Windows XP - Recycle Bin question

[Crazy-Cat-Lover]

Forgot to ask -- what OS are you using?

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

Sounds weird.... !
Be sure to ask for approval before deleting things...

[sirrahbed]

Lisa is the box "use one setting for all drives" in the properties checked? It sounds like your deleted files may be going to the recycle bin of another identity. (ie: administrator, a different partition or drive) Try checking that option if it is not already. Reboot.

That work?

[Blue_Frog]

See the other tabs at the top of the properties window? Can you screenshot one of them (like the C: drive) and post that too?

What you could also try --

Go into the Properties
- On the GLOBAL tab, select 'Configure Drives Independantly'
- Go to each tab (C, D, and E drives) and make sure that the checkbox for 'Do Not Move Files to the Recycle Bin' is unchecked for ALL tabs.

[kuhio98]

Okay, I'm including screen shots of how mine is set up.
I did check the other identity recycle bin (there are only 2 identities on our computer) and the files I deleted are not there either? Is it possible there is a 3rd identity that I don't know about? Bobcat and I are the only ones that use the computer. We only see 2 identities when we boot.

I increased the maximum size % of the recycle bin to a ridiculous amount just to make sure that the files (shortcuts) that I was trying to delete weren't too big for some reason. That doesn't appear to be the problem. Very confused. I've never had a problem like this before.

[Blue_Frog]

Hmm... you've got me stumped ??

1. To check how many profiles are there, click Start-Settings-Control Panel. Double click 'User Accounts' - that should show you all user accounts for your PC.

2. Stupid question -- are you holding down the SHIFT key when pressing DELETE to remove files? Pressing SHIFT-DELETE will bypass the recycle bin entirely. Also, files deleted from a disk, usb key etc. may not go to the recycle bin and instead be deleted.

3. You should have a folder in your C: drive called RECYCLER. Double click this, and there should be a funny numbered folder for each recycle bin on your system -- check through these folders - are the files there? If you don't see the folder (hidden by default) you may need to change your system settings (from the C: window -- Tools - Folder Options - View Tab - select "show hidden files and folders" and deselect "hide protected operating system files")

[Blue_Frog]

From Microsofts website KB at
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/136517/EN-US/

Now, it also says this pertains to windows NT, ans since you're on XP it -may- work, but I dont know. Again, deleting system files can be tricky and can make your sytem worse, but this kind of sounds like the problem...

Damaged or Deleted INFO File
If the INFO file is damaged or deleted, no files appear in the Recycle Bin. However, the renamed files still exist in the Recycled folder. Even though the files in the Recycled folder have been renamed, they are not changed in any other way. For example, a text file is still viewable as a text file. To restore such a file, you can manually search for the file in the folder and rename it.

If the INFO file is deleted, it is re-created when you restart Windows. If the Recycle Bin becomes damaged and stops functioning, deleting the hidden INFO file in the Recycle folder and restarting Windows may enable you to again access files in the Recycle Bin. The INFO file is a hidden file. 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

ED: I dont think this will work, theres no RECYCLED folder in XP... i'll keep looking.