Solved Hidden folder in recycle bin taking up space, is it safe to delete?

[Gdub]

After clearing out a large portion of junk from my 1TB harddrive using WinDirStat, I still had a large amount of files hidden away in $Recycle.Bin. The directory goes something like this: $Recycle.Bin/(lots of numbers and dashes)/$RXQ4DY2/(the files I deleted). There are several of the $RXQ4DY2 folders, with slightly different names. I've already emptied the recycle bin, the files and folders are still there.

In Windows Explorer, the (lots of numbers and dashes) folder doesn't show up in the recycle bin, and the $RXQ4DY2 folder doesn't show up in the number and dashes. I can see all the files from $RXQ4DY2 and even launch executables. The problem is that this is all taking up over 40GB of space that I would like freed up.

Any information on whether or not I can just delete these folders?

 

[TwoCables]

It should be. These were likely went into the Recycle Bin with the Hidden attribute and thus remained hidden.


Edit: Whoa wait a minute. I just sent a hidden file to the Recycle Bin, changed my Folder Options setting to "Don't show hidden files, folders, or drives" but this file is still fully visible while sitting in the Recycle Bin. So, now I don't know what to say.

 

[Brink]

Hello Gdub, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Since these files don't actually show in the Recycle Bin, you might see if using the tutorial below to fix a corrupted Recycle Bin may be able free up the space for you and rebuild the Recycle Bin.

Recycle Bin Corrupted - Cannot Delete File or Folder

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Gdub]

Thanks Brink, that seems to have worked. I appreciate the quick help!

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Gdub. Glad it could help.