U2):

• the problem only occurs with drive letter M:/.
• Cause/Bug: I had set two different VC-favorites (containers from USB-HDD) mounting to M:/, and for both I had activated "use this name as drive name in Explorer", with two different names. It worked fine for the first time, but not any more. (Of course the USB-drives where never connected at the same time.)
• Although I have deleted all VC-favorites which use M:/, and many reboots, the problem still exists.
• now, if I mount any other container or partition to M:/, it is displayed in "this PC" the first time. But when I try it again (even after reboots), it is not displayed any more. (But I can access it by typing M:/ into explorer.)
• when using any other drive letter, it works fine. So M:/ seems to be "poisened" somehow.
• having many favorites to the same drive letter is usually no problem (at least when not using "use name as drive name in Explorer"): I have about 10 USB-Drives all mounting to U:/, and U:/ is displayed fine in "this PC" every time I mount them.

Question/Solution/Workaround:

• do you know any tricks how to "force" a volume to appear in "this PC"? (of course the volume doesn't appear in disk manager, as it is not a disk. The drive letter is available before mounting the container. Explorer is set to not hide empty volumes.)

• do you know a workaround how to see the free space of a volume, although it doesn't appear in "This PC"?

Thanks!

[Philip Smith]

Possible workaround try Q-Dir get the portable version there is 32bit & 64bit current version is 7.99 - basically an explorer alternative.
https://www.softwareok.com/?seite=Freeware/Q-Dir

Also what operating system are you using it may help others to better help you .

[Philip Smith]

If you put a URL link in the reply it gets moderated.
Here it is without the URL

Do a search for Q-Dir there is a 32 bit & 64bit latest V7.99 get the portable version that way if it does not work just delete the file.

It is an Explorer alternative there are a few different ones if you want to try another, it is a possible workaround.

Open the defragger if it can see it do analyze that also may show free space.

The problem with M sound like the only place that would be suspect is something in the registry, my opinion only does anyone else think so?

[Jofifi]

Thanks for your reply, it just seems to have been unblocked.
I use Windows 10 1909.

Behaviour in Q-Dir is the same as in Windows Explorer: Drive M is not visible in "this PC". It just seems to be a different "skin" for the data that windows supplies for "this PC".

I already thought about registry, but the problem is that drive M is not a physical drive. So all the registry stuff e.g. for USB drives used in the past does not apply. No drive is recorded as ever to have been mounted as M.

I can't even find out how these not-physical volumes are called. All I find when searching for virtual volumes is the Windows .vhd-format...

[Jofifi]

The issue is still not resolved, but I found a workaround which tells me total size and free size:

Open Powershell with administrative privilegis, enter (replace "m :" with your volume):

fsutil volume diskfree m:

This tells me the total size and the free size of the volume, fast and easy :-)