[SOLVED] Prevent hidden files creation on usb drives

[Jobs, Steve]

Everytime I connect a usb pendrive/hdd, Finder, (or any other process) create some hidden files (._.DS... .trashes...)
Also when I copy a file from my Mac to usb drive, example Photo.jpg, a .Photo.jpg is created.

Is there a way to permanent disable the creation of ALL this hidden files to external usb drives??
I mean ALL external usb drives at all, not to set any single external drive to not create them.

 

[thejasonhowell]

Everytime I connect a usb pendrive/hdd, Finder, (or any other process) create some hidden files (._.DS... .trashes...)
Also when I copy a file from my Mac to usb drive, example Photo.jpg, a .Photo.jpg is created.

Is there a way to permanent disable the creation of ALL this hidden files to external usb drives??
I mean ALL external usb drives at all, not to set any single external drive to not create them.

That's the nature of including Apple in your multiplatform setup

 

[Jobs, Steve]

That's the nature of including Apple in your multiplatform setup

so there is no way to prevent that even on external drives??

 

[JohnDS]

Blue Harvest is your solution: http://www.zeroonetwenty.com/blueharvest/

 

[Jobs, Steve]

Blue Harvest is your solution: http://www.zeroonetwenty.com/blueharvest/

thank you for the noticed me about it, but I prefer to prevent the creation of theese files on external drives instead of delete everytime after creation.

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

You can't. Unless you want Finder not to use them.

 

[Ulenspiegel]

You can't. Unless you want Finder not to use them.

+1.
There are a number of apps that address this issue, but as was mentioned earlier they delete "junk" that has been already created. I tried some of them and was not satisfied at all as sometimes they do less, other times they do more than needed.

 

[1024724]

You can try this out. It may still include .fsevents, .DocumentRevisions, .TemporaryItems and .Trashes. I kind of think it may be unavoidable to create certain file system structures when introducing a volume. The Spotlight stuff and the .ds_stores you can take care of though. Try these out and see if they help. Probably best in the order their given but I really can't verify if it matters or not.

Prevent MDS from attempting to Index
sudo touch /Volumes/your volume name here/.metadata_never_index

Disable Indexing AND Searching of Volumes
sudo mdutil -i off -d /Volumes/your volume name here

Delete existing Spotlight Index
sudo rm -rfv /.Spotlight-V100

Disable creating '.ds_store' on USB volumes
defaults write com.apple.desktopservices DSDontWriteUSBStores -bool true

Disable creating '.ds_store' on network volumes
defaults write com.apple.desktopservices DSDontWriteNetworkStores -bool true

Sorry if this makes your machine explode, implode, hack NORAD, "Friends" you with Justin Bieber or any other unexpected results.

 

[Partron22]

If a Mac can't write to a drive, it can't make invisible files:

Read Only Flash Drives - How To Add or Remove the Write Protection
You'll have to do this on a Non-Mac.
The example uses Windows, but Linux'll probably do in a pinch.

 

[Weaselboy]

so there is no way to prevent that even on external drives??

Nope... like others mentioned, your best option is just to use one of the many utilities around for this. I like USBClean.

 

[Jobs, Steve]

Thanks to grauenwölfe
I think I found a partial solution!

Using the commands:

defaults write com.apple.desktopservices DSDontWriteUSBStores -bool true

sudo mdutil -i off -d /Volumes

no more .ds_store and no more ".example.jpg" when I copy "example.jpg" from mac to usb.

Even If I keep viewing hidden files with the command

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles YES

no more .ds_store on Desktop, and no more on any folders.

so, thank you again I do NOT see .ds_store anymore, and best without using any external software.

 

[dauber]

Thanks to grauenwölfe

sudo mdutil -i off -d /Volumes

so, thank you again I do NOT see .ds_store anymore, and best without using any external software.

I found this thread when I was researching a problem I've been having since upgrading to Sierra in which files copied to a USB device (not storage) are rendered inoperable, and even removing the hidden files didn't help.

The command I quoted, though, gives me this error:

Error: invalid operation

Error: unknown indexing state.

 

[1024724]

dauber,

You have to enter it fully and correctly.
sudo mdutil -i off -d /Volumes/THEN YOU HAVE TO TYPE IN YOUR DRIVE NAME HERE

Some examples...
If your drive name is "dauber" then type in:
sudo mdutil -i off -d /Volumes/dauber

If i your drive name is "Dauber" then type in:
sudo mdutil -i off -d /Volumes/Dauber

If i your drive name has a space in it like "Macintosh HD" then type in:
sudo mdutil -i off -d /Volumes/Macintosh\ HD

 

[dauber]

Thanks. That solved the "unknown indexing state" problem, that but still didn't solve the problem of the file copied being rendered unusable. (And it still creates a "._Filename" file.)

And upon using Disk Utility, turns out this device is a FAT12 device. That probably has something to do with it...betcha Sierra doesn't support that format. :/

(FTR, the device I'm using is a pretty obscure thing....it's a rewritable cartridge for...ya ready?....Atari 7800: http://www.vectrex.hackermesh.org/index.php/en/mvbd-mvmc-3/faq-2 . I've been in contact with the developer, who himself just upgraded to Sierra. He hasn't found a solution yet other than using Windows...)

 

[Lounge Deluxe]

dauber,

You have to enter it fully and correctly.
sudo mdutil -i off -d /Volumes/THEN YOU HAVE TO TYPE IN YOUR DRIVE NAME HERE

Some examples...
If your drive name is "dauber" then type in:
sudo mdutil -i off -d /Volumes/dauber

If i your drive name is "Dauber" then type in:
sudo mdutil -i off -d /Volumes/Dauber

If i your drive name has a space in it like "Macintosh HD" then type in:
sudo mdutil -i off -d /Volumes/Macintosh\ HD

Hi I'm struggling with OneDrive and how to prevent .ds_store files to be automatically saved to OneDrive. OneDrive does not appear to be a Volume on OS X / MacOS but rather a folder inside wherever you have saved it to. How would I prevent .ds_store files from polluting OneDrive? Much appreciated,

 

[jmpage2]

I just encountered this issue myself, I view it as an issue because I can't understand what benefit these files have, can someone explain?

In my case I was copying a bunch of slides for viewing on a TV. The TV kept picking up the bogus files and complaining that they were corrupt and could not be displayed. I was a bit gobsmacked when I discovered that my Mac is creating these files simply by copying images from MacOS to a thumb drive.

Would love to understand the rationale behind this happening, is it related to spotlight indexing?

 

[Ulenspiegel]

...Would love to understand the rationale behind this happening, is it related to spotlight indexing?

Yes, indexing, trash bins, folder positions.

 

[saeidk]

Hello
acording to this guide:

defaults write com.apple.desktopservices DSDontWriteUSBStores -bool true

I diasbled unnecassary hidden files, But now spotlight didnot work for me in anyway

this code:

sudo mdutil -i on /

didnot work for me It sows a bar and says indexing but nothing changes.

Thanks