Can't empty the Recycle Bin

H

Herzl Regev

When I try to empty the Recycle Bin thru D: -> Properties, it says that the
size of the Recycle Bin is zero. But I can also detect (using a port of bash)
a subfolder of D:\RECYCLER with close to 4GB in files. How come this is not
cleared?

I can delete files in that subfolder. It seems that they really disappear.
 
T

Tim Meddick

If the recycle bin appears empty but is not - Try deleting a few
unwanted files so the Recycle Bin appears full.

Log off then back on again.

Then the first thing you do, after re-logging on, is 'Empty Recycle Bin'


==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :)
 
K

Kelly

Hi,

Suggestions:

1) Disable the Recycle Bin.

a. Right click the Recycle Bin icon on your Desktop and click Properties.
b. On the Global tab, select the checkbox next to "Do not move files to the
Recycle Bin. Remove files immediately when deleted"
c. Click OK.

2) Set Windows XP to show all the files.

a. Click Start and click My Computer.
b. Click the Tools menu and click Folder Options.
c. Click the View tab.
d. Click to select "Show hidden files and folders".
e. Clear the checkbox next to "Hide extensions for known file types".
f. Clear the checkbox next to "Hide protected operating system files
(Recommended)".
g. Click OK.

3) Delete the RECYCLED directory on each of your hard disk drives.

For example, you can delete the RECYCLED directory on drive C by the
following steps:

a. Click Start and click My Computer.
b. Double click the Drive C icon.
c. Right click the RECYCLED folder and click Delete.

Note: if the hard disk drive is using NTFS file system, you need to delete
the Recycler directory, too.

4) Enable the Recycle Bin again.

a. Right click the Recycle Bin icon on your Desktop and click Properties.
b. On the Global tab, clear the checkbox next to "Do not move files to the
Recycle Bin. Remove files immediately when deleted"
c. Move the slider until you see 10%
d. Click OK.

Added information:

I've seen this happen if you use the SUBST command to create a virtual
drive.

IF you have a virtual drive. Do a SUBST DRIVER: /D
You should then be able to see the contents of you Recycle Bin

It's a common problem. There's probably some file corruption. The usual
quick fix is: Delete any file (just to make sure there's something in the
bin).

Then, with the Recycle Bin CLOSED, right click the Recycle Bin desktop icon,
select: Empty Recycle Bin, and when the Confirm File Delete dialog box comes
up, click the OK button. Then reboot your system. After doing the above,
any deleted files should now list correctly in the Recycle Bin.

If the above didn't help:

Files not being listed in the Recycle Bin seem to be related to a corrupt
info2 file. To correct the issue (Fat32):

Go to Start/Run and type in CMD:

Type CD \RECYCLED, and then press ENTER.
Type ATTRIB -r -s -h info2, and then press ENTER.
Type DEL INFO2, and then press ENTER.

NOTE: This deletes the damaged INFO2 file. Windows will recreate this file
as needed, automatically.

You can often restore files even if it is not being listed in the Recycle
Bin by searching (Start/Search) for the files by name, once found rename
them. If the files still cannot be recovered, follow the steps above, then
reboot. They should now be listed.

More information here:

Troubleshooting the Recycle Bin
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_qr.htm#rb

~~~

Command line:

Empty Recycle Bin v1.00 (EmptyRecycleBin.exe)
http://optimumx.com/download/#EmptyRecycleBin


You can use AXRecycle.dll from http://pragmaticlee.safedataisp.net/ and a
vbscript as well:

From: Ned Flanders ([email protected])
Subject: Paging Lee Peedin....AXRecycle "checker" script Beta 1.00
Newsgroups: microsoft.public.scripting.wsh
http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=OV80nebXCHA.1688@tkmsftngp10


The script in the link below works without installing anything, but will ask
for
delete confirmation:

From: Gurgen ([email protected])
Subject: Re: Empty Recycle bin
Newsgroups: microsoft.public.scripting.vbscript
http://groups.google.com/[email protected]


--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm
 

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