KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q229041: Files Are Not Deleted From Recycler Folder

Article: Q229041
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): winnt:4.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbenv kbtool diskmem kbDiskMemory
Last Modified: 10-AUG-2001

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition version 4.0 
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

When you empty the Recycle Bin in Windows, the files may not be deleted from
your hard disk.

NOTE: You cannot view these files using Windows Explorer, My Computer, or the
Recycle Bin.

CAUSE
=====

This issue can occur if a third-party filter driver is using the files you try
to delete.

RESOLUTION
==========

To resolve this issue, delete the files from an MS-DOS prompt. To do this,
follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type "cmd.exe" (without the quotation marks) in the
  Open box, and then click OK.

2. Change to the drive and folder where you deleted the files.

For example if you deleted a file from the C:\Windows folder, type "cd\windows"
(without the quotation marks) at the C: prompt, and then press ENTER.
3. From that folder type "cd recycler" (without the quotation marks), and then
  press ENTER.

4. From the Recycler folder type "dir" (without the quotation marks), and then
  press ENTER. You may see some User<SID> folders where <SID> is
  the security ID for each user who deleted files in that folder.

5. Type "cd user<SID>" (without the quotation marks), and then press
  ENTER.

6. Type "del *.*" (without the quotation marks), and then press ENTER. If you
  receive an error message that indicates some files are open, quit all the
  programs running on your computer.

7. Type "cd.." (without the quotation marks), press ENTER, and then repeat steps
  5-7 for each folder in the Recycler folder.

8. Type "exit" (without the quotation marks), and then press ENTER.

MORE INFORMATION
================

For information about the Recycle Bin, please see the following articles in the
Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q165126 Cannot Delete File Using Windows NT Explorer

  Q171051 How To Bypass The Recycle Bin When Deleting Files

  Q171694 Differences Between The Recycle Bin and the Recycler Folder

Additional query words:

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbenv kbtool diskmem kbDiskMemory 
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTSEntSearch kbWinNTSEnt400 kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400
Version           : winnt:4.0
Issue type        : kbprb

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.