Recycle Bin Problem

Set out onto the floor 'nother computer, and loaded up a bunch of software plus original version of Win 98 (again). Also for the time, I went into BIOS configured it there such that an old 200 MEG. howling hard drive could be connected in. This hard drive came into Windows listed as a drive E:

Things looked to be running good, so removed the extra cords and drives, buttoned up the case etc. Thing works OK essentially.

Now, whenever I go to the RECYCLE BIN there are about five items listed which cannot be deleted, and get further problems. Furthermore when the command to empty contents of RECYCLE BIN is sent, it sort of stops after eliminating a couple of them.

Error message:

No disk in drive E:

I later on, opened up the case, set the BIOS again, connected in the howling hard drive, but still this will not permit me to eliminate anything noted in RECYCLE BIN having to do with anything once on E:drive. Yes, once installed the old 200MEG hard drive came in as a Drive E: again.

This problem came up on this computer about two years ago and tried listed methods using a DOS write in method. Will not work now, for keep getting "Bad command or file name" then noted. Situation now is that I found good power supply for it, and want to use it again, but Boy...!

How do I get the remnants of the temporary installation of the E:drive hard drive out of RECYCLE BIN?

Wm.

Should work.
Boot up the computer. Then start,shut down, and restart in MS-DOS. Once there .
1. cd C:\ and press enter
2. At the C:\ prompt type cd recycled and press enter.
3. Should be at C:\>recycled
4. While there, type in dir /p and press enter.
5. You should see the files/folders with strange names and extensions. That's o.k.
6. For each file type del xxxxxxx.xxx and press enter. repeat. Substitute the x's with the file you want to delete.
7. shut down the computer. Your in Dos, no harm.
8. reboot. If your still having problems with current deletions, goto the recycle bin, right click, select properties, and check what the settings are.

Just trying

Sometimes just deleting some spare file into the bin and then emptying the bin will fix it.

Otherwise restart in DOS and type these two commands (hitting Return key after each one):

attrib -r -h -s c:\recycled

deltree /y c:\recycled

This will delete the bin and Windows will rebuild it on reboot. Make sure the commands are exactly as written (spaces where shown and back/forward slashes as given).

DerekW

Jack:

You get an Attaboy......

The recycle bin is now empty. Was some very big files in there. Seems there were a few subdirectories also. To which I was unaware. My thought is that the mysterious E: drive info was in one of these subdirectories.

As mentioned before, DELTREE like as suggested just would not work, this time or last. But going at em one by one did. I began with deleting things one by one. Then had to get into the subdirectories one was empty, other was huge once inside. Odd too in that there was only five items listed at RECYCLE BIN, but there certainly were more present.

Wm.

Can't see where you mentioned you'd tried deltree (maybe I need more coffee) but glad to see you fixed it. Many ways, but most of them require use of DOS.

DerekW

Derek.....

Before posting, I checked my notes and tried it the method you mentioned. It would look to begin, but then nothing. It would sort of hang there. After letting set for 10 minutes, I would go back and a few items got erased (usually the most modern) and then it seemed to hang when it came upon one of these subdirectories. I thought it odd, for your routine worked better than a year ago, but that was on yet another hard drive and installation (off very same disk). Seems to work 99% of the time.

Wm.

No matter, as long as you got it fixed....

DerekW

Hi Coos, Deltree should work but maybe only from DOS. DELTREE Path/File (or Directory) Path/File etc. should let you delete every file or Directory (Folder) listed with DELTREE regardless of attributes. Type DELTREE /? ( or most any DOS command ) from DOS for instructions on usage.

Luck, Jim

Hi Again Coos, Forgot, if Deltree wont delete from DOS under Windows then go to Safe Mode or Real DOS. Windows may be using the file that wont delete.

Jim