Recycle Bin being an idiot

[DAS]

I've tried this problem on the PC forums but got no joy so far, so I thought I'd try my pals at Metropol...

The situation is the Recycle Bin constantly showing a full bin icon, yet showing no files in there. If you click on Empty Recycle Bin, the message will always read "Are you sure you want to delete these 9 items?" despite the fact nothing is there.

In addition, if I go to delete any file from the C:\ drive, it will not appear in the Recycle Bin. However, deleting files from the D:\ folder works peoperly - except when they get deleted from the Recycle Bin, we go back to square 1 with the invisible 9 items thing.

Does anybody have any ideas about why the Recycle Bin is taunting me?

[Dr Lobster*]

what happens if you shift-delete the recycler folders out of all your root directories?

i've just done this, and when i create a dummy text file and delete normally, the folders are rebuilt and the recycle bin functions normally.

[DAS]

Sounds daring... how would I go about deleting Recycler?

[Dr Lobster*]

Sounds daring... how would I go about deleting Recycler?

delete it in explorer, select the folder (you may need to change your view settings to see it) hold down shift, and press the del key. explorer will ask if you want to permantly delete the folder, select yes, repeat in all root directories, and when you're done, create a dummy shortcut, sent it to the recycle bin and the recycler directory structure and recycle bin should then work like a dream!

[DAS]

OK.. just to make doubly sure... C:\RECYCLER appears empty, but when I shift delete it asks me if I'm sure I want to delete the vital system file desktop.ini twice, and tells me that if I do that I might cause a war or some such. Am I sure?

[Neil Jones]

OK.. just to make doubly sure... C:\RECYCLER appears empty, but when I shift delete it asks me if I'm sure I want to delete the vital system file desktop.ini twice, and tells me that if I do that I might cause a war or some such. Am I sure?

If in doubt, move it somewhere else as opposed to deleting it.

Anyway desktop.ini is primarily used for the "customise this folder" stuff and Windows will probably just generate a new one anyway.

[DAS]

Come here guys and give me a kiss...

It's been a nagging problem for about a month, during which time the geeks on the PC forums have been telling me to reformat or log in as Administrator and then use command prompt or whatever, neither of these methods worked.

Why the HELL didn't they just tell me to delete Recycler? Becuase they're not part of the brilliance that is Metropol - that's why.

Thank you!

[Dr Lobster*]

Come here guys and give me a kiss...

It's been a nagging problem for about a month, during which time the geeks on the PC forums have been telling me to reformat

consider yourself kissed, big boy.

i have to say, the recommendation that you 'format and reinstall' is a true sign of somebody who doesn't know what the feck they are talking about. in my frankly too long experience of windows based pc's, there are very very very *very* few problems which require you to completely wipe the drive and do a full reinstall - this should be a final last resort to a fundermentally knackered windows install, not a suggested fix for a ui glitch (which is effectively all it was) i hate reinstalling my os because it takes so long to get everything setup how i like it, my windows experience is fairly heavily customised, not with crap like windows blinds, but just in a way in which i like to work, like custom tool bars, start menu on autohide, small icons and so on. nobody else at work can use my pc because they find its setup annoying, but to me, its highly productive.

[Pete]

On the subject of the recycle bin.

I have a problem ever so often on my XP machine where it empties and stays full and then when you try to delete it it says "Are you sure you want to delete WINDOWS" (in caps). Obv there is nothing in the bin and it just grunts if you click yes.

[Neil Jones]

I have a problem ever so often on my XP machine where it empties and stays full and then when you try to delete it it says "Are you sure you want to delete WINDOWS" (in caps). Obv there is nothing in the bin and it just grunts if you click yes.

Yeah I've seen this as well. Just knock up an empty text document or whatever, stick that in the bin and empty it.

i have to say, the recommendation that you 'format and reinstall' is a true sign of somebody who doesn't know what the feck they are talking about. in my frankly too long experience of windows based pc's, there are very very very *very* few problems which require you to completely wipe the drive and do a full reinstall - this should be a final last resort to a fundermentally knackered windows install, not a suggested fix for a ui glitch

As far as I'm concerned, the only time one needs to format the drive at all is in the following situations:

1) After repartioning with FDisk or whatever.
2) On purpose, say, for sale on eBay or whatever.
3) Rampant virus which makes it quicker to just wipe as opposed to repair.

Apart from that, there is no other reason to my mind why anybody needs to format a hard drive.

Windows can be reinstalled by simply boot to DOS, remove the Windows folder and rename Documents & Settings (as extra precaution), then just carry on. Windows will recreate D&S, just move your stuff back afterwards.