Windows 7: Can't find $RECYCLE.BIN

One thing always leads to another. While running an SAS scan using their new version it took a long time to get through a file in $RECYCLE.BIN. It got me thinking and I know this folder is very large.

I tried to find it but can't. I enabled "show hidden files, folders and drives". But I don't see it in C:

Hello Bru,

The $Recycle.bin file is a hidden protected operating system file. You would also have to uncheck Hide protected operating system files in Folder Options to see it.

Recycle Bin Corrupted - Cannot Delete File or Folder - Vista Forums

If your Recycle Bin is working properly, then I would recommend to not tinker with it though.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

You are so right. I could have sworn I had "Hide protected operating system files" unchecked.

I won't mess with it. Now that I saw it I reenabled "hide..."

But I wonder why SAS hung up on a file within it? It must be very large. Tree Size tells me it is 3.9GB. I do have a lot in my recycle bin but don't think it is that large.

In XP I remember right clicking the recycle bin to see it's size but I can't seem to figure it out in Win 7.

If I understand correct even things that are deleted from the physical recycle bin stay in $RECYCLE.BIN.

If you have a lot in your Recycle Bin, that could be why you had the delay. If you do not need the files in the Recycle Bin, then you could empty the Recycle Bin to see how SAS runs afterwards.

Basically the files are not stored in the Recycle Bin, but only referenced there to be marked as deleted when you empty the Recycle Bin. Here's some more detailed information about the Recycle Bin at the link below that can help answer the last part.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recycle_Bin_(Windows)