Recycle bin morphed into RECYCLER and no longer works properly?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jim Wray
  • Start date Start date
J

Jim Wray

I'm sure I did something at some point to cause this peculiar behavior of
the recycle bin but I don't know what or when. I noticed it today when I had
occasion to restore a deleted file.

First off, if I'm remembering correctly, the Recycle Bin is supposed to be
named the Recycle Bin, right? Well, now it's named RECYCLER. This is on a
windows 2000 system with all updates if that makes a difference.

In windows explorer, if I click on the RECYCLER icon in the left pane, the
right pane displays 4 "files" whose names are long number strings but none
of the files I have deleted for the past few months. If I then double click
on any of the number strings in the right pane, all of the files that I have
deleted are then displayed. I get the same exact results no matter which
number string I double click on. I should add I have 4 drives
installed...perhaps that is why there are 4 number strings?

Ayhow, I'm hoping one of the knowledgable folks on this forum can help me
restore the recycle bin to normal operation.

Thanks for any feedback.
 
That's expected behavior on an NTFS formatted drive. You'll have one for
each user's SID within the recycler folder.

The recycle bin may contain a corrupt, or otherwise incorrect information
file. If format is FAT, then from a command prompt change to the recycler
directory, then do a dir to see what files you might find and delete any
files found, then
attrib -h info*
this should unhide the info* file that stores the information about the
original location of deleted files in the recycle bin. Delete this file.

If format is NTFS then change to the recycler directory then change to the
hidden directory named for your SID (this can be found from within Explorer,
(by expanding the recycler folder). Then
attrib -h info*
this should unhide the info* file that stores the information about the
original location of deleted files in the recycle bin. Delete this file.
Then the next time you move files to the recycle bin another hidden info
file will be created.

Another option is to delete only the info or info2 file (in the recycler
dir) and then restart the pc, then a new and correct information file will
be created in the recycler directory.


--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect
 
Thanks for the reply Dave.

I am set up for NTFS. If you were talking about deleting the file from the
command line I cannot because the RECYCLER directory isn't visible when I do
the DIR command on the C drive. I was, however, able to delete 3 of the 4
number string named files (actually I guess they are directories?) from
within windows explorer which must have been old and not in use...the 4th
file I cannot delete from within Explorer because the system won't let me.
If I click on the remaining number string file/directory, I am presented
with the true contents of the recycle bin and I can delete or restore them
with no problems.

I would bet money that previously I was able to click on the RECYCLER icon
in windows explorer and it would immediately display the files contained
within the recycle bin without having to go through the extra step?


thanks
--


<Smith&Wesson...the original point and click interface>



Dave Patrick said:
That's expected behavior on an NTFS formatted drive. You'll have one for
each user's SID within the recycler folder.

The recycle bin may contain a corrupt, or otherwise incorrect information
file. If format is FAT, then from a command prompt change to the recycler
directory, then do a dir to see what files you might find and delete any
files found, then
attrib -h info*
this should unhide the info* file that stores the information about the
original location of deleted files in the recycle bin. Delete this file.

If format is NTFS then change to the recycler directory then change to the
hidden directory named for your SID (this can be found from within Explorer,
(by expanding the recycler folder). Then
attrib -h info*
this should unhide the info* file that stores the information about the
original location of deleted files in the recycle bin. Delete this file.
Then the next time you move files to the recycle bin another hidden info
file will be created.

Another option is to delete only the info or info2 file (in the recycler
dir) and then restart the pc, then a new and correct information file will
be created in the recycler directory.


--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

Jim Wray said:
I'm sure I did something at some point to cause this peculiar behavior of
the recycle bin but I don't know what or when. I noticed it today when I
had
occasion to restore a deleted file.

First off, if I'm remembering correctly, the Recycle Bin is supposed to be
named the Recycle Bin, right? Well, now it's named RECYCLER. This is on a
windows 2000 system with all updates if that makes a difference.

In windows explorer, if I click on the RECYCLER icon in the left pane, the
right pane displays 4 "files" whose names are long number strings but none
of the files I have deleted for the past few months. If I then double
click
on any of the number strings in the right pane, all of the files that I
have
deleted are then displayed. I get the same exact results no matter which
number string I double click on. I should add I have 4 drives
installed...perhaps that is why there are 4 number strings?

Ayhow, I'm hoping one of the knowledgable folks on this forum can help me
restore the recycle bin to normal operation.

Thanks for any feedback.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Jim Wray said:
Thanks for the reply Dave.

I am set up for NTFS. If you were talking about deleting the file from the
command line I cannot because the RECYCLER directory isn't visible when I
do
the DIR command on the C drive.
Click to expand...
*** Correct it won't be visable but yes you can 'chdir' to it.


I was, however, able to delete 3 of the 4
number string named files (actually I guess they are directories?) from
within windows explorer which must have been old and not in use...the 4th
file I cannot delete from within Explorer because the system won't let me.
If I click on the remaining number string file/directory, I am presented
with the true contents of the recycle bin and I can delete or restore them
with no problems.

I would bet money that previously I was able to click on the RECYCLER icon
in windows explorer and it would immediately display the files contained
within the recycle bin without having to go through the extra step?
Click to expand...
*** Only on a fat file system. Either case it's much simpler to use the
'Recycle Bin' desktop icon.

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect
 
I have Windows 2000 installed and it is normal to have RECYCLER folder with
each user's SID in sub-folders AS WELL AS the Recycle Bin for the current
user logged in.

If you don't see the Recycle Bin it is either hidden, renamed or CLSID
screwed up in the registry.
 
Thanks again...been so long I didn't remember you could do that. Got it
working OK now.

--


<Smith&Wesson...the original point and click interface>



Dave Patrick said:
Jim Wray said:
Thanks for the reply Dave.

I am set up for NTFS. If you were talking about deleting the file from the
command line I cannot because the RECYCLER directory isn't visible when I
do
the DIR command on the C drive.
Click to expand...
*** Correct it won't be visable but yes you can 'chdir' to it.


I was, however, able to delete 3 of the 4
number string named files (actually I guess they are directories?) from
within windows explorer which must have been old and not in use...the 4th
file I cannot delete from within Explorer because the system won't let me.
If I click on the remaining number string file/directory, I am presented
with the true contents of the recycle bin and I can delete or restore them
with no problems.

I would bet money that previously I was able to click on the RECYCLER icon
in windows explorer and it would immediately display the files contained
within the recycle bin without having to go through the extra step?
Click to expand...
*** Only on a fat file system. Either case it's much simpler to use the
'Recycle Bin' desktop icon.

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect
Click to expand...
 
Back
Top