Recycler

[Edward W. Thompson]

In an attempt to fix a problem with the Recycle Bin I am trying to
understand the Recycler folders that are in each of the NTFS partitions. To
explain the problem: the Recycle Bin Icon shows their is an item in it. If
I right click and chose 'empty the recycle bin' I get a 'pop up' that asks
whether I want to delete 'Windows'. If I chose 'yes' I get the standard
'crackle' but the Icon still shows an item and if I repeat the operation I
get the same popup asking if I want to delete Windows.

If I look inside the Recycler folders on each partition (I have seven
partitions divided between two HDDs) their are what I think are seven
sub-folders of the form S-1-5-21-776561741-854245398-839522115-1004 (hidden
and read only folders). From what I have read by others, the folder should
contain a folder for each user of the machine, in my case Administrator plus
two other. It either appears this is not correct or their is something
wrong with my system as the folders seem to reflect the partitions, not the
user. Can someone clarify this please.

The seven sub-folders do not seem dedicated to each partition. If I delete
a file on the C: partition, the file shows up in each of the 'Recycler'
sub-folders, this seems very strange, what the purpose of this is beats me,
perhaps someone can confirm this is 'normal' and the reason.

Getting back to the problem, can anyone suggest how to remove this ghost
(Windows) that inhabits the Recycle Bin on the Desktop. I haven't yet been
to Safe Mode Command Prompt and tried to delete the Recycler folders and am
unclear whether I should attempt to remove the Recycler folder and
sub-folders for each partition or only the sub-folders. As Explorer shows
these sub-folders are empty, I am not hopeful that removing them will remove
the ghost. I assume that if I do remove the Recycler folders they will be
recreated. Will someone be kind enough to confirm?

 

[Wesley Vogel]

I had the "do you want to delete Windows?" popup once.
You most likely have a corrupt file in the Recycle Bin.
Run Error Checking, reboot and then empty the Recycle Bin.

Error Checking (chkdsk.exe) in XP.
1. In My Computer or Windows Explorer, right-click the drive you want to
check, and then click Properties.
2. On the Tools tab, click Check Now.
3. Do one of the following:

o To run Chkdsk by using the /f parameter, select the Automatically fix file
system errors check box, and then click Start.
[[Specifies whether Windows repairs file-system errors found during disk
checking. All files must be closed for this program to run. If the drive is
currently in use, a message asks if you want to reschedule
the disk checking for the next time you restart your computer. Your drive is
not available to run other tasks while the disk is being checked.]]

o To run Chkdsk by using the /r parameter, select the Scan for and attempt
recovery of bad sectors check box, and then click Start.
[[Specifies whether Windows repairs file-system errors found during disk
checking, locates bad sectors, and recovers readable information. All files
must be closed for this program to run. If the drive is currently in use, a
message asks if you want to reschedule the disk checking for the next time
you restart your computer. Your drive is not available to run other tasks
while the disk is being checked. If you select this option, you do not need
to select Automatically fix file system errors. Windows fixes any errors on
the disk.]]

You have to reboot for Error-checking to run.

For a peek at the log.
Start | Run | Type: eventvwr | OK
Look in Application | Listed as Information
under Winlogon, Event 1001

 

[Alex Nichol]

In an attempt to fix a problem with the Recycle Bin I am trying to
understand the Recycler folders that are in each of the NTFS partitions. To
explain the problem: the Recycle Bin Icon shows their is an item in it. If
I right click and chose 'empty the recycle bin' I get a 'pop up' that asks
whether I want to delete 'Windows'. If I chose 'yes' I get the standard
'crackle' but the Icon still shows an item and if I repeat the operation I
get the same popup asking if I want to delete Windows.

Recycler is the Recycle Bin on an NTFS drive. It contains one of those
subfolders with the complex name for each user account (they tie in with
the keys in registry's HKEY_USERS\ section)

When a user deletes a file, the data stays where it is, but the
directory entries are transferred to *his* folder in Recycler, with the
name changed to avoid any conflicts, and with that name indexed against
the original path and name, for restoring

So any use who opens the Bin is effectively opening the sum of all his
own folders on all drives, seen as one. (A FAT 32 drive's RECYCLED
works the same way and is included, but no distinctions between users)

Your 'Windows' entry indicates a corrupted index somewhere. Best is to
boot with F8 to Safe Mode - Command Prompt, and on each drive (Changing
to it as needed with its letter, eg D:
DEL \Recycler\*.* /S /F

 

[Edward W. Thompson]

Thanks Alex. I followed up on Wesley Vogel earlier suggestion of running
chkdsk /f on each drive/partition and that seems to have fixed the problem.
As you said, one drive did show errors but the upshot is the'ghost' file has
now disappeared. Once more thanks for the help.