External USB SSD = Local Disk


Haydon

Haydon

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File Explorer usually and properly shows in the navigation pane an external USB SSD as WD001 (D:) for example.

But sometimes the external USB SSD is shown as Local Disk (D:)

I have yet to experience a negative impact, but I am curious why it happens and how I can make it not happen.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro
Same here Haydon. Just so I would recognize it as removable I assigned mine a custom icon that looks like a usb thumb drive.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26100.3775
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
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    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
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    Benq 27
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    1tb Solidigm m.2 nvme+256gb SKHynix m.2 nvme /External drives 512gb Samsung m.2 sata+1tb Kingston m2.nvme+ 4gb Solidigm nvme
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    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
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    #1 Edge #2 Firefox
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    Windows 10 Pro 22H2 19045.3930
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    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 9020
    CPU
    i7-4770
    Memory
    24 gb
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    256 gb Toshiba BG4 M.2 NVE SSB and 1 tb hdd
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    500w
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    Dell factory
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    Logitech wireless
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    still not telling
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It ought only to show it without its WD001 label for a few moments after it is connected.
I assume you can refresh the view [F5 or right-click, Refresh] to force it to be shown as WD001.

Denis
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home x64 Version 23H2 Build 22631.3447
Thanks, folks, it will be a while before I can respond, the phenomenon happens only occasionally, and I don't know how to artificially induce it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro
I relabel my USB drives in File Explorer or in Command Prompt [DOS command of Label] , either using their capacity [StoreNGo 64GB], a type of file such as Fonts when storing them only, Music for that only, etc. There are times that simply plugging a drive into a different port from last time changes things.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win11 Pro RTM
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 3400
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 11th Gen. 2.40GHz
    Memory
    12GB
    Hard Drives
    256GB SSD NVMe M.2
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro RTM x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 5890
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 10th Gen. 2.90GHz
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Onboard, no VGA, using a DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" Dell
    Hard Drives
    512GB SSD NVMe, 4TB Seagate HDD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender/Microsoft Security
Berton said:
I relabel my USB drives in File Explorer or in Command Prompt [DOS command of Label] , either using their capacity [StoreNGo 64GB], a type of file such as Fonts when storing them only, Music for that only, etc. There are times that simply plugging a drive into a different port from last time changes things.
Click to expand...
I think we need to understand better what File Explorer does.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro
I have not seen this before. A USB is labelled as local because it is connected directly to the computer. The opposite (remote disk) would be a shared folder, a NAS device or other remote storage. I haven't noticed a USB disk to switch between two descriptions.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 (build 22631.4249) test laptop, Windows 11 Pro v24H2 (build 26100.3476) main PC
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Extensa 5630EZ
    CPU
    Mobile DualCore Intel Core 2 Duo T7250, 2000 MHz
    Motherboard
    Acer Extensa 5630
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Mobile Intel(R) GMA 4500M (Mobile 4 series)
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC268 @ Intel 82801IB ICH9 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1
    Screen Resolution
    1280x800
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250GB SATA Device (250 GB, SATA-III)
    Internet Speed
    VDSL 50 Mbps
    Browser
    MICROSOFT EDGE
    Antivirus
    WINDOWS DEFENDER
    Other Info
    Legacy MBR installation, no TPM, no Secure Boot, no WDDM 2.0 graphics drivers, no SSE4.2, cannot get more unsupported ;) This is only my test laptop. I had installed Windows 11 here before upgrading my main PC. For my main PC I use everyday see my 2nd system specs.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro v24H2 (build 26100.3476)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom-built PC
    CPU
    Intel Core-i7 3770 3.40GHz s1155 (3rd generation)
    Motherboard
    Asus P8H61 s1155 ATX
    Memory
    2x Kingston Hyper-X Blu 8GB DDR3-1600
    Graphics card(s)
    Gainward NE5105T018G1-1070F (nVidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti 4GB GDDR5)
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD audio (ALC887)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia KDL-19L4000 19" LCD TV via VGA
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900 32-bit 60Hz
    Hard Drives
    WD Blue SA510 2.5 1000GB SSD as system disk, Western Digital Caviar Purple 4TB SATA III (WD40PURZ) as second
    PSU
    Thermaltake Litepower RGB 550W Full Wired
    Case
    SUPERCASE MIDI-TOWER
    Cooling
    Deepcool Gamma Archer CPU cooler, 1x 8cm fan at the back
    Mouse
    Sunnyline OptiEye PS/2
    Keyboard
    Mitsumi 101-key PS/2
    Internet Speed
    100Mbps
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Windows Defender
    Other Info
    Legacy BIOS (MBR) installation, no TPM, no Secure Boot, WDDM 3.0 graphics drivers, WEI score 7.4
spapakons said:
I have not seen this before.
Click to expand...
Neither have I, or at least I've never noticed it. The only time I see the drives listed as Local is when I click on properties.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Canary Channel
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    PowerSpec B746
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-10700K
    Motherboard
    ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming 4/ax
    Memory
    16GB (8GB PC4-19200 DDR4 SDRAM x2)
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 TI
    Sound Card
    Realtek Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    #1. LG ULTRAWIDE 34" #2. AOC Q32G2WG3 32"
    Screen Resolution
    #1. 3440 X 1440 #2. 1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    NVMe WDC WDS100T2B0C-00PXH0 1TB
    Samsung SSD 860 EVO 1TB
    PSU
    750 Watts (62.5A)
    Case
    PowerSpec/Lian Li ATX 205
    Keyboard
    Logitech K270
    Mouse
    Logitech M185
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge and Firefox
    Antivirus
    ESET Internet Security
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Canary Channel
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    PowerSpec G156
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-8400 CPU @ 2.80GHz
    Motherboard
    AsusTeK Prime B360M-S
    Memory
    16 MB DDR 4-2666
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23" Speptre HDMI 75Hz
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 970 EVO 500GB NVMe
    Mouse
    Logitek M185
    Keyboard
    Logitek K270
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge and Edge Canary
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
I see it in the few seconds during which Windows is detecting & reading an external drive [when you see its lamp slowly flashing, if it has one].
Disk listed as Local drive in the seconds during detection.png
When it's been read, its allocated drive label appears in place of Local disk.

I think this has always been the case.
I'd only start worrying if, for no apparent reason, the system was so heavily loaded that I could see this happening with a small external drive.


All the best,
Denis
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home x64 Version 23H2 Build 22631.3447
The Local Disk phenomenon of an external USB SSD struck again, see the first pic below. The improper label in File Explorer is permanent.
Capture01.JPG
I then ejected the external USB SSD, plugged it out and back in, and it's the second pic below which is as it should be.
Capture02.JPG
As I said in my OP, I have yet to experience any negative impact of this occasional phenomenon, but it makes no rhyme nor reason.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro
@Haydon, FYI I notice one of your external drives is Western Digital. I have one as well and it's driver kept me from turning on memory integrity. Today, I noticed a driver update in windows update for it. This new driver may fix the issue with memory integrity (if you use it)
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26100.3775
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1tb Solidigm m.2 nvme+256gb SKHynix m.2 nvme /External drives 512gb Samsung m.2 sata+1tb Kingston m2.nvme+ 4gb Solidigm nvme
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    #1 Edge #2 Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 22H2 19045.3930
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 9020
    CPU
    i7-4770
    Memory
    24 gb
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    256 gb Toshiba BG4 M.2 NVE SSB and 1 tb hdd
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell factory
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Internet Speed
    still not telling
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
glasskuter said:
@Haydon, FYI I notice one of your external drives is Western Digital. I have one as well and it's driver kept me from turning on memory integrity. Today, I noticed a driver update in windows update for it. This new driver may fix the issue with memory integrity (if you use it)
Click to expand...
Thanks, but I can't turn on my Memory Integrity because of
Capture03.JPG
I then went to Device Manager which says that I already have the best driver installed for that device, and that's as far as I am willing to go (I don't want the cure to be worse than the very slight illness) Moreover, I see the occasional 'Local Disk' phenomenon with my other USB SSDs from Seagate and Samsung as well. Curiously, the phenomenon never happened with my plain USB flash drives 🤷‍♂️ So, I think that the phenomenon has to do with the devices being USB SSDs rather than with device drivers, but I can of course not be positive either 🤷‍♂️
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro
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