Windows 7 - Recycle Bin - Permanently Delete Items Automatically

Orbital Shark

How to Set the Windows 7 Recycle Bin to Permanently Delete Items Immediately

Information

This wiil show you how to set the Windows 7 Recycle Bin to permanently delete files automatically instead to save space.

Note

Removable drives do not use or have a Recycyle Bin. Files deleted from removable drives are permanently deleted instead.

You could also right click on a file, press and hold Shift, and click on Delete to permanently delete the file.

Warning

If you set this option for bypassing sending files to the recycle bin, you will no longer have the Disk Cleanup option from that drive's properties window, as posted here: post

Here's How:

1. Right click on the Recycle Bin on the desktop and select Properties

2. Select a listed HDD (ex: Local Disk (C: )) under the Recycle Bin Location column that you would like to set step 3 or 4 below for.

3. To Set the Recycle Bin to Permanently Delete Files
A) Select (dot) Don't move files to the recycle bin..., and click on Apply.

4. To Set the Recycle Bin to Not Permanently Delete Files
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Select Custom size, and click on Apply.

5. Repeat steps 2-4 above for any other listed HDD that you would like to set this for.

6. when finished, click on OK. (see screenshot below step 2)

Tip

If you like, you can also disable the confirmation dialog if you wish

That's all there is to it.

Related Tutorials

jaca · 01-20-2010

And... what if this does not resolve, that is, the files never go to the Recycle Bin??

Brink · 01-20-2010

Hello Jaca,

I'm not sure what you mean, but be sure to have the option selected (dotted) in the tutorial instead to have them placed in the Recycle Bin.

jaca · 01-20-2010

I have performed exactly according to the tutorial by selecting the Custom Size box.

Just in time: this behavior is present in User Accounts only, not in the Administrator one! Is it normal?

Brink · 01-20-2010

Jaca,

Did you also check this setting in each user account? Each user account has it's own settings for this.

jaca · 01-21-2010

Yes, I did. I'm thinking Seven is corrupted, for some reason. I've tried to make a repair with the original DVD, no success

Brink · 01-21-2010

Ok, since it works in the administrator account, see if when you create a new user account it works in it to try and avoid doing a clean reinstall. If it does, then you can copy the files you want from the old user account's C:\Users\(user-name) folders into the corresponding new user account's C:\Users\(user-name) folders. After everything checks out, you can delete the old user account from within the new one or Administrator account. Repeat for each old user account that the Recycle Bin does not work in.

jaca · 01-21-2010

I forgot to tell you:in every user account the Recycle Bin does not work in.

Brink · 01-21-2010

In that case, since you already tried a repair install, then you may need to do clean or custom reinstall of Windows 7.

jaca · 01-21-2010

That's what I was afraid of ... But I'll leave that way, trying to remember that the Recycle Bin does not work well. Thanks

Windows 7 - Recycle Bin - Permanently Delete Items Automatically

Recycle Bin - Permanently Delete Items Automatically

Recycle Bin - Permanently Delete Items Automatically problems?