Solved How to empty E:\$RECYCLE.BIN

[Surpintine]

I have an external HDD that when I run a print directory of it I end up with 300 lines of misc. previously deleted items that are still appearing with names (no actual files or size but 300 plus folders and files of no size all named anything that's been deleted off the drive). I have tried emptying my recycling bin on the desktop, I've tried running ccleaners method of cleaning the free space and emptying recycling bin on the external hdd and also enabled viewing of system protected files to try and manually delete the files. Can someone please help me figure out how to clear those out of my recycling bin so they will stop appearing in my print directory?

 

[A Guy]

Well, I know you can decrease the size of the recycle bin on that drive, or even turn it off. that should empty it. Right click on Recycle Bin on desktop and choose Properties. Click on the bin for your E: drive and either change size, or choose Don't move files to the recycle bin...

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/72903-recycle-bin-storage-size.html



The Recycle Bin in your 2nd Drive is a hidden folder. Click on Tools> Folder options> View> Show all files and folders

Also have to click show protected operating system files to see the recycler folder.


A Guy

 

[Surpintine]

Thanks for your quick reply A Guy. That will possibly help in the future however it did not remove the files from that recycle.bin on the hdd in question.

 

[A Guy]

I may have been adding more info when you read my post. You can empty the recycler folder manually. A Guy

 

[Surpintine]

Thanks A Guy,
I noted in my original post I have hidden files unhidden, and protected files visible as well and I still can not seem to remove those listed files.

 

[BisVal]

Use the free program WinDirStat . With it You can find and remove these files.

 

[bobtran]

Use the command prompt, navigate to the requisite directory and manually delete the files using DOS delete command.

 

[Surpintine]

Use the free program WinDirStat . With it You can find and remove these files.

This worked perfectly. I was able to open the $Recycle.Bin and remove 10gigs of removed files. I can't believe they stored in there and wouldn't erase. Thanks for everyones help.

 

[A Guy]

Good you got it sorted, this thread will be helpful to others I guarantee. A Guy

 

[Surpintine]

I hope it helps someone. I know after a week of searching I didn't turn up this answer and those answers I did turn up did not resolve the issue. Thanks for everyone's help.