Recycle bin

[Invisible]

Is the recycle bin common to all users? Or does each user
have a seperate recycle bin? If so, is there a way to
empty all files in it without having to log in as each
user?

Thanks.

 

[Invisible]

Source:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-
us;171694

Quote:
"When you delete a file in Windows NT Explorer or My
Computer, the file is stored in the Recycle Bin. The file
remains in the Recycle Bin until you empty the Recycle Bin
or restore the file.

The Recycler folder is used only on NTFS partitions. The
Recycler folder contains a Recycle Bin for each user that
logs on to the computer, sorted by their security
identifier (SID)."

That at least answers question #1 - YES, the recycle bin
IS seperate for each user!

I then found this:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-
US;136517

I tried to follow it's instructions...
"To delete the INFO file follow these steps:
1. Open a command prompt window
2. Type cd recycled
3. Type attrib -h inf*
4. Type del info"

That didn't work - it says there's no such file/folder
as "recycled". However, "recycler" seems to exist... I
tried this:

C:\> cd recycler
C:\RECYCLER> dir /ah /b
S-1-5-21-1772841334-1343369580-6498272-1025
S-1-5-21-1772841334-1343369580-6498272-1063
S-1-5-21-1772841334-1343369580-6498272-1072
S-1-5-21-1772841334-1343369580-6498272-1155
S-1-5-21-1772841334-1343369580-6498272-1156
S-1-5-21-1772841334-1343369580-6498272-1157
S-1-5-21-1772841334-1343369580-6498272-1167
S-1-5-21-1772841334-1343369580-6498272-1178
S-1-5-21-1772841334-1343369580-6498272-1180
S-1-5-21-1772841334-1343369580-6498272-1181
S-1-5-21-1772841334-1343369580-6498272-1183
S-1-5-21-1772841334-1343369580-6498272-1184
S-1-5-21-1772841334-1343369580-6498272-1187
S-1-5-21-1772841334-1343369580-6498272-1190
S-1-5-21-1772841334-1343369580-6498272-1198
S-1-5-21-1772841334-1343369580-6498272-1199
S-1-5-21-1772841334-1343369580-6498272-500

Now those look like SIDs to me... Isn't S-1-5-31-xxx-500
the Administrator SID? One of the so-called "well-known
SIDs"? I presume the large random-looking numbers
represent our domain, yes?

So... I wonder... can I empty someone's recycle bin just
by deleting the appropriate folder?... How do I find out a
person's SID?... will Windows complain if I start deleting
hidden system files?... Questions, questions, so many
questions...

Thanks.

 

[Charles W.]

The recycle bin is seperate for each user on Windows
2000. Also there is a seperate recycle bin file for each
drive(all files show up in the recycle bin, but are stored
in different places). If you set explorer to view all
files there is a folder on the root of each local drive
called RECYCLER. Under this is an entry for each user
(long S number that coresponds to the user). Not sure
what would happen if you tried to delete an entry for
another user there. I do know if you try to delete the
one that coresponds to the logged in user you get an error
because it is trying to copy itself into itself.

Charles W.
Indus Corporation

 

[Invisible]

Hi.

I actually replied to my own post yesterday, but it hasn't
shown up for some reason...

The recycle bin is seperate for each user on Windows
2000. Also there is a seperate recycle bin file for each
drive(all files show up in the recycle bin, but are stored
in different places). If you set explorer to view all
files there is a folder on the root of each local drive
called RECYCLER. Under this is an entry for each user
(long S number that coresponds to the user).

Yes, I actually managed to find an article that says as
much. (It wrongly says the folder is called "recycled" -
no such folder exists!)

Not sure
what would happen if you tried to delete an entry for
another user there. I do know if you try to delete the
one that coresponds to the logged in user you get an error
because it is trying to copy itself into itself.

Ah, only if you try to move it to the recycle bin ;-) If
you press SHIFT-DEL, it "really" deletes files, rather
than moving to the recycle bin.

(The article I found helpfully suggests you "reboot to a
DOS prompt" and execute some commands... great idea!
Except you can't DO that any more!)

Anyway, I just tried using SHIFT-DEL on the RECYCLER
folder... It's gone. According to the article, it should
automagically reappear when I reboot!

Heh - it seems so simple now... I almost wonder why I
asked!

Thanks.

PS. How DO you find out a user's SID?

PPS. Can I have an answer to that last question in NT4 too?