Unable to empty or access the recycle bin

[Usalabs1]

I don't know what caused this, but it happens every time I try to double click on the recycle bin, try to access it's properties or attempt to empty it, I get 'Windows explorer has caused a fault and will be shut down' (or something to that effect), windows explorer closes, then the desktop re-appears with 3 of the 13 task icons showing. I tried a system restore, run the repair from the XP cd, and even tried 'SFC /SCANNOW', none of them have fixed the problem.

I don't want to have to format the HD again! (this would have been the 14th time in 2 weeks, I would have had to format).

 

[bcastner]

Try two steps:

1. Remove the existing recycling bin, index files, and folder(s). XP will rebuild these anew when restarted.

Start, Run, CMD
type in: rd /s /q c:\recycled
type in: exit


2. Download and apply this registry patch to freshly build registry entries for the Recycling bin and process:

Replace/Repair the Recycle Bin (Line 64)

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Now reboot your machine.

 

[Usalabs1]

bcastner.........Thankx for the help, I found the recycle bin under c:\recycler.

rd /s /q c:\recycled didn't work, so I used:-
dir c:\recy*. /ad /s /p to find the recycle bin,

then used:-
rd /s /q c:\recycler

 

[Usalabs1]

bcastner.......After posting the previous reply, I tried both steps, and still the same error, that windows explorer has caused an error and will need to close.

 

[linney]

What other problems are you having causing you to Format 14 times in two weeks?

Use the check list in this article to make sure you are not missing something.

HOW TO: Prepare to Upgrade Windows 98 or Windows Millennium Edition to Windows XP(Q316639)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q316/6/39.asp

Have you tried running Chkdsk from the Recovery Console?

Have you checked your RAM?

http://www.memtest86.com/

http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp

Or some of the other tools mentioned here?

Free Tech Utilites?
thread779-654354




How the Recycle Bin Stores Files (Q136517)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q136/5/17.asp

Cannot Empty Recycle Bin or Modify Recycle Bin Properties

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q173416

Cannot Delete Any Files in Windows

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q246/7/26.asp

Do you have Norton protecting files in my recycle bin? Norton will not allowing you to delete a specific file if the original path from where that file came from was deleted. Turn off Norton protection on the recycle bin and try that.

 

[Usalabs1]

linney.......everytime something goes wrong and can't be fixed, or a fix does not work, I re-format, for example, if I try to run nero and it says that another program is using the atapi driver when there's no other program using it, I restart the computer and try again, if this doesn't work, I re-format.

It looks like I may have to re-format again to fix the recycle bin problem, because nothing I do, or download has fixed the problem.

 

[linney]

Do you have lots of pretty Red X's in your Event Viewer?

Anything could be causing Explorer to crash. You might consider recent updates. Also consider any other changes you have made. Corrupted files can cause this too.

To get further information about your errors look in your Event viewer.

Look in the System or Application folder. You can get to the Event Viewer via right click My Computer icon and select Manage.

Any errors logged in the Event Viewer can be expanded by double clicking on the error line.

Take any event error I.D. number and search for it on this site.

http://www.eventid.net/events.asp

Also check any "Information" line that mentions "savedump" and you should find reference to "recovered from a bug check". This is the Stop Error message.


You can also turn off "automatically restart after an error" so it will just halt at the fault and display the full Stop Error and blue screen.

Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties .
On the Advanced tab, click Settings under Startup and Recovery .
Click to clear the Automatically restart check box under System failure , and then click OK . The error message on a blue screen should remain on the screen so you can record the error information.


If you want the highly technical cause of any crash look in the Documents and Settings/ All Users/ Application Data/ Microsoft/ Dr Watson/ Drwtsn32.log

Find the entry that is relevant by date and time to the crash you are investigating. The exact cause of the crash is indicated by "FAULT ->" on the left of page next to line of code causing crash. This, if your as cluey as me, wont tell you much but you can use it to see if it is the same fault all the time, and further up the log you can find what processes and modules are running.

 

[bcastner]

Try,

As Administrator, right-click the hidden folder c:\recycler, Properties, Security, and make sure that the Group "Everyone", Administrator, and SYSYEM all have access to the folder with full permissions. Use the Advanced tab to be certain that full permissions apply to "This folder, and all subfolders" for all three security groups.

 

[Usalabs1]

bcastner.......
The hidden folder c:\recycler is not shown in c:\ folder, the 'Show hidden files and folder' settings in the folder options, is checked, I can type c:\recycler in the address bar of windows explorer to open the folder, but I can not right click it, as it's not shown.

c:\recycler does exist, because I can use:-
dir c:\recy*. /ad /s /p in the command window, and it shows the directory.

 

[bcastner]

Uncheck the two "Hide" options, for file extensions and protected system files.