Drives - Hide or Show Empty Drives in Computer Folder

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    Drives - Hide or Show Empty Drives in Computer Folder

    Drives - Hide or Show Empty Drives in Computer Folder

    How to Hide or Show Empty Drives in Windows 7 and Windows 8
    Published by
    Designer Media Ltd


    How to Hide or Show Empty Drives in Windows 7 and Windows 8


       Information
    This tutorial will show you how to have empty removable drives to show or hide in the Computer or This PC folder in Windows 7 and Windows 8.

       Tip
    If you want an empty CD/DVD drive to show in the navigation pane, you'll need to set show empty drives below, and set to show all folders in the navigation pane.





    OPTION ONE

    To Hide or Show Empty Drives using Folder Options


    1. Open Folder Options in Windows 7 or Windows 8, and click/tap on the View tab. (See screenshot below)
    Drives - Hide or Show Empty Drives in Computer Folder-folder_options.jpg
    2. To Show Empty Removable Drives
    A) Uncheck the Hide empty drives in the Computer folder box, and click/tap on OK. (See screenshot above)
    3. To Hide Empty Removable Drives
    NOTE: This is the default setting.
    A) Select (dot) Don't Show hidden files, folders, and drives.

    B) Check the Hide empty drives in the Computer folder box, and click/tap on OK. (See screenshot above)



    OPTION TWO

    To Hide or Show Empty Drives using a REG File Download


    1. To Show Empty Removable Drives
    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below.
    Show_empty_drives_in_the_Computer_folder.reg


    Download

    B) Go to step 3.
    2. To Hide Empty Removable Drives
    NOTE: This also sets to Don't Show hidden files, folders, and drives.
    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below.
    Hide_empty_drives_in_the_Computer_folder.reg
    3. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

    4. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

    5. Click on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK when prompted.

    6. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply.

    7. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file on the desktop if you like.



    OPTION THREE

    To Hide or Show Empty Drives Manually in Registry Editor


    1. Open the Start Menu, then type regedit in the search line and press enter.

    2. If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on Yes.

    3. In regedit, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)

    Code:
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
    Drives - Hide or Show Empty Drives in Computer Folder-reg1.jpg
    4. To Show Empty Removable Drives
    A) In the right pane of Advanced, double click/tap on HideDrivesWithNoMedia to modify it. (see screenshot above)

    B) Type 0 and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below step 5B)

    C) Go to step 6.
    5. To Hide Empty Removable Drives
    NOTE: This also sets to Don't Show hidden files, folders, and drives.
    A) In the right pane of Advanced, double click/tap on HideDrivesWithNoMedia to modify it. (see screenshot below step 3)

    B) Type 1 and click on OK. (see screenshot below)
    Drives - Hide or Show Empty Drives in Computer Folder-modify.jpg
    C) Go to step 6.

    6. Close regedit.

    7. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply.
    That's it,
    Shawn









    Related Tutorials




  2. willus
    Posts : 10
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       New #1

    Steps 4 and 5 are mislabeled as of this post--s/b to show empty drives, set HideDrivesWithNoMedia to 0, and to hide them set it to 1. [This has now been corrected--see next post.]

    Also, to get the settings to take effect, you can just re-start explorer (run task manager, kill the "explorer.exe" process, and then select File -> Run, and type "explorer" to re-start it).
    Last edited by willus; 08 Aug 2013 at 21:28. Reason: Indicate correction.
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  4. Brink
    Posts : 72,036
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #2

    Ooops. Thank you Willus. It has been corrected now. :)
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  5. nabilalk
    Posts : 299
    Win 7 Professional 32-bit
       New #3

    What about hiding empty partitions of non-removable drives?
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  6. Brink
    Posts : 72,036
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #4

    Hello Nabilalk,

    If you like, you can hide them by removing their drive letter, but you will not be able to access them until you add a drive letter back to them.
    Here's another option to hide drives, but still have access to them.
    Hope this helps. :)
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  7. nabilalk
    Posts : 299
    Win 7 Professional 32-bit
       New #5

    Brink said:
    Hello Nabilalk,

    If you like, you can hide them by removing their drive letter, but you will not be able to access them until you add a drive letter back to them.
    Here's another option to hide drives, but still have access to them.
    Hope this helps. :)
    Thanks!
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  8. Brink
    Posts : 72,036
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #6

    You're most welcome. :)
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  10. chilirecords
    Posts : 2
    Win 8 64
       New #7

    Hi,

    For me on windows 8 x64, check the option "Hide empty drives in the Computer folder" doesn't work. (The disk is just grey)
    I have to uncheck Folder Option --> General --> Display all folders

    So it works :)
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  11. Brink
    Posts : 72,036
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #8

    Hello chilirecords, and welcome to Seven Forums.

    Yeah, that would show all folder in the navigation pane regardless if they have been hidden or not.
    Faded folders or drives are ones set to be hidden.
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  12. chilirecords
    Posts : 2
    Win 8 64
       New #9

    Ah ok, all is clear now :)

    Thanks a lot.

    Chili
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