> Click Start > run, type cmd, click OK. (Box opens)
>
> Type cd C:\recycler <enter> (directory changes to C:\recycler)
>
> Type dir /ah <enter> (shows hidden files)
>
> You should see 3 entries with <DIR > next to them. One is a dot, one is
> 2 dots, and one is a very long number, probably starting S-1-5-21. I'm
> not sure if the name of this file is always the same, so you need to
> look at your own one.
>
> Type cd <the very long number, without these brackets> <enter>
> (directory changes to C:\recycler\very_long_number)
>
> Type dir (you should get a listing of any files in the Recycle Bin)
>
> Files in the bin have their names changed and they normally look
> something like this: Dc22.TTF, for example, is a font file I deleted.
> But if there are any corrupted files they may look different from that.
>
> If you can see them, try deleting them from there:
>
> Type del *.* (star-dot-star) <enter>
> If asked: Are you sure Y/N type y <enter>
>
> The type dir <enter> again to see if they're gone.
>
> If you can't see them or they won't delete, try doing the whole thing
> again in Safe Mode with Command Prompt. Hope this helps some.
>
> (P.S. In trying this out I just emptied my bin in Dos but when I came
> back to Windows the bin icon was still showing full and didn't change
> even with F5 refresh. I fixed it by putting a test file in the bin and
> then emptying it. Now icon is correct again :-)
>
> --
> Nightowl
>

Nightowl, great in depth instructions! My problem seems to have deeper, more
twisted pyschotic roots, however.
The file recycle bin keeps trying to delete seems to belong to one of the
four partitions on my external hard drive. (It only has the problem when the
hard drive is on)
I found the file in dos, I've deleted it, I've erased it, i've deleted the
hidden directory it is in, it disappears the next time I look at the
directory, but when I quit to Windows and test it, the *^&%&$ thing is still
there! I go into the Cmd promt again, look at the directory again, and its
baaaaacckk!
specifics: when I look at the initial "recycler" directory, it has five
directories: three s-1-5-21- followed by three separate looooooonngg numbers.
I've done the process in all three, one after another, and though they're
gone before I close command prompt, once I test MR RECYCLE BIN they return.
What the pluperfect heck is going ON?
(and YES I am operating in safe mode.)
Any Help is Greatly Appreciate and I welcome a chance to grow!

LaraPhoenix <LaraPhoenix@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote on Fri, 21 Oct
2005:

>Nightowl, great in depth instructions! My problem seems to have deeper, more
>twisted pyschotic roots, however.
>The file recycle bin keeps trying to delete seems to belong to one of the
>four partitions on my external hard drive. (It only has the problem when the
>hard drive is on)
>I found the file in dos, I've deleted it, I've erased it, i've deleted the
>hidden directory it is in, it disappears the next time I look at the
>directory, but when I quit to Windows and test it, the *^&%&$ thing is still
>there! I go into the Cmd promt again, look at the directory again, and its
>baaaaacckk!
>specifics: when I look at the initial "recycler" directory, it has five
>directories: three s-1-5-21- followed by three separate looooooonngg numbers.
>I've done the process in all three, one after another, and though they're
>gone before I close command prompt, once I test MR RECYCLE BIN they return.
>What the pluperfect heck is going ON?
>(and YES I am operating in safe mode.)
>Any Help is Greatly Appreciate and I welcome a chance to grow!


Hi Lara

Try this:

[1] Open a Command window and shut down any other running programs.
Ctrl-Alt-Del to open the Task Manager.

[2] In Task Manager look on the Processes tab and select Explorer.exe,
Click on the End Process button. (Your desktop and taskbar will
disappear and you'll be left with just Task Manager and the Command
window. Don't panic! :-) Leave Task Manager open and return to the
Command window.

[3] Now at the prompt type:
rd /s /q X:\Recycler <enter> where X: is the name of the problem
partition on your external drive.
Type: exit <enter> to close the Command window.

[4] Go back to Task Manager and on the Applications tab click the button
for New Task. In the box that pops up type: Explorer <OK>. Your desktop
should return to normal. Close Task Manager and reboot.

[5] When you return to Windows don't worry if the bin icon still shows
full. Put a test file in the bin and then right-click to empty it.
Hopefully now it should all be working.

If you still don't have any luck: I haven't done this myself (have only
one drive) but I'd try going to Recycle Bin Properties, setting drives
to be configured independently, then disabling the bin on all the
external drive's partitions. Reboot, and if that's cured it, you can re-
enable the bin as you like.

Good luck! Do please let us know how you get on.

--
Nightowl

Thanks for the instructions!
Unfortunately, dos would not allow me to get rid of the recycle bins, no
matter if they were configured independently or not; the problem was with two
of the partitions, which after I tried your second suggestion to no avail, I
just ended up reformatting- don't fret, the partitions were the small ones
with files easy to backup- both and now MR RECYCLE BIN is happy again.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORT INSTRUCTING A DOS LEARNER!

LaraPhoenix <LaraPhoenix@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote on Sat, 22 Oct
2005:

>Thanks for the instructions!
>Unfortunately, dos would not allow me to get rid of the recycle bins, no
>matter if they were configured independently or not; the problem was with two
>of the partitions, which after I tried your second suggestion to no avail, I
>just ended up reformatting- don't fret, the partitions were the small ones
>with files easy to backup- both and now MR RECYCLE BIN is happy again.
>THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORT INSTRUCTING A DOS LEARNER!

Hi Lara

Sorry the suggestions didn't work, but glad to hear you've solved the
problem. Thanks for letting us know!

--
Nightowl