External drive only showing Desktop.ini in Recycle.bin

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westesen
Posts: 1
Joined: Sun Apr 12, 2026 10:55 pm

External drive only showing Desktop.ini in Recycle.bin

Post by westesen »

I have an external exFat drive. When I run Everything, it only shows a desktop.ini file in the Recycle.bin. There are many other files on the drive, but they don't show up.
void
Developer
Posts: 19839
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:31 pm

Re: External drive only showing Desktop.ini in Recycle.bin

Post by void »

Is there only one Desktop.ini file? or multiple Desktop.ini files?



Please make sure no search options are checked under the Search menu (eg: uncheck match case, uncheck match whole words, uncheck regex)

Please make sure the Everything filter is active under the Search menu.

Please make sure these files are not excluded under Tools -> Options -> Exclude.



To include your external drive in your Everything index:
  • In Everything, from the Tools menu, click Options.
  • Click the Folders tab on the left.
  • Click Add....
  • Select your external drive (For example: E: drive) and click OK.
  • Click OK.


Please try forcing a rebuild:
  • In Everything, from the Tools menu, click Options.
  • Click the Indexes tab on the left.
  • Click Force Rebuild.
  • Click OK.


Does the issue persist?
westesen
Posts: 1
Joined: Sun Apr 12, 2026 10:55 pm

Re: External drive only showing Desktop.ini in Recycle.bin

Post by westesen »

That almost did the trick. That was a good list of suggestions. The drive and it's files are showing up now, but every file on that drive is listed twice.
Last edited by westesen on Mon Apr 13, 2026 7:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.
void
Developer
Posts: 19839
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:31 pm

Re: External drive only showing Desktop.ini in Recycle.bin

Post by void »

Is the drive really exFAT?

NTFS volumes are automatically indexed by "Everything".

Adding a NTFS volume as a folder index will show duplicated results.

Please remove any NTFS volumes from your folder indexes:
  • In "Everything", from the Tools menu, click Options.
  • Click the Folders tab.
  • Select any NTFS volumes and click Remove.
  • Click OK.


To check which NTFS volumes are automatically included:
  • In "Everything", from the Tools menu, click Options.
  • Click the NTFS tab.
  • NTFS volumes that have Include in database checked are already included as an NTFS index.


If the issue persists, what version of Everything are you using?
-If you are using Everything 1.5, please check under Tools -> Options -> FAT
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